Chausie
The Chausie is a cross between the jungle cat, Felis chaus, and the domestic cat, developed in the United States from the 1990s.
Like other hybrids it is described by generation, with F1 closest to the wild parent and later generations progressively more domestic.
It weighs 4 to 11 kilograms, is long-legged, deep-chested and athletic, with large ears often tufted at the tips. It is exceptionally active and needs far more exercise and stimulation than an ordinary cat. The most practical difference from a normal cat is digestive: jungle cat ancestry gives a shorter intestinal tract that handles plant material poorly, so a Chausie needs a high-protein, grain-free diet and can develop chronic problems on ordinary cat food.
- Origin
- United States, 1990s, from jungle cat and domestic cat
- Size
- 4–11 kg
- Lifespan
- 12–15 years
- Build
- Long-legged, deep-chested, athletic; tufted ears
- Diet
- High-protein and grain-free — the gut handles plant matter poorly
- Legal status
- Early generations restricted in many places
2 chausie photos, newest first
Living with a chausie
Feed for the gut it has. The shortened intestine inherited from Felis chaus copes badly with grain and plant fillers, and many Chausies develop chronic inflammatory bowel problems on standard supermarket food. A high-protein, grain-free or raw diet is not a fad here.
Check local law for the generation you are considering. Early generations are restricted or prohibited in many jurisdictions.
They are enormously active and need vertical space, secure outdoor access, and daily hard play. An under-exercised Chausie is destructive.
Males in the earlier generations are usually sterile.
Use a vet with hybrid experience, and expect them to want a detailed diet history at every visit.
General guidance, not veterinary advice. Individual cats vary, and anything about a specific animal is a question for a vet who has seen it.
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