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Chausie

Breed Profile

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.

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. The tail is 3/4 to full length, and the ears are large, mobile, and can be lynx-tipped. The body is long and slender, and the legs are long, with small feet.

When people get their first glimpse of a Chausie,   they are 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 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 (effective May 1, 2001).  In May of 2003, the Chausie achieved Advanced New Breed status and now competes in the   Advanced New Breed (ANB) rings in TICA shows. ‘ANB’ is the level prior to a new breed becoming a Championship Breed and requires several additional years of Breed development before advancing

The first historical record of Jungle Cat was found in ancient Egypt, where both the Jungle Cat and the African Wild Cat were used for hunting wild waterfowl. Mummified Jungle Cats have been found in Egyptian tombs,  attesting to the high regard in which they were held. Some say that the  statues of the goddess Bastet were modeled after Jungle Cats and we can certainly see the resemblance in her long, slender body and large ears!

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.

Jungle Cat is a generic sounding term and people sometimes assume it refers to any wild cat whose habitat is jungle or forest. However, the Jungle Cat is a distinct species, with 9 subspecies, and is one of the largest of the small cats (genus Felis).  In the wild, Jungle Cats have been reported ranging from 18 to 30 lb. However, the Chaisie, although resembling the Jungle Cat, will be quite a bit smaller than this.

The chief habitats of the Jungle Cat are wetlands and river valleys. It preys on rodents and other small animals, but occasionally will eat the young of larger  animals as well. This cat also flourishes in proximity to humanity, attracted by the rodents which congregate in irrigated fields. In India, Felis chaus has been found nesting in abandoned granaries and houses. Probably because of this   flexibility, Felis chaus populations are stable and the species is not  considered endangered.  Felis chaus is closely related to Felis sylvestris, which is widely considered to be the ancestor of modern domestic cats, and for this reason it is able to interbreed with  domestic cats.

Jungle Cats are exotic wild  animals and as exotics they require special permits (in some areas), special diets, housing to maintain, and a commitment for the lifetime of the animal as many exotics do not re-home well. The TICA Chausie Breed Committee does not recommend Jungle Cats or any wild  animals as house pets which is why we strive to recreate the elegant beauty of the Jungle Cat in the  domestic Chausie. 

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