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Hill’s Brand Horizon

Egyptian Mau

cat Breed Profile

The Egyptian Mau is a long cat although she tends to be medium in size, with the males larger than the females. The Mau is heavily muscled and strong.

Attributes

Size

Weight

medium: 8-12 lbs.

medium: 8-12 lbs.

Coat

Length

Short

Color

Silver, Bronze, Smoke

Less Allergenic

No

Care

Longevity

9-13 yrs.

Needs

High, Moderate

Traits

Grooming Needs

Low

Social Needs

High, Moderate

Eye Color

Green

Club recognition

Associations

CFA, ACFA , FIFe, TICA

Prevalence

Rare

The Egyptain Mau Cat Breed

The Egyptian Mau is an easy cat when it comes to care. Brushing can easily be made part of regular playtime.

About the Egyptian Mau

The Egyptian Mau is a long cat although she tends to be medium in size, with the males larger than the females. The Mau is heavily muscled and strong.

Egyptian Mau personality

Maus like to sit up high and survey their surroundings. They usually act as if they are in complete control of their environment. They are extremely strong and very active. But they have a very balanced temperament.

What to expect

The Egyptian Mau is an athletic cat and will adjust her own nutrition if she is given enough room to adequately exercise.

Egyptian Maus are great jumpers and climbers, and should have perches and cat trees to make their own. If these are not provided, the Mau will create  her own perch on the top of the refrigerator or on bookcases.

The Egyptian Mau is an easy cat when it comes to care. She likes being brushed, and brushing can easily be made a part of regular playtime.

History of the Egyptian Mau

The Egyptians were well known not only as lovers of cats but also as worshipers of them. In the Book of the Dead, Ra, the God of the Sun, is portrayed as a spotted Tabby cat. He is depicted in Egyptian art as slaying the serpent Apep. In many Egyptian depictions, a scarab is shown on the forehead of the cat. In actuality, a mark that resembles the scarab is a natural marking of Tabby cats. This important scarab marking may have been part of the reason that cats were worshipped by ancient Egyptians.

In 1953, a noblewoman returned to Italy from Egypt with a Tabby cat. This Tabby cat was bred to a male Tabby that had also been brought to Italy from Egypt, this time with the help of a Syrian ambassador. In 1956, the progeny of this original pair were brought to the United States by this noblewoman, and the Egyptian Mau was created. Mau, in Egyptian, means cat.

The resulting breeding program in the United States produced cats that appeared to recall the ancient Tabby cats, which were worshipped by the Egyptians. The breed Egyptian Mau was recognized in 1958 in the United States and 1992 in Europe.

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