An explanation about Ticked kittens in an Ocicat litter -

Firstly an explanation about Supplementary Breeding - The Ocicat is a relatively new breed - just over 50 years since it was first developed.  Therefore, to ensure Ocicats continue to develop with strength, health and vitality by widening the gene-pool, experienced breeders may be given special permission by their registration bodies to cross-breed Ocicats with one of the foundation breeds - the Abyssinian.  This is referred to as Supplementary Breeding.  The breeding results under the Supplementary Breeding Program are closely monitored by the registration body to ensure kittens selected for further breeding are up to standard for the breed.

Oz Catz has registered for Supplementary Breeding under the GCCFV to cross-breed Ocicats back to the Abyssinian.

Rubichi Wild Choc Bits or Leah as she was less formally known, was the result of a mating between a pedigreed Abyssinian father and a pedigreed Ocicat mother - therefore Leah was a Generation 1 Ocicat.

Leah was mated with my fully pedigreed Ocicat stud, Gold Champion Ocivalley Flek and produced Ozspots Sir Sydney who is a chocolate spotted Generation 2 Ocicat.

Ozspots Sir Sydney (Gen 2) was then mated with my fully pedigreed Ocicat queen, Ozspots Oci Iris Ella to produce Ozspots Jindabyne, a chocolate spotted Generation 3 Ocicat.

I plan to mate Ozspots Jindabyne (Gen 3) with another of my fully pedigreed Ocicat queens when he is old enough to produce a litter of Generation 4 Ocicats - fully pedigreed kittens.

Now about the Ticked kittens -  In the first couple of litters when cross-breeding back to the Abyssinian, some of the kittens are born without spots but with ticking, resembling the Abyssinian in coat colour. 

Although these ticked kittens more closely resemble their Abyssinian ancestor in appearence, they carry the genes of both breeds, the Ocicat and the Abyssinian.  And if the Ocicat parent carries the silver gene, for instance, kittens from Leah and Merrydancer Cocolatino, some of the kittens will be unusual and beautiful ticked silver cats.