Your guide to finding and caring for a Chausie in OKC
A Chausie suits OKC best in a home with room to climb and someone around for company. Picture a Deep Deuce apartment with a tall cat tree by the window, or a Mesta Park bungalow where shelves and a screened porch give a lean, athletic cat plenty to explore. Chausies are smart, social and busy, so they do better in a lively household than through long empty days. Many learn fetch and even harness walking, which helps on restless afternoons.
Adopt a Chausie today
While we don't have enough cats near Oklahoma City, keep in mind that many rescues may offer transport.
F, 2 y., 13 miles
Egyptian Mau
M, 7 mo., 181 miles
Bengal, Tabby
F, 2 y., 193 miles
Bengal
F, 3-7 y., 138 miles
Bengal
F, 3 y., 261 miles
Bengal
F, 3 y., 261 miles
Bengal
F, 7 mo., 319 miles
Egyptian Mau
M, 3-7 y., 290 miles
Ocicat, Domestic Short Hair
M, 4 y., 300 miles
Egyptian Mau
M, 0-6 mo., 325 miles
Egyptian Mau
The Chausie is a tall, long-legged cat with roots in crosses between the Asian jungle cat and domestic breeds such as the Abyssinian. The breed was accepted for registration by TICA in 1995 and reached championship status in 2013. Large ears set high on the head and a short coat in black, black ticked tabby or grizzled tabby give it a wild look, usually at 8 to 16 pounds.
Cats several generations from the jungle cat are fully domestic, and many are intelligent, playful and very active. They often dislike being alone, so a busy home or a second lively cat helps. Some have sensitive stomachs. Early-generation hybrids can be more demanding, and some places restrict them. In OKC, a Chausie's climbing and play needs matter more than its looks.
Having a Chausie in OKC
A Chausie pairs an athletic, wild-looking build with a sociable domestic personality. The cards below cover its energy, need for company, digestion and the vertical space that keeps it content in Oklahoma City homes.
Chausies tend to be confident, curious and affectionate, and many like to be part of everything you do. They often bond closely and don't enjoy long stretches alone, which matters for people who work long days across OKC. Some are talkative. Each cat varies, and early-generation hybrids can be more independent.
Plan several vigorous play sessions a day: wand toys, fetch, climbing and puzzle feeders. Many Chausies learn tricks or walk on a harness. In OKC, indoor play carries most of the load during hot summers and icy winters. A bored, clever Chausie may open cabinets or raid counters.
No breed-specific disease is well documented, but some Chausies have sensitive digestion and do best on high-protein food, so watch for stomach upset after diet changes. Regular veterinary checkups, dental care and a healthy weight matter for this lean athlete. In OKC, keep rabies vaccination current and a microchip registered.
A Chausie can do well in an OKC apartment or house if it has tall cat trees, shelves and sturdy window perches. These jumpers reach high places easily, so fragile items may need to move. Indoor life with secure windows suits them best, and a home with company fits them well.
| 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* | $450 to $1,150 per year | $450 to $1,150 |
| Estimated yearly total (after year one) | $1,320 to $3,000 | |
Other costs are estimates and vary with size, age and health.
* Litter, 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 Oklahoma City.
Oklahoma City has city and nonprofit groups placing cats, and Chausies are rare, so listings change often. Here are the rescues & shelters in the OKC area with cats available for adoption, worth asking whether a Chausie is coming in.
2811 SE 29th Street, Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City
9733 NW 4th St, Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City
Yes, Oklahoma law bars cities from banning breeds, and Oklahoma City has no breed-specific rule for cats. You do need a current rabies vaccination with the tag worn at all times, and households are limited to four cats over six months old. Some places restrict early-generation hybrids, so a later-generation Chausie is the simpler fit.
Yes, if the apartment offers tall cat trees, window perches and daily play. About 43% of Oklahoma City households rent, and Oklahoma sets no cap on pet deposits, so lease terms vary. A Chausie's energy matters more than square footage. Plan several play sessions a day, and expect jumping onto high shelves and counters.
Yes, as long as the Chausie lives indoors. OKC has roughly 72 freezing nights a year, and ice storms can cut power for days. A short-coated Chausie needs warm bedding, a heated perch and a plan for outages, such as one room with blankets. Keep play going indoors when sidewalks ice over.
It can be, for people who are home often or have another lively cat. Chausies are active and social, and most dislike long empty days. OKC's hot summers, icy winters and spring storms make indoor life the practical choice, so budget time for climbing, fetch and puzzle feeders in every season.
Very little. The short coat sheds lightly to moderately, so a weekly brushing keeps hair under control and costs next to nothing at home. Grooming sits in the "Other" yearly estimate, alongside litter and dental care. Dry winter air can add some loose hair, so brush a bit more often then.
Not as a sure thing. EMBARK buses and the OKC Streetcar allow trained service animals, but pet carrier rules aren't established, so check EMBARK's current policy before planning any trip. Most Chausies are happier at home. For vet visits, a secure carrier and a car ride are usually the calmer choice.
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 food at $30 to $60 a month, pet insurance at $30 to $65 a month, routine vet care at $150 to $350 a year, and other costs at $450 to $1,150 a year. Together that's roughly $1,320 to $3,000 a year, before any emergency care or illness.
Looking for a different breed? Browse other cats available for adoption in Oklahoma City.
