Your guide to finding and caring for a Chausie in Baltimore
A Chausie suits a Baltimore rowhouse well, as long as the stairs and window sills get used. In a neighborhood like Hampden or Pigtown, narrow staircases, deep front sills and a view of the block give a tall, athletic cat plenty to climb and watch. Chausies are rare, so don't expect one on any given day, but a home where someone is around often, or where another lively cat lives, fits the breed. Put a tall cat tree by the front window.
Adopt a Chausie today
While we don't have enough cats near Baltimore, keep in mind that many rescues may offer transport.
M, 3-7 y., 765 miles
Bengal, Tabby
F, 6 mo.-2 y., 814 miles
Ocicat, Toyger
M, 6 mo.-2 y., 814 miles
Ocicat, Toyger
F, 5 y., 838 miles
Bengal
M, 5 mo., 838 miles
Egyptian Mau
F, 1 y., 838 miles
Bengal, Domestic Short Hair
M, 2 y., 840 miles
Domestic Short Hair, Bengal
M, 5 y., 852 miles
Bengal
M, 0-6 mo., 852 miles
Egyptian Mau
M, 0-6 mo., 864 miles
Domestic Short Hair, Bengal
The Chausie is a tall, lean cat developed from crosses between the Asian jungle cat and domestic breeds such as the Abyssinian. TICA accepted it for registration in 1995 and granted championship status in 2013. Large ears set high on the head, long legs and a short coat in black, black ticked tabby or grizzled tabby give it a wild look, and adults usually weigh 8 to 16 pounds.
Cats several generations removed from the jungle cat are fully domestic, and many are playful, smart and social. They often dislike long stretches alone, so they do well with people at home or a lively feline companion. Some have sensitive stomachs, and early-generation hybrids can be more demanding. Personalities vary from cat to cat, so spend time with a cat before deciding.
Having a Chausie in Baltimore
A Chausie pairs an athletic, jungle-cat-like build with a sociable domestic personality. The cards below cover its energy, health and what a Baltimore home needs to offer, from climbing space and company to a diet that suits a sensitive stomach.
Chausies tend to be confident, curious and affectionate, and many want to be part of everything in the house. Most bond closely and dislike long days alone, which matters if you commute across Baltimore. Some are chatty. Personality varies from cat to cat, and early-generation hybrids can be less predictable.
Plan several vigorous play sessions a day: wand toys, fetch, puzzle feeders and tall climbing. Many Chausies learn tricks or walk on a harness. In Baltimore, a window perch overlooking the street, placed next to a cat tree, adds daily stimulation. Bored Chausies may open cabinets or raid counters.
No breed-specific disease is well documented, but some Chausies have sensitive stomachs and do best on high-protein food. Watch for repeated stomach upset and mention it to your veterinarian. Keep rabies and other vaccines current, since Baltimore has had rabid raccoons and foxes, and stay on top of dental care and weight.
Chausies adapt to apartments and houses if there's vertical space: sturdy cat trees, shelves and window perches. Baltimore's multi-story rowhouses work well, though these jumpers will reach high shelves and mantels. Keep windows securely screened and plan on indoor living. Homes where someone is often around suit them best.
| 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 $1,180 per year | $460 to $1,180 |
| Estimated yearly total (after year one) | $1,330 to $3,030 | |
Other costs are estimates and vary with size, age and health.
* Litter, flea prevention, a dental cleaning allowance, climbing furniture and toys, simple home grooming, and the Baltimore cat license ($10 spayed or neutered, $30 unaltered).
Now that you know more, let’s find you a new best friend. These rescues and shelters below have cats available in and near Baltimore.
Baltimore's rescue community includes an open-admission city shelter and private nonprofits that list cats here, and the mix changes often. Here are the rescues & shelters in the Baltimore area with cats available for adoption, worth asking whether a Chausie is coming in.
By Appointment Only - Please visit our website https://www.breakfastclubcats.org/, Baltimore
Baltimore
P.O. Box 6446, Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore
Yes, you can own a Chausie in Baltimore. The city's animal code has no breed-specific rules, and dangerous-animal rules depend on a cat's or dog's behavior, not breed. You'll need a city license for any cat over four months old and a current rabies vaccination. Some places restrict early-generation hybrids, so know a cat's generation before adopting.
A Chausie fits Baltimore well if someone is home often or another active cat lives there. Rowhouses with stairs and big front windows give it places to climb and watch. It's a harder match for long days away, since Chausies tend to get bored and lonely. Plan an indoor retreat for illegal fireworks around July 4 and New Year's.
Yes, a Chausie can live in a Baltimore apartment if it has vertical space and daily play. Add a tall, sturdy cat tree, wall shelves and window perches, and schedule a vigorous play session in the evening so it doesn't race around at night. Get your landlord's pet approval in writing, and secure the windows, since a Chausie can push out a loose screen.
Mostly yes. Baltimore's mild spring and fall suit a short-coated Chausie, and a cold winter is fine for an indoor cat with warm perches. Summer is the main challenge, with humid heat that stays warm overnight, so keep air conditioning or fans running. Have a cool-room plan for storm power outages, and never leave a cat in a parked car.
Not often. A Chausie's short, dense coat does well with a weekly brush, and a little more in spring and fall when shedding picks up. Add regular nail trims and tooth care. Most owners handle this at home, so grooming adds little to the Other line in the cost table and doesn't call for a salon budget.
Baltimore has a Metro SubwayLink, but MTA publishes a pet rule only for Commuter Bus: small pets in a closed container carried by the owner. Check MTA's current rules before riding, and plan on a sturdy, fully enclosed carrier. A Chausie can weigh up to 16 pounds, so a vet trip by car is often easier.
Probably not. Maryland lets restaurants opt in to allowing patrons' dogs on outdoor patios, but that option is written for dogs, not cats, and each restaurant sets and posts its own policy. A Chausie is usually happier at home with its climbing and play space. Service animals are covered by separate rules.
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.
Expect roughly $1,330 to $3,030 a year for a Chausie in Baltimore. Food runs $30 to $60 a month and insurance $30 to $65 a month, routine vet care $150 to $350 a year, and other costs such as litter, parasite prevention, dental care, climbing furniture and the city license add $460 to $1,180.
Looking for a different breed? Browse other cats available for adoption in Baltimore.
