Egyptian Mau

The Egyptian Mau is a beautiful, intelligent cat. This breed makes a great pet and is popular at cat shows as well. We believe Jewel may be part Egyptian Mau, so I thought I would tell you about this great breed.

History

Egyptian Maus originated in Egypt. They came to North America in 1956 when Russian Princess Nathalie Troubetskoy imported three Egyptian Maus from Italy with the help of Richard Gebhardt. Two of these were silver females named Liza and Baba. The other was a bronze male named JoJo. The breed was accepted by the Cat Fanciers’ Association in 1977 for championship competition. In 1979, the breed gained recognition from The International Cat Association as well.

Physical Appearance

The Egyptian Mau is the only naturally spotted domesticated cat. The Mau’s spots are random in shape and size. According to The International Cat Association (TICA), the legs, tail, neck, and upper chest are barred with at least one “broken necklace.” The shoulders and haunches are places where spots turn into stripes.The breed also has an “M” mark on its forehead, like many other breeds do. The breed’s eyes are large, almond-shaped, and gooseberry green in color. The Mau’s ears are medium to large, broad at the base, slightly flared, and somewhat pointed. Other characteristic facial features include a worried expression and mascara lines around the eyes.
The Mau’s hind legs are longer than its front legs, which gives it what is referred to as a “tiptoe” stance. This breed also possesses a medium-length tail and coat.

The Cat Fanciers’ Association and The International Cat Association accept the Egyptian Mau in three colors for championship competitions: silver, smoke, and bronze. However, these cats also come in solid black, solid blue, and dilute versions of the primary colors blue silver, blue smoke, and blue spotted (the dilute version of bronze).

Personality

Egyptian Maus are intelligent cats who bond closely to their humans. They are curious, playful, and energetic. Some Maus will even play fetch with you.