Questions & Answers about Chausies

 

Question: One of the most frequently asked questions seems to be "how large will a Chausie grow" followed by, I read on the internet that they are 25 - 40 lbs. Is this true?

Answer - Chausies are tall, lanky cats. Their look deceptively big and heavy because of their body style. In reality, a female will range from 8 to 13 pounds, and a male will range from 11 to 16 pounds. The Jungle Cat (the ancestor of the Chausie) is one of the smallest of the little wild cats, and the majority range from 18 to 25 pounds. This is one of the reasons that they are able to interbreed with domestics so easily. They are close in size, and the gestation period is similar.

Question: Can Chausies eat regular cat food?

Answer - Chausies do best, like any domestic feline, on a diet made from good quality meat, organs, and bone in forms that are readily digestible. Often a premium commercial cat food will be fine. 
 
However, because of their nondomestic ancestors, some Chausies may have shorter intestines than usual for domestic cats. Early generation Chausies are most likely to have this trait. This can make them less tolerant of inferior quality cat foods. Poor quality food may lead to the development of multiple food allergies and chronic intestinal inflammation. That would mean pain, diarrhea, vomiting, and weight loss for the Chausie. For you it would mean distress and vet bills. You can prevent this by continuing to feed your Chausie the same food the breeder was feeding. If you switch to a different diet, do so gradually and preferably in consultation with the breeder or another experienced Chausie owner. Remember that variety is good for omnivores, not for carnivores!

Question: Are Chausies prone to litterbox problems or spraying?

Answer - Most Chausie's will use a litter box just like any other housecat. They do like it clean and easily accessible. Some Chausies that have a higher % of wild blood may be less dependable.

That is one of the reasons the Chausie breed was developed. By breeding Jungle Cats to domestic cats and selecting only the offspring with the domestic temperament and domestic habits, we created a breed with the beauty of the Jungle Cat but which is otherwise domestic and easy to live with.

Most cats will spray if left unneutered - we have provided the link below for further information.

 http://www.tica.org/members/publications/brochures/nueter.pdf

Question: Will a Chausies be aggressive?

Answer - Chausies are assertive, but not agressive.

They want human attention and they let you know it. Living with a Chausie can be a lot like living with a human child. They are intelligent, and they have the initiative to try to get what they want. But they are also highly trainable and like to know what to expect from you. If you set limits but also meet their needs in a predictable manner, the two of you will forge a great relationship that only gets better with time. They are affectionate, engaging, happy cats.

Question: Will my Chausie be destructive and need to be declawed?

Answer - All cats have a natural instinct to scatch, which serves the pupose of keeping their claws in good trim. With housecats it is necessary to teach them to use a scratching post or cat tree. If possible, they should be kept in an area where they can scratch and be carefully supervised when let into areas where scratching is off limits. After awhile they learn to make the distinction. It is also good to get in the habit of trimming a kittens nails once a week as it will then become a part of their grooming. Many breeders strongly discourage the declawing of their kittens, and in fact may have it written in the kittens contract. You should discuss this with thebreeder before you take a kitten home.

Question: Will a young Chausie kitten bond to me quicker than an older Chausie kitten?

Answer - Most breeders will not let their kittens go to their new homes until 12 - 14 weeks of age. It is important that a kitten is ready to leave their mother and siblings, that they are fully weaned, litter box trained and kitten vaccinations started. When your new kitten comes home be very gentle and don't frighten the kitten - any cat may hiss, scatch or bite when scared. Your kitten may be scared when first brought home. If you give the kiten time to settle in, it will approach you and bond with you readily.

Question: I heard Chausies will not get along well with other animals or small children. Is this true?

Answer - Like any other cat, a Chausie should be introduced to the rest of your family with care. A two week isolation period is recommended any time you bring a new cat or kitten into the house. That will give the new cat or kitten time to become accustomed to it's new home and to start the bonding process with you. As you then introduce the new cat or kitten to the rest of your household, do so slowly and under your supervision. A Chausie should get along with other animals and children the same as any other housecat.

Question: Can Chausies be trained to walk on a leash?

Answer - Yes! One of the pleasures of owning such an intelligent cat is that it CAN be trained, if you start young and are consistent with it. Chausies have been trained to walk on a leash and to play fetch. Use your imagination as to what other tricks they can be trained to do!

Question: I have a cat that I was told is a Chausie - can I register my cat?

Answer - If you bought or are considering buying a Chausie, the breeder should have a contract for you to sign and should be able to furnish you with registration papers on that cat or kitten. Be it a pet kitten or a kitten purchased with breeding rights there should be a contract spelling out what is expected of both parties. If you are offered a cat that does not have papers and the parents are not registered in TICA you cannot register that cat as a Chausie. Please do your homework before purchasing a kitten.

Question: CAn all generations of Chausie can be shown>

Answer - As of May 1, 2013 the Chausie was granted championship status in TICA. Only the cats with SBT prefix can compete in the show rings. Which is why it is important to know what you are buying if you are wanting to show your Chausie. SBT means that there are only registered Chausies in the 3 generations behind your kitten.

If you want to do a bit of homework before purchasing either a breeder or show cat please review the Registration Rules on tica.org those rules will teach you how to read the prefix on your registered Chausie.