The Chausie () is a hybrid breed of cat that was developed by the hybridisation of wild jungle cats (Felis chaus) with domestic cats (Felis catus). The breed has a lean and athletic built, sporting a black-based coat of a ticked or grizzled tabby, or a solid pattern.

In 1995, the Chausie was officially recognised and pedigreed by The International Cat Association (TICA) under the "non-domestic hybrid source breed"-category. Because Chausies are mostly descended from domestic cats, by about the fourth to fifth generation, they are fully fertile and domestic in temperament.

Due to their hybrid origin, multiple countries have legal restrictions on the ownership and breeding of Chausies.

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. These breeders asked for and received registration status from TICA in 1995. The breed worked its way through the New Breed Class from May 2001 through April 2013, and became TICA's newest Championship breed on 1 May 2013. Chausies are now being bred in both North America and Europe. The breed has begun the new breed recognition process in the World Cat Federation (WCF).

Hybrid registry codes

thumb|Very young kitten. Eye and coat colour not yet fully developed.|alt=Very young Chausie kitten. Eye and coat colour not yet fully developed.

Currently, most authentic Chausies produced are late generation cats with fully domestic temperaments. Their pedigree registration certificates will usually indicate that they are "C" generation or "SBT" (Stud Book Tradition), which means they are four generations (F4) or more beyond the jungle cat (F. chaus). SBT is the only generation allowed to compete for championship status in TICA shows. Adult females are usually . Sometimes black grizzled tabby Chausies will appear indistinguishable from solid black Chausies when the amount of grizzling is minimal. Exposure to strong sunlight, as with most black cats, can cause black Chausies to lighten slightly and appear brownish.

thumb|Black grizzled tabby variety adult|alt=Adult Chausie of the black grizzled tabby variety.

Black grizzled tabbies are unique to the Chausie breed among domestic cats. The grizzled pattern comes from the jungle cat; it is never found in domestic cats unless they have F. chaus ancestors. and Belgium (Flanders and Brussels) it is illegal to own or breed jungle cats and also their F1–F4 generation hybrid Chausies offspring.

See also

  • Other felid hybrid breeds of domestic cat:
  • Bengal cat
  • Kanaani cat
  • Savannah cat
  • List of experimental cat breeds

References

Notes

  • Bird, C. "The Chausie: The Cat That Came Up From the Reeds." In: TICA Trend. Harlingen, TX: The International Cat Association, Inc., Dec. 2009/Jan. 2010, Vol. 31 No. 1.