Chausie cats

Chausies are hybrids of female domestic cats and male reed or jungle cats (Felis chaus). The history of their ancestors can be traced back to ancient Egypt, where they lived in river valleys and hunted small animals. The animals were loyal companions to the pharaohs, often even to the grave. They were revered and their proud, slender figure immortalized in numerous Egyptian statues in honor of the goddess Bastet.

Origin

In the mid-1960s, attempts were made in the USA to breed pedigree cats with the looks and intelligence of these noble wild cats and to combine them with the temperament of a tame house cat. One reason for this was certainly that the reed cats are closely related to Felis sylvestris, the immediate ancestor of the modern house cat. The experiment was successful and Chausie cats have been officially recognized by TICA in the USA since 1995. However, there are also various clubs that do not recognize the breed. Since 2001, Chausies of the F3 generation have been allowed to be shown at exhibitions.

Appearance

This beauty strides athletic, proud and dignified. In perfect harmony with the long, slender body is the medium-sized, wedge-shaped head, with its rounded forehead and high cheekbones. The tomcats are usually significantly larger than the female animals. The large, walnut-shaped eyes start almost at the outer end of the ears. The legs appear long and muscular, with the hind legs being slightly longer than the front legs. In relation to the overall size, the round paws appear rather small. The coat is medium short, that is, longer than other shorthair cat breeds. It is dense, coarse and weatherproof. It is characterized by tabby markings on the face and broken lines in the markings on the neck.

Character

Although the Chausies have a strong resemblance to their wild ancestors from the desert on the outside, they are extremely lovable and friendly in nature. Still a hunter at heart, cats are very playful, agile and active. They explore their territory fearlessly and are excellent climbers and jumpers. Sufficient employment opportunities should always be available. Kittens in particular should not have to go without toys. Chausies still love to play when they are fully grown cats. They even develop an almost canine-like devotion in the process. The relationship with "their" people is similar. Affectionate and inquisitive, they demand a lot of attention and accompany their family through thick and thin. These extremely intelligent velvet paws make perfect family cats, while not exactly lap cats, they make a lovable addition to any community.

Breed Standards and Breeding

In addition to appearance, breeders also value the size and temperament of the Chausie cat. Chausies come in three colors.

• Brown cats have a sandy gray to reddish-gold undercoat. The eyes are outlined in white and should be golden in colour, but hazel to light green is also permitted. The abdomen is white to sandy in color and may be mottled, spotted, or mottled. Tabby markings occur but are not desirable.
• Black cats are monochromatic, with yellow or golden to hazel eyes.
• Silver Chausies may have a faint tabby marking and also have yellow or golden to hazel eyes.

The cat's fur should be ticked at least twice. Ticking is the stripe that surrounds each individual cat hair. The cat's body appears large and rectangular, with a full chest. The head features a strong chin and a full, medium-wide nose.

• The nose leather in brown cats is pink to brick red.
• Silver cats possess a black nose leather.

Ears should be longer than wide, ear tufts are preferred.