It is believed that felis chaus have been kept as pets and companions or at the very least been welcomed around humans to deter rodents since the beginning of our documented history.
Cats were represented in social and religious practices of ancient Egypt for more than 3,000 years. They were praised for killing venomous snakes and rodents and protecting Pharaoh since at least the 1st Dynasty of Egypt. Archaeologist in Gizeh have uncovered a vast number of mummified animals. The African wildcat (felis lybica) is the most common followed closely by the Jungle cat (felis chaus).
The scientific classification of felis chaus includes 10 different sub species. These sub-species are determined by regional and geographical distribution. The Jungle cat, also called the swamp cat, reed cat and jungle lynx has a home range extending from the Middle East to India, the Caucasus, south and Southeast Asia and southern China. They are a medium sized cat, ranging from 10 to 35 lbs, with males being at the larger end of the spectrum. They are tall and agile with athletic bodies.
Early hybrids between the Jungle Cat and the domestic cat were reported as far back as 1896, by E Hamilton. From the 18th to 20th centuries reported sightings have been documented of presumed jungle cats and hybrids in and around cities and ports from Britain to India.
It wasn’t until the mid to late 1960s that the first intentional Jungle cat Domestic hybrids were reported and documented in the united states of America. In the Long Island Ocelot club newsletter of Sept/Oct 1967 by John and Juleen Jackson, the Jacksons owned a number of “exotic” cats including 2 Jungle cats, 2 half “Chause” hybrids, ten 3/4 chause hybrids and 2 domestic cats. the Jacksons acquired “Hee” their Praters Jungle cat ( a race from west Pakistan ) from a pet store in 1965. “Hee” went on to sire numerous litters, among them were the 10, 3/4 chause hybrids owned by the Jacksons. Since then, the Jungle cat has been paired with other hybrid species such as the bangel and the savannah cat. Jungle cats and chausies have also been paired with the Caracal, creating what is known today as the Caracat. I personally like that particular pairing as it adds some size to the chausie, gives them beautiful ear tufts and really give the appearance of a North American Mountain Lion or Cougar.
As they say; the rest is history
works cited / gleaned from:
* Wikipedia – Cats in ancient Egypt.
*messybeast.com/small-hybrids/ by: Sarah Hartwell.
Savannah Hybrid Cubs 