The Egyptian Mau is a fascinating cat, not only because of its past history, but because of its delightful personality and striking appearance. The Mau (mau is the Egyptian word for cat) has been clearly identified in the artwork of the ancient Egyptians, leaving no question in the minds of many experts that the Egyptian Mau is indeed the cat domesticated from a spotted subspecies of the African Wild Cat by this unique culture. To gaze upon this beautiful and engaging creature is an opportunity to view a living relic.
The role of the Mau in the religion, mythology, and everyday life of the Egyptians conveys the degree of affection and respect in which these cats were held. They were worshipped as deities, cherished as pets, protected by laws, and mummified and mourned upon their death.
The Egyptian Mau has the distinction of being the only natural spotted breed of domestic cat. An extremely intelligent animal, the Mau places a great importance on family, both human and their own, and is fiercely loyal in his devotion to them. They are moderately active and often express their happiness by chortling in a soft melodious voice and wiggling their tails at great speed while treading with their forepaws.
Maus come in five colors: silver, bronze, smoke, black and blue. The black and the blue Mau are not eligible for the show ring, but can be registered and like all other Maus, make excellent pets.With an elegant body that is randomly spotted, banded legs and tail, expressive gooseberry green eyes, distinctive mascara lines, a worried expression on the face, and a graceful cheetah-like stride, it is no wonder that the Mau attracts such a tremendous amount of attention at cat shows. In any case, the Egyptian Mau will captivate your mind, bring a little bit of the past to the present, and be a wonderful compainion for many, purrfect years.
