The African wild cat is believed to be the cat that the Egyptians first domesticated around 4,000 years ago. Ancient Egyptian cats resemble the spotted Egyptian mau and demonstrate that they were utilized for duck hunting as well as venerated by a cat cult. The Egyptian mau is really more closely connected to Western-derived breeds than those of the eastern Mediterranean, according to cat genomic studies.
The Egyptian mau, on the other hand, has several unique traits not found in other breeds. Despite its ancient pedigree, the Egyptian mau was first seen in Europe earlier to World Conflict I, but its numbers were destroyed during the war, with the majority of known survivors located in Italy.
Jean Mill, a Bengal breeder, also contributed contributions to the breed. During the time she was developing the Bengal cat breed, Mill worked with Egyptian Maus. Mill visited India in 1982 and came across a domestic cat. She obtained the cat with the help of another person. Toby and Tasha, two Indian domestic cats, introduced a completely undiscovered trait in the Mau: the rufous polygene.
Toby and Tasha’s progeny have been referred to as both Egyptian Mau and Bengal cats. Millwood Tory of Delhi is claimed to be the source of all glitter in Bengal cat, Egyptian Mau, and Toyger breeds. In the early 1900s, Egyptian Maus joined the European cat craze. Fanciers in Italy, Switzerland, and France attempted to develop the breed; unfortunately, World War II destroyed the Egyptian Mau population, as it did many other pedigreed breeds, and the Mau was nearly extinct by the mid-1940s.
The Mau was saved from extinction thanks to the efforts of exiled Russian Princess Nathalie Troubetskoy. Princess Troubetskoy’s silver Egyptian mau female becomes the first Egyptian mau to win a Canadian Cat Association grand championship in 1968. The Cat Fanciers’ Association and the Canadian Cat Association both recognized Egyptian maus in 1968.
Body Structure
A compromise between the tightness of a Burmese and the sleek grace of a Siamese,” according to the breed’s description. The Mau’s muscular medium-length body has longer rear legs than front legs, giving it the illusion of standing on tiptoes while upright, and a long, dark dorsal stripe that extends from head to tail along its spine. Longer hind legs, as well as a unique flap of skin stretching from the flank to the back knee, aids in running by allowing the legs to stretch back further, increasing agility and stride length.
The cat’s head is characterized as a medium-length, rounded tip wedge with no flat surfaces. The mau’s muzzle is hardly short nor sharp, and its ears, which may be hairy, are medium-sized, somewhat pointed, and have plenty of space between them. The Egyptian mau’s eyes, which are huge, somewhat slanted, and emit a characteristic glow, are one of its most distinguishing features. Maus is available in six different color combinations.
Silver, bronze, smoke, black, caramel, and blue/pewter are the most common to least common colors. Green eyes are required for all Maus. The color of one’s eyes can shift from green to turquoise depending on one’s emotions. Egyptian Maus are a short-haired cat breed that ranges in size from tiny to medium. They are one of the few domesticated cat breeds that are naturally spotted. The dots on the Mau’s coat are only found at the tips of the hairs. It is said to be a rare breed.
Behavior
Maus has a lot of melodic voices. When energized, vocalizations occur. Another common behavior among happy Maus has been labeled “wiggle-tail.” The cat, whether female or male, wiggles and twitches its tail and appears to be spraying territory, but the Mau does not release urine during this behavior. The Mau is well-known for having a loyal, playful, and friendly personality. Maus is more temperature-sensitive than most breeds, and they prefer hot weather.
Caring
Its coat is easy to maintain, requiring only weekly combing and rarely requiring a bath. It needs to play in order to get enough exercise. Obesity will decrease your cat’s life, so keep an eye on its weight.