Your guide to finding and caring for a Chausie in NOLA
A Chausie can turn a New Orleans shotgun house into a racetrack. The long front-to-back hallway gives a lean, fast cat room to sprint, and a Mid-City or Bywater double has a window to watch the street from. Chausies are active and social, so they do best with someone home often or another playful cat around. They're uncommon, so if you're set on one, keep an eye on the listings on this page.
Adopt a Chausie today
While we don't have enough cats near New Orleans, keep in mind that many rescues may offer transport.
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The Chausie is a tall, long-legged domestic cat descended from crosses between the jungle cat, a wild species of Asia and the Middle East, and domestic breeds such as the Abyssinian. TICA accepted the breed for registration in 1995 and granted championship status in 2013. Most adults weigh 8 to 16 pounds and have a lean, athletic build, large ears set high on the head and a short coat in black, black ticked tabby or grizzled tabby.
Cats several generations removed from the jungle cat are fully domestic, and many are intelligent, playful and very social. They bond closely and dislike long stretches alone, so they fit homes where someone is around often. Early-generation hybrids are more demanding and restricted in some places, and Chausies are rare, so patience helps.
Having a Chausie in NOLA
A Chausie pairs a wild-looking build with a sociable domestic nature. In New Orleans, the main things to plan for are daily vigorous play, company during the day, a sensitive stomach and a safe indoor space with plenty of room to climb.
Chausies tend to be confident, curious and affectionate, and many want to be involved in everything you do. Cats vary, but most bond strongly and get lonely on long days alone, so a second playful cat or a work-from-home schedule suits them. Some are talkative, which is worth remembering in a shared double.
Plan several vigorous play sessions a day: wand toys, fetch, climbing and puzzle feeders. Many Chausies also learn to walk on a harness, and a short, supervised leashed stroll in a park adds variety, though coyotes and alligators mean outings should stay careful. Bored Chausies tend to open cabinets and raid counters.
No breed-specific disease is well documented, but some Chausies have a sensitive digestive tract and do best on high-protein food. Watch for stomach upset after diet changes. Because heartworm is a concern in Louisiana, ask a veterinarian about year-round prevention, along with regular checkups, dental care and a healthy weight.
A Chausie does well in a house, a shotgun double or an apartment if it has sturdy cat trees, shelves and window perches. These jumpers reach high places easily, so breakables may need to move. Keep windows screened and secured and keep the cat indoors, since coyotes live in the city.
| Expense | Typical cost | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Food | $30 to $60 per month | $360 to $720 |
| Pet insurance | $30 to $65 per month | $360 to $780 |
| Routine vet care | $150 to $350 per year | $150 to $350 |
| Other* | $460 to $1,160 per year | $460 to $1,160 |
| Estimated yearly total (after year one) | $1,330 to $3,010 | |
Other costs are estimates and vary with size, age and health.
* The yearly city cat license, litter, flea and heartworm prevention, a dental cleaning allowance, sturdy climbing furniture and toys, and simple home grooming.
Now that you know more, let’s find you a new best friend. These rescues and shelters below have cats available in and near New Orleans.
New Orleans has a mix of shelters and volunteer rescues that care for cats awaiting adoption across the city. Here are the rescues & shelters in the NOLA area with cats available for adoption, worth asking whether a Chausie is coming in.
New Orleans
160 Brookhollow Esplanade, New Orleans
839 Spain St, New Orleans
New Orleans
New Orleans
1700 Mardi Gras Blvd., New Orleans
New Orleans
New Orleans
2520 Napoleon Avenue, New Orleans
Yes, but only in a carrier. RTA allows pets on buses and streetcars if they travel in a small container that fits on your lap, while service animals are exempt from that rule. A Chausie weighing 8 to 16 pounds can fit a roomy soft carrier. New Orleans has streetcars rather than a subway, so practice carrier time at home first.
Yes, as an indoor cat with air conditioning. Summer highs reach about 90 with warm, humid nights, and Uptown sees more than 100 days a year at 90 or above. A short coat copes well in cool rooms. Offer fresh water, play early or late, and have a plan for power outages after storms.
Yes. New Orleans has no known breed-specific rules, and a Chausie needs the same annual city license and rabies vaccination as any cat. Some places restrict early-generation hybrids, so check local rules if a cat is only a generation or two from the jungle cat. Most Chausies in homes are later-generation domestic cats.
Yes, if it has vertical space and daily play. Rentals here range from shotgun doubles to older apartment buildings, and a Chausie can do well in either with tall cat trees, window perches and wand-toy sessions. Confirm lease fees and weight limits, and consider a second playful cat if you're away often.
It can be for active people who are home often. The short coat handles mild winters, and air-conditioned rooms handle summer. The city does ask for planning: a hurricane kit with a carrier, a quiet room for Carnival and fireworks noise, and a secure indoor setup. A Chausie left alone for long days may get bored.
Very little. A weekly brushing with a soft brush removes loose hair from the short coat, which sheds lightly to moderately. Don't shave a cat for the heat; air conditioning and fresh water do that job. Professional grooming is rarely needed, so grooming costs stay within the Other budget for simple home care.
No, Chausie cats are not generally dangerous. Cats several generations removed from the jungle cat, the ones TICA allows in championship shows, are domestic cats with domestic temperaments. They are large, strong and very active, so rough play needs redirecting to toys. Early-generation hybrids can be more wild in behavior and need experienced owners, and some places restrict them.
No, Chausie cats are not hypoallergenic. No cat breed is truly allergen-free, because the main cat allergen is produced in saliva and skin and spreads through grooming. The Chausie's short coat sheds relatively lightly, which may mean less hair around the house, but allergy sufferers can still react. Spending time with a specific cat before adopting is the best test.
A Chausie is a large, athletic domestic cat breed developed from crosses between the jungle cat, Felis chaus, and domestic cats, especially Abyssinians. It is recognized by TICA and has a lean, long-legged body, big ears and a short coat in black, black ticked tabby or grizzled tabby. Chausies are known for being energetic, intelligent and social.
Expect roughly $1,330 to $3,010 a year for a Chausie in New Orleans: food runs $30 to $60 a month, insurance $30 to $65 a month, routine vet care $150 to $350 a year, and other costs such as litter, parasite prevention, dental care and enrichment $460 to $1,160 a year.
Looking for a different breed? Browse other cats available for adoption in New Orleans.
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