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The Scratching Post
Chausie
The Chausie (pronounced 'chow'-see) is a large domestic cat with the exotic look and beauty of the Jungle Cat. They have a gently wedge-shape head with a long, square muzzle and strong chin. The large ears sit upright and are wide at the base. The ears taper to slightly rounded points, which are topped with longer hair tufts giving this cat a wild lynx look. They have long-muscled legs and powerful hindquarters. Their ? to full length is patterned with dark barring. The wild-ticked shorthaired coat pattern comes in three colors: golden brown, solid black and black with silver-tipping. The Chausie can grow to be as large as a Maine Coon and are much larger than normal domestic cats.
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Temperament
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Chausies are highly affectionate and active. They demand attention and will reward you for it. They are highly intelligent, graceful and agile. Their antics can be enormously entertaining, but their high energy level may leave you exhausted. This breed has amazing jumping ability with some jumping as high as 6 feet. Owning a Chausie is not for everyone. They are not lap cats, preferring to play and explore rather than lay around. This breed is often referred to as "dog like" in their eagerness for nonstop play and their devotion to their owners. They are extremely loyal and loving to their humans and get along well with other animals. Remember, they are very fast and athletic and rarely sit in one place for very long. They do best with older children.
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Height, Weight
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Males: Up to 25 pounds ; Females: Up to 20 lbs.
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Health Problems
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There are no known health issues or breed specific problems.
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Living Conditions
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Chausies do not do well living in a home with lots of precious breakables or with people who have a low tolerance for mischief. Keeping your cat indoors and neutering or spaying are essential elements for maintaining a healthy companion, and most importantly will extend the life expectancy of your cat.
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Exercise
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Cats receive valuable exercise from playing. Playing builds the bond that you share as well as burns calories, releases aggression and burns off excess energy in younger cats. Chausies are a high energy and very active cat. They need lots of toys and perhaps another feline companion to play with.
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Life Expectancy
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About 10-12 years
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Grooming
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The Chausie's short coat requires only occasional brushing and bathing. Trim claws regularly.
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Origin
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The Chausie (also known as the Jungle Cat) was found in ancient Egypt and was accorded sacred in the time of the Pharaohs. This status was probably bestowed upon them for their role in helping keep rats from infesting the grain supplies. Some Jungle Cats where trained by Egyptian royalty to hunt wild water fowl while others were entombed with the Pharaohs into the afterlife. The name Chausie was derived from the Latin name for the breed's wild ancestor, the Jungle Cat, which is Felis Chaus. The breed is recognized by The International Cat Association (TICA).
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