Portraits of popular breeds at home and throughout the world: Egyptian Mau

Mau means a cat in Egyptian. The spotted pattern of this breed was not created as in other cross-breeding, it has existed since ancient times. It is also one of the oldest cat breeds. It was esteemed in Egypt long before Christ. The various depictions of cats found during excavations very much resemble the Egyptian Mau. 

The first Mau cats were imported from Egypt to the United States around the 1950s. They were owned by a Russian woman who emigrated to America and established a breeding kennel named Fatima. She bred the Egyptian Mau cat in silver, bronze and smoke. While the breed was recognized across the ocean as early as in 1968, in Europe it was not until 1993. 

The Mau is an energetic, active cat. They like to play, even in their older age. They need lots of options for playing and climbing at home. They also need lots of attention and suffer when alone for long periods of time. They are very affectionate cats that never turn down an opportunity for cuddling and stroking. However, they don't make friends with just anyone. They are quite reserved towards foreign visits and certainly wouldn't climb onto their lap. 

Their figure is similar to that of the Abyssinian cat, with a charming oriental appearance. Looking at it, you will notice that its rounded wedge-shaped head has relatively large ears. Its fur is short, silky and shiny. Its striking spotted pattern is immediately noticeable. The spots are round and shouldn't merge stripes. 

Maintaining their fur requires minimal care. It only needs to be brushed once a week. However, if you want to emphasize its shine, you can go over it with a suede cloth after brushing. In addition to the colors mentioned above, it is also bred in a tin, and very rarely in red or blue.

Have you ever seen an Egyptian Mau? It's certainly not a pet for people who spend a lot of time away from home or who like their own peace and quiet. On the other hand, you'll never be bored with this cat.