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History of the Long Island Ocelot Club

We are the Long Island Ocelot Club. One might say we’ve recreated the club formed in the 1950s, when pet ocelots were common and might have been seen walking on a leash in New York City. Some of us feel, rather, that we are continuing to live by the philosophy of our founder, Catherine Cisin.

Catherine, having acquired an Ocelot and determined to also acquire knowledge on the care of her beloved cat, Tercera, sought out other owners through ads in the NEW YORK TIMES "Personal Notices." Those who responded became the nucleus of her club to promote a good life for the cats and those who loved them as she did, through exchange of information. We've expanded on that to include not just Ocelots, but the other smaller species as well.

In 1957 Catherine began publishing a Newsletter and the membership grew to international proportions. By 1982 the club had outgrown its' humble beginnings.  Officers felt incorporation would be judicious and a name change in order. The members of the little Long Island Ocelot Club were absorbed by LIOC (initials only) Endangered Species Conservation Federation.

Though Catherine served as a Life Director of the new corporation until 1987, the emphasis on "political correctness" and the diminishing concentration on the cats wearied her and she said so. Finally, at a Board meeting, she said something to the effect that the group needn't consult her and could do as they wished. The President said, "But, you want to be kept informed of what we're doing, don't you?" Her answer was, "Not particularly!" That was the end of her participation in the operation of the organization.

By the turn of the century, LIOC-Endangered Species Conservation Federation Board members, meeting with various Zoo associations, regulatory bodies, etc. were increasingly uneasy when their name was mentioned and someone would say, "Oh, The Ocelot Club."  In a successful endeavor to lose that limited connotation to their efforts, they became the Feline Conservation Federation. That has proved to be an excellent move for them.

It turned out to be fortunate for the old timers and others who had longed for the gracious determination and integrity of "Catherine's Club" By that time our name, the Long Island Ocelot Club, which many of us had missed, was in the public domain. A fair sized group of members from the 60s and 70s who were still active in what had become FCF, coupled with other more recent members felt it was time to pay homage to our beginnings, incorporating our name and focusing our attention solely on the cats. This we have done and many members now enjoy membership in both organizations with no conflict.

We hope and believe Catherine would be pleased and proud of what we're doing.
             
  Mission Statement
    

 

The mission of the Long Island Ocelot Club, Inc. is to promote lawful ownership and responsible management of non-domestic felines in the private sector with special emphasis on the smaller species.

We strive to:
Serve members by protecting their lawful right to own non-domestic cats.

Defend responsible owners and their felines from misinterpretation and faulty application of laws and regulations and from false allegations by "animal rights" activists.

Promote high standards and ethics in developing lawful methods to encourage responsible conservation of genetics, especially pertaining to the smaller species of non-domestic cat.

Educate the public, media and policy makers to the plight of the smaller species of cat by advocating cooperative breeding programs, which incorporate complete and accurate record keeping.

Affiliate with other organizations and accreditation programs having similar goals and standards.

Encourage policy makers to facilitate "conservation through commerce" as a viable alternative to failed control and protective regulations.

Build the trust of public animal institutions, that the Long Island Ocelot Club might work with them to contribute practical experience to the conservation of the smaller species of non-domestic cat.
 

         

        

        

 

 

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©2007, 2008
All original photographs used with permission of their owner
“The Long Island Ocelot Club” is a trade mark of the
 Long Island Ocelot Club