Egyptisk Mau / Egyptian Mau

A little about this amazing breed

Short History

There are many different stories how today's Egyptian Mau came to be. One of the things that is recurring, however, is that they were probably already worshiped in ancient Egypt some 3500 years ago by the pharaohs. There are depictions that closely resemble the Egyptian Mau and the marked eyeliner that the cats have around their eyes may be something that humans tried to imitate. Mummified cats have also been found with the same type of pattern on the remaining fur as today's Mau.

A cat was highly valued in ancient Egypt, they were mummified together with their owners and mice, to have food with them in the afterlife. When a cat died, the owner would shave off their eyebrows to show that they were in mourning. That they were highly valued is clearly visible in the majority of depictions.

Body type & Eyes

Body shape
The Mau is a medium-sized and graceful cat, but at the same time it's muscular with strong long hind legs that make it look like the cat walks on it's tiptoes. This, along with extra skin between their stomachs and hind legs, allows them to get up at the highest speed measured among all domestic cats. They have medium-sized ears that are wide at the base and a triangular head that goes out in soft lines.

Eyes
Large almond-shaped with a beautiful gooseberry green color.

Fur & Pattern

This breed is available in 3 beautiful colors:
Silver, Smoke and Bronze

Fur and covering
The fur is dense and glossy and covered with randomly scattered dots of varying shape and size and preferably necklace-like stripes on the chest. It is desirable to have an "M" on the forehead that transitions into stripes over the top of the head and neck. The smoke has a silkier coat than the others.

Care & Health

Food
Maus are really happy to eat and would be more than happy to taste a piece of what you have on the plate. Keep in mind that a cat gains weight easily, so give them nutritious food and try not to give them too many taste samples of other things.

Health
Life expectancy of Egyptian Mau is 9-13 years.
It is a relatively healthy breed with no breed-specific ailments and they have no health program they need to follow. My cats' are DNA tested to rule out breeding on any kind of genetic diseases.

Fur care
Although the breed has short and easy-care fur, regular brushing or combing helps to remove excess fur and you create a stronger bond with your cat. During shedding periods, a nylon stocking on the hand can be good to brush them off with.

At home

Personality
Egyptian Mau is a curious and playful breed. They are very intelligent and there for easy to training. They love to chase toys and attach themselves to their favorite toy. A Mau likes to rely on a person and sees that person as his/her human. They are extremely affectionate and enjoy cuddling with their owners. As a Mau enjoys keeping track of their surroundings and reviewing what is going on, you can only expect that they are also happy to speak up when something is not done correctly or they have received too little attention or have different opinions about things. They are very vocal and like to actively share in conversations with their chirping and loving sounds. They also communicate with flicking tail movements, which, like other cats, need not be a mark but rather a sign of positivity and appreciation.

One must never forget that an Egyptian Mau is an active breed. They need a lot of activity and exercise so it never hurts to be prepared to have toys on hand, but also that most things in the home can make excellent toys. The Mau is the fastest domestic cat and with the help of an extra skin flap, which they have between their hind legs and stomach, they can stretch their legs in a completely different way and with that get up to a significantly higher speed.

Sociability
Egyptian Mau is a child-friendly cat breed, they work well with children as they enjoy being active and playful in everyday life.

Fun fact about the race

Fun fact
Egyptian Mau is the only naturally spotted domestic cat. A Mau initially has blue eyes as a kitten, which turn greener over time.

Does this sound like a cat breed for you? Don't hesitate to get in touch. We are more than happy to answer any questions you may have about the breed or a specific cat.