Exhibit 99




Analyst contact:
Dennis E. McDaniel
Vice President, Investor Relations
513-603-2197
dennis.mcdaniel@ocas.com

Media contact:
Cindy L. Denney
Assistant Vice President, Corporate Communications
513-603-2074 (ofc.), 513-703-7372 (cell)
cindy.denney@ocas.com



For Immediate Release


                         OHIO CASUALTY CORPORATION
                ANNOUNCES THIRD QUARTER CATASTROPHE ESTIMATE


FAIRFIELD, Ohio, October 13, 2005  --- Ohio Casualty Corporation (Nasdaq:OCAS)
today announced that it estimates total net catastrophe losses for third
quarter 2005 to be approximately $11.6 million after-tax. Approximately $9.8
million of the estimated catastrophe losses are related to damage incurred
from Hurricane Rita and another $1.4 million from Hurricane Katrina, which is
at the lower end of the range of estimated losses previously disclosed for
that storm. The total catastrophe loss impact is expected to add approximately
4.9 points to the third quarter 2005 combined ratio. This compares to the
third quarter 2004 catastrophe loss impact of 6.4 points and the 1998-2004
third quarter historical average combined ratio impact of 3.6 points.

In response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, Ohio Casualty had its catastrophe
claims teams in place immediately prior to the storms. After the storms the
catastrophe teams began the difficult process of contacting policyholders and
agents in order to assess damage and begin the claims settlement process as
quickly as possible. This effort proved to be challenging due to the extent of
damage and the circumstances surrounding these storms.

Chief Executive Officer Dan Carmichael, CPCU, commented, "We offer our deepest
sympathies to the victims of these unprecedented events as they deal with the
loss of loved ones and work to rebuild their lives and communities. Our company
and its employees have offered financial and other assistance to the relief
efforts, including a donation to the American Red Cross from the Ohio Casualty
Foundation and employee campaigns to provide monetary donations and
non-perishable items to relief agencies. At





this time, our experienced claims professionals remain onsite in the affected
areas, doing all they can to provide assistance and support to our
policyholders and agents. We are very proud of their unrelenting efforts to
provide reassurance and assistance during these catastrophic events."


Corporate Profile
Ohio Casualty Corporation is the holding company of The Ohio Casualty
Insurance Company, which is one of six property-casualty insurance companies
that make up Ohio Casualty Group.  The Ohio Casualty Insurance Company was
founded in 1919 and is licensed in 49 states.  Ohio Casualty Group is ranked
47th among U.S. property/casualty insurance groups based on net premiums
written (Best's Review, July 2005).  The Group's member companies write auto,
home and business insurance.  Ohio Casualty Corporation trades on the NASDAQ
Stock Market under the symbol OCAS and had assets of approximately $5.7
billion as of June 30, 2005.

Safe Harbor Statement
Ohio Casualty Corporation publishes forward-looking statements relating to
such matters as anticipated financial performance, business prospects and
plans, regulatory developments and similar matters. The statements contained
in this news release that are not historical information, are forward-looking
statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995.  The operations, performance and development of the Corporation's
business are subject to risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual results
to differ materially from those contained in or supported by the
forward-looking statements in this release.  The risks and uncertainties that
may affect the operations, performance, development and results of the
Corporation's business include the following: changes in property and casualty
reserves; catastrophe losses; premium and investment growth; product pricing
environment; availability of credit; changes in government regulation;
performance of financial markets; fluctuations in interest rates; availability
and pricing of reinsurance; litigation and administrative proceedings; rating
agency actions; acts of war and terrorist activities; ability to appoint
and/or retain agents; ability to achieve targeted expense savings; ability to
achieve premium targets and profitability goals; and general economic and
market conditions.


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