Ojos Azules cat

The Ojos Azules is a relatively rare and little-known cat breed discovered in New Mexico in 1984. The name derives from the Spanish from the bright blue eyes.

The Ojos Azules are all originally descended from a domestic cat, Cornflower, which was a tortoiseshell cat with bright blue eyes. It turned out that blue eye color came from a dominant gene that was always inherited, regardless of coat color. In professional circles, this process is referred to as a mutation, which means a spontaneous or artificial change in the genetic structure. This was something special, since up to that point it was believed that blue eyes in cats were linked to the white color of the animal's coat and, moreover, would only occur in Siamese cats. In 1990 there were hardly more than 10 Ojos Azules. However, this extraordinary cat breed was approved and registered by TICA (The International Cat Association) in 1992. A provisional breed standard was also set up. The Ojos Azules is still very rare and hardly known today.

The Ojos Azules is a medium-sized, light-boned cat that bears a great deal of resemblance to our domestic cat. Its special features are the large, round, bright blue eyes and the white tip of its tail. The pedigree cat is very well proportioned; Head, legs and body are in an optimal relationship to each other and make the cat appear graceful and pretty. This breed is neither too big nor too strong. The rear legs are slightly longer than the front legs, so the back rises slightly towards the tail. The well-developed chin and the square-looking muzzle go very well with the rounded head shape. Male and female cats are almost the same size and can weigh between 4-8 kg. A distinction is made between the Ojos Azules Shorthair (OA) and the Ojos Azules Longhair (OJ). The OA has moderately short hair that is finely soft and silky. Despite the little undercoat of the coat, the hair is very dense. OJ also has nice silky hair, but it's longer than OA. In addition, the long-haired cat has a rather bushy tail.

The Ojos Azules is a very good-natured and extremely family-friendly cat. She gets along with other pets, is very cuddly, affectionate and playful. It is an intelligent and very alert cat, which is also undemanding and easy to care for. Lively and curious, but also balanced and gentle, the Ojos Azures has all the prerequisites for a harmonious “coexistence” of cat and human. Breed standard The head of the Ojos Azules is round, with slightly prominent cheekbones and a strongly developed but not too prominent chin. The muzzle is pronounced, wide and somewhat angular. The medium-sized ears, which are wide at the base of the head, taper to the tips of the ears, the ends of which are gently rounded. The hind legs are slightly longer than the front legs, causing the backline to rise slightly towards the tail. The cat's small paws fit perfectly with the overall picture and the light bone structure of the animal. The appearance of the Ojos Azules is harmonious and pleasing. The tail, which is slightly wider at the base and tapers towards the tip of the tail, also matches the cat's harmonious appearance. If the Ojos Azules has two different colored eyes, it will still be recognized if one of the two eyes is bright blue.

With the Ojos Azules, all colors are allowed; however, coat colors are preferred where blue eyes are not actually expected, because then the blue of the eyes forms an unusual contrast to the coat.This combination is considered a special feature. Piebald cats must have the typical white tip of the tail, as this is the only way to be sure that the blue eyes are actually due to the presence of the Ojos Azules gene. White cats are not welcome because it is not possible to tell the Ojos Azules apart from a "normal" white, blue-eyed domestic cat. Should an Ojos Azules tortoiseshell have colored patches on the head, neck or body, this is attributed to the Ojos Azules gene and is not considered a fault or disorder. If the cat has the Ojos Azules gene, it will have certain characteristics such as the white tip of the tail, white patches on the face, muzzle and toes and of course the bright blue eyes.

If the cat is too big, too strong or too slim, the little mouth seems too pointed or the fur is too fluffy; if the color of the eyes deviates too much from the specifications, or if the animal has white spots on the belly or pleura, or the required white tip of the tail is completely missing, it no longer corresponds to the breed standard. One then speaks of errors or special features.