Furry Diary

Chausie

Also called Reedcat

Recognised breedShort profile

From United States; a domestic breed descended from crosses between the jungle cat (Felis chaus) and domestic cats, developed as a formal breed in the 1990s123

At a glance the quick version

Weight, male5 to 7.5 kg142
Weight, female3.5 to 6 kg142
Lifespanup to 15 years4
Sizelarge

Wikipedia gives these ranges; WebMD gives a wider 15-25 lb (about 6.8-11.3 kg), with females a little lighter. Males are clearly larger and heavier-boned.

very intelligent and trainable
loyal and deeply bonded to family
athletic, can learn leash walking and fetch
24

Coat and looks how to spot one

short to medium, dense coat with a coarser outer layer

A tall, long-legged, lean cat built for sprinting and leaping, with a deep chest, flat sides and a slightly short tail. The head has a long forehead and muzzle, high cheekbones and big upright ears set high, ideally tipped with tufts. The coat has a thick undercoat under firmer guard hairs that show off the banded ticking.21

Coloursbrown ticked tabbysolid blackblack grizzled ticked tabby21

Personality what they are like

Bright, curious and full of fun, the Chausie is a loyal cat that attaches strongly to its people and loves learning games and tricks. It does not like being left on its own and is happiest with company, either human or feline. Raised together, it can live well with children, other cats and dogs.124

Daily activity how busy a day looks

High. Needs daily running, climbing and interactive play plus mental challenges; many enjoy fetch and walks on a harness. Not a match for owners wanting a sedentary cat.24

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Brush the short, coarse coat now and then, trim nails monthly and keep up regular tooth care.4

Home where they are happiest

Needs room to move and jump, with tall climbing furniture; they can jump very high.4

Food basics what goes in the bowl

A meat-based diet. Some individuals do better on a carefully chosen or specialist diet, so plan it with a vet.41

Company who they like around

Dislikes solitude; do best with a feline companion or people at home a lot, and settle best when kept in one home for life.12

The story where it all began

Jungle cats and domestic cats have crossed naturally for a very long time in places such as Egypt, India and Southeast Asia. Deliberate crosses began in the late 1960s and 1970s, and in the 1990s breeders built a structured programme, naming the breed after Felis chaus. TICA registered it in 1995 and granted championship status in 2013.12

Fun facts for the dinner table

  1. 1

    The name comes from Felis chaus, the Latin name of the jungle cat.2

  2. 2

    Its nickname Reedcat reflects the wetland reed beds where jungle cats live.2

  3. 3

    Chausies can leap as high as about six feet (1.8 m).4

  4. 4

    The grizzled coat pattern, allowed only on black, was inherited from the wild ancestor.2

Recognised by the official bits

TICA
Registered 1995 as a breed of hybrid origin; New Breed class May 2001 to April 2013; championship status from 1 May 20132

The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you

A typical home-care rhythm for a Chausie. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.

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Where this comes from

Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.

  1. Wikipedia - Chausie en.wikipedia.orgused for history, recognition, weight, temperament, diet
  2. TICA - Discover the Chausie (breed seminar) tica.orgused for history, recognition, body, coat, colours, temperament, care, fun facts
  3. Wikipedia - List of cat breeds en.wikipedia.orgused for origin
  4. WebMD - What to Know About Chausie Cats webmd.comused for weight, lifespan, grooming, diet, exercise, fun facts

Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.