Cats

Egyptian Mau

Updated: April 23, 2018
Egyptian Mau

The Egyptian mau is one of the most elegant cats that exist. Its history is linked to the dynasty of the pharaohs, a great empire that appreciated the figure of the cat as that of an almost divine being. The word "mau" is Egyptian, and means Egyptian cat. In ancient Egyptian civilization cats were revered figures and were protected as sacred animals. Killing one of these animals was punishable by the death penalty.

Numerous hieroglyphs were dedicated to this created race selected by the Egyptians themselves to give shape to feline beauty. Their ancestors date back more than 4,000 years, and are considered one of the oldest breeds of cats. Princess Natalia Troubetzkoi presented the rich beauty and history of the Egyptian mau to Rome in the 50s.

Origin
  • Africa
  • Egypt
FIFe classification
  • Category III
Physical characteristics
Average weight
  • 7-11
  • 11-13
  • 13-17
  • 17-22
  • 22-30
Life expectancy
  • 8-10
  • 10-15
  • 15-18
  • 18-20
Climate

Contents

  1. Physical Appearance
  2. Character
  3. Caring for an Egyptian Mau
  4. Health

Physical Appearance

The Egyptian mau is a mottled cat with dark colors that stand out on the light background of its mantle. It has rounded and defined specks that populate all of its fur. The body of the Egyptian mau is similar to that of the Abyssinian cat. However, the egyptian mau is more elongated, muscular and of medium height. Its hind legs are longer than the front ones. Their legs are small and delicate and require extra care, something that we will analyze below.

The egyptian mau has large, slanted eyes that curve slightly upwards. The color of the eyes can vary between light green and amber.

Character

Egyptian maus are generally very independent cats. It is a wonderful cat to have as a pet since it adapts beautifully to coexistence and is known to be a loving cat. Although its character is independent, the Egyptian mau cat is a possessive animal that loves to have attention, toys and extra food.

They finds it difficult to relate to strangers and will appear reserved. Despite this, they still remain affectionate and love any opportunity to be caressed. They need time to get used to meeting new people.

Although it is a calm and peaceful cat, it is known to be a hunter, and one should always be careful with other pets in the home, such as: hamsters, birds or rabbits.

Caring for an Egyptian Mau

Egyptian mau cats do not need excessive care. You should brush it two to three times a week so that its natural coat remains bright and silky. it Like all cats, we recommend a healthy diet.

In addition to caring for the coat, it is recommended include routine practices, such as: keeping their eyes clean, periodically have check ups at a vet and trim their nails.

Health

The health of the mau cat is fragile.This cat doesn’t adapt to temperature changes very well. It is for this reason that the temperature in ones home must be maintained and stable.

These cats sometimes have a tendency to suffer from obesity, therefore its food intake should be controlled and they should exercise regularly.

As mentioned before, this cat is known to be sensitive to its surroundings and owners must therefore be careful with medicines and anesthesia when prescribed. These cats are also susceptible to feline asthma, an allergy-type disease that affects the respiratory system.

Egyptian Mau photos

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CathyAnn
My Mau is now 5 years old. I found him as a kitten at an animal shelter in the Phoenix, AZ, area. I asked a local vet how it was possible that such a rare cat would be at an animal shelter, and was told that he must be an escapee from the cat show that had been held in that general area a week or two before. Punkin exhibits every quality/description in this article, from having feline asthma to "jack rabbit legs.". He's a superb hunter. During the lockdown, I was staying with a girlfriend in the backwoods of Minnesota, and mice were a big problem. Nearly every day, Punkin would catch a mouse. Not having a killer instinct, he'd drop it to the floor for us, and one of us would take the mouse out to the woods on the property. My friend had three cats of her own, one of whom liked to hunt mice, and eat them, but he wasn't as good at it as Punkin. He was relentless until he caught the mouse.
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Egyptian Mau