Black Chausie Cat

Black Chausie Cat – Here are a series of photographs of a female Chausie cat called “Shekinah” from the Tammy Isaac’s Willowind Cattery in South Texas. The photographs are ©copyright Helmi Flick. Please respect copyright. She is described as a ‘grizzled female’. The word ‘grizzle’ refers to the coat colour and type; black with a ‘drizzle’ of silver! That’s my interpretation.

This is an incredibly rare cat by the way because Chausies are rare and melanistic (black) Chausies are far rarer. I am not sure what filial (generation) this cat is. I have the impression Shekinah is a high filial perhaps an F1. F1 Chausies are very active and are ‘hyper-cats’. Some people will be unable to cope with them as pets because they might be too demanding. They are very loyal but demanding. People who want to adopt an F1 wild cat hybrid should be aware that they are not suitable for everybody. They look fabulous but for some they are no domesticated enough. The wild cat comes through too strongly.

Until September 7th I will give 10 cents to an animal charity for every comment. It is a way to help animal welfare without much effort at no cost. Comments help this website too, which is about animal welfare.

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The photo below is of a black (melanistic) jungle cat. This is the wild cat half of the Chausie (if the cat is a first filial – first generation). The Chausie is a wildcat hybrid. The only ones I have seen are F1s.

Melanistic Jungle Cat – Photo by Joachim S. Müller
CC license.

The gene (grizzle gene) that creates the silver tipped black melanistic Chausie cat is yet to be identified, as far as I am aware. I cannot find reference to it in Robinson’s Genetics for Cat Breeders and Veterinarians. The silver tipped coat is therefore, quite possibly, a combination of the ticked coat inherited from the Abyssinian (the domestic cat half of this wildcat hybrid) and the Melanistic Jungle Cat (see above), the wildcat half.

The Abyssinian cat has a ticked tabby pattern, a restricted form of the classic tabby coat. Black is a solid color caused by the non-agouti gene. Tammy Issac talks about this very interesting coat.

From Black Chausie Cat to Chausie Cat Breeders (Ken and Helmi Flick’s experiences on living with an F1 Chausie).

THIS PAGE WAS FIRST PUBLISHED AROUND 2011.