Egyptian Mau Cat
The Egyptian Mau Cat (literally Egyptian cats) is a very ancient breed. The figure of this showy flecked cat can meet identical with the tombs of the pyramids and with other many former parchments and Egyptian paintings that go back to 1,400 years to-C. The breed is similar in the aspect to the wild cats of Africa that many experts are convinced that the Mau is its direct descendant. Even it is believed that they are the more ancient domestic cat the world, used in Egypt to prevent the rodents from destroying the deposits of grain that constituted the base of the Egyptian civilization. Still today, they can turn in the streets of Cairo flecked cats. Probably the Mau were introduced in Europe by the Phoenician merchants, beginning the line of the domestic cat of short hair a before the Christian age. In the decade of 1950, a Russian princess in the exile imported to the United States three Mau Egyptians - after be saving from a disaster, on not having obtained the ticket in a ship that sank in to the Atlantic Ocean North -And all the Egyptian Mau of the United States are descendants from these three cats. They were recognized in the American exhibitions in 1977, but the registered population is still very small in comparison with other breeds, for what the Egyptian mau continues being a rare cat. In spite of being known in Europe a long time and having competed in exhibitions of cats already in the first years of the XXth century, in the United Kingdom this breed still is not accepted in the championships. The exotic brilliance of the hair specked with the Mau cat is a current prey for the thieves of cats. It is necessary to assure that he should take his plate, preferably a microchip, if there is go out out from the house.
Short, silky and spotted
The hair of an Egyptian Mau is short and silky. The spots do a contrast with the hair of the fund, which is more clearly, and it is given only in four colors. The variety of bronze color, of a hot bronze color with the pale sides and the stain in dun darkly, there is more seemed that exists to the cat that sees in the antique former Egyptian paintings. Some Mau are black, but he is not accepted in the exhibitions. The skin of the nose must be red brick in the varieties silvered and bronze. The marks of the forehead form a few lines between the ears that continue on the behind part of the neck, turning into a few oval spots along the backbone. On having come to the low part of the loin, they re-join to form a dorsal stripe that crosses the whole tail up to the same top. The tail must be very bordered and with the dark top.
On the Egyptian Mau it is said that he is the only one cat specked with natural form, on the contrary that other cats as the oriental tabby specked, that have developed for selective baby. This last breed gets confused often with the Mau, but there are very significant differences: though he is indisputably of the foreign type, the Egyptian Mau does not have such a marked physicist, with an average and muscular complexion, more short legs and a head that is a bit between rounded and in the shape of wedge. The back legs are more long that the forwards, and the cat seems to be on tiptoe. About the the Egyptian Mau says that he is the more fast domestic cat, reaching speeds of more than 58 km/h and, with his flecked skin, looks like a leopard in miniature. He is capable of jumping in the air up to a height of 2 m.
With this kind of athletic faculties, this cat is insuperable as hunter and it's natural that he could be more happy doing an active life. He is directly linked with the wild African felines and probably he has these features for them. However, after 40 years of careful breeding, it remains a few of the wild cat temperament.. Though the Egyptian Mau could maintain distances with the strangers, he is an affectionate companion, dedicated to his human family, good with the children and friendly with other cats. He has a low and melodious meow.
Q/A We Live in the country, but somebody told us that we would have to keep the Egyptian Mau kitten inside the house in order that she is in best conditions. Are you sure that we cannot let her go out?
Certainly that you can do it- and must it-as soon as she has sufficient age for vaccinating, providing that you do not live near streets with traffic or highways. The breeders and the enthusiasts of the exhibitions are having the Mau in the interior, but if you do not try to exhibit to your cat, there is no motive for don't put her plate and leaves her to go out to the air. She will enjoy it.
I heard that the Egyptian Mau is a friendly cat, but the only one that I saw seemed to me always shy and anxious. Is it typical in this breed?
They are in the habit of having a disconcerted typical expression. This accentuates for the marks of the face, among them some that do that the cat seems to be angry. The Egyptian Mau ignores strangers and cannot give his better image on having been examined by a potential owner. The breeders can prevent acquiring bad habits taking to the kitties always since they are 2 or 3 weeks old. The new owners must try that his new kitty sees the more possible number of persons - in quiet situations - since he was very young.
