The Chausie is a hybrid domestic cat breed developed from crosses between the Jungle Cat (Felis chaus) and domestic cats. The hybrid was developed by American breeders in the 1990s following decades of sporadic crossing in Egypt and other parts of the Jungle Cat's range. TICA granted championship status in 2013. CFA, GCCF, and FIFe have not published Chausie standards. F4 and later-generation Chausies are considered fully domestic by TICA. The standard describes a large, athletic cat with a modified wedge head and a ticked coat.
Quick facts
- Origin country
- United States
- Origin period
- 1960s–1990s (Felis chaus × domestic cat crosses); TICA championship 2013
- Coat type
- Short
- Coat colors
- Brown Ticked Tabby, Black Grizzled Tabby, Solid Black
- Size category
- Large
- Average lifespan
- 12-14 years
- Recognition
- TICA 2013
Origin
The Jungle Cat (Felis chaus) has coexisted with human settlements in Egypt, the Middle East, and South Asia for millennia, where natural hybridization with domestic cats has occurred. American breeders in the 1990s began deliberately crossing Felis chaus with domestic cats and formalizing the hybrid as the Chausie breed. The name is a Latinized form of Felis chaus. The breed was submitted to TICA in the 1990s. F4 and later-generation Chausies — four or more generations removed from the Jungle Cat ancestor — are considered fully domestic by TICA.
Recognition
TICA accepted the Chausie for registration in the 1990s and granted full championship status in 2013. CFA, GCCF, and FIFe have not published Chausie standards. F4 and later-generation Chausies are considered fully domestic by TICA for show and registration purposes. Earlier-generation Chausies (F1-F3) are subject to legal restrictions in some jurisdictions.
Standard
The TICA standard describes a large, athletic, tall cat with a long body and long legs reminiscent of the Jungle Cat ancestor. The head is a modified wedge with a long face, moderately wide skull, and medium-large, tufted ears set high. The coat is short to medium, dense, and close-lying. Three colour classes are recognized: brown ticked tabby (warm brown with black or dark brown agouti ticking), black grizzled tabby (a unique two-toned banding pattern inherited from the Felis chaus), and solid black. The grizzled tabby pattern is considered a Chausie-specific characteristic not found in other domestic breeds.
Sources & further reading (3)
- tica-standard — accessed 2026-04-30
- encyclopedia — accessed 2026-04-30
- breed-club — accessed 2026-04-30
Frequently asked questions
Is the Chausie a fully domestic cat?
F4 and later-generation Chausies — four or more generations removed from the Jungle Cat (Felis chaus) ancestor — are considered fully domestic by TICA for show and registration purposes. Earlier generations (F1-F3) are subject to legal restrictions that vary by jurisdiction. CFA does not recognize the Chausie.
When was the Chausie recognized?
TICA accepted the Chausie for registration in the 1990s and granted championship status in 2013. CFA, GCCF, and FIFe have not published Chausie standards.
What is the black grizzled tabby pattern?
The black grizzled tabby is a coat pattern unique to the Chausie among domestic breeds, inherited from the Felis chaus ancestor. Each hair has two-tone banding — a pale base with a dark tip and a lighter intermediate band — producing a grizzled appearance distinct from the standard agouti ticking of the Abyssinian or Somali. The TICA standard considers the grizzled tabby a Chausie-specific characteristic.
