Egyptian Mau

The cheerful cat has tremendous energy, likes to move and play a lot. Therefore, Egyptian Mau gets along great with children but will not tolerate many liberties, but will leave the game and go away. The cat loves all family members without exception, but the owner for her is always one person. The pet is good at discerning his mood and will not be obtrusive.

Breed Photos

Origin History

The Egyptian Mau is considered one of the oldest domesticated breeds. The cat appeared in Egypt more than 4,000 years ago. It was worshipped as a deity, depicted on tomb walls, and even mummified after death.

In modern history, Egyptian Mau began to appear in the middle of the XX century. At that time, the silver cat was given to the Russian princess Natalia Trubetskoy, who lived in Rome. In 1956, she moved to the States and took the cat and her kittens with her. Moreover, Trubetskaya did everything to preserve the breed. She wrote the Egyptian Mau’s standard and opened her cattery, calling it “Fatima”.

The Egyptian Mau was recognized by the Cat Fanciers Federation in 1968. Nine years later, the breed was recognized by the Cat Fanciers’ Association. In the following years, the Egyptian Mau population only increased. Now the cat is one of the 20 most popular breeds.

Appearance

Externally, the Egyptian Mau resembles the Abyssinian cat a bit, but it stands out for its coloring. The body of the animal is elongated and elegant, with well-developed musculature. The back is straight, and there is a crease on the abdomen. The neck of the cat is curved and short. It has a wedge-shaped head with a rounded forehead. The muzzle has almost perfect features. The medium-sized triangular ears are tilted slightly forward. The pet’s round eyes are slightly slanted and set wide. The color is usually green but may be amber at an early age.

The cat’s front limbs are shorter than its hind limbs, but they are all muscular and strong. The paws are round or oval. The tail is medium length, tapering to the tip. The pet’s fur is short, dense, but fine. The coloration comes in silver, bronze, or smoky.

Character

The cheerful cat has tremendous energy, likes to move and play a lot. Therefore, Egyptian Mau gets along great with children but will not tolerate many liberties, but will leave the game and go away. The cat loves all family members without exception, but the owner for her is always one person. The pet is good at discerning his mood and will not be obtrusive.

Egyptian Mau is not too talkative, preferring purring instead of meowing. Cats tolerate loneliness well. You can safely go about your work and not worry that the animal gets bored and spoils something. Cats of this breed are very obedient and reserved. With other pets, the Egyptian easily finds a common language. The exception will be rodents and birds – it will not resist the hunting instinct.

Care

The clean-cut Egyptian Mau is unpretentious in its care; it can take care of itself. The cat’s hair, though short, requires frequent combing. The pet enjoys water procedures, but there is no need to do them often.

Egyptian Mau’s eyes rarely tear and hardly have any discharge, so there is no need to take care of them. Once a week, you should clean your pet’s ears with cotton pads. Do not forget about brushing the teeth as well. It should be done with a special toothpaste a couple of times a month. Train your cat to a scratching post or use a claw sharpener.

Education

The Egyptian Mau is brilliant and very obedient. Therefore, it is not necessary to put much effort into its education. The cat is easily accustomed to the litter box and scratching post. There are no problems with her walking on a leash. As for training, the pet lends itself well to this matter. An intelligent animal always understands what is required of it. If you want, you can teach him simple commands and tricks. The main thing is to motivate the cat with food and stroking properly. There is no point in pressing and shouting; otherwise, Egyptian Mau will lose interest in learning.

Common Diseases

The breed is considered one of the healthiest among cats. The Egyptian Mau has no specific genetic diseases. But there is a predisposition to a common viral infection, feline leukemia. It causes the pet to be anemic, lose weight and then die. Avoiding the disease is possible through timely vaccination. Vaccinate your cat regularly and take it to the vet at least once every six months.

Nutrition

Egyptian Mau has an excellent appetite, so keep a close eye on her diet to avoid obesity. It is recommended to use dry premium food. True, you have to choose carefully and read the composition carefully. All because of the pet’s food allergies. Also, do not combine food with natural food to avoid problems with the gastrointestinal tract.

The cat’s diet should include lean meat, by-products, sea fish, vegetables, and fruits. It is categorically contraindicated to feed Egyptian Mau fatty meat, spices, river fish, spicy food. You should also not give your pet legumes, tubular bones, milk, liver, mushrooms, and nuts.