Chausie History

 The first hybrids of the Jungle Cat (Felis chaus) and the domestic cat (Felis silvestris catus) may have been born in Egypt several thousand years ago. 

 The Jungle Cat is native to a vast region spanning Southeast Asia, India and the Middle East. Because it lives by rivers and lakes it is sometimes called a Reed Cat and is found along the Nile Delta of North Africa. 

Occasionally, members of Felis chaus mated with domestic cats. From North Afica to Southeast Asia, there were reports dating back centuries of cats that seem to have been Felis chaus hybrids.

However, the first recorded breeding of a Jungle Cat and a domestic was recorded in 1960. After breeders began working together, in the '90s, the Chausie was awarded Foundation Registry Status in 1995 with The International Cat Association ( TICA).

 The leggy, limber and statuesque Chausie is a true athlete in a cat’s body. Graceful and well-balanced, the Chausie is a large-sized, exotic-looking cat with a long, lean body and seemingly endless energy.

 Chausies are bred to be medium to large in size, as compared to traditional domestic breeds. Most Chausies are a little smaller than a male Maine Coon. Adult Chausie males typically weigh 11 to 16 pounds, and adult females usually 8 to 13 pounds. However, because Chausies are built for running and jumping, they are long-bodied and leggy with medium boning. 

Their deep chest, shortened tail and sloping muzzle offset by angular cheekbones and large tufted ears give it a cougar or puma-like appearance.

The short coat can be solid black, black grizzled tabby, and black (a.k.a. brown) ticked tabby.