The primary time you see an Egyptian Mau, you may say to your self what the exiled Russian Princess Nathalie Troubetskoy, who launched the Mau to the western world mentioned: I’ve to have considered one of these cats.
The Egyptian Mau is noticed like a tiny cheetah, and you could be forgiven for pondering that the animal belongs within the wild, not in your lounge. However you’ll be captivated, if not by the Egyptian Mau’s unique coat sample, then by its interesting expression. Some say the Egyptian Mau at all times has a nervous look on its face.
However not so quick: the Egyptian Mau is an exceedingly uncommon breed, that means you could be hard-pressed to search out one. And the Egyptian Mau has some peculiarities that will not make it the right pet for each family.
Some folks say that the Egyptian Mau is an historical breed of cat.
Cats with spots are clearly depicted in paintings painted on frescos and papyrus going again to 1500 B.C. or even additional, in Eygpt.[1]
Cat mummies from 1000 B.C. in Eygpt have been unwrapped and a few of these seemed to be noticed tabbies.[2]
There are noticed cats pictured within the tile mosaics at Pompeii, too, suggesting Romans took noticed cats from Egypt with them again to Europe within the early centuries.
Are at this time’s Egyptian Maus descendants of those noticed cats from a millennium or extra in the past?
Egyptians simply name them “cats”
None of which means that the Egyptian Mau that we all know at this time is an historical purebred cat breed.
Cat fancy was in full swing by the point Princess Troubetskoy got here alongside, and we all know that in most international locations, cats of assorted backgrounds and breeds blended it up with each other. There was no effort in Egypt to maintain native Egyptian cats “pure.”
In reality, the phrase “mau” means “cat” in Egyptian. “Mau” sounds so much like our “meow,” and that’s in all probability how the phrase developed.
But it surely additionally says that Egyptians simply known as their cats “cats.” Nothing extra, nothing much less.
An exiled princess begins an Egyptian Mau breeding program
Nathalie Troubetskoy, an exiled Russian princess, was residing in Italy in 1953 when, in line with one story, she met a noticed cat belonging to the Egyptian ambassador to Italy. She satisfied him to import cats to Italy from his homeland for her.
An alternate story is that she was captivated by noticed road cats in Cairo and imported a feminine to Italy, who she mated with an area tomcat.[3] Whichever story you consider, the underside line is that the princess by some means got here into possession of noticed cats from Eygpt and commenced a breeding program.
Three years later, she emigrated to america with three or 4 of her Egyptian Mau cats.
A handful of Egyptian Maus shouldn’t be a breeding program
The one method to construct a wholesome breeding program if you solely have just a few cats to start out with is to outcross them, that means breed them with cats that aren’t Egyptian Maus.
These mixes have been in all probability hidden within the pedigrees of a few of the early Egyptian Maus, however they most actually occurred.
Later, extra genes have been added to the combination that almost all undoubtedly didn’t come from Egypt.
In a controversial transfer, kittens born from stray cats present in India grew to become registered Egyptian Maus. Jean Mill, well-known for growing the Bengal breed, picked up a few rosetted stray cats operating unfastened at a zoo in India to make use of in her Bengal program.
Then she recorded their kittens as each Bengals AND Egyptian Maus.[4] The argument made to breed registries was that Indian cats have been actually Egyptian, as a result of cats arrived in India from Egypt by way of commerce routes centuries in the past.
What DNA has to say about Egyptian Maus
Research of the cat genome counsel that the Egyptian Mau could be very carefully associated to the Maine Coon, Korat, and American Turkish Angoras.[5]
These are American, European and Southeast Asian breeds, not Center Japanese breeds.
For my part, the Egyptian Mau is a particular cat no matter the way it got here to be. The Egyptian Mau doesn’t must be Egyptian or historical to be the outstanding and beautiful cat that it’s.
The Egyptian Mau’s spots and stripes
Probably the most noticeable factor in regards to the Egyptian Mau is its spots. The spots can differ in measurement, be rectangular, spherical, and even irregularly formed.
The spots solely seem on the very suggestions of the hairs. The remainder of the hair shaft is a lighter shade. However the pores and skin has spots, too!
Egyptian Maus even have a darkish line that extends from between the ears, down the again of the neck, changing into lengthy dashes down the backbone, which type a line extending to the tip of the tail.
There are additionally bands on the legs and tail and a number of “damaged necklaces” across the chest.
An Egyptian Mau’s stomach might need “vest buttons” – matching spots that run on both aspect of the midline of the stomach.[6]
Observe that the Egyptian Mau is available in solely six colours: silver, bronze, smoke, black, caramel, and blue. Black and blue Egyptian Maus can’t be proven, however they could be utilized in breeding.[7]
The Egyptian Mau’s physique
The Egyptian Mau is a small to medium-sized cat, weighing in at 6-14 kilos[8]
She’s athletic, lean, and muscular. Her hind legs are longer than her entrance legs, making her appear like she’s strolling on tippy toes. She has outstanding shoulder blades, and a beneficiant primordial pouch.
The muscular physique and leggy-ness give this cat velocity! The Egyptian Mau is the quickest recorded home cat, having been clocked at 30 mph.[9] He may also leap six toes within the air from a standing place.[10] This cat is an athlete.
It takes time to develop a physique like this. It could take a kitten two years to succeed in full maturity.
The Egyptian Mau’s head
An Egyptian Mau’s head is rounded and medium-sized. The ears are medium to giant: large on the base with a pointed tip.
His eyes are spherical and huge, and lightweight inexperienced. A Mau kitten might begin out with amber eyes, nonetheless.
There’s something very interesting about an Egyptian Mau’s face. Some mixture of the forehead line, the cat’s pure “mascara” markings, and the set of the eyes give this cat a nervous look.[11]
Makes you simply wish to scoop her up, doesn’t it?
Egyptian Maus are even-tempered and delicate. They’re loyal and loving to their folks, though they do have a tendency to decide on one “particular” particular person within the household to commit themselves to.[12]
This devotion may be charming: an Egyptian Mau might wait on the door to greet you if you come dwelling, bringing a toy for play.[13]
This devotion will also be somewhat obsessive. An Egyptian Mau shouldn’t be the form of cat to take no for a solution when she’s searching for consideration.[14]
Maus can endure from melancholy and loneliness in the event that they don’t get sufficient companionship from their folks.[15] That is in all probability not a cat that ought to be left dwelling alone for lengthy hours every single day.
As pleasant because the Egyptian Mau is together with his household, he may be aloof and cautious of these he does not already know. An Egyptian Mau will take his time attending to know different folks and pets, and won’t be desirous about interacting with human friends and animals who don’t already reside in his family.[16] A battle may ensue if an unwelcome animal enters an Egyptian Mau’s world.[17]
Egyptian Maus may be vocal – some say “musical” – with little meows, chortles, and trills, as they observe you round the home, telling you about their day. Maus even have a particular tail-wiggling habits, which is sort of just like the tail wagging of a canine, that appears to point happiness.
The gene pool for Egyptian Maus is small, and the shortage of genetic variety causes sure well being issues to crop up with unlucky frequency. Egyptian Maus are susceptible to:
Urolithiasis
Urolithiasis is the scientific time period for bladder stones. Bladder stones are onerous deposits that type within the kidneys and urinary tract. They will trigger painful urination, urinary tract infections and obstructions, and may be life threatening, particularly in male cats.
Practically half the inhabitants of Egyptian Maus will endure from urolithiasis of their lifetime.[18]
Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency (PK-Def)
Cats with this illness lack an enzyme that their pink blood cells want. They typically endure from anemia.
Leukodystrophy
This uncommon illness impacts the backbone and mind.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM)
That is the most typical reason behind coronary heart illness in cats. Learn all about it on this put up on HCM.
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Daybreak LaFontaine is a lifelong animal lover who at all times appears to have somewhat pet hair in her keyboard. Her weblog, Kitty Contemplations, helps cat guardians higher perceive and take care of the particular beings they share their lives and houses with. Her cat-products enterprise, Cat within the Field, sells lovely, well-made, and award-winning merchandise that she designed to fulfill the organic wants of cats.
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FOOTNOTES
[1] Wydro, Bonnie, and Melanie Morgan. “The Egyptian Mau.” Cat Fanciers’ Affiliation, 1999, cfa.org/egyptian-mau/egyptian-mau-article-1999/.
[2] Hartwell, Sarah. “Egyptian Mau Historical past.” Egyptian Mau Historical past, messybeast.com/egyptian-mau-history.htm. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
[3] ibid.
[4] ibid.
[5] “Egyptian Mau.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Basis, 9 Mar. 2024, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egyptian_Mau.
[6] “What Do Egyptian Mau Cats Look Like?” What Do Egyptian Mau Cats Look Like?, www.cat-breeds-info.com/egyptian-mau-cats.html. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
[7] “Egyptian Mau.” Wikipedia.
[8] “Egyptian Mau: VCA Animal Hospitals.” Vca, vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/cat-breeds/egyptian-mau. Accessed 17 Apr. 2024.
[9] “Egyptian Mau.” Wikipedia.
[10] “Egyptian Mau: VCA Animal Hospitals.” Vca.
[11] “Egyptian Mau Cat Breed Info.” Purina, www.purina.co.uk/find-a-pet/cat-breeds/egyptian-mau. Accessed 17 Apr. 2024.
[12] “Egyptian Mau.” The Cat Fanciers’ Affiliation. https://cfa.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/egyptian-mau-brochure.pdf
[13] “Egyptian Mau: VCA Animal Hospitals.”.
[14] “Egyptian Mau Breed.” Welcome to TICA – The Worldwide Cat Affiliation, TICA Cats, TICA Pedigreed Cats, Pedigreed Cats, Pedigreed Cats Registry, Family Pet Cat Registry, Home Cat Registry, Savannah Cat, Bengal Cat, Persian Cat, Maine Coon Cat, www.tica.org/breeds/browse-all-breeds?view=article&id=840percent3Aegyptian-mau-breed&catid=79. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
[15] “Egyptian Mau: Character, Weight loss plan, Grooming, Coaching.” Petplan, www.petplan.co.uk/pet-information/cat/breed/egyptian-mau/. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
[16] “Egyptian Mau: VCA Animal Hospitals.” Vca.
[17] “Egyptian Mau Cats: Breed Look, Character & Historical past.” Nationwide Pet Insurance coverage, www.petinsurance.com/healthzone/pet-breeds/cat-breeds/egyptian-mau/. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
[18] Albasan, H., Osborne, C. A., Lulich, J. P., & Lekcharoensuk, C. (2012). Danger components for urate uroliths in cats. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Affiliation, 240(7), 842-847. Retrieved Apr 17, 2024, from https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.240.7.842
[19] “Egyptian Mau: VCA Animal Hospitals.” Vca.
[20] Egyptian Mau Cat Breed – Information and Traits | Hill’s Pet, www.hillspet.com/cat-care/cat-breeds/egyptian-mau. Accessed 17 Apr. 2024.
[21] Ahmad, Dr Hafiz Muhammad. “Egyptian Mau vs Bengal Cat: Traits, Care, and Value Comparability.” LinkedIn, 21 Feb. 2024, www.linkedin.com/pulse/egyptian-mau-vs-bengal-cat-characteristics-care-cost-dr-obvef/.
[22] “Egyptian Mau.” PetMD, www.petmd.com/cat/breeds/egyptian-mau. Accessed 17 Apr. 2024.
