Breed History:

The Chausie is a modern hybrid cat breed developed by crossing domestic cats with the Jungle Cat (Felis chaus), a wild feline native to parts of Asia and the Middle East. The breed's name comes from the scientific name of the Jungle Cat.

The development of the Chausie began in the United States during the 1960s and 1970s, when breeders experimented with combining the athletic appearance of the Jungle Cat with the temperament of domestic cats. Domestic breeds used in its development included the Abyssinian and other short-haired domestic cats.

Unlike wild cats kept as pets, the Chausie was developed specifically as a domestic companion breed. Breeders worked over multiple generations to produce cats with a more predictable temperament while retaining the athletic body, long legs, large ears, and distinctive facial features inherited from the Jungle Cat.

The breed was accepted for registration by The International Cat Association (TICA) in the 1990s and later achieved championship status in the early 2000s.

Today, the Chausie is valued as an intelligent, athletic, energetic, and highly interactive companion known for its wild appearance and strong bond with its family.

Gender	Height	Weight
Male	30 to 45 cm	5 to 10 kg
Female	25 to 40 cm	4 to 7 kg

Size: Large

Life Expectancy: 12 to 15 years

Breed Appearance:

The Chausie is a large, athletic, and muscular cat with long legs and a distinctly wild appearance.

The breed commonly features:

• Wedge-shaped head

• High cheekbones

• Long muzzle

• Large, almond-shaped eyes

• Large ears set high on the head

• Distinctive ear tufts in some cats

• Long, muscular neck

• Broad chest

• Long, athletic body

• Very long legs

• Large oval paws

• Medium-length tail

The Chausie has a short, dense, and close-lying coat that is relatively easy to maintain.

Recognised coat colours include:

• Brown ticked tabby

• Solid black

• Black grizzled ticked tabby

The brown ticked tabby coat is particularly distinctive, with multiple bands of colour along individual hairs that create a subtle wild appearance.

The breed's large ears, long legs, athletic body, and high-set facial features give it a strong resemblance to its Jungle Cat ancestry.

Breed Type – Active Companion / Family Cat:

The Chausie is an intelligent, energetic, and highly interactive companion breed.

It is known for being:

• Intelligent

• Athletic

• Energetic

• Curious

• Affectionate

• Playful

• Social

• Confident

Chausies often form strong bonds with their owners and enjoy participating in household activities.

They generally do best with experienced owners who can provide plenty of physical activity and mental stimulation.

The breed can live with children and other pets when properly socialised, although its high energy and strong hunting instincts require appropriate supervision and introductions.

Training:

The Chausie is highly intelligent and can be trained successfully using positive reinforcement.

Training should focus on:

• Early socialisation

• Positive reinforcement

• Basic obedience

• Harness training

• Recall training

• Interactive games

• Mental enrichment

The breed can learn:

• Basic commands

• Tricks

• Fetch

• Harness walking

• Puzzle toys

• Agility-style activities

Chausies can become bored easily, so training should be varied, challenging, and interactive.

Health & Care:

The Chausie is generally considered a healthy breed, but some individuals may experience health concerns, including:

• Digestive sensitivity

• Food intolerance

• Obesity

• Dental disease

• Hip or joint problems

• Nutritional deficiencies in poorly managed diets

Some early-generation hybrids may have more complex nutritional requirements than typical domestic cats.

Regular veterinary examinations, a complete and balanced diet, appropriate exercise, dental care, and responsible breeding help support long-term health.

Living Conditions:

The Chausie requires an environment that provides plenty of space and enrichment.

Ideal environments include:

• Large apartments with extensive climbing areas

• Houses

• Homes with secure outdoor enclosures

• Active households

• Families with older children

• Homes with compatible pets

Tall cat trees, climbing walls, shelves, tunnels, scratching posts, and puzzle feeders are particularly important.

Because of its athletic ability and strong curiosity, secure outdoor access such as a catio can provide valuable enrichment.

Exercise:

The Chausie has very high exercise requirements.

Recommended activities include:

• Interactive play

• Wand toys

• Chasing games

• Fetch

• Climbing

• Running

• Puzzle feeders

• Agility activities

• Harness walks

• Interactive training

Around 60 to 90 minutes or more of active exercise and play per day may be appropriate for an adult Chausie, depending on its individual energy level.

Multiple play sessions throughout the day are often more effective than one long session.

Grooming:

The Chausie has relatively low grooming requirements.

• Brushing once or twice per week

• More frequent brushing during shedding periods

• Occasional bathing when necessary

• Regular nail trimming

• Routine ear cleaning

• Regular dental care

Its short coat generally does not mat easily and is simple to maintain.

Advantages:

• Highly intelligent

• Extremely athletic

• Energetic and playful

• Strongly bonded with owners

• Distinctive wild appearance

• Low grooming requirements

• Can learn tricks and play fetch

• Enjoys interactive activities

• Confident and curious

Disadvantages:

• Very high exercise and stimulation requirements

• May become destructive when bored

• Strong hunting instincts

• Can be challenging for inexperienced cat owners

• Requires extensive climbing and enrichment

• May not suit quiet or sedentary households

• Some individuals can be demanding of attention

• Early-generation hybrids may have more specialised care requirements

• Relatively uncommon breed