Egyptian Mau

The Egyptian Mau comes from Europe and North America, as per DNA analysis. That said, history shows that this breed comes from Egypt. This cat breed is related to the Maine Coon, Korat, and the American Turkish Angora cat breeds. This cat breed arrived in the U.S when the exiled Russian princess, Troubetskoy, imported three cats from Italy, which included two females and one male. Mau means cat in Egyptian.

Brief History

The Mau interestingly enough has the “Mark of Scarab” Beetle or an “M” marking on their foreheads. Cat breeders from Europe wanted to breed Maus from cross-breeds that consisted of Abyssinians, Tabbies, and Siamese cat breeds. This did not pan out since the kittens did not resemble true Maus, and led to the Ocicat breed. Egyptians loved cats. Dr. Leslie Lyons, a feline geneticist came up with research supporting Egyptian origin for the Mau. Archaeological proof depicts these cats with mascaraed markings. There is also belief that this cat breed is related to the small African wild cat. The Mau is the only cat breed with spots. This breed was recognized in 1977, by the Cat Fanciers Association. In 1979, the International Cat Association followed suit.

Physical Description

The Mau is a blend of both Siamese and Burmese cat breeds. This breed is slender and muscular. With legs that are shorter in the front, the body has a dark and long dorsal stripe along the body. This begins at the head and follows through to the tail. It is on the spine. Maus have green eyes, but the eyes are amber in color during kittenhood and adolescence. They have six coat colors. These are:

• Caramel
• Silver
• Bronze
• Smoke
• Black
• Blue/Pewter

The Mau is wondrously spotted. With a wedge-shaped head, and almond-shaped eyes, the Mau always looks concerned. The Mau runs at 30 miles per hour. This cat breed has a bird-like voice, and stripes on legs and tail. There is a skinfold from the flanks to the knees. The ears may have hair tufts, and are of medium-size.

Temperament

Mau cats are very sociable. They enjoy being around family, and do not do well being alone all day. This cat breed is gentle and curious. The Mau is an extroverted cat breed that loves to play, follow you around the house, and go for long walks. They are a one-person cat breed that bond closely with their pet parent. Maus are known to be vocal when trying to get your attention. This very regal and affectionate cat breed does well with either indoor or farm living. The Mau may be prone to feline depression and anxiety if left alone for long periods of time. This cat breed does well with plenty of TLC! This cat breed loves to climb and run. Lots of playtime is recommended! The Mau is very energetic.

Special Needs

The Mau does best as an indoor cat, but many have done well out in farms as well. The Mau may be prone to certain illnesses, so it’s best to always keep a close eye on this fabulous cat breed. This cat breed is intelligent, and does well with apartment living or home living. The Mau needs to be indoors during the hot summer months, as it is heat sensitive. It is a wonderfully easy cat breed to live with, but does need mental stimulation. The Mau gets bored, and incredibly depressed and anxious when alone for long periods of time.

Litter boxes for cats need to be kept clean, or your cat may not use it. Self-cleaning litter boxes ae popular today, and help with time management, allowing for more time to play time with kitty! Opt for environmentally friendly cat litter. Litter mats help keep everything tidy.

Cats will need parasite control and routine health care throughout its life. This means vaccinating your Mau. This is an important part of keeping your cats healthy throughout their lives. Consult with your veterinarian for advice as to the safest flea and tick products to use.

Your Mau will also need to be spayed or neutered. Your cat needs to be protected from household dangers like cleaning supplies, toxic plants, electrical cords, and aggressive animals. Cats are carnivores, and will need a high-quality diet with plenty of fresh water every day. Exercise can be achieved through a variety of play toys that encourage running and a game of chase. Sedentary cats may be prone to obesity, and health problems later on in life. This cat breed needs a warmer temperature to live in, than other cats.

Possible Health Concerns

The Mau is a healthy and moderately active cat breed that may be susceptible to the following health conditions:

• Leukodystrophy: This is a neurological disorder that affects kittens. It happens when there is demyelination. Additionally, there are other brain and central nervous system problems. Consult with your veterinarian for advice.
• Anesthesia Sensitivity: This cat breed may be sensitive to anesthesia. Consult with your veterinarian.
• Gingivitis: This is when the gums become inflamed due to bacterial plaque. At this stage the ligaments and bone are not infected. Gum color in cats will change from a light pink to red or purple. The gum edge wills well. Symptoms include bleeding and bad breath. This can be reversed with proper teeth cleaning. That said, it can worsen and result in periodontitis. Consult with your veterinarian for an effective treatment plan.

Exercise

Cat parents today are concerned with what their cats are playing with. Opt for natural products with no toxic materials, and toys that encourage interactive play. Cat parents should try encourage bonding and exercise through interactive play. Bright colored toys encourage stimulation and bonding through play. Long wands with colorful feathers encourage pawing and free play between cat parent and cat.

When choosing cat toys for your Mau cat, opt for toys that allow the entire family to play together. Toys like the Shimmer Glimmer are shimmery and plush, and allow for all cats to have plenty of fun with everyone. The wands allow for change-out-toys to prevent your cat from getting bored.

The Mau cat breed needs daily exercise combined with plenty of mental stimulation through active play and interaction with people. Cat parents can use cat toys like the Mousr or Cat Dancer to get their cats to play. This will encourage your cat to play. Finding a variety of mentally stimulating cat toys will allow for your cat to lead a well-balanced life, with the right amount of exercise and mental stimulation. Cat harnesses also allow for daily walks.

This cat breed is well-behaved. This cat breed does best with routine and attention. Cat gyms, cat scratchers, and interactive cat toys within a cat friendly home environment work best for this fabulous cat breed. That said, this cat breed is a laid back, and very-easy-to get on with. The Bombay is super smart and can be taught many tricks.

Look out for the latest cat toys like Ripple rug play mats, the Feather Whirls, pet cube toys, food trees, turbo scratcher toys, cat companion interactive toys, and electronic motion toys. All these and many more will keep your cat entertained when you’re out and about.

Poly Rattan weaved cat scratchers make for longer lasting cat scratching posts. They are more durable, and built to last. Hemp toys for cats are irresistible. Some come with colorful feathers and hemp cord allowing for longer playtime with your feline.

Chasing, hunting, and attacking toys are some of the methods that cats will use when playing with interactive toys. When out shopping for cat toys, opt for safe TPA materials that have no toxic BPA or BHT. Multilevel spinning ball cat toys help cats bat and chase play. Ultimately, what feline pet parents need to achieve is bonding through free play and exercise.

Cat trackers like the Pod are waterproof and allow for cat parents to track their cat’s daily activities. Cat parents can track their cats by mobile phone and computer applications.

Nutrition

Always take notice of your cat’s eating behavior. If your Mau suddenly has a lack of appetite, it could indicate a serious illness. That said, if after a day, he’s still not eating, visit your veterinarian. Fresh, clean water needs to always be on hand for your cats. Canned cat food contains moisture, yet water should never be withheld from your cat. By feeding the proper amounts of cat food, you’ll also prevent your cat from becoming obese. Healthy cats are less prone to heart disease, arthritis, and a shorter lifespan.

The Mau cat breed will need proper nutrition. That said, a high-quality diet that is appropriate for the specific life stage of the cat is necessary. Protein as an ingredient, needs to come first. Dry cat food is a popular choice because it promotes healthier gums and teeth. Yet, wet food is highly recommended by veterinarians because it provides more moisture to cats. Cats don’t drink a lot of water and tend to sometimes get dehydrated. Wet cat food also has its benefits.

By choosing a well-known name-brand cat food that has scientific backing, as well as quality control, cat parents can be assured that they are providing a well-balanced diet. Consult with your veterinarian for advice.

All cat breeds need high- quality fat and protein in their diets. They also need amino acids, including taurine that cannot be found in either human food or dog food. There are also numerous specialty diets for your cat that are formulated specifically for certain medical problems like urinary tract disorder, obesity, or kidney disease.

All cats do well by being fed twice daily. During kittenhood, kittens will need to be fed every few hours. Growing kittens need more calories, nutrients, vitamins, protein, and calories. Your cat should be able to enjoy a peaceful meal in a quiet corner of the house. Some cat parents prefer to leave cat kibble out 24/7. When looking for a high-quality cat food, here’s what to look out for:

• No low-quality fillers
• No artificial additives
• Low grade ingredients or toxic ingredients
• All cat food has to be meat-based because all cats are carnivores
• No garlic
• Plant-based ingredients should be listed after the protein-based ingredients

To select the best cat food for your Mau, look at age, breed, and any medical conditions that your cat may be prone to. Read the ingredient list very carefully, and make sure that you always consult with your veterinarian for nutritional advice.

Grooming

The Mau needs daily grooming to remove shedding hair, and to prevent hair from matting. Because this breed has a medium-length soft coat, extra grooming care is required. Silver and bronze Maus have thicker fur, and grooming should be more frequent.

Stainless steel combs help to remove dead hair. Care must be taken when grooming leg hair and body hair to avoid missing spots that could tangle or mat easily. Curry brushes help with grooming, and will remove dead hair and debris from your cat’s coat.

Look for high-quality pet products to decrease shedding, and help prevent hairballs. Products like the Furminator will easily groom through your cat’s topcoat, and safely remove dead hair without hurting your cat. Soft tip massagers, deluxe nail trimmers, and de-shedding tools all help make cat grooming so much easier.

All cat breeds will groom themselves several times throughout the day. Daily grooming is necessary because it limits the amount of hair that your cat will consume. This helps limit the development of hairballs. Your Mau will enjoy being groomed. Coat hair always looks best during the cold winter months. Cats that have been spayed or neutered will have great coats year- round. This is because hormonal changes in cats affects coat length and thickness.

Cat parents can remove mats by using cat clippers which are safer than using scissors. Daily cleaning with pet wipes beneath the tail is necessary. Ears should be checked weekly for cleanliness and sensitivity. If there is a build-up of wax and dirt, organisms can lead to an ear infection. Consult with your veterinarian about safe and gentle ear cleaning techniques. Nail trimming is necessary every few weeks. Eyes should also be cleaned gently every morning with cotton wool or a soft wipe. Each eye should be cleaned with different wipes or cotton balls to avoid eye infection contamination in both eyes.

Healthy cats need minimal bathing with a gentle cat shampoo. Your cat will need dental care as well. By feeding dry food, and having professional dental cleanings with your veterinarian throughout your cat’s lifetime, your cat will have less of a chance of developing gingivitis or gum disease.

Adopting a Mau

Fill your home with crinkle balls, sisal rollers, and plush feline toys before bringing your new cat home. There are also numerous battery-operated toys that function on their own and spin. These are designed to stimulate a cat’s prey movements, and will encourage your Mau to practice his stalking skills. Free-standing cat scratches, and cat condos help to encourage scratching in the right places. Cat condos are perfect for the newly adopted kitty and offer a place to hide, perch, and scratch!

After doing lots of research about the cat breed that you’re wanting to adopt, you may be asking yourself a few questions. That said, consider what characteristics are important to you and your family before purchasing or adopting a feline. Your new cat will become a friend and part of the family for life. Regardless of which breed, or whether you choose to adopt or purchase, being prepared in every way helps achieve a more satisfying experience for both you and your Mau.

Socialization is very important for all cat breeds, no matter how sweet a breed is. With socialization, cats learn how to get along with other cats, animals, and people. That said, your Mau should never be placed in a dangerous environment or be near aggressive dogs or people. This cat breed needs to spend a fair amount of time with his pet parent and family.

All cat breeds that have not been socialized during kittenhood, and during the latter stages of life will fear humans and avoid human contact. By playing with and providing the best care for your rescue, you’ll be developing a close bond, and working toward reducing, and eventually eliminating any negative feline behaviors with positive clicker training.

Natural feline behaviors like urine marking, soiling outside the litter box, fighting with a new cat, may be behaviors that you’ll have to deal with when bringing your new cat home. If you have other cats at home, they may be territorial, and see the newcomer as a threat. All these problems can be worked through with the help of a good veterinarian and cat behavioral therapist.

That said, the Mau is one of the most popular cat breeds around the world! With their sensitive, yet feisty personalities, this vocal cat breed has plenty of attitude. Adopting a Mau will be extremely rewarding! With so many cats up for adoption, it is the only way to go! There are so many cats in shelters today that desperately need a good home. When choosing your cat, ask questions, and look for a great temperament! Some cats like the Mau may be depressed or anxious at shelters, but soon settle down in their new homes, and become very friendly and sociable.

In addition, kittens should be playful and curious. Sickly kittens that have bad odors or plenty of diarrhea stains, and a dull coat need to be seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible. Kittens when ill, can go downhill very quickly. However, the rewards of adopting a sick animal and caring for it are tremendous, provided that good veterinary care is provided right away. Healthy Mau kittens will also need plenty of care, numerous daily feedings, veterinary check-up visits, socialization, and positive litter box training. Keep in mind that vaccinations and parasite control are an important part of feline health care.

Consider pet health insurance for your cat. With so many great and affordable pet health plans available today, there’s no reason to avoid keeping your pet covered in case of an emergency.

Your Mau will also need to be protected from household hazards, most especially electrical cables, poisonous plants, medication, and open windows. This cat breed makes for a wonderful adoption! As usual, make sure that children are always gentle and quiet around your cat, and that no aggressive dogs or animals are nearby.

Give your Mau time to adjust to his new surroundings. As with any cat adoption, make sure that you have the time and resources to take good care of this wonderful cat breed!