Egyptian Cat Mau

Abbreviation:
Egyptian Mau
FIFe:
MAU
Place of Origin:
Egypt
Ancestors:
A natural breed
Breed type:
Short-haired cat with aguti factor
Body type:
Well-muscled
Weight:
2.5 - 5 kg
Colour variants:
Bronze, silvery black dotted, black smoke

History: The Egyptian Cat Mau is one of the oldest breeds and its dotting did not occur as with other controlled crosses. It is also the only naturally occurring species of Oriental cats. In Egypt, it was highly valued at the time BC. The images of cats that were found during archaeological excavations, they show great similarity to the Egyptian Mau, and some of them consider to be the direct descendant of the sacred cats of ancient Egypt. The word Mau in Egyptian means cat.

To the United States of America the first individuals of this breed were imported from Egypt around the 1950s. The Fatima kennel began to breed Egyptian Mau cat in silver, bronze and smoke colours. In the United States, the breed was officially recognized in 1968, in Europe in 1993.

Temperament: It's a live active cat that likes to play. Therefore, its satisfaction is provided with enough opportunities to play and climb. These cats also require a lot of attention, and it does not suit them to be alone. They are cuddly and very cosy cats that sometimes tend to one person. They are reserved to strange people. The voice is soft and melodic.

Body: The Egyptian cat's body can be compared to the Abyssinian cat. The body is charming. But it must be more muscular than Oriental short-haired cats. The fine, elegant legs are in proportion to the body, the paws are small and compact. The hind legs are longer than the front, so the spine lines rise upwards. The mid-tail has a rounded toe. A broken tail is considered a mistake. The rounded head has relatively large ears. They are broad on the base and have rounded toes. The line of the nose is straight and passes without interruption in the forehead. The eyes are large, on the upper side they have an almond shape and the lower ones are round.

Coat: The short coat of Egyptian Mau is silky and shining. It is also dense, soft and flexible. It has a strikingly drawn pattern. Round spheres should be as clean and sharp as possible. They are located randomly on the hull and have a variable size and shape. The dotted pattern may not be uniform on both sides of the hull. There are one or more broken necklaces on the chest. On the blades, the drawing is the transition between strips and dotting. The tail is markedly ringed, ending with a one coloured tip.

Care: Egyptian Mau can be kept with minimal care. Just brush it once a week and then comb through with a soft comb again. If you polish the coat with a suede cloth, you will attract its shine. The sharp ends of the claws should be regularly cut and the ears should be cleaned if necessary.

Colour variants:

Egyptian Mau is recognized in three colours:

  • Silver - The basic colour is silver-white, slightly lighter on the neck and abdomen. The stains are black.
  • Bronze - Base colour is bronze, darker or lighter (almost golden), neck and abdomen are ivory. The stains are dark brown or reddish brown.
  • Smoke - Base colour is smoke with tin-coloured undercoat. Neck and stomach are lighter than undercoat, stains are "phantom", black.

Eyes are green or amber.