Egyptian Mau Cat
History
The Egyptian Mau
cat is the only naturally
spotted breed. Its spots are believed to have come from
natural interbreeding with wild cats many centuries ago.
Spotted cats
are shown in many ancient Egyptian wall paintings and may
have had special privileges. Cats were highly valued in
ancient Egypt, sometimes even worshipped as deities, and
were often mummified like people upon their death. The first
Egyptian Mau is believed to have come to the West with the
Egyptian Ambassador to Italy in the 1950s. The Russian Princess
Natalie Troubetskoy, living in exile in Italy, was charmed
by the Ambassador's distinctive spotted pet and persuaded
him to get several similar cats for her, which she began
to breed. The name 'mau' comes from the Egyptian word for
cat.
Appearance
The Egyptian Mau's
characteristic spots are not only on the hairs of the coat
but are also visible in the skin pigmentation if the cat
is shaved. Bengals and other spotted breeds have been crossed
with wild cats
or selectively bred to achieve their coat. Egyptian Maus
carry a distinctive M or scarab beetle shaped mark on the
forehead. They also have some anatomical differences which
cause some people to consider them to be biologically distinct
from other cats, possibly forming an evolutionary link between
wild cats and other modern domestic breeds. Their hind legs
are longer than their front legs, giving them more acceleration
and power when running than most cats. They also have a
loose flap of skin on the abdomen which helps them stretch
out further with each stride in the way that a cheetah does.
This flap also contributes to their amazing speed. They
have been recorded running over 30 miles per hour. Acceptable
colors are silver, bronze and smoke. Black and blue/pewter
coats also occur but are not recognized. Eyes must be green,
although some kittens are born with an amber shade to their
eyes which becomes more green as they develop. The eyes
are large and slightly slanted. Ears are medium sized and
may be tufted.
Temperament
Maus
can have very musical voices, making different sounds that
can sound like chirping or almost singing. They are very
sensitive to temperature and like to live in a warm environment.
Some Maus also have a habit of wiggling their tail, moving
the hind legs up and down as if spraying to mark territory,
without actually releasing urine. This is a sign of a happy
cat. They are fond of their owners and very loyal, but can
play rough with scratching and biting. In the fall of 2007,
the very popular series of Mean Kitty videos by Cory Williams
of SMP Films appeared on You
Tube featuring his Egyptian Mau cat named Sparta.
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