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I am a small breeder, currently raising only Chausie cats. To date, I have raised 3 litters of F2 Chausie kittens, I litter was in 1997, 1 in 1999, and 1 in 2000. I hope to have F3 kittens in the year 2001. I intend to keep "small", by raising no more than 1 or 2 quality and carefully planned litters in a year. I selectively breed my Chausies to conform as closely to the TICA Chausie standard as possible. While I breed for quality, my cats are still first-and-foremost my pets. All kittens have been raised in my home, either in the kitten room AKA "nursery" or in my bedroom.The cattery name I have registered for my Chausie cats is "Bearsclaw." This cattery name is currently only registered in TICA, but when I begin registering my Chausies in UFO, I intend to register my cattery name there as well. I also have a registered a cattery name for another breed, from a short excursion with the American Curl. I have "Classicurl" registered in both TICA and CFA for the "Curls." The breed that was my first choice was the Chausie, but after some difficulty with breeding Jade I "gave up" (she is considerably taller, with a longer body, than any suitable domestic outcross I could acquire, making it a challenge for the boys to successfully mate with her.) I figured it was time to move on and try another breed, and maybe come back to the Chausie in a few years. In 1998 I decided to try my second choice, the American Curl. I was still reluctant to have Jade spayed, so I put it off several times (my dream was to have a daughter from Jade, with all her best attributes.) After 2 litters of American Curls I decided to give Jade another try before making the final decision to spay her. Thomas (Jade's mate) finally "got it right" the end of 1999, giving me a beautiful litter of F2 Chausie kittens. I only choose to work with one breed at a time, and the Chausie is still my first love, so I decided to discontinue breeding the curls. My breeding goals are to maintain Chausie type, domestic temperament, "wild" jungle looks, correct coloration/markings, ear-tipping, and size. My priorities are nearly in this order. Size is the last on my list because I am more concerned with looks and temperament than in having larger cats. Whenever possible, I will choose the cat with larger size, all else being equal, but I do not claim my kittens will grow considerable larger than other domestics. In Chausies, beyond the F1 generation, adult size can be compared to the Maine Coon - some are larger than the typical house cat (and males may even exceed 20 pounds) but many are average size. I also intend to breed towards stud book status (for when we eventually achieve show status.) This requires breeding away from the Jungle cat ancestry in order to reach 3 generations (minimum) from the wild blood, and breeding Chausie to Chausie for three generations. I hope to breed my own fertile Chausies males, to be able to breed Chausie to Chausie sometime within the next few years. * Most early generation Chausie males have proven to be sterile, so breeding Chausie to Chausie is rare. There are a few breeders who have managed Chausie to Chausie breedings, generally with F4 and F5 males. Since few breeders have gotten past the F2 level in Chausies, most of the later generation males are related. So I intend to move forward in my breeding program to reach the point where I have fertile males, and then acquire the best F2/F3 female(s) I can find. This is, of course, my Long-term goal. LINEAGE: My Chausies all trace their line back to a beautiful silver-tipped melanistic Jungle Cat called "Sir Sydney" of Wildkatz cattery. Sydney was mated with a grey tabby domestic shorthair queen to produce my foundation queen, Jaded Lady. I hope to add another Chausie line in the next year or so. |
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Few cats meet Standard at this point (beyond F1), and there are no perfect outcrosses. In choosing outcrosses, health is my first consideration (in some breeds particular hereditary defects/disease are fairly common.) I am still in search of the best outcross I can acquire, with as little deviation from Chausie type as possible. Carefully chosen outcrosses, along with selective breeding, will hopefully give me the Jungle looks I seek to capture. Random genetics, as always, will play a part in the process.Wild Jungle Cats have a tail that appears 3/4 in length when compared to the domestic cat's tail. This gene has, so far, shown to be recessive. In order to get the 3/4 length tail in our domestic Chausies, we must be able to breed two Chausies together that both carry the Jungle cat tail. Since our early generation Chausie males are frequently sterile, it will be a challenge to capture this gene when we are finally able to breed Chausie to Chausie on a regular basis. Only time will tell if we will get the 3/4 tail length to come out in our later generation Chausies. Chausies born from an outcross parent, and even most Chausie (CU) kittens from CU x CU breedings, will have full-length tails (because both parents must carry the gene to produce it.) Until/unless we do manage to capture the 3/4 tail gene in our cats, full length tails are accepted in our standard (and almost always what is seen in our cats.) |
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No outside stud-service provided. All incoming cats are extensively screened for contagious illnesses (and Flv/FIV tested.) Placement: *As early generation Chausie males tend to be sterile, all males are placed as pets (and those old enough will be neutered prior to placement.) Female Chausies are fertile and are important in furthering the breed, so I would prefer to place my best girls in approved breeding homes. However, if suitable breeding homes are not available, or if she develops characteristics I feel do not do the breed justice, she will be offered to a pet home (after spaying.) For this reason, I prefer to keep my girls until they are 6 months old, unless they show obvious faults prior to 6 months that makes them undesirable for breeding. By 6 months of age I am able to determine their approximate adult size and other attributes (which tend to change as a cat matures, some cats exceed expectations, others develop faults not apparent in early kitten-hood.) Pet Prices: My Chausies will typically average about $650 for standard colors (brown-ticked tabby, and black) and a little more for the silver-tips if I get them.) Non-standard colors (if born, these can be kittens that never lose their tabby markings, or an unexpected recessive color such as color-point) will range from $500-600. The price is also dependent on individual quality and age. Kittens over 5 months of age will be altered prior to placement. Pet male kittens under 5 months will have a neuter clause added to the contract. Female kittens will not go to pet homes until after spaying, and the youngest age that I am willing to have the spay surgery performed is 4 months. Breeding quality Chausies will occasionally be available to approved breeding homes who wish to work within the Chausie breed standard. Prices and terms will vary, but will be higher than pet prices. Prices are also subject to change as the Chausie matures, as the cat shows her true potential. Conditional Sales Contracts provided with all cats/kittens placed. Health guarantee will be covered in the contract. Each kitten/cat will have a recent veterinary examination, and a Florida State health certificate. Vaccinations will be current, and they will be tested Flv negative. Parents are Flv/FIV negative. TICA registration papers provided with each kitten, unless a neuter clause is added to the contract (in this case, TICA papers will be released to the new owner after proof of altering is provided.) I also intend to register my cats with UFO in the future, and will provide UFO papers in the same manner. I am willing to ship a cat if it is not possible for you to pick the cat up at my home. Buyer pays all shipping-related costs. |
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