Egyptian Mau cat breed: the spotted cat who is the fastest of the felines

According to some, this special spotted cat already stole the hearts of the ancient Egyptians. And if itsucceeded in this, then it must have run away with it!

The Egyptian Mau is an elegant spotted cat whose ancestry some say goes back three thousand years to cats whose images adorn the temples and halls of ancient Egypt. The name “mau” comes from the ancient Egyptian word for cat. This breed is known for its athleticism and is one of the fastest runners among domestic cats – reaching speeds of up to 48 km/h!

History

The Egyptian Mau is thought by many to be descended from the domestic cats of ancient Egypt, although definitive genetic links are difficult to trace. B.C. Egyptian art dating back to 1900 depicted many cats with similar spotted markings. By B.C. 1450, cats were often depicted in domestic settings, so it is likely that they had developed a close, mutually beneficial relationship with humans. Cats were also associated with the Egyptian goddess Bastet. The worship of Bastet remained popular under Roman rule in Egypt. It is likely that the Romans brought some of these eye-catching spotted cats back to Italy. In this way, the ancestors of the Egyptian Mau came to Europe.

At the beginning of the 20th century, cats resembling Egyptian Maus were bred in Italy, Switzerland and France. Unfortunately the breed began to decline during the World War II and could have died out without a princess of Russian origin living in Rome. Princess Nathalie Troubetzkoy, was given a silver-spotted kitten that was said to have come from an embassy in Rome and was from Cairo. She was so captivated by the beauty and personality of the cat named Baba that he decided to breed.

In 1956, the lady moved to the United States with Baba and two of her descendants, and there she established the first Egyptian Mau cat, which she named Fatima. In 1968, the Cat Fanciers’ Association and the Canadian Cat Association recognized the breed.

However, because there were so few Egyptian Maus in the United States, the breed suffered from genetic abnormalities and diseases due to the limited gene pool. Breeders looked for ways to expand the population. Jean S. Mill found two cats in a zoo in New Delhi that looked like Egyptian Maus. She brought them to the United States in 1980 and created the Indian breeding line. This was accepted by the Cat Fanciers’ Association in the late 1980s.

The Egyptian au remains a rare breed, with only about 3,000 of them living worldwide. Its Middle Eastern origins were confirmed by a 2012 genetic analysis. This linked the breed to other Middle Eastern cats such as the Turkish Van.

Breed standard

The Egyptian Mau is a medium-sized cat weighing 3-5 kg. Its body is moderately long, elegant and muscular. Its hind limbs are long which helps them run fast. The Egyptian Mau is considered the fastest domestic cat. Its head is wedge-shaped with a round silhouette. The ears are large, slightly pointed. Its eyes are large, almond-shaped, light green in adulthood. The neck is elegant, slender, the torso is muscular, moderately powerful.

Its long tail is thick at the base and tapers towards the end. The paw is oval, its fingers are closed. Its fur is short, dense, silky, flexible to the touch. Its body is covered with evenly distributed (preferably circular) spots. There is a black stripe on the back line up to the tail, and this is accompanied by spots. The cat’s head has a tabby pattern. Its basic color can be silver, bronze, smoky (black) and tin coloured. Its expected lifespan is 12-15 years.

Character

In addition to being the only naturally evolved cat breed with spotted fur, the Egyptian Mau is friendly and interactive with its owners. Within the family, the can form a strong bond with one or two chosen people. It is aloof towards strangers and needs time to relax. It likes to show its emotions and when it is happy, it makes a unique tail wag that can be surprising to those who have never seen it before. The strange tail movement is often accompanied by kneading and meowing in a pleasant voice. It loves its owners very much, and when it’s not playing, it enjoys sitting on someone’s lap.

The Egyptian Mau can make a wonderful addition to your home and is willing to become an integral part of the family. It makes it happy to be with its loved ones, with whom it especially loves to play. This cat also likes to jump and climb and will appreciate a tall cat tree, scratching post or cat ladder that allows it to stretch out at full height. The Mau also likes to play in the water, so if you have an aquarium at home, be careful!

Ideal environment

The active and playful Mau is the perfect choice for families with children and cat-friendly dogs. It will play just like any retriever, learns tricks easily, and loves the attention of children who treat it with respect. It is smart enough to stay out of the way of small children, but loves school age children because they match its energy level and curiosity. Nothing scares it, certainly not dogs. It happily makes friends with them as long as they don’t cause him any trouble. It is a skilled hunter, so pet birds or other small animals are unlikely to be safe in its presence. He doesn’t like tight spaces, but it still feels good in an apartment, if it is provided with its own space, with a scratching post and other facilities for cats.

Care

The Egyptian au sheds moderately and does not require much grooming. However, with regular combing, the cat can be freed from dead hairs, so that less of them land on the carpet or sofa.

Common health problems

Because the Egyptian Mau has a limited genetic background, health problems such as kidney disease, kidney stones, and lower urinary tract disease can develop in some individuals. The Mau can also be prone to a heart condition called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which can shorten its lifespan. Depending on the severity, this condition can be treated with medication.

(Literature used: Jean-Luc Renck: The cat; János Szinák – István Veress: Macskakalauz, Laura Aceti – Viola Autieri: Our best friend, the cat)