Some people become fans of the TV series “House,” while others fall for the charm of the jungle cat, which is also called… yes, exactly, the chaus. So meet the jungle cat, also known as the chaus, the reed cat, or the swamp lynx, or, scientifically, Felis chaus!
The jungle cat is a true predator. It’s still found in the wild across much of Asia, from the Middle East to Southeast Asia, but in some parts of its range it has disappeared, and as a pet it’s kept mostly by zoos and devoted fans.
History
In Russia, the jungle cat used to live along the Caspian Sea coast, but it was last seen in its traditional habitat there in the 1980s. Yet there were times when the wild jungle cat was no rarity at all, but a common sight.
The swamp lynx living on the banks of the Nile is believed to have been the first to approach people, about three thousand years ago. People (the ancient Egyptians) tried to get as much benefit as they could from the jungle cat: it not only lived in their homes but also went hunting with them. On surviving papyri, you can see a chaus hunting ducks and even swimming to fetch prey from the river.
To be fair, only the Egyptians managed to tame this wild kitty. All later historical records show that people avoided jungle cats and even considered them a danger to their farms, especially to farmed muskrats and pheasants, which these predators attacked. So wild cats were constantly trapped, and their pelts were in demand.
Today there are several recognized subspecies of the jungle cat, and the species as a whole isn’t endangered, but in many reed beds where it once lived, you won’t find a single one.
Jungle Cat Appearance
Since the wild jungle cat isn’t a breed, there’s of course no breed standard for it.
But here’s what it looks like:
- The chaus has a massive head.
- The muzzle is long.
- The ears are large, and adults have ear tufts. The backs of the ears are decorated with “fake eyes.”
- The eyes are yellow or green.
- With fairly long legs, jungle cats have a short, thin tail, about a third of the body length.
- The body itself is powerful, with a broad chest.
- The coat is smooth, short, and very thick.
- Color is the main difference between the subspecies. But the main colors are black and ticked tabby/silver.
If you look closely at photos of jungle cats, you’ll see that the coloring is uneven. The belly and tail are paler than the head and back.
Sexual dimorphism is striking in this species. Males are always bigger than females. They usually stand about 20 inches at the shoulder, and their length (including the tail) can reach about 4 feet. An adult male weighs about 30 lb (a female weighs less, up to about 22 lb).
Also read: The Savannah, a cat that costs as much as a car
Personality
The jungle cat is a predator, and it stays one even when tamed. The swamp lynx prefers a nocturnal lifestyle. It’s tireless, agile, and curious.
Can You Keep a Jungle Cat at Home?
A pet jungle cat is a questionable pleasure. If you have spare furniture, wallpaper, and ceilings, get one right away, and you’ll soon part with the extras. There’s no point keeping a cat like this in an apartment: only on private property, and even then it’s best to build an outdoor enclosure. In the US, jungle cats are regulated as exotic wild animals: they’re banned in many states and need permits in others, so check your state and local laws first.
But hybrids of this wild cat and domestic cats are perfectly comfortable housemates. For example, the famous Chausie, a hybrid of the jungle cat and the Abyssinian cat, becomes fully domestic by the fourth generation, without losing its ancestors’ distinctive traits.
So, a jungle cat is a real “live wire,” because it’s mobile, active, and ready for work and defense at any time of the day or night (especially at night!). Even as adults, both Chausies and jungle cats stay kittens at heart. Feeling their wild blood, they bounce off everything they can bounce off, climb anywhere they can reach, and leap into your arms at a run. Given their weight and size, that’s quite a pleasure!
Still, jungle cats are smart. Yes, they’re easy to train, can follow commands, and handle living with other pets fairly well. All in all, get a chaus, and you’ll never be bored! But don’t forget to buy a big litter box, a scratching post, a country house, and a pool in advance, since jungle cats love to swim and need lots of open space.
Health
That’s what good genes do: jungle cats have no hereditary diseases, don’t suffer from depression, have strong immune systems, and almost never get sick when properly cared for. To stay healthy, they need their owner’s attention, good food, and sunlight (UV). When all three conditions are met, jungle cats live about 14 years.
Caring for a Jungle Cat
This is a big, active animal. Because of the risk of injury and the strain on its skeleton, you need to check a jungle cat’s joints regularly. Don’t forget vaccinations: despite its good genes, the swamp lynx can catch ordinary cat diseases. You’ll need a vet who works with exotic cats.
Let your chaus swim whenever it wants. A pool works well for this, ideally with fish swimming in it.
To keep your pet jungle cat looking like its wild cousins in photos, you don’t need to bathe it specially, but you will need to brush it from time to time.
Feeding
In the wild, jungle cats don’t eat porridge. So don’t offer them a grain-based menu at home either. Instead, they need whole prey, as unpleasant as that may sound. After all, what does a jungle cat ideally eat? Right, game.
A typical daily diet for this ex-wild cat looks like this: about 7 oz of lean meat plus a couple of mice (or one rat), usually frozen-thawed feeder rodents. An alternative is a high-quality food like ORIJEN.
Once a week, the jungle cat goes without food. This fast is meant to keep it from becoming obese, since inside a human home it doesn’t burn as much energy as in the wild (ask your exotic vet how to set this up safely).
Since natural food is preferred for jungle cats, you also need to give your cat vitamin and mineral supplements.
Where to Buy a Jungle Cat Kitten in the US
Buying a purebred jungle cat is practically impossible for an ordinary pet owner. Only a handful of licensed facilities in the US work with the pure species, and where ownership is legal at all, you’ll need permits and a USDA-licensed source. Rare ads for “jungle cat kittens” do pop up, but how “jungle” they really are, only time will tell.
Couldn’t find this breed? We recommend taking a look at the Bengal cat.
What Americans usually buy is the Chausie. Chausies aren’t widespread either, but the ones available are truly well-bred: American breeders are careful with the lines and only allow crosses with Abyssinians or ordinary domestic shorthairs. Even then, a litter produces not only Chausies but also ordinary-looking kittens, and only after three months does it become clear who’s who.
Since a truly adult jungle cat can’t be tamed, it’s always a question of buying a kitten. You can read more about the Chausie, including US prices and TICA breeders, here. As for a pure jungle cat, on the black market the price can reach tens of thousands of dollars, and buying one that way is usually illegal.
