The Egyptian Mau cat is descended from cats brought from Cairo to Rome in the early 1950s and is regarded as the only natural spotted breed of domestic cat. The Mau was first admitted for championship competition in 1977. The Maus come in three colors: silver with charcoal markings, bronze with dark brown to black markings and smoke with black markings. These cats are very sociable, active and loyal.
The Egyptian Mau is the only natural domestic breed of spotted cat. Its body is graceful, showing well-developed muscular strength. Striking a balance between the heftiness of the cobby and the sveltiness of the oriental types, it is an alert, active, strong, colorful cat of medium size.
There should be good contrast between pale ground color and deeper markings. Forehead has characteristic tabby M and brown lines between ears and down back of neck. Cheeks have mascara lines from corner of the eye along the contour of the cheek. A light gooseberry-green color of the eyes is preferred. An amber cast is acceptable in kittens.
Both the Mau and the Abyssinian are living replicas of early cat images. They are also the only pure breeds that can claim Egyptian ancestry. The only difference between the two breeds is the coat: the coloring of the Abyssinian is similar to that of the puma, while the Mau's coloring is close to that of the ocelot.
Egyptian Mau Personality The Mau is hardy, healthy, good-tempered, calm, and loyal. It is also extremely agile, a good hunter, and well able to look after itself. This friendly animal makes an excellent companion.
Egyptian Mau Colors Recognized by CFA
silver (with charcola markings); Bronze (with dark brown markings); smoke (with jet black markings).
Photo Credit:
SwissCat