cat breeds > chausie

The name, Chausie, is derived from the Latin name for the Jungle Cat, Felis chaus, which occurs widely from the Nile Valley north to Turkey and the Caspian Sea, and east through South Asia as far as Vietnam.

Showing ...

The first Chausies were Jungle Cat hybrids and were bred in the late 60's and early 70's. These early hybrids were created to offer those interested in exotic cats a more reasonable alternative to the often ill-fated attempts to make pets out of wild animals. Many different domestic cats were used in the beginning, but at the current time the only permissible outcrosses are the Abyssinian and the domestic shorthair. The Chausie was given foundation registry status in The International Cat Association (TICA) in 1995. In February 2001, the breed advanced to evaluation status, which means that the cats may be evaluated by qualified judges in the showhall. The next steps will be New Breed and then Championship status; but these changes are most likely several years away.

Chausie females are fertile from the start, but males are usually not fertile until the 4th or 5th generation removed from the wild ancestor. However, they still produce male hormones and will act like any domestic tom. For this reason, unless you are willing to invest the time and money to become a serious breeder, your Chausie would be better served by early neutering or spaying.

Overall Appearance ...

When people get their first glimpse of a Chausie, especially one striding along in slinky, liquid motion, they tend to be immediately struck with its elegant grace and agility. This breed is built for hunting, running and jumping, and exudes the essence of "catness" which makes felines such intriguing companions. The Chausie, pronounced "Chow-see", is a fully domestic breed derived from the Jungle Cat. It is a statuesque cat: tall, upright,medium to large-framed and regal in stance with the musculature of an agile hunter. Males are proportionately larger than females. The breed retains a strong resemblance to its wild ancestor, but is good-natured, loyal , intelligent and affectionate, as you would expect in a domestic cat. It is a highly active breed and loves to play with toys or other cats. It retains this quality into adulthood. The body is long and slender, and the legs are long, with small feet. The tail is 3/4 to full length, and the ears are large, mobile, and can be lynx-tipped.

Personality ...

Chausie are assertive rather than aggressive. They want human attention, food treats, etc. and will definitely let you know. However, you should not see any signs of true aggression, such as unprovoked attacks, threats or destructive actions. They are highly active and intelligent cats and can get into mischief if bored. They need lots of toys and perhaps a feline companion to play with.

Like most felines Chausies are most active in the evening hours. As kittens, this will be very apparent in sneak attacks on toes beneath blankets! However, as the kitten becomes accustomed to your household and your schedule, it will adjust accordingly. Chausies do not sleep as much as other felines, and are pretty much ready to play any time!

Coloring & Patterns ...

Chausies come in three colors: brown ticked tabby, solid black and silver-tip, which is a color unique to this breed. The coat is short to medium, dense and relatively coarse.

An Arizona cattery raising and showing bengals and chausies. They specialize in that wild cat look with purrfect cattitude.