Chausie: Cat Breed Profile: Characteristics, History, Care Tips, and Helpful Information For Pet Owners

Download as pdf or txt
Download as pdf or txt
You are on page 1of 23

The Spruce Pets

• DOGS
• CATS
• BIRDS
• SMALL PETS
• AQUARIUMS
• REPTILES
• HORSES
• BEST PET PRODUCTS
• ABOUT US
Search
CATS CAT BREEDS

Chausie: Cat Breed Profile


Characteristics, History, Care Tips, and Helpful Information for
Pet Owners
By
JACKIE BROWN

Updated on 07/12/21

• Pin

• Share

• Em ail
tania_wild / Getty Images
IN THIS ARTICLE

• Characteristics
• Breed History
• Care
• Health Problems
• Diet and Nutrition
• Where to Buy or Adopt
• Further Research

BACK TO TOP

The Chausie cat is a relatively new cat breed that was created in the 1990s in the United States.
The Chausie (pronounced “chow-see”) was developed by breeding domestic cats and a wild cat
species called the Jungle Cat (felis chaus). In appearance, the Chausie looks wild, but this fully
domesticated breed is a sociable, affectionate and good-natured house pet.

In form and function, the Chausie is meant to closely resemble its wild ancestor. It has a long,
sloping forehead, high cheekbones and a long muzzle, with a full, slightly rounded chin and wide
nose with puffy nose leather. It is large and tall with long legs and a deep chest, but it is not a
bulky cat. The Chausie’s athletic, lanky, lean body is built for running and jumping—the breed
standard compares their body type to that of a basketball player or Olympic long jumper.

FEATURED VIDEO

The triangular ears are tall, large, and wide, with rounded tips and preferably ear tufts—tiny bits
of hair that stick up from the tips of the ears. The tail may be shorter than a typical cat tail,
ranging in length from three-quarters to full length, with preference being given to a slightly
shorter tail.

The Chausie’s short, slightly coarse coat comes in three colors: brown ticked tabby (sandy gray
to reddish gold with two to three bands of dark ticking around each hair and preferably tabby
barring on the tail, upper inside of the front legs and to the hock on the back legs); black grizzled
ticked (a pattern inherited from its Jungle Cat ancestors, the hair shaft is banded with lighter
coloration at the skin, alternating dark and lighter bands of ticking and ending with a dark tip);
and black (solid black).

The Chausie is a highly active and playful cat that needs lots stimulation and company. This is
not the best breed for people who are away from the house many hours a day. Confident,
assertive and outgoing, Chausies are loyal and affectionate with their human families, getting
along well with people of all ages, including respectful children. They can live peacefully with
dogs and other cats when introduced properly and raised with them.

Breed Overview
WEIGHT: About 15 to 25 pounds

LENGTH: About 20 to 22 inches


COAT: Short to medium, with a dense, soft undercoat and a somewhat
resilient, slightly coarser outer coat
COAT COLOR: Brown ticked tabby, black grizzled ticked tabby, or black
EYE COLOR: Any color, including blue or odd-eyed
LIFE EXPECTANCY: 15 to 20 years

Characteristics of the Chausie Cat


Affection Level High
Friendliness High
Kid-Friendly High
Pet-Friendly High
Exercise Needs High
Playfulness High
Energy Level High
Intelligence High
Tendency to VocalizeMedium
Amount of Shedding Medium
Corey O'Hara / Getty Images
History of the Chausie Cat
The Chausie is a hybrid breed created from breedings between domesticated cats and the wild
species known as the Jungle Cat (felis chaus). The Jungle Cat is an ancient wild cat that has been
around since the time of the ancient Egyptians, who appeared to have domesticated them and
cherished them as pets. This is evidenced by drawings and Jungle Cat mummies found alongside
their human owners in Egyptian tombs.

In the 1990s, some breeders set out to create a domestic cat breed that closely resembled the
Jungle Cat. Many different breeds of domestic cat were used in the early Chausie breeding
program, including the Abyssinian and the domestic shorthair (mixed-breed shorthaired cats).

Eventually, the breeders succeeded in their quest to develop a new breed and christened it the
Chausie, basing the moniker on the Latin name for the Jungle Cat (felis chaus). The Chausie has
been recognized by the International Cat Association since 1995. In 2013, the breed was granted
championship status by TICA, which allows cats to compete in cat shows for titles.

Chausie Cat Care


The Chausie’s short, slightly coarse coat is easy to care for. Simply brush weekly with a soft
slicker brush to keep shedding to a minimum. Bathe occasionally and trim your Chausie’s nails
every two or three weeks. Be sure to look inside your cat’s ears about once a week. You should
not see any redness or excessive debris in the ears. If you do, schedule an appointment with your
veterinarian. If the ears look just slightly dirty, clean with a pet-safe ear cleaner and cotton ball
and or square of gauze (never stick a cotton swab inside a cat’s ear).

Chausies are extremely active and inquisitive cats. Always in motion, Chausies love to play, run,
jump, climb, and explore, and many even like water. They are known to open cabinets and
rummage through their contents—child locks might be helpful to prevent especially curious
Chausies from making a mess of things. Provide a variety of acceptable surfaces for scratching,
which is a natural and enjoyable feline behavior. Scratching posts or cat trees are great for cats
that like to scratch vertically. Cardboard or sisal scratchers that lie on the ground are good for
cats that like to scratch horizontally.

Highly intelligent, Chausies love learning new things. Described as “dog-like,” some Chausies
like to play fetch and even like wearing a harness and leash and going for walks outside. In
general, the breed is easy to live with and fun to be around. They are extremely social cats and
need a family that can be home with them a lot to provide engagement and companionship. Most
Chausies reliably use a litter box, though occasionally some Chausies that have more wild blood
might be more prone to spraying or litter box issues.

Common Health Problems


Some pedigreed cat breeds are prone to developing certain genetically-linked diseases, but the
Chausie is quite healthy and has few health concerns. Responsible Chausie breeders select their
breeding cats carefully and avoid breeding cats with health issues. Many reputable breeders also
offer a health guarantee for their kittens.

Diet and Nutrition


While obesity is a concern among cats in general, most Chausies are naturally so active that they
rarely become overweight. Feed a high-quality diet and serve measured amounts twice a day for
adult cats rather than free feeding (leaving food out all day). Talk to your breeder or veterinarian
about the best type of food to feed.

What Are the Most Common Pet Hybrid Cat Breeds?

Pros

• Easy-care coat
• Intelligent and active
• Friendly with people and pets

Cons

• Rare; hard to find


• Needs a lot of attention
• Doesn’t do well if left alone

Where to Adopt or Buy a Chausie Cat


Chausies are extremely rare. The International Cat Association maintains a list of active breeders
on its website. If you’re considering buying a Chausie kitten, try visiting a local cat show, where
you can see many different cat breeds and connect with reputable breeders. To find a cat show in
your area, do an internet search for “cat show near me.” Due to the breed’s rarity, you’re unlikely
to find a Chausie at your local animal shelter, but breeders often facilitate when one of the cats
they’ve bred needs rehoming.
More Cat Breeds and Further Research
If you like the Chausie cat, you might also like these cat breeds:

• Bengal
• Savannah Cat
• Toyger

Otherwise, check out all of our other cat breed articles to help you find the perfect cat for you
and your family.

The Bombay Cat Looks Just Like a Mini Panther


What Are the Most Common Pet Hybrid Cat Breeds?


10 Domesticated Cat Breeds That Are the Largest

The Beautiful Wild Cat Hybrid


The Sweet and Outgoing Kurilian Bobtail Will Steal Your Heart


Meet Thailand's Rare Treasure the Khao Manee Cat

Norwegian Forest Cat — Full Profile, History, and Care


Meet the Sweet Havana Brown Cat


The Affable, Owl-Like Scottish Fold Cat

10 Best Cats With Big Ears


The Exotic and Dog-Like Ocicat


Become Friends With the Affectionate Burmese Cat

These Are the Types of Tabby Patterns Found on Cats


Learn More About the Affectionate, Chatty, and Smart Snowshoe Cat


The 12 Most Popular Cat Breeds

Learn All About the Himalayan Cat

The Spruce Pets


There's a lot you need to know to make things go smoothly with your new friend.
Email AddressSIGN UP
Follow us:

• Instagram
• Pinterest
• Facebook

• DOGS
• CATS
• BIRDS
• SMALL PETS
• AQUARIUMS
• REPTILES
• HORSES
• WHAT TO BUY

• About Us
• Advertise
• Terms Of Use
• Careers
• Editorial Guidelines
• Privacy Policy
• Cookies
• Contact
• California Privacy Notice

The Spruce Pets is part of the Dotdash publishing family.

You might also like

pFad - Phonifier reborn

Pfad - The Proxy pFad of © 2024 Garber Painting. All rights reserved.

Note: This service is not intended for secure transactions such as banking, social media, email, or purchasing. Use at your own risk. We assume no liability whatsoever for broken pages.


Alternative Proxies:

Alternative Proxy

pFad Proxy

pFad v3 Proxy

pFad v4 Proxy