“My precious,” Chausie owners say to their pets, and they’re not exaggerating one bit! If you had to choose between a new car and a Chausie kitten and picked the kitten, congratulations: you’re a true fan of the breed, and one of the most expensive cats in the world now lives in your home!
History of the Breed
The Chausie isn’t just a friend or a pet. It’s also a special source of pride. The Chausie kitten ranks among the five most expensive cats in the world. It has an unusual look and remarkable genes, so bow your heads: His Majesty the Chausie is coming through!
The Chausie was “crowned” fairly recently: TICA advanced the new breed in 2003 and granted it full championship status in 2013. But long before it received the orb and scepter, breeders were already working closely with the Chausie.
It’s well known that the ancestors of all Chausies are the kings of the reed beds, jungle cats (Latin: Felis chaus). Domestic cats couldn’t resist the jungle cat’s charm, and these affairs produced hybrid kittens with their own special traits. For a long time nobody paid attention to them, until Americans noticed how picture-perfect the kittens were and started breeding them.
American breeders set out to create an animal with the looks and spirit of a wild cat but a domestic temperament. Talk about a clash of opposites! The work proved hard but rewarding. Even today the Chausie is difficult to breed. But fortune favors the stubborn, and in its homeland, the US, the Chausie is already fairly well known and popular.
Other breeds:
Chausie Breed Description
You could write a whole poem about the Chausie: “Wild and Beautiful.” The way it looks, walks and gazes deserves to be sung in verse. Until a worthy poet comes along, breeders have already captured all of this in the breed standard:
- The Chausie’s head is fairly small, with a strong chin and angular cheekbones:
- the nose is straight and long. Overall, the Chausie’s profile is the classic profile of a hunter;
- the ears, like any good hunter’s, sit high on the head! They’re broad and upright, and the tips may carry tufts, which adds to the breed’s predatory charm;
- the Chausie’s eyes are beautiful. That could be enough, but the standard adds that they’re slightly slanted, preferably amber. Yellow, greenish-yellow and green shades are also allowed;
- the neck of these little pumas is short and broad but very muscular.
- The body is long and elegant. Most of these cats are large, which future owners should keep in mind. The chest is deep, and the tail is about three-quarters the length of the body. The legs are strong and long, and the paws are big.
Adults usually weigh about 15–25 lb. Males are noticeably larger than females, but the ladies are much more active than the gentlemen!
- Coat and color. The coat is short and very dense. It looks glossy and feels springy. Each guard hair is ticked at least twice. How can you tell by color that a cat isn’t a Chausie? It’s definitely not an official representative of the breed if it’s plain gray, red or white. Chausies come in only three colors: solid black, black grizzled (silver-tipped) ticked tabby and brown ticked tabby.
IMPORTANT! The tail tip and ear tufts are black in every color. The body markings may be faint, but they should be visible on the head, legs and tail, and form a sort of “necklace” on the neck.
The look (and the temperament) of these domestic predators depends directly on the generation and the percentage of jungle cat blood. These are marked with the letter F (filial):
- F1: at least 50% jungle cat blood; one of the parents (usually the father) was a jungle cat;
- F2: at least 25%; one of the grandparents was a jungle cat;
- F3: about 12.5% jungle cat blood;
- F4: about 6.25%;
- F5: about 3.12%.
The generation shapes the cat’s character. More on that below.
Personality
American owners, who know His Majesty best, agree: the Chausie is the best companion cat. But let’s be objective: the “wild” blood still affects its temperament. Yes, they’re very social, affectionate and gentle, but the genes of their jungle cat ancestor make them do things unthinkable for ordinary house cats.
Chausies love water. They happily swim and even “hunt” in water! They love heights and will take over the tall bookcases, high shelves and tops of cabinets in your home.
They hoard things. When you’re not looking, a Chausie may grab something it wants and stash it somewhere only it knows. Every so often you’ll stumble on these hiding spots.
Chausies need company so much that, with their owner away, they may even make friends with the family dog. They also love to learn, so now and then give them a lesson in something interesting and, of course, reward them with tasty treats.
Given the cat’s size, it’s best to set aside a play area for your Chausie kitten right away; otherwise you’ll soon be worrying about the rest of your home. Overall, this breed does better in a house than in an apartment, especially one with a large, securely fenced yard or a catio.
Health
Wild ancestors gave the breed robust health, though not without a few quirks:
- these mini-pumas have a sensitive digestive system, which needs to be considered when planning their diet;
- F1 Chausies can be hard to litter train;
- another detail comes up at sexual maturity: males up to the third generation are usually sterile.
Care and Living Conditions
Chausies are very, very active cats. They shouldn’t be locked up within four walls; it’s boring and cramped for them. So they won’t mind walks on a harness at all, and they’ll be truly grateful for regular trips outdoors!
Weekly brushing is enough to keep the coat in top shape. There are no other special grooming needs for these elegant beauties.
Feeding
Feeding, however, comes with plenty of special considerations! Remember their wild ancestor? Along with his genes, he passed on a passion for meat and a poor ability to digest grains. So breeders advise against feeding even super-premium dry food as the main diet.
The Chausie eats meat! Many breeders feed a raw diet: poultry, fish, rabbit, beef, and frozen-thawed feeder mice, quail or chicks. If you feed raw, follow safe food handling and make sure the diet is complete and balanced; ask your vet or breeder.
IMPORTANT! Never feed raw pork: it can transmit Aujeszky’s disease (pseudorabies), which is fatal to cats.
Chausies are big eaters, so put leftovers away out of sight and don’t overfeed. From weaning until about 2 years of age, give vitamins and calcium as your vet recommends.
Photos
Take your Chausie out on a harness often and bring your camera: we promise you’ll get unique shots of a “predator on the hunt”! The breed lives 15–20 years, so stock up on photo albums!
Where to Buy a Chausie Kitten
A genuine Chausie is hard to buy. That’s because the breed is difficult to breed. Most catteries shy away from the challenges, so the few brave breeders deserve a medal. That’s one reason the price of this little tufted wonder is so high.
In the US, Chausie kittens typically cost about $1,500–10,000, with an average of around $2,500. Later-generation (SBT) pet kittens sit at the lower end, while early-generation F1–F2 kittens can cost $10,000 or more.
Before buying, check your state, county and city laws: some places restrict or ban early-generation hybrid cats. Look for registered breeders here:
- TICA breeder listings: choose “Chausie”;
- Chausie Breed Section: the TICA breed group, with a breeder list and buyer FAQ.
A reputable breeder should give you a written contract and TICA registration papers. Without registered parents, a kitten can’t be registered as a Chausie.
The Chausie: a gentle, affectionate BEEEAST!
