The Egyptian Mau is a desirable breed due to the attractive exotic spotted pattern on its coat. They have retained a couple of the survival traits of their early ancestors, namely a cheetah like gait for speed, and a lose flap of skin that ranges from the flank to their hind leg. As a result, the Egyptian Mau has amazing agility and freedom of movement when performing jumps and twists.
Egyptian Mau Cat Personality
Egyptian Mau cats are intelligent yet gentle companions who are usually fiercely loyal to one person in particular but they maintain close friendships with everyone else in the family. They tend to be wary of strangers, so early socialisation is important if you plan to show or travel with your Egyptian Mau.
While friendly and affectionate they do maintain their own schedule of who can handle them and when. You won’t get cuddles on a whim, but expect to be doted on profusely when your Egyptian Mau decides its time.
Naturally active they also love to climb, including up onto your shoulder to view the world from above.
They are keen hunters so you will often see the Egyptian Mau honing its skills while stalking around the house or yard. For those pet parents who enjoy a little more interaction with their cats Egyptian Maus are well known for their love of playing fetch with toys.
Did You Know?
Mau is the Egyptian word for cat, taken from the first name for the cat – miu, which was used in Ancient Egyptian writings.
The Egyptian Mau is believed to be a descendent of the African Wild Cat – they are the only naturally occurring spotted domestic cat.
Egyptian Mau are naturally athletic and exceptionally fast runners with one cat clocked at 30 miles (48 kilometres) an hour.
They often look like they are tip-toeing due to their hind legs being shorter than their front legs. In the cat show ring, they are known for their ability to strike model-like poses.
Caring for Your Egyptian Mau
Egyptian Maus are short haired cats but shed regularly so they do require regular brushing to keep their coats shiny and healthy. Otherwise they have very little in the way of health issues.
Have you ever met an Egyptian Mau cat? Please share your experiences in the comments below.
Image: Liz West via Flickr
