The Egyptian Mau is a short-haired cat breed with a spotted coat and an outgoing personality.

History, description and appearance

The history of the cat breed goes back to Ancient Egypt, but its modern history is associated with Europe. According to historical sources, the Mau were first brought from Egypt to Switzerland and Italy around the beginning of the 20th century.

Egyptian cats are so energetic

Cats of Egyptian origin owe their spread to Princess Trubetskoy, who was closely involved in their breeding while in Rome. Later, when she moved to America, she took several copies with her.

Thus began their journey around the world. Soon professional breeders became interested in them. The breed was officially approved in 1977.

Features of appearance and colors

Outwardly, the Egyptian Mau resembles a Bengal cat, but upon careful examination, a number of differences are revealed. Bengals do not have some features: the scarab color and the mark on the forehead in the shape of the letter M.

Characteristics of Egyptian cats, according to the standard:

• The head is wedge-shaped and relatively small relative to the body. There is a slight hump on the nose.
• The ears are medium in size, set high, pointed at the tips. The presence of tassels is allowed.
• The eyes are large, almond-shaped, gooseberry-colored, lined with a black stripe. Kittens' colors change as they grow older.
• The body is graceful, muscular, dense. There is a leathery fold on the abdomen.
• Legs are slender, of medium length, the hind legs are longer. The paws are compact, fluffy, oval. The fingers on the forelimbs are longer than on the hind limbs.
• The tail is short, of equal thickness along its entire length.
• The coat is short, soft and silky to the touch, glistening in the sun. Fluffier coat on the chest, forelegs and thighs.

Adult representatives weigh 4-6 kg, with females being more massive than males.

“Egyptians” are naturally endowed with a spotted color , formed due to darkening at the tips of the hairs. There is pigmentation on the skin, randomly located.

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A pattern resembling the letter M is clearly visible on the forehead. This is a distinctive feature of the breed.

The standard provides 3 types of color:

• Smoky – the main color is gray and dark gray, the spots are black.
• Bronze – brown to ivory base, dark brown spots.
• Silver – the main tone is gray and light gray with dark gray or black spots.

Advantages and disadvantages

Egyptian Mau have a number of pros and cons:

History of the origin of the breed

As mentioned above, the homeland of this Egyptian cat breed is Egypt, or more precisely, the Nile Valley, where it has been known since the times of the Old Kingdom. Currently, the Egyptian Mau is one of the few remaining native (bred without special selection) cat breeds.

Her ancestors are the serval and the jungle cat, whose kittens were attached to human habitation. Once in human habitation, cats soon became indispensable pets, guarding grain barns and exterminating rodents and snakes.

The ancient Egyptians appreciated the benefits brought by domestic cats, mainly Egyptian Mau, who received their name in the form of a modified cat's meow (the more elite Egyptian sphinxes lived in the palaces of pharaohs and nomarchs and were a luxury item) and even elevated them to the status of a deity - the goddess-protector of humanity clan Bastet.

The deification of cats at the state level was also reflected in the attitude towards them in everyday life:

• they were fed to their fill;
• in case of fire they were the first to rescue, even if there were children in the house;
• their murder (intentional or accidental) was punishable by death;
• In the event of the death of a cat, its owners kept mourning for 70 days (as for a person), mummified the body and buried it in Bubastis - the center of the cult of the goddess Bastet.

The veneration of the goddess Bastet continued in Egypt until 390, when it was officially banned by Emperor Constantine, but the veneration of the Egyptian Mau did not stop - they were still welcome inhabitants of both peasant houses and the palaces of the nobility.

Perhaps the most famous Egyptian Mau of the Middle Ages (according to another version, she belonged to the Abyssinian breed) was Muizza, whose owner was the Prophet Muhammad, the founder of Islam.

In gratitude for the fact that Muizza became the first living creature to believe in Allah, as well as for saving Muhammad from the pagans in Mecca, all cats were allowed free entry into the mosque, and it is considered worthy for a Muslim to take care of them and give them milk.

The Egyptian Mau was popular in both Europe and Asia, but by the beginning of the twentieth century this breed had virtually disappeared. Their revival is associated with the name of the princess-felinologist Natalya Trubetskoy. She collected the surviving Egyptian Mau animals, registered them with the Italian Union of Felinologists, and then showed them at a cat show in 1953.

Later she moved to the USA, where she founded the Fatima nursery. Subsequently, a group of yard cats was brought from North Africa to Fatima, which in appearance strongly resembled the original Egyptian Mau.

Subsequently, Trubetskoy’s followers chose those individuals that were more consistent with the description of ancient Egyptian cats. Now all the descendants of cats from the Fatima cattery are called the “Traditional Original Line”.

Character of the breed

Egyptian cats are so energetic that sometimes they cannot cope with emotions and become aggressive. The breed is distinguished by its canine devotion to all members of the household - Mau do not single out one person. They are wary of strangers.

Vigilantly guard personal space

They love to purr, in this way trying to get in touch with others. They try to attract attention to their own person using all possible methods.

They prefer to spend time on a hill, from where it is convenient to observe what is happening. They are overly curious and try to take part in all household chores.

Cats are unobtrusive and subtly sense the mood of their owners. Nature instills in them hunting habits, so they are not averse to running after a toy once again.

They vigilantly guard their personal space, and may even growl when a stranger tries to enter their territory. It is not recommended to leave small children alone, as they can scratch them during play.

Care and maintenance

It is better to keep Egyptian Mau in spacious apartments, where there is an opportunity to splash out irrepressible energy. Provide a place for the pet to rest and eat. It is advisable to purchase more toys.

Caring for cats is simple and includes the following activities:

• Systematic combing of the coat, more thorough during shedding. They shed once a year.
• Cleaning ears and eyes as they become dirty.
• Trimming claws with a special tool.
• Bathing.
• Proper feeding.

Diet

Mau requires a high-quality balanced diet.

The average daily nutritional intake of food is 80-90 kcal per kilogram of total weight. It is recommended to opt for ready-made feed mixtures: dry, canned.

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Egyptian Mau are best kept in spacious apartments

Select premium food intended for this breed. Pets prone to allergies are given hypoallergenic food.

Brushing and bathing

Brush the Mau at least 2 times a week. When molting, use a fumigator.

Water procedures should be carried out if necessary. Those with silver coats are washed with a clarifying shampoo to avoid a yellowish tint.

Upbringing

The cat's excessive mobility forces the owner to engage in training from an early age. You should set aside some time every day to spend time with your pet.

Innate intelligence allows cats to quickly learn lessons. They grasp everything on the fly and remember it easily. They easily settle into an unfamiliar place and get used to a new family.

Mau is walked calmly on a leash

They quickly get accustomed to the tray. To grind down claws, it is recommended to purchase a scratching post.

From 10 months you can start training. The cat is capable of following the following commands: “come to me”, “sit”, “lie down”, “no”.

Mau is walked calmly on a leash. For this purpose, they purchase a harness and gradually accustom them to it. The breed is not accustomed to the cold and catches colds easily - in bad weather it is better to leave the animal at home.

Characteristic diseases

Egyptian Mau
Despite their stable immunity, Egyptian Mau are genetically susceptible to a number of diseases:

• asthma;
• cardiomyopathy;
• allergy;
• obesity;
• vascular pathologies.

Vaccinations are given to kittens according to the schedule. In the first year, the procedure falls on the 2nd, 3rd and 12th month. Then they are vaccinated annually, once.

With proper care and comfortable living, the lifespan of a Mau is 12-15 years.

TICA - No. 24472, C FA - No. 257826, SFF - No. 00855,

ICU.0401.RU, WCF - RU-13752-2017

Egyptian Mau is a love for life!!!

My Time – nursery of rare breeds! Good day! By opening our resource in search of the rarest breeds of cats, the reader has the opportunity to get acquainted with the unique Egyptian Mau. Find out detailed information about the behavior of this breed, the rules of keeping, and also purchase a cute and obedient kitten for your home. When we hear the name “Egyptian Mau”, temples and ancient pyramids appear before our imagination. After all, the roots of this breed originate from Ancient Egypt. They served as the personification of the goddess of love, hearth, fertility and the moon. If you look into the almond-shaped green eyes of this beauty, you get the impression that they reflect the secrets of the East, hidden for many centuries.

Main characteristics Amazing grace is harmoniously combined with developed muscles. In color they resemble miniature leopards. Small spots are located not only on the animal’s attractive coat, but also on the skin. The tight-fitting fur has a shiny sheen. The incomparable color immediately attracts attention to this breed, making it stand out in the environment. The striped pattern on the forehead resembles the sign of a scarab, the eyes are emphasized with natural eyeliner in the form of black lines, characterizing the makeup of the goddess Basted. By nature, cats of the Egyptian Mau breed are very active and inquisitive. Of all the family members, they themselves choose one owner, whom they then follow everywhere, while they do not refuse their favor to other family members, but are wary of strangers. They do not like loneliness and adore children. They are clean, quickly learn to use the litter box, and love to swim and play. With the help of purring, which in Mau has a wide range, the cat expresses its disposition. Often likes to sit on his knees and shoulders.

Despite having so many advantages, cats of this breed have a disadvantage: they do not suffer from lack of appetite. And overeating affects their figure; they quickly lose their graceful beauty. On a note

In our nursery you can buy kittens of silver and smoky color. If an advance payment of 30% of the full cost is made, the kitten will be considered reserved. He is fitted with a microchip and given the necessary vaccinations. The cost depends on the pedigree, certificate, etc. We will provide a free consultation on all your questions. Since we opened a branch in the Primorsky Territory, in particular in the city of Arsenyev, it is worth noting that residents of Ussuriysk, Nakhodka and Vladivostok have the opportunity to see these dear cats with their own eyes at specialized exhibitions.

Breeding Egyptian Mau

The first mating is planned for the third heat, after puberty. Usually the milestone occurs at one year of age. You should not wait for time; cats older than one and a half years are more difficult to come into contact with the fertilizing cat.

The procedure is prescribed 2-3 days after the start of estrus and is carried out on the cat’s territory. Before this, they undergo a veterinary examination and receive a thoroughbred assessment at the club.

Criteria for choosing a partner

Since the breed is rare and unique, they carefully choose a partner.

It is necessary to have a pedigree, passport and veterinary passport with all necessary vaccinations. Immediately before copulation, the cat’s claws are trimmed, just like a cat’s, so that they do not accidentally injure each other.

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Features of pregnancy and childbirth

Pregnancy in the Egyptian Mau lasts longer than in other cat breeds - up to 73 days. Usually there are 4-6 kittens in one litter. Most often, human assistance is not required during childbirth, but it is better to control this process.

Description and breed standard

According to the breed description standard, the Egyptian Mau, adopted in 1977, FILE is a strong but graceful cat of average height (30–40 cm) and weight (3–6 kg) with wide ears and almond-shaped, large eyes the color of young gooseberries.

She has special leather pouches under her tail that allow her to make a large swing of her legs when running and jumping. The coat of the Egyptian Mau is short, smooth, without undercoat; long hair indicates that under the guise of an Egyptian Mau they are trying to sell a Sibur Mau or a Siberian cat.

Varieties of color

The most common colors in the Mau breed are silver, bronze and smoky. Silver is a light gray or gray shade with good contrast with the spots.

Bronze is a dark brown color on the back that fades to light tones towards the belly. The smoky color of the Egyptian Mau is the most common and ranges from dark gray to black. All markings on the coat (the letter “M” above the eyes and “W” at the back of the head, as well as “makeup” - two lines emphasizing the eyes) are clearly visible.

Where to buy, price

The breed is quite rare, so it is not recommended to buy it secondhand - there is a high risk of selling a non-purebred animal. On the territory of the Russian Federation there are several certified nurseries where they are guaranteed to sell purebred Mau.

The breed is quite rare

The price varies depending on the category of kittens.

Nurseries

The breed has been bred in the CIS for about ten years, but nurseries have already appeared in large cities. Some provide services for delivering animals to other cities.

Official nurseries:

• "Egyptian power" - Moscow region.
• My Time – St. Petersburg.
• May Magie – Odessa (Ukraine).

Cost of Egyptian Mau kittens

The cost of show-class Egyptian Mau is 100 thousand rubles. and higher. Kitties of a lower class are estimated at 50-70 thousand rubles. Despite the high cost, there are many people who want to buy an exotic pet.

Sometimes they wait in line six months before the babies are born.

How much does it cost and where to buy

The Egyptian Mau cat breed is not very common in Russia. There are only a few nurseries specializing in these cats and they are located in Moscow and the Moscow region. The cost of an ordinary kitten reaches up to 40 thousand rubles, but if a kitten with a pedigree is required, then the price jumps to 100 thousand.

How to choose a kitten

You need to purchase a kitten at three months of age after vaccination and quarantine; when purchasing, you need to make sure that the kittens fully comply with the breed standard. The best way to avoid buying a fake cat is to buy it only from a special cattery.