Egyptian Mau is a breed of natural cats (English Egyptian Mau, sometimes in Russian - Egyptian Mao), the charm of which is in the contrast between the color of the coat and the dark spots on it. These spots are individual and each cat has a unique pattern. They also have a drawing in the shape of the letter M, located on the forehead, above the eyes, and the eyes seem to be summed up with makeup.
History of the breed
The true history of the breed began over 3000 years ago. After all, Egypt is considered the birthplace of these cats, and, in general, the cradle in which the first domestic cats were born.
Mau is most likely descended from the wild African cat (Felis Leica ocreata), and its domestication began between 4000 and 2000 BC.
In ancient frescoes, you can often find images of cats holding birds in their mouths, and researchers suggest that the Egyptians used them as hunting animals.
The oldest image of a cat is found in the wall of an ancient temple and dates back to 2200 BC.
The real flowering came with the time when the cat began to play an important role in religion since the Egyptians believed that the sun god Ra takes the form of a cat.
Every night Ra sinks underground, where he fights with his eternal enemy, the god of chaos Apophis, defeats him, and the next morning the sun rises again.
Drawings from that time depict Ra as a spotted cat tearing apart Apophis. From about 945 onwards, cats became associated with another deity, Bastet. She was portrayed as a cat or a woman with a cat's head. And cats were kept in temples as a living embodiment of a deity.
The popularity of the cult of the goddess Bastet lasted for a long time, about 1500 years, right up to the Roman Empire.
Many magnificent bronze figurines have survived from that time, and they depict a cat with long legs and a wide chest, reminiscent of the modern Mau.
If the cat died, it was embalmed and buried with honor. The family was in mourning and the family members shaved off their eyebrows. And the person who killed or mocked the cat was faced with severe punishment, up to death.
The modern history of the breed began in 1952 when the emigrated Russian princess Natalya Trubetskaya met the Ambassador of Egypt in Italy. She saw a cat with him, which she liked so much that the princess convinced the ambassador to sell her some kittens.
She began to engage in the selection and breeding of a new breed so that it was as similar as possible to the cats that are depicted in Egyptian frescoes. In 1956, she emigrated from the United States, taking with her a cat named Baba and several others.
It was in the USA that the main work on breed selection began. This breed got its name from the Egyptian word mw - mau, or cat. Mau received champion status in several organizations back in 1968 and was recognized by the CFA in 1977.
Despite the fact that Egypt is considered its homeland, recent DNA tests have shown that the blood of the breed is mainly of European and American roots. This is not surprising, since 1970, the United States has become the main country in which breeding work has been carried out. Kennels bought cats with the desired parameters in India and Africa and crossed with local ones.
Description of the breed
This cat combines natural beauty and active character. The body is medium in size, with well-developed muscles, but at the same time, it is very graceful, without massiveness. The hind legs are slightly longer than the front legs, so it seems that she is on tiptoe.
The paw pads are small, oval in shape. The tail is of medium length, thicker at the base, tapered at the end.
Sexually mature cats weigh from 4.5 to 6 kg, cats from 3 to 4.5 kg. In general, balance is more important than size, and any kind of crossing is unacceptable.
The head is in the form of a rounded wedge, small with a wide bridge of the nose. The ears are rounded, set wide apart, and large enough.
The eyes that stand out the most are large, almond-shaped, with a unique gooseberry green color and intelligent expression.
Eye discoloration allowed, slightly green at eight months to completely green at 18 months. Preference is given to cats with green eyes, if they have not changed color by the age of 18 months, the animal is disqualified.
The ears are medium to large in size, broad at the base, and slightly pointed. They continue the line of the head, the hair in the ears is short, but should grow in tufts.
The bright, spotted coat of the Egyptian Mau is its most important characteristic. The coat is shiny, dense, silky with 2 or 3 ticking rings on each hair. Interestingly, there are dark spots not only on the coat but also on the skin. The real Mau has an M above the eyes and a W at the level of the ears towards the back of the head - the so-called scarab.
There are three types of colors: smoky, bronze, and silver. Black and marble kittens also appear in the litters, but they are considered culling and are not allowed for exhibitions and breeding.
Silver, bronze, and smoky colors are allowed for championship competitions, but sometimes there are also blue colors.
In 1997, the CFA even allowed them to register. But completely blacks, although they participate in breeding, are prohibited from screenings in the show.
The cat's torso is randomly covered in spots that vary in size and shape. The number of spots on each side is small; they can be both small and large, of any shape. But, it should create a good contrast between the base color and the spots.
The life expectancy of a cat is about 12-15 years, while this is a rather rare breed.
For example, in 2017 in the United States, the CFA (Governing Council of the Cat Fancy) registered only 200 kittens. A total of 6,742 individuals were recorded this year.
Character
If the spots on the coat grab attention, then the character of the Mau will draw the heart. These are indefatigable children, warm purrs, and in the morning - alarm clocks with rough tongues and soft paws.
Breeders describe them as extremely loyal cats, they choose one or two family members and remain loyal, loving them for the rest of their lives.
Spending time with the owner is what they love the most, especially if they support the games. Mau is an energetic, curious, and playful cat.
Active and smart, Egyptian Mau need a lot of toys, scratching posts and other entertainment, otherwise, they will make toys, something of your things. They have strong hunting instincts, stalking and catching prey is what fascinates them.
The same applies to their toys, if you take away your favorite thing, it will be found, and then you will be driven crazy, demanding to return it to its place!
Like their distant ancestors who hunted for birds, the Mau are fond of everything that moves and that can be tracked down. At home, it can be different artificial mice, candy wrappers, strings, but on the street, they become successful hunters. To keep the cat healthy and the local birds intact, it is better to keep the cat at home, not letting go outside.
Usually, they are silent, but if they want something, they will speak up, especially when it comes to food. When communicating with his loved one, he will rub on his feet and make many different sounds, such as purring, but not meowing.
The truth is individual and may differ from one cat to another.
Mau love to climb higher and then observe what is happening around them. And although they are house cats, they hate closed doors and closets, especially if they have their favorite toys behind them. They are smart, observant, and quickly figure out how to get around barriers.
Many people love water (in their own way, of course), but then again, it all depends on the character. Some enjoy swimming and even play with her, others limit themselves to soaking their paws and drinking a little.
Mau gets along well with other cats as well as friendly dogs. Well, there is no need to talk about children, they are best friends. Who can suffer from it birds and rodents, do not forget about the hunting nature?
Care
This breed loves to eat and, if allowed, quickly gains extra weight. Sensible feeding is key to keeping an Egyptian Mau as obesity affects its health and longevity.
As mentioned, they love water, so don't be surprised if your cat plays with it instead of drinking.
Kittens need careful grooming from birth so they can get used to new people, places, and sounds. You can leave your TV or radio on to get used to the noise. They don't like rough handling, so grab them with both hands under your belly.
You need to trim the claws and comb the kitten as early as possible so that it becomes a habit for him. Moreover, they love to be stroked, and the coat is short, does not get tangled.
Check your ears once a week, clean as needed. But their eyes are large, clear, and do not water, at least the discharge is scanty and transparent.
Mau should be washed as needed, as their wool is clean and rarely becomes oily. However, this is a fairly simple task, since they tolerate water well.
Health
In the 1950s, when the Egyptian Mau first appeared in the United States, crossbreeding and a small gene pool gave impetus to the development of some hereditary diseases. Feline asthma and serious heart problems were the consequences.
However, breeders have worked hard to alleviate these problems, including bringing cats from India and Egypt.
Health has improved significantly, but some problems remain, for example, allergies to some feed. In addition, some strains have not yet completely eliminated genetic diseases, so it makes sense to talk to the owner about your cat's heredity.
If you want a pet and don't plan on participating in the show, then it makes sense to buy a black cat. She also has spots, but they are rather difficult to see. Black Mau are sometimes used for breeding, but rarely and usually they are several times cheaper than ordinary ones since they are considered culling.
However, apart from the color of the coat, they are no different from the classic Mau, and amateurs say that their coat is softer and more beautiful.