Chausie Breed History

The Chausie is a hybrid feline breed, which means these domesticated cats are also part wild cat. Beginning in the 1990s, breeders started mating Abyssinians with the Jungle Cat of south-central Asia.

The Jungle Cat actually has a long history of living with people, as it was domesticated by ancient Egyptians because it had great hunting skills and an easygoing personality. In fact, these cats were adored so much so that they were mummified.

Even though the Jungle Cat would occasionally mate with domesticated cats, the first recorded breeding occurred in 1990, and it wasn’t long before the hybrid breed was fully recognized and became popular.

Chausie (pronounced chow-see) is derived from the Latin name for the Jungle Cat, felis chaus.

Breed Traits

As with other hybrid cat breeds, the Chausie is a high-energy feline. These cats need a lot of attention and a lot of toys, cat trees, and scratching posts to stay entertained. They don’t do as well in homes with many delicate objects or in families with small children because they still retain a lot of their wild tendencies. But they can do well in homes with other pets, such as dogs.

These cats are also highly social, intelligent, loving, and outgoing, and they seek out the attention of their owners. In addition to playing, they enjoy interacting with their families, so they should not be left alone for extended periods of time. Only cat owners who spend a good amount of time at home every day should consider getting this breed, as it isn’t wise to leave these cats alone for 12+ hours a day.

Chausies need to be a fed a diet that consists of meat and no plant matter because their digestive systems are unable to break down grains and vegetables. Feeding the wrong type of diet can lead to intestinal inflammation, malabsorption of nutrients, and malnutrition.

Overall Description

The Chausie is one of the largest cat breeds, with a long, tall, and slender body, thanks to its wild roots. But in addition to its large frame, the cat also has a wild appearance thanks to its elongated snout, which appears similar to a cougar’s snout, as well as its large, sometimes-tufted ears.

These cats have a lot of energy and are highly active and athletic, with a body built for running, hunting, and leaping. Their hind legs are a bit longer than their front legs, giving them the ability to easily jump more than six to eight feet into the air.

Colors

The Chausie comes in three colors, which are solid black, grizzled tabby, and brown-ticked tabby. This is the only cat with the unique grizzled pattern, which was acquired from the Jungle Cat. The brown-ticked tabby features barring down the hind legs, as well as on the front legs.

Grooming Requirements

This breed does not require a lot of grooming. The hair length is short and shedding is moderate, so a weekly brushing should suffice to keep the skin and coat healthy.

Photo credit: Abicatz Zamphyr