Cat Breeds - The Egyptian Mau

The Egyptian Mau is a striking cat with gooseberry green eyes. This cat is the only domestic cat that is naturally spotted and it has spots that vary in size on both sides of the body.

This breed originated in Egypt and, in fact, the word Mau is Egyptian for "cat.” Seen in Temple paintings that date back to 1400 B.C., this cat’s muscular physique is a tribute to its ancestors who hunted along the Nile River. One can almost picture this cat looking like a miniature cheetah stalking its prey in the grass. The Egyptian Mau was first imported into the U.S. in 1953.

A reserved breed, the Egyptian Mau can be somewhat aloof with strangers. Some of these cats love to be handled, while others hate it. This trait mostly depends on which bloodline your cat came from. The Egyption Mau is a quiet cat that has a low-pitched, melodious voice.

A medium-sized cat, the Egyptian Mau has a wedge-shaped head. The ears are sometimes tufted, and usually stand upright. The cat has almond-shaped eyes,and as previously mentioned, they are gooseberry green in color. Their coat is fine and silky. The body is well balanced, with the hind legs being longer than the front.

The Egyptian Mau comes in smoke, silver or bronze colors and is characterized by distinctive spots. The nose and paws are colored according to the coat color. The forehead has frown lines and what looks like the letter M. The lines continue over the head and back of the neck and then turn to spots along the back. The tail is ringed and has a dark tip. Mascara like lines highlight the eyes.

The Egyptian Mau has an average of four kittens in a litter. The kittens are spotted at birth with the exception of those that are smoke colored. The kittens have an interesting eye color that is green when they are happy, but they turn amber when the kitten is disturbed. Once they are about two years of age the eye color stabilizes to green.

This is a fairly hardy breed of cat with no genealogical health problems associated with it. Grooming consists of routine brushing and bathing as needed. Feed your Egyptian Mau a balanced diet, the same way you would any cat.

Most Egyptian Maus make great pets. You really need to choose your breeder well. Make sure you get a cat from a good breeding line. Some lines can be unpredictable and excitable. Most of this breed are affectionate to their family and love children, but can be wary of strangers.

Until next time,

Teia