Chausie cat

Federations: TICA

Coexistence is important that you have with your new friend. Before considering the acquisition of a cat of the breed "Chausie cat" you know certain factors. You must take into account their character, their need for exercise, their interaction with other pets, their care and if you have small children, their level of tolerance towards them.

According to legend, the Chausie cat it is a distant cousin of wild cats domesticated in honor of the goddess Bastet in ancient Egypt. In fact, the reality is quite different, despite the eerie similarities between the Chausie real and the artistic representations of some cats of the time.

Born at the end of the years 60 or early 70 in United States, the Chausie would be the first hybrid breed resulting from the cross between a jungle cat (Felis chaus) who lived essentially in Egypt, India, Central Asia and Southeast Asia, and domestic short-haired cats of various breeds, having in common physical characteristics close to those of the Felis chaus.

The idea behind the creation of this hybrid was to create a “domesticated jungle cat” that looks like a Felis chaus but that he was as tame as a domestic cat. The Chausie cat intended to appeal both to the daring who were trying to tame true wild cats and to cat lovers “exotic”. The bet paid off over the years 90: passionate breeders managed to stabilize the characteristic traits of the breed and consolidate the genetic stock to facilitate breeding.

Thanks to the efforts of these breeders, the International Cat Association (the TICA, an organization that lists and registers all existing cat pedigrees in the world) recognized the breed in 1995. In 2003, gave the owners of the Chausie the opportunity to present your companion in the feline shows organized under your aegis, granting him the title of New Race. But, in the news, they cannot participate in the competitions by themselves.

In France, el LEAF (Livre Officiel des Origines Félines, an association with missions similar to the TICA) follow the position of the TICA and allow owners to participate in exhibitions, but not compete.
As for the other feline associations in the world, and in particular the FIFE (Fédération Internationale Féline), they still don't recognize the breed.

Today, the breeders of Chausie cat they keep working to get new generations closer and closer physically to their wild cousin, especially through crosses with the Abyssinian cat. The breed is found primarily in the United States and Europe, but it also has a following in South Asia and India, although its dissemination is more confidential.

The Chausie it's a big cat (especially the males) with a long powerful guy and a long rectangular body. Has a sleek appearance and powerful musculature, but it is not very showy. The rib cage is wide, the legs are of medium length with stronger hind legs than most other cat breeds. The tail is shorter than that of other breeds and reaches the hock.

In the face, the Chausie has a broad, triangular head with prominent cheekbones, a rounded forehead and a long muzzle. The ears are wide at the base and wide open. Feathers are very popular with breeders of this breed. The eyes, oval in shape and slightly flattened on top, are generally golden yellow hazelnut in color. Light green tones are also accepted.

This cat's coat has a dense coat of short to medium length. The fur is reminiscent of its wild ancestor, the jungle cat Felis chaus, especially for its ticking. The more ticking (several colored stripes on the same coat), more appreciated will be the cat in the feline exhibitions.

Size: Of 40 to 50 cm.
Male weight: Of 6 to 11 kg
female weight: 6-9 kg

Currently, the standards TICA y LOOF they only recognize three colors. There may be a Chausie cat with other colors, but they cannot be registered in the LOOF and / or TICA.

Full black

The kitties Chausie negros may show slight brindle markings that disappear as the kitten grows older. Prolonged exposure to the sun can cause your black to turn brown.

Gray-haired black tabby

The black tabby pattern is a direct descendant of the wild cat Felis chaus and is exclusive to Chausie. In fact, no other domestic cat has this pattern, unless you have a wild ancestor in your family tree. So, it is easy to understand why this variety is the most sought after, since it is the most similar to the fur of the jungle cat.

The kitties, originally black, show black brindle markings as they grow, while her fur becomes lighter. The coat of the black tabby has a ticking that changes depending on the part of the body, ranging from dark mouse gray with black tips to a three-striped ticking (mouse gray, black and white) in the finest specimens. This characteristic reaches its full and definitive expression when the cat has 3 years.

Some Chausies gray-haired blacks can be mistaken for a Chausie negro when silver ticking is scarce.

Brown tabby

The brown tabby has a black tabby marking on a brown background, with stripes on the inside of the legs and on the tip of the tail. The shade of brown can vary from cat to cat, as long as it doesn't get too close to the Abyssinian. As with the first two colors, the final color of the Chausie brown ticked tabby not fixed until 3 years of age.

Despite its wild origins, the Chausie cat has all the features of a domestic cat. Very attached to his master, even exclusive, it is a sociable cat that demands a lot of attention and barely supports loneliness. Very affectionate, You can enjoy both being indoors with their owners at home and playing with the other animals in the family. This cat also adapts very well to the presence of children, for whom it can be a good playmate, provided he is taught to control his claws from a young age.

In effect, even if it is a good domestic cat, the Chausie also has a strong character, is often stubborn and may have aggressive reactions, inherited from its wild origins. Your fearlessness can also play tricks on you, especially when it goes outside. In any case, he needs a teacher capable of having authority and patience to reveal all his qualities and temper his predatory side.

True athlete, has a reputation for being a tireless gamer and spending without sparing expense. In fact, they do better in a house with a garden or in a very large apartment, that provides them with enough space and plenty of opportunities to play and run around in the absence of their owner.

Last, the Chausie cat distinguished by high intelligence and hunting instincts superior to those of other domestic breeds. It is one of those cats that likes to learn tricks, look for the ball, walk with harness… but also open taps and doors in the absence of supervision. Thus, it is recommended to use cat toys and stimulate their attention as much as possible, both for your well-being and for the living room furniture.

The coat of the Chausie is slightly longer than that of normal domestic cats, but still easy to care. Regular brushing and removal of dead hairs ensure a shiny coat.

Due to his offspring from a kind of wild cat, the Chausie cat he is very fond of freedom. This athletic cat also has a strong drive to move and can easily jump six feet from a standing position.. Thus, keeping them indoors is only possible under special conditions. If you cannot provide access to the outside, the cat must have a large outdoor enclosure. You must be able to live your natural instincts, ideally hunting mice and birds, to be happy. If you have your cat in an outdoor enclosure, you must be prepared to receive regularly “gifts” of your cat in the form of prey.

This affectionate cat likes to be around his owners and is reluctant to stay home alone. If you are a person who works, it is better to have two cats so that the animals do not get bored. A large, sturdy scratching post and several cat toys will keep them busy and provide variety around the home.. They love to play catch and chase mice and balls. You can also give your cat, water lover, a special treat with a soak in the tub or a bubbly drinking fountain. Some cats like water so much that they will even follow you into the shower.

The Chausie is a relatively recent hybrid. Thus, There is very little scientific literature on health problems specific to this breed..

But, analyzes of animals born from two different species draw a picture of pathologies that Chausies, as hybrids, can present: male infertility prevalence, fluctuating physical development (very large or very small individuals), digestive problems, behavioral instability (this cat is still more aggressive than a real house cat) and, in rare cases, heart problems due to malformations of the heart muscle.

Generations of Chausies are classified according to their “closeness” to its wild ancestor on a scale from F1 to F4 and above, F1 being the generation born directly from hybridization between a domestic cat (Felis sylvestris catus) and a wild cat (Felis chaus). Males of generations F1 to F3, or even F4, are generally sterile, which considerably complicates the work of breeders of Chausie to develop this breed.

Last, due to its wild origins, this cat has inherited a shorter digestive tract than other breeds. This makes them more susceptible to certain intestinal problems., including inflammation from food allergies, and predisposes them to gluten intolerance.

Life expectancy

12 to 14 years

As their direct ancestors are wild animals, a high-protein diet is even more important for the breed than for other cats. Ideally, feed them their own BARF food. In this way, your cat will have all the important components of a healthy diet that it would get in the wild.

Before buying a Chausie cat, you must be absolutely sure that the hybrid cat suits you. If you can't offer enough exercise, you don't even have to think about getting a cat that likes to move. In any case, in Europe it will be difficult for you to find a breeder. The breed is not very common outside its country of origin.. If you find a breeder, you must check first if he is responsible and takes care of the health of his breeding animals. Due to its rarity, the kitties Chausie they naturally have their price. Depending on the breeder, you can spend up to 10.000 euros for a purebred F1 kitten.

To understand the Chausie cat, it is also important to know the jungle cat (Felis chaus).

The jungle cat found in nine subspecies in Asia, Middle East and Egypt.

With his black plumes in his ears, resembles a lynx, which also earned him the name of “swamp fox”.

In the wild, the jungle cats they are solitary animals and they hunt at sunset.

Its habitat is mainly near water bodies or wetlands in inaccessible reed thickets or swampy riparian forests. So, they are not afraid of water and can swim excellently.
In captivity, the jungle cats they become very tame and it is said that the ancient Egyptians even trained them to hunt.