Egyptian Mau Cat - On ancient Egyptian Manuscripts and murals, a cat is depicted that looks very much like the modern breed of Egyptian Mau.
The breeder wanted to replicate the cats of the Pharaohs, and founded the breeding line from a native Egyptian breed that seemed to have evolved spontaneously in the Cairo region. The first Egyptian Mau Cat (the name is ancient Egyptian for a sacred domestic cat) kitten was shown in Rome in the 1950s. Its owner emigrated with her cats to America, where the breed was granted recognition by the Cat Fanciers’ Association in 1977.
Spotted cats very similar to this were illustrated in ancient Egyptian manuscripts and murals. The M shaped mark on its brow is said to echo the pattern on the back of the scarab beetle, which was sacred to the Egyptians.
It is now available in Silver (charcoal markings on silver), Bronze, and smoke (black markings on charcoal/silver underlay) varieties. The bronze, with dark brown to black markings on a warm bronze undercoat, is closest in apperance to the cat depicted on Egyptian murals. Europe did not recognize the breed until 1992. A spotted cat bred from Siamese lines in England during the 1960s was originally called Egyptian Mau, but later became established as the Oriental Spotted Tabby.
The well defined spots are the most important features of the Mau. This bronze is probably the closest in color to its spotted Egyptian forebears.
The Egyptian Mau Cat is a medium sized, muscular cat, pleasing to the eye, easy to groom, and with an extrovert personality. It tends to bond with just one or two people, and is not averse to elarning a trick or two, or to walking on a lead. Its head is slightly oriental in shape, with large, alert ears, although its muzzle is well rounded. The conformation is generally graceful, with hind legs slightly longer than the front legs, and a well balanced tail.
Egyptian Mau Cat Breed Information:
Coat – medium length, dense, lustrous, silky
Eyes – large, alert, almond shaped, slightly slanted, light green
Other features – spotted coat
Grooming – easy, regular gentle brushing to remove dead hairs
Ttemperament – affetionate, lively, may be aloof
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