Chausie
The Chausie is a hybrid breed developed by crossing the Jungle Cat (Felis chaus) — a medium-sized wild cat native across South Asia including the Indian subcontinent, the Middle East, and Egypt — with domestic cats.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Origin
United States
Lifespan
12–20 years
Weight
6–10 kg (14–22 lbs)
Height
38–45 cm (15–18 in)
Diet
Obligate carnivore — raw or high-protein wet food strongly recommended. NOTE: Chausies have a known gluten intolerance — grain-based dry foods cause severe digestive problems. Grain-free diet mandatory.
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Carnivora
Family
Felidae
Genus
Felis
The Story
The Chausie is a hybrid breed developed by crossing the Jungle Cat (Felis chaus) — a medium-sized wild cat native across South Asia including the Indian subcontinent, the Middle East, and Egypt — with domestic cats. The Jungle Cat was domesticated in ancient Egypt and appears in Egyptian murals. The Chausie is among the largest domestic cat breeds, with early generation males reaching 10 kg. Like the Savannah, early generation Chausies require specialist ownership. The breed is notable for being the only domestic cat with documented gluten intolerance — all Chausies must eat grain-free diets.
Also Known As
Quick Facts
Discover which pets match your lifestyle
Physical Profile
Source: wikimedia
The Chausie is large, long-legged, and distinctly wild in appearance — a lean, athletic body with a small head relative to its long torso, large ears with lynx-like tufts, and a relatively short tail. The coat is short and dense. The black grizzled tabby is a distinctive colour not found in any purely domestic cat breed — a unique ticking pattern with a frost-like silver banding.
Grooming
Low
Shedding
Moderate
Coat Colors
Recognized By
Source: wikimedia
Temperament & Personality
Chausies are highly active, athletic, and intensely loyal to their primary person — they follow their owner everywhere and can develop separation anxiety. They are intelligent and need constant mental and physical stimulation. Early generation Chausies are not suitable for typical households. Later generation (F4+) Chausies are more manageable but still require very active, experienced owners.
Living Profile
Care & Wellness
Professional Care Protocol
- •CRITICAL: Grain-free diet mandatory — grain causes intestinal inflammation in all Chausies. Very large, enriched living space. 2+ hours of active play daily. Leash training recommended. Legal status must be verified for early generation individuals.
Vaccination Schedule
Vaccination Schedule
Health Overview
Gluten intolerance (grain intolerance) is universal in the breed — must be fed grain-free diet. Intestinal inflammation from grain exposure can be severe. HCM. Vaccine sensitivity in early generation individuals — killed vaccines preferred.
Common Conditions
Fun Facts
The Jungle Cat, the wild ancestor of the Chausie, is native to India — it is found across the Indian subcontinent from Kashmir to Tamil Nadu and appears in Indian wildlife conservation lists.
Ancient Egyptians domesticated the Jungle Cat at least 4,500 years ago — mummified Jungle Cat remains have been found in Egyptian tombs, suggesting they were kept as pets before domestic cats became common.
The Chausie is the only domestic cat breed with a documented and universal gluten intolerance — all Chausies must eat grain-free diets regardless of individual variation.
