The Origins...

The Chausie is a new domestic cat breed with its foundation beginning with the first generation cross of a domestic cat and a wild feline species known as the Jungle Cat (Felis Chaus). From the first generation cross and progressing with several generations of domestic out crosses, we bring the Chausie cat into being - a beautiful exotic domestic natured cat, with a remarkable resemblance to its wild ancestor.

The Jungle Cat at first glance is a plain coated cat compared to many dramatic spotted species of wild cats in the world. Nevertheless, the Jungle Cat is especially unique in its looks. Most commonly the Jungle Cat is found to have a sandy to golden brown wild ticked coat with dramatic black bands on the tops of the front legs and black eartufting adorning large mobile ears.  The Jungle Cat also comes in black to black with silver-tip coloration which is different then the silvering found in domestic cat breeds. These unique features give this cat a very exotic appearance.

The Jungle Cat has a wide range of habitation varying from North Africa across the Middle East into Southeast Asia making them one of the more common smaller wild cats we have today. Chausies in the past have been nick named 'Nile Cats' because of their ancient Egyptian heritage and yet we know now that the Jungle Cat ancestor is found in several regions. Most of the Jungle Cats live in desert-like and arid mountain terrain, and are one of the largest amoung the smaller wild cats weighing 16-30 pounds.  The Jungle Cat was found in Egypt, where it was tamed and kept for its rodent-catching ability and held sacred amount the Pharaohs. They have been depicted in wall paintings and statutes, and have also been found mummified and entombed in Egypt.

Chausie cats are TICA registered, and are a hybrid cross of at least one Jungle Cat ancestor and domestic cat. The TICA approved permissible domestic outcrosses are the Abbyssinian and  Domestic Shorthair.  When a domestic cat is bred to a Jungle Cat, this becomes the first generation hybrid, and this first generation is called an F-1 (foundation) cat.  F mean 'Filial' and 1 means the first generation cross.  The second generation is called and F-2 and the third generation F-3 and so forth.  Male chausies born in the early generation are often sterile due to the mismatch in chromosome relationship, however the females remain fertile. Most F-1 Chausies should be owned and raised only by experienced breeders, or people who have considered the commitment involved with a pet having a higher percentage of wild blood.  In the correct care and upbringing these cats can make a wonderful companions. We don't however recomend the F-1's for families with small children. Like all exotic cats, foundation cats mature at a different rate, and it has been noted that they become extremely bonded to a family or a person in the family that raises them.  If a pet owner decides on an earlier generation cat, he or she must make the commitment to keep this cats for its lifetime, as re-homing a Chausie cat is particularly hard on the cat for an early generation hybrid.

Chausies structurely retain the tall, leggy, long-bodied look of the Jungle Cat, mimicking its lean and agile physique.  The Chausies head is of medium size and has a modified wedge shape, with a long square muzzle and strong chin.  Their medium to large ears are set upright and are wide at the base, tapering slightly into rounded tips which are ideally tipped with Lynx like tufts.  Chausies have long legs built for running, and thier large powerful hind quarters attest to their tremendous leaping ability.  The Chausie tail can range from the desired 3/4 length, which falls right behind the hocks like the Jungle Cat, or full length. Chausies in general are medium to large cats. Sometimes the earlier generation cats will have more size. but later generations, in proportion, should give the appearance of being tall and athletic. The Chausie has great intelligence, feral grace and agility. They are highly affectionate and have dog-like devotion.  They are actively inquisitive and like to interact with their owners and surroundings. They have a non-stop enthusiasm for play, which make for delightful companions. Most have good litter box habits and can eat high quality cat foods.

There is something special and unique about being owned by a Chausie.