Information About the Chausie Cat Breed You Won’t Find Elsewhere

Felis chaus is the Latin name for Jungle Cat, they were revered a lot in the ancient Egyptian culture, their natural habitat was primarily the Nile Valley but they found their way into the Egyptian palaces due to their exotic good looks. The Egyptians preserved them through their artwork and mummified them along with the royalty, it has been said that the statue of Goddess Bastet was remodeled to immortalize the Jungle Cat.

The Chausie breed pronounced as chow-see get their royal wildcat looks and behavior from these Jungle Cats. This breed is not yet recognized by the Cat Fancier’s Association (CFA), however it has been granted foundation registry status by The International Cat Association (TICA) in 1995. It has also received Championship status due to the continuous efforts of the breeders. Let us take a look at the characteristics of this breed.

They retain the wild looks of the Jungle Cat and are tall, slender and elegant. Their muscular body is very agile and is built for hunting, running, and jumping. It has a full muzzle and deep chin. The ears are large and tufted, their head is longer which gives them the resemblance of a cougar. Eyes are almond-shaped and the eye color ranges from yellow, gold, light-green to hazel. Legs are moderately long and muscled. The tail is shorter compared to the body length.

Male weight: 15-25 pounds
Female weight: 15-20 pounds
They are large-sized and can stand 17 to 18 inches, males are generally taller than the females and they can live up to 14 years.

They have a short to medium coat, the undercoat is soft and dense while the upper coat is coarse. Their coat comes in 3 recognizable colors – golden brown ticked tabby, solid black, and black grizzled ticked tabby. The kittens have stripes and spots when young but as they mature the coat gets wild ticked and attractive.

They exhibit mostly dog-like qualities and are very active, intelligent, curious, and athletic. They are lionhearted but not aggressive. They are loving and sweet-natured, but rarely sit idle in one place for a long time. They are quick in movement and are known to have high speed like their ancestors, they love to jump in the air and can leap up to 6ft vertically.

They require constant stimulation through games and outdoor activity. Having a lease around them while taking them for a walk is recommended as they are bound to run around. Sound training is necessary as they are prone to mischief and can open doors and cupboards. An enclosed garden is ideal for them to hang out in the open where there is ample of space to climb, jump and scuttle around. Grooming is less as they have a short coat, brushing it every two weeks will maintain it well.

Being a healthy breed, they have lesser health issues. However, annual vaccination is recommended for healthy growth. Avoid giving them gluten diet as they are prone to allergies. A balanced high-protein low-carbohydrate diet is ideal for them.

This breed cannot live a life of solitude and requires an active family to stay with. They are friendly with other pets and children, but new pets should be introduced to them gradually under the owner’s supervision. Given its wild cat heritage, they have a lanky grace to charm with and can develop intense bond with the owner for a lifetime.