Ocicat vs Bengal: What’s the Difference? (With Pictures)

With their wild and exotic appearance, both the Bengal and the Ocicat look as though they’ve just stepped out of the jungle. However, both cats are domestic breeds, and their distinctive coats are the only “wild” aspect about them — these breeds are as loving, loyal, and affectionate as any other house cats.

It’s easy to get these breeds confused, as they both have distinctively spotted and striped markings, short coats, and large ears. It is their unique temperaments that make the distinction, but there are notable physical differences too. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at each breed and detail exactly what makes them unique.

Visual Differences

At a Glance

Ocicat Overview

The Ocicat may look wild but in reality, is far from it. These cats are a fully domesticated breed, developed through crossing Siamese, Abyssinian, and American Shorthair breeds. They got their name from their resemblance to the small South American wildcat, the Ocelot, but they have no wild genetics at all. The spotted and wild-looking coat was the result of a fortunate accident in a Seal-Point Siamese and Abyssinian crossing, and the Ocicat was born. They were recognized by the Cat Fancier’s Association (CFA) in 1987.

Personality / Character

The Ocicat may have a wild appearance, but they are domestic cats at heart, with loving, affectionate, and even-tempered personalities. They are social cats that love to be close to their owners and are happy to be handled, picked up, and cuddled. Ocicats are highly intelligent and easy to train and have been known to learn tricks with ease.

The Siamese heritage of this breed has made them outspoken and vocal cats — albeit not as much as their Siamese cousins — and they are known to vocalize when they need food or attention. While these cats love attention as much as any domestic breed, they are not overly needy or demanding and are happy to do their own thing too. They are highly adaptable cats that can adjust to indoor and apartment living but don’t enjoy being left alone. Again, due to their Siamese genes, they will benefit greatly from having a playmate around to prevent boredom and bad behavior.

Training & Exercise

Ocicats are supremely intelligent cats and are thus a breeze to train. They pick up commands easily and quickly and will come when called, will sit, stay, and fetch, and can be trained to walk on a leash. They are outgoing cats that love to interact with their owners, so training sessions are highly anticipated daily activities. They love toys, especially puzzle toys, and these will keep them entertained and physically and mentally stimulated for hours.

Incorporating some form of exercise into your Ocicat’s daily routine is essential for their health and good behavior — a well-exercised cat is a well-behaved cat! Toys, interactive games, and climbing trees are all great ways to keep them entertained and exercised, especially if they spend most of their time indoors.

Health & Care

Ocicats have a short and smooth coat, and grooming an Ocicat is a breeze. Weekly brushing is all that’s needed to remove any dead hair, and bathing is rarely required. They have large, upright ears that can be prone to collecting dirt and grime, so be sure to check them regularly for any redness or infection.

The Ocicat is a healthy breed with few genetic diseases. However, they can inherit issues from the breeds that were used to create them. They may inherit kidney problems, such as renal amyloidosis, and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy has been seen in some Ocicats. More rarely, progressive retinal atrophy has been seen in the breed at times.

Suitability

The Ocicat is an ideal family cat! Despite their wild appearance, they are gentle and loving at heart and make great companions for children, families, and seniors. They are friendly and outgoing felines that love to be around people, and they make fast friends with other cats and even dogs. They are adaptable felines that can do well as indoor cats, and as long as they are getting sufficient mental and physical stimulation, they are a breeze to train, groom, and look after, with few hereditary genetic issues to be concerned with.

Bengal Overview

The Bengal, like the Ocicat, has a distinctively wild appearance, and although they do have Wildcat ancestors, they are domestics cats at heart. They were developed from the small Asian Leopard Cat, the Felis Bengalensis from which they got their name, and domestic shorthairs in the 1960s. Even though Bengals have this wild cat genetic heritage, the breed is required to be four generations removed from any wild bloodlines, so they are truly domestic cats. The Bengal is a comparatively new breed and was only accepted by the CFA in 2016 but was accepted by The International Cat Association in 1983.

Personality / Character

Bengals are active and agile cats that love to climb, and you can often find them perched high above the action, quietly observing. Bengals are social cats that love to be around people and are known to bond strongly with their owners. They are curious and playful felines that retain their kitten-like playfulness well into adulthood and love playtime with their owners. Uniquely among cats, Bengals love water and are known to join in their owner’s evening shower! This could pose a real threat if you have a home aquarium too.

Bengals are affectionate and loyal cats but are not overly attention-seeking or needy cats and are far less likely to be up for cuddling than the Ocicat. That being said, they are still up for a cuddle on their owner’s lap when they are in the mood and are happy to be picked up and handled.

Training & Exercise

Bengals are highly intelligent cats that are easy to train. They can be easily taught commands like “sit” and “stay” and are known to happily walk on a leash with their owners. Their love for climbing makes a cat tree an essential item, and they will love toys and games that can mentally challenge them.

Puzzle toys, scratching posts, and “lure” toys are all great ways for Bengals to remain mentally and physically stimulated, as these can mimic their natural hunting and prey instincts. Bengals are simply large house cats, and they don’t have any special or differing requirements from other breeds.

Health & Care

Grooming a Bengal, like the Ocicat, is a breeze. They have a short, low-shedding coat, and a weekly brushing is all that’s needed to remove any dead hair and keep their coat smooth and shiny. These cats rarely need to bathe unless they get excessively filthy, but they’ll love to get in the water nonetheless!

Bengals are a relatively healthy breed and suffer from few genetic disorders. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy has been seen in Bengals, especially in older cats, as well as eye issues like progressive retinal atrophy and cataracts. Their large size and high activity levels make them fairly prone to joint diseases too, such as hip dysplasia and patellar luxation.

Suitability

The Bengal is a great family cat, suitable for families with small children and families with other cats and dogs too. Bengals love to be around their owners and are highly affectionate, but are not overly needy and thus are great for owners who are not always at home. They are intelligent cats that are easy to train and will learn commands quickly and easily, making them perfect for novice owners.

What Are the Differences?

These two breeds are quite similar, both in appearance and temperament. They are both highly athletic and agile and have comparable intelligence and trainability. Small distinctions can be made between the two breeds, however.

The Bengal was bred from the Asian Leopard cat, and although breeding standards dictate that they must be at least four generations removed, the breed still retains “wild” habits, such as climbing and swimming. Bengal cats are typically found in a couple of pattern variations, whereas the Ocicat is found in over 12 different colors and patterns. Ocicats have distinctive spots throughout their body with occasional stripes, and the Bengal is more tiger-like in appearance. Both breeds are easy to train, but Bengals have a bit more independence and stubbornness and are more content to be left at home alone.

• See also: Ocicat vs Egyptian Mau: Main Differences (With Pictures)

Featured Image: CNuisin, Shutterstock