Felis catus × Felis chaus (F4+ domestic generation)
Chausie Longhair
The Chausie Longhair represents the medium-longhaired expression found within TICA's Chausie breed standard. The Chausie is a hybrid of the Jungle Cat (Felis chaus) and domestic cats, developed in the United States from the 1990s. TICA granted championship status in 2013. The standard accepts a range of coat lengths from short to medium; the longer-coated expression is catalogued here as the longhair variant.
Quick facts
- Origin country
- United States
- Origin period
- Hybrid programme from late 1990s; TICA championship 2013
- Coat type
- Medium
- Coat colors
- Black, Brown ticked tabby, Black grizzled ticked tabby
- Size category
- Large
- Average lifespan
- 12–14 years
- Recognition
- TICA 2013
Origin
The Chausie is a hybrid domestic cat derived from matings between the Jungle Cat (Felis chaus) and domestic breeds, principally Abyssinians. The Jungle Cat is a medium-sized wild felid native to Egypt, the Middle East, and South and Southeast Asia, historically associated with ancient Egyptian households. US breeders began formalizing the hybrid programme in the late 1990s. TICA accepted the Chausie into its New Breed programme in 1995 and elevated it to championship in 2013. Championship-eligible Chausies must be F4 or later (four or more domestic generations from any Jungle Cat ancestor).
Standard
The TICA standard describes a very large, long-bodied, athletic cat with long legs, a deep chest, and a modified wedge head with high cheekbones and large tufted ears. The coat is short to medium; only three colour classes are accepted: black, brown ticked tabby, and black grizzled ticked tabby. The longhair expression, with its slightly denser and longer coat, occurs in some lines and is catalogued separately here; it meets the same conformation standard.
Jungle Cat Ancestry
The Jungle Cat (Felis chaus) is a medium-sized wild felid distributed from Egypt through the Middle East and South/Southeast Asia. Ancient Egyptians domesticated the Jungle Cat alongside the Near Eastern wildcat, and mummified Jungle Cats have been found in Egyptian archaeological sites. The Chausie's Jungle Cat ancestry gives it its large size, long legs, deep chest, and the brown ticked tabby and black grizzled patterns characteristic of the wild Jungle Cat.
Sources & further reading (2)
- encyclopedia — accessed 2026-05-27
- registry-breed-profile — accessed 2026-05-27
Frequently asked questions
Is the Chausie a wild cat?
Championship-eligible Chausies are F4 or later domestic generations, meaning they are at least four generations removed from any Jungle Cat ancestor. At this stage they are fully domesticated in temperament and behaviour. Earlier F1–F3 generations are typically not eligible for championship showing.
Why are only three colours accepted for the Chausie?
TICA's Chausie standard restricts colours to those naturally occurring in the wild Jungle Cat: black, brown ticked tabby, and black grizzled ticked tabby. This colour restriction is intended to maintain the wild appearance of the breed and distinguish it from colour-diverse domestic breeds.
Are earlier-generation Chausies (F1-F3) available as pets?
F1–F3 generation Chausies (one to three domestic generations from a Jungle Cat ancestor) are significantly larger, more active, and more challenging than F4+ championship-eligible cats. They may have wild cat behavioural traits and are not suitable for inexperienced cat owners. Most mainstream breeders work with F4+ generations exclusively. F1–F3 animals may be subject to exotic animal ownership regulations in some jurisdictions.
