Chausie

History of the Chausie breed

The birthplace of the noble beauty is Ancient Egypt – the sunny land of the pharaohs and pyramids. Here, in the valleys of the Nile River, lived the wild ancestors of the Chausi – reed cats. They lived peacefully next door to people and often won the hearts of domestic cats. As a result of a love union, the first hybrids were born. The Egyptians did not realize how unique these animals were, which combined the remarkable appearance of wild brethren and the friendly behavior of domesticated cats. However, more than one century remained before the official recognition of the new breed.

Ancient frescoes clearly demonstrate the importance of reed cats and their offspring in the life of the Egyptians. The animals successfully coped with the role of hunters for waterfowl and rodents. Documentary sources confirm this theory: wild cats, despite their independence, easily joined the company of people, occasionally used their shelter and in return saved settlements from rodents and other pests.

The era of imperious pharaohs has sunk into oblivion, but the symbiosis of humans and reed cats continued to exist. The animals lived near settlements and often engaged in adultery with domestic cats, thereby increasing the number of hybrids of amazing beauty. The soft sandy–colored coat, the attentive gaze of the hunter and the general resemblance to a small lynx - for unknown reasons, the chausie did not arouse the interest of felinologists until the second half of the XX century. The breed owes its popularization to American tourists who first came to Egypt.

Travelers' stories about "wild cats" intrigued US breeders, and already in 1960 the first descendants of reed cats received American "citizenship". The painstaking and laborious work of crossing animals with other breeds has begun. Felinologists sought to strengthen and consolidate the qualities inherited by hybrids: the appearance of a wild cat and the docile nature of a pet. Experimentally established: the most favorable "material" for breeding – Abyssinians , although more and more often the chausie is crossed with other shorthair animals.

Representatives of the new breed inherited the name of their ancestor. The reed cat is known to zoologists as Felis chaus. Breeders borrowed the second part of this name, transforming it into a sonorous "chausie".

The descendants of Egyptian cats have not been officially recognized for thirty years since the beginning of their breeding. Only in 1995, the chausi received temporary status in TICA. At the same time, the first standard was adopted. To this day, TICA remains the only felinological organization that has recognized chauzi. The breed cannot be called widespread: these cats are found mainly in the United States. Europeans, on the other hand, have to mostly only dream about this Egyptian beauty, so it's too early to talk about the official recognition of chauzi by other organizations of felinologists.

Video: Chausie

Appearance of the chausie

The appearance of representatives of the breed is worthy of laudatory odes of cat lovers from all corners of the globe. Chausi – moderately muscular animals with a proportionally folded body – are very similar to their distant ancestors. Despite the incest with the Abyssinians, the cats managed to maintain impressive dimensions: a weight of 14-15 kg and a height at the withers up to 40 cm.

Chausi belong to medium-sized shorthair breeds. They differ in pronounced sexual dimorphism: males are 15-20% larger than females.

Head and skull

The cat's head is distinguished by the shape of a wedge or, as it is also called, an elongated triangle. Moderately elongated, but looks small in comparison with the body of the chausie. It has elegant outlines, there is no angularity. The forehead is flat and wide, the occipital protuberance is slightly pronounced. The skull is rounded.

Muzzle

The neat and small muzzle of the animal is composed of smooth lines. The stop transition from the nose to the forehead is quite sharp. The bend of the high cheekbones in the direction of the jugglers is also noticeable. The nose and chin of the chauzi form a straight line. It is noteworthy that the width of the bridge of the nose depends on the sex of the animal: in cats it is narrower. The lobe is convex.

Ears

Large ears with a wide base are set high, almost on the top of the chausie. The distance between the "triangles" is considerable. The reverse side of the auricles is decorated with false "eyes" – specks that the cat got from distant ancestors from Egypt. The tips of the ears are pointed and topped with small tassels. The presence of the latter is welcome, but the absence is not regarded as a defect of the breed.

Eyes

The almond-shaped eyes of the chausie are set quite close, slightly slanted. Pigmentation in amber or rich yellow is preferred. A variation of the iris shade within the yellow-green palette is acceptable.

Jaws and teeth

The developed jaws of the cat form a scissor-like or straight bite.

Neck

The thick and short neck of the chausie does not look clumsy and allows the animal to maintain harmonious body proportions.

Housing

The densely packed and heavy body of the cat has a superbly developed musculature. As the owners of the chausie used to joke about their pets: "It's like an Abyssinian on anabolics!" The chest of the animal is quite deep and wide, which contrasts with the narrow shoulders and pelvis of the cat. The back is straight, the bottom line is moderately tightened.

Tail

The straight and flexible tail of the chausie is notable for the absence of creases. Wide at the base and quite mobile, is ¾ of the body length.

Limbs

The animal's legs provide a powerful push, so don't be surprised if your pet easily jumps onto the highest shelf of the closet. The musculature is well developed. The paws of the chausie are large, but, despite this, they look compact. The fingers are loosely assembled.

Wool cover

The short coat fits snugly to the body of the animal. Elastic hairs have a healthy shine. The undercoat is developed. The outer hair is ticked (unevenly colored) in at least two places.

Color

The standard of the Chausie breed provides for three main colors:

• black. The cat's coat is evenly dyed, there are no markings;
• black ticked tabby. The hairs are colored with two or three stripes. The undercoat is distinguished by a golden-red shade. The points are located on the tail and the inside of the paws of the chausie; they are not allowed on the body. The chin and the outline of the eyes are highlighted;
• black and silver ticked tabby. There are two or three ticking stripes of silver and black colors on the outer hair. The tips are always painted in a dark shade. Pronounced tabby points are undesirable.

Possible vices

Any deviation from the standard is called a defect of the Chauzi breed. Among the main ones are:

• close-set ears of small size;
• atypical iris pigmentation;
• poorly filled chest;
• clearly rounded head shape;
• excessively elongated neck;
• weakly expressed stop;
• a hunchbacked back.

Animals are disqualified on the following grounds:

• short tail (less than three-quarters of the body length);
• white points on the case;
• amputated claws;
• congenital deafness;
• undescended testicles.

Photos of chaouzi

The character of chausie

Despite the wild "peppercorn" in the pedigree, representatives of the breed are cheerful and sociable animals. They are not ashamed to show affection and gently purr in response to stroking behind the ear. At the same time, the chausi are distinguished by independence: between repeated study of the territory and trembling hugs with a person, the cat will choose the first and leave the heated "roost" in the form of the owner's knees. However, this feature does not detract from the animal's devotion. As soon as you start talking to chausie, she will get comfortable and show genuine interest in her appearance.

When choosing a breed representative as a pet, it is important to take into account that sometimes cats can show disobedience and even obstinacy. This is explained by the "proximity" of the animal to the genotype of a distant ancestor – the reed cat. Experienced owners prefer fourth-generation chausies: their habits are more reminiscent of the character of the usual domestic "muroks".

Despite the dependence on the owner, cats periodically show a tendency to take care of themselves on their own. Evidence of this is numerous "burials", in which everything can be found: starting with hair bands and ending with stale hunks of bread. The habit of making stocks was inherited by cats from wild ancestors, so get ready to periodically find the caches of a pet.

The highlight of the breed is also given by an impeccable intuition, which is often confused with the abilities of a psychic. As soon as your feet freeze, your pet will immediately push fluffy slippers with his head and meow invitingly. Do not be surprised by this magic: the chausie easily studies the habits of its owner and draws appropriate conclusions. Developed intelligence – that's what a rich "inheritance" got from the Abyssinian.

Representatives of the breed are as smart as they are active. Refuse to purchase a chauzi if you are not able to give your future pet a spacious territory for dizzying jumps and "climbing". The cat will not only get bored in a cramped room, but also eloquently declare it with torn wallpaper or scratched sofa upholstery. When leaving your pet for a while, take care of a sufficient number of toys. Otherwise, chauzi will make a choice on his own, and there is no guarantee that your socks or jewelry from an open casket will not be among the items.

Cats are also notable for the fact that they adore water, unlike most of their brethren. Did you leave the faucet open to fill the tub while you retired to the bedroom to get your pajamas? Be prepared on your return to find a chausie surrounded by foam and rainbow bubbles, trying to catch the jet with her paws. Representatives of the breed are not afraid of water procedures, on the contrary, perceiving them with special enthusiasm.

Animals are constantly in need of company. Perhaps this explains their exceptional ability to get along with other pets. The Chausies form strong friendships with their brethren and even small dogs. It is better to refrain from communicating cats with decorative rodents, birds and aquarium fish. Small animals are regarded by a magnificent huntress as prey or a live "toy" – and then trouble cannot be avoided.

No less reason for the joy of chausie will be her maintenance in a family with children. The pet will easily find a common language with your child and will take an active part in a noisy game. However, make sure that the child treats the animal respectfully, does not pull his tail and does not trim his mustache with scissors. Due to the specific pedigree, especially obstinate chausies (F1 and F2 markings) can stand up for themselves.

In general, representatives of the breed are balanced intellectuals who love attention and respond to it with royal dignity. Animals are used to keeping themselves within the bounds of decency, watching the cleanliness of their own "fur coat" and observing the impeccable smoothness of movements. Choosing a chauzi among all the feline variety, you will get a smart and loyal pet with whom you can spend time in different ways: watch your favorite TV series or engage in an exciting study of teams.

Education and training

The Chausie breed is notable for its flexible intelligence, so the process of upbringing and training will give you only positive emotions. From the first day of the appearance of the animal in the house, indicate to him the "duties": to relieve oneself in a strictly designated place and scratch with claws only the main object of cat life – a scratching post. The chausies quite quickly understand what the owner wants from them, and perfectly follow these requirements.

Representatives of the breed are susceptible to training and are well trained in standard "dog" commands. To sit, lie down, raise a voice, stretch out a paw or tragically "die" – the chausi will cope with any challenge. Cat owners say that these animals can be easily taught to even bring slippers. Fortunately, the size of the chaouzi will only play into this hand. Teach your pet to jump through the hoop and dance to the music – and you won't be bored anymore!

In addition to a developed mind, cats also have an indomitable desire to learn, which facilitates the training process. Do not forget to periodically arrange informative "master classes" and give delicious ratings for their brilliant performance in the form of a favorite delicacy of the chausie. Representatives of the breed are distinguished by enviable stubbornness in achieving goals, so they will repeat the command until they memorize it by heart.

Care and maintenance

Chausie is a rather unpretentious breed in care. The densely packed and silky coat of the cat needs regular brushing once a week. To do this, use a soft massage brush: it has a positive effect on blood circulation. Combs are undesirable, and the effect of them in combing the chausie is minimal. During the summer molt, carry out the procedure as often as possible: this will save the animal from having to remove dead hairs on its own and "decorate" all horizontal surfaces with them.

Unlike most of their moustached brethren, the chauzi do not resist regular water procedures. Your pet will be extremely grateful for an extraordinary bath day and a warm bath, where you can swim a lot. After bathing the cat, make sure that there are no drafts. Representatives of the breed are distinguished by strong immunity, but it is still not worth checking the accuracy of this axiom.

Important: during bathing, use special soft shampoos and in no case replace them with your own hygiene product – this will make the hair of the chausie dull and brittle.

Standard hygiene procedures are an important part of caring for an Egyptian beauty. Regularly pay attention to cleaning the ears, eyes and mouth, as well as shortening the claws with a special pruner. In case of suspicious discharge, immediately contact a veterinary clinic: this way you will avoid unpleasant consequences.

If even an inexperienced cat owner can handle the care of the chaouzi, the pet's daily diet can create additional difficulties. Representatives of the breed seem unpretentious in food, but this is where the main danger lies. Few people know about the vulnerability of the digestive system of the chauzi. Like most hybrids obtained from wild animals, these cats have inherited a shortened intestinal tract, which does not allow them to fully digest fiber and plant foods. Premium dry food is not the most suitable option.

From the wild animals of Egypt, the breed inherited a passion for raw meat: in particular, beef and rabbit. Quails and chickens can be regarded as a way to dilute a monotonous diet, but they should not be abused. The Chauzi will also be grateful for the "fish days". For this, both fresh product and canned food are suitable. The latter are introduced into the diet gradually in order to avoid allergic reactions. Tendons and boiled cartilage are no less useful, since they provide mechanical cleaning of the cat's teeth during eating.

It is forbidden to include in the daily diet of the chauzi:

• salty, sweet, fried and pickled dishes;
• "human" drinks (coffee and tea);
• milk (does not apply to kittens);
• boiled and raw pork;
• liver in any form;
• legumes;
• nuts and mushrooms;
• potatoes.

It is recommended to feed the pet no more than once or twice a day - depending on its age. After the cat turns one year old, periodically arrange her fasting days. Representatives of the breed are prone to overeating, so carefully control the amount of portions for your pet.

When starting a chausie as a pet, consider the following: animals marked F1 and F2 (the closest descendants of reed cats) are recommended to be kept only in a private house with an aviary. For the rest of the chaousi, spacious apartments are also suitable, provided regular walks on a harness.

Health and diseases of chaouzi

Wildcats of Egypt awarded chauzi with excellent health: the cat rarely gives the owner extra trouble. However, this does not negate the need to regularly visit a veterinarian for a routine examination. The main problem of the breed is its tendency to obesity. You can not leave the animal alone with the pan: before you know it, your lunch is already resting in a soft and silky tummy. Take into account the fact that cats of the first two generations are not able to give offspring.

How to choose a kitten

Are you thinking about buying a chausie, but you don't know how to choose the right kitten? Unfortunately, this is not the main problem. The breed is one of the rarest in the world, so nurseries with suitable conditions are not found at every step.

Felinological organization TICA has officially registered a little more than 20 breeders from whom you can buy a healthy chausie. They mostly live in the United States and France. In Russia and Ukraine, interest in the breed has appeared quite recently, so the number of nurseries leaves much to be desired.

The purchase of a chaouzi is accompanied by the execution of a special contract, where questions about the offspring and the participation of the cat in the exhibition become mandatory points. If the document is not mentioned, be prepared for the fact that instead of the noble Egyptian Cleopatra, you will be sold an ordinary homemade "murka" of a suitable color.

When choosing a kitten, focus your attention on a three-month-old baby. He should be playful, moderately curious and active. The coat of a healthy animal has a soft shine, and the eyes and nose – the absence of suspicious secretions. Do not forget that the chauzi must be vaccinated in a timely manner. Ask the breeder to present the appropriate document.

How much does a chowzy cost

The inability to breed these beauties at home explains the high price. American nurseries are requesting $6000, and some – absolutely exorbitant amounts of $15000! A few domestic breeders offer to buy a chausie for $300 and above, based on the animal's compliance with the breed standard.

No matter how much money you are willing to spend on a beauty from Egypt, you will get an amazing pet that combines the tenderness of a domestic cat and external wildness. Chausie is worth attention, be sure!