History
The Egyptians were well known as worshipers of cats. In the “Book of the Dead,” Ra, the God of the Sun, is portrayed as a spotted Tabby cat. Their God status is due to the distinctive markings on their heads which resembles the sacred beetle. “Mau,” in Egyptian, means “cat.”
In today’s times we credit a noblewoman’s returns to Italy from Egypt in 1953 with an exotic Tabby cat. This Tabby cat was bred to a male Tabby that had also been brought to Italy from Egypt. In 1956, the progeny of this original pair were brought to the United States by this noblewoman, and the Egyptian Mau was created.
The breeding program in the United States produced cats that appeared to recall the Tabby cats of ancient Egypt. The breed Egyptian Mau was recognized in 1958 in the United States and 1992 in Europe.
Description
The Mau’s most striking characteristic is his spotted coat in silver, bronze or smoke (pale silver fur tipped in black), closely followed by his large gooseberry-green eyes. He is a medium-size cat with a muscular body and a slightly rounded wedge-shaped head topped with medium-size to large ears
Grooming and Physical Needs
Size: medium
- Grooming Needs: Weekly combing to remove dead hairs
- Coat Type: Medium length, silky, fine texture
- Moulting: Moderate
- Exercise Needs: Athletic cats who like to jump and climb
- Average Life Span: 9-13 years
- Healthcare:
Behaviour
- Family: Tend to be cautious with strangers and select their “Special Person” within the family
- Temperament: Balanced
- Trainability: Smart, observant and a quick learner
- Sociability (Other Pets): Tend to be extremely outgoing with no fear and a ton of curiosity
- Meowing: Low