Chausie Cat Breed Guide

May 20, 2024

Active | Fearless | Playful. The Chausie cat is a breed of kitty that has both domestic and wild ancestry. Originating in ancient Egypt and later bred in the States, they’re extremely rare in the UK and aren’t recognised as a pedigree breed by the GCCF due to their wild heritage. The breeding of hybrid cats is a controversial topic and not supported by International Cat Care due to inherent ethical issues. Let’s take a closer look.

CHAUSIE CAT BASICS

Average Lifespan: 12 – 18 years

Average Weight: 5.5 – 7.2kg

Coat Length: Short

Colouring: Black, black grizzled tabby, brown ticked tabby

Shedding: Low

WHAT IS THE ANCESTRY OF THE CHAUSIE CAT?

The Chausie cat is a hybrid cat, meaning it’s a mix of both a domesticated floof and a wild cat. The wild cat in question is the jungle cat which has roots in ancient Egypt where it was commonly domesticated due to its skill in hunting as well as its affectionate temperament. In fact the ancient Egyptians loved the jungle cat so much that it was commonly found mummified in tombs along with its adoring hoomans.

Although the Chausie has been around for thousands of years through chance mating between a wild jungle cat and a domesticated moggie, it wasn’t until the 1990s that a breeding program was established in the US, commonly using an Abyssinian as the domestic parent. TICA awarded the Chausie recognition in 1995, however, it is yet to gain the same from the GCCF.

The breeding of hybrid cats like the Chausie is controversial due to its inherent ethical concerns. International Cat Care doesn’t agree with the breeding of hybrid cats due to welfare concerns for the domestic cats used for mating as well as the jungle cats who must be kept in captivity, which constrains their natural born wildness and desire to be free.

Hybrid cats are labeled either F1, F2, F3 or F4 with F1 being first generation Chausie where one of its parents is a jungle cat. To own an F1 Chausie cat, you must obtain a license under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act.

F2 Chausie cats are legal to own but the PDSA doesn’t recommend it due to their wild purrsonalities which can stress them out if kept under the constraints of domestic life. F3 and F4 Chausie cats have less “wild” DNA and are the most common of the Chausies to be kept as pets.

WHAT DO CHAUSIE CATS LOOK LIKE?

The Chausie is a hefty breed of floof, sometimes weighing as much as 7kg. They are tall and have athletic long legs to support their active lifestyle and penchant for acrobatics. With pointy ears and either a tabby ticked coat or a grizzled coat (much like the colour of the ferocious grizzly bear), it’s obvious that these cats come from some seriously wild lineage. They have a short low-maintenance coat and pointy ears that twitch at the lightest scurry of a mouse or jingling of keys at the front door, alerting them to their pawrent’s arrival back home, signalling the beginning of their next playtime appointment.

WHAT’S THE PURRSONALITY OF A CHAUSIE CAT?

Chausies have a high intelligence and an activity level to match. Their energy levels are matched only by the Energizer bunny and they love nothing more than to run, climb, jump, chase and pounce. With this, responsible pawrents will have to keep their Chausie cat occupied with plenty of toys and games, as well as climbing frames, scratching posts and tunnels.

A great way to provide them with much needed exercise and to tire them out in the process is leash-training them so that you can take them for walks around the neighbourhood allowing them to stretch their legs without adding risk to the local birdlife. Although Chausie cats love to play, their play style can be rough at times so aren’t suited to furmilies with young children. They’re also highly sociable and thrive on attention from their hoomans, so struggle if left alone for extended periods throughout the day.

ARE CHAUSIE CATS GOOD WITH OTHER CATS?

As Chausie cats thrive on attention and hate being left alone, they appreciate the company of other floofs including cats as well as dogs. Like all kitties, it’s easiest to add another floof to the fur fam whilst the resident cat is still young. This way they will be less territorial, making for an easier introduction process. However if your resident old tom is no longer a kitten, adding another cat to the furmily is still pawssible, and we’ve written an entire step by step guide on how to introduce a kitten to a cat over on our Cat Blogs & News page.

CHAUSIE CAT FEEDING REQUIREMENTS

Chausies are closely related to wild cats and have inherited their carnivorous dietary needs. They also don’t tolerate plant material well, so feeding a Chausie unnecessary levels of vegetables or plant proteins can disrupt their digestive system and cause tummy upsets. Chausie cats are also thought to be more prone to food allergies so benefit from pet foods that avoid common allergens and prioritise gut health when formulating their cat food recipes…hmmm sounds like a brand we know well!

SCRUMBLES, THE PAWFECT MATCH FOR CHAUSIE CATS

Scrumbles is the number one choice for Chausie cats because:

We Use High-Levels of Animal Meat: As we know, Chausie cats need to eat protein-rich diets with high levels of animal meat. Our recipes contain up to 77% human-grade meat and never use unnecessary plant proteins which Chausie cats struggle to digest.
We Avoid Common Allergens: Chausie cats are prone to developing food allergies. That’s why we avoid common allergens in our food.
We Use Natural Ingredients: Our ingredients are ethically sourced, natural and high-quality to deliver optimal nutrition to our furry friends. We never use artificial additives or preservatives or added salt or sugar which upset floofy tummies.
We Offer Tailored Formulas: We offer various cat food formulas including kitten food, adult cat food, and senior cat food to meet the specific needs of your Chausie cat at all ages.
We Strive To Improve The Gut Health Of British Cats: All of our cat food is designed to be easily digestible, which can help prevent tummy upsets and unhappy poops. We also use pre and probiotics for easy clean-ups at the litter box and less stinky farts and avoid red meat which is harder to digest for cats.
Our Cat Food is Pawsitively Delicious: Cats are known for their fussiness, but with over 4000 five-star reviews from satisfied kitties across the UK, there’s a recipe for every Chausie cat amongst our wide collection of scrumptious cat dinners.