Your guide to finding and caring for a Chausie in Minneapolis
A Chausie suits Minneapolis best in a home with room to climb and someone around to play. An older Kingfield house or a Longfellow bungalow with a sunny window and a tall cat tree gives this long-legged cat plenty to do, and a second lively cat helps when you're out. Winters here run long, so the daily chase-and-climb routine happens indoors for months. Chausies are uncommon, so the listings on this page are worth watching if you're set on one.
Adopt a Chausie today
While we don't have enough cats near Minneapolis, keep in mind that many rescues may offer transport.
M, 2 y., 1295 miles
Domestic Short Hair, Bengal
F, 1 y., 1299 miles
Bengal
F, 4 y., 1300 miles
Domestic Short Hair, Bengal
M, 6 mo., 1301 miles
Domestic Short Hair, Bengal
M, 5 y., 1313 miles
Bengal
M, 9 y., 1314 miles
Bengal
F, 6 mo.-2 y., 1326 miles
Ocicat, Toyger
M, 6 mo.-2 y., 1326 miles
Ocicat, Toyger
F, 1 y., 1349 miles
American Shorthair, Chausie
M, 1 y., 1349 miles
American Shorthair, Chausie
The Chausie is a tall, lean, long-legged cat with large ears set high on the head and a short coat in solid black, black ticked tabby or the breed's grizzled tabby. It descends from crosses between the jungle cat and domestic cats such as the Abyssinian, and TICA granted it championship status in 2013. Most Chausies seen in homes are several generations removed from the jungle cat and fully domestic.
In Minneapolis, a Chausie's energy meets a long indoor season, so expect real time spent on chase games, climbing and puzzle feeders. Many are social and dislike long stretches alone, and some have sensitive stomachs. They shed lightly to moderately, so a weekly brush is usually enough. Cats vary, so spend time with a cat before deciding.
Having a Chausie in Minneapolis
Chausies pair an athletic, long-legged build with a sociable streak. These cards cover how a Minneapolis home can meet their need for climbing space, company and daily play, plus the digestive sensitivity some inherit.
Chausies are often confident, curious and affectionate, and many want to be part of everything in the household. Most dislike long days alone, so a second lively cat or a home with people around helps, especially for commuters. Some are chatty. Cats vary, and breed doesn't decide any one cat's personality.
Plan several vigorous play sessions a day: wand-toy chases, fetch, climbing and puzzle feeders. Through Minneapolis's long cold season all of that happens indoors, so a tall cat tree, a window perch and rotating toys matter. Some Chausies learn harness walking in warmer months, on quiet streets near home.
No breed-specific disease is well documented, but some Chausies have sensitive digestion and do better on high-protein food, so watch for stomach upset after diet changes. Regular vet checkups, dental care and a healthy weight matter for this long-legged athlete. A veterinarian can check overall health soon after adoption.
A Chausie can do well in a Minneapolis apartment or house if it has vertical space: sturdy cat trees, wall shelves and a secure window perch. These strong jumpers reach high shelves easily, so breakables may need to move. Indoor living with secure screens suits 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* | $480 to $1,180 per year | $480 to $1,180 |
| Estimated yearly total (after year one) | $1,350 to $3,030 | |
Other costs are estimates and vary with size, age and health.
* Litter, the $30 Minneapolis cat license for a spayed or neutered cat, flea 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 Minneapolis.
The rescues and shelters below list cats in the Minneapolis area, and availability changes often. Here are the rescues & shelters in the Minneapolis area with cats available for adoption, worth asking whether a Chausie is coming in.
212 17th Avenue North, Minneapolis
Minneapolis
Minneapolis
Minneapolis
Minneapolis
Minneapolis
Yes, you can own a Chausie in Minneapolis, and the city has no known breed-specific rules for cats. Cats over four months old need a license, $30 a year if spayed or neutered, plus a current rabies vaccine. Households with four or more cats need a multiple-animal permit, and renters need their landlord's okay.
Yes, if the apartment offers vertical space. Chausies are athletic jumpers, so plan on a tall cat tree, wall shelves, a secure window perch and daily play. Many dislike being alone, so your work schedule matters. In rental-heavy areas like Whittier or Marcy-Holmes, get landlord permission in writing before adopting.
Yes, as indoor cats. Minneapolis has about 72 days a year that never top freezing and some nights below 0°F, so a short-coated Chausie shouldn't spend time outside. Provide a warm bed, a sunny window perch and extra indoor play to burn off winter energy.
A Chausie fits Minneapolis if you're home often or can offer a lively second cat. The long indoor season makes daily play essential, and the rental-heavy housing means arranging landlord approval. It's a harder fit if you travel often or work long days away. Cats vary, so match the home to the cat's own needs.
Only in a carrier. Metro Transit buses and light rail allow pets in a carrier, but leashed pets can't board, with service animals the exception. Choose a sturdy, secure carrier for a Chausie, since strong, athletic cats can push open flimsy ones, and line it with something familiar to keep the ride calm.
Very little. A Chausie's short coat sheds lightly to moderately, so a weekly brush is usually enough, with a bit more during seasonal shedding. Dry heated indoor air in winter can make skin flaky, so brush gently and keep water available. Home grooming is covered in the yearly Other costs, and professional grooming is rarely needed.
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.
Plan on roughly $1,350 to $3,030 a year for a Chausie. That covers food at $30 to $60 a month, insurance at $30 to $65 a month, routine vet care at $150 to $350 a year and about $480 to $1,180 a year in other costs, including litter and the city license. Emergencies aren't included.
Looking for a different breed? Browse other cats available for adoption in Minneapolis.
