The Egyptian Mau: Diet and a Description of the Breed
The Egyptian Mau is a natural cat breed whose ancestors were probably kept in Egypt several thousand years ago. The breeding of the Egyptian Mau started in the 1950s.
The elegant animals are considered intelligent and cuddly.
History of the Egyptian Mau
Given its name, it should come as no surprise that the Egyptian Mau originally comes from Egypt. Even if its exact origin cannot be traced today, illustrations on ancient wall paintings suggest that the ancestors of the Egyptian Mau were already bred about 3,000 years ago.
In some cases it is even assumed that the Egyptian Mau is said to have descended directly from the cats of the pharaohs who ruled at that time. However, there is no clear proof of this. Regardless of this, the Egyptian Mau is one of the oldest cat breeds in the world.
The breeding of the present Egyptian Mau was initiated by Nathalie Troubetzkoy. In 1952 the exiled Russian discovered the cat of the Syrian ambassador in Italy. As she was fascinated by the elegant appearance, she brought some specimens of the breed to the USA, where she finally started to breed the Egyptian Mau.
The American CFA (Cat Fanciers' Association) has recognized the Egyptian Mau as an independent breed since 1977. In Europe there are still only a few breeders of the Egyptian Mau, so the breed is not very common in Germany.
Appearance of the Egyptian Mau
The Egyptian Mau is a medium sized shorthair cat with a slender body and long legs. Males usually reach a weight of four to five kilos while females only weigh about 2.5 to 3.5 kilos.
The Egyptian Mau has a slightly rounded, wedge-shaped head. The wedge shape is extended by their medium to large ears. The almond-shaped eyes of the Egyptian Mau are large. In kittens they are initially amber and in adult cats they are gooseberry green.
The coat of the Egyptian Mau
The Egyptian Mau has a silky, close fitting coat. According to the breed standard three different colour varieties are permitted, all of which are characterized by a striking spotted pattern and thus contribute considerably to the typical appearance of the elegant cat from Egypt.
According to the breed standard of the Egyptian Mau the following colours are generally accepted:
- Black-silver-tabby-spotted (silver ground colour and black spots)
- Black-tabby-spotted (brown ground colour and dark brown or black spots)
- Black-smoke (smoke and black spots)
Character of the Egyptian Mau
The sensitive Egyptian Mau is characterized by an extremely friendly character and high intelligence. In addition, she has a distinct play instinct, which is normally maintained until old age.
Furthermore, the Egyptian Mau is considered to be very people-oriented and therefore attaches great importance to the closeness of its owner. However, the human orientation is mainly limited to members of the own household. Towards strangers it usually shows its distanced side.
Attitude and care of the Egyptian Mau
When getting an Egyptian Mau, it’s important to make sure you have enough time for the cat, because the breed likes activities and is very sociable.
It’s important to give the Egyptian Mau enough space to romp around. As the fastest cat in the world it reaches speeds of up to 50 kilometres per hour. If possible, the Egyptian Mau should therefore be kept outdoors.
It’s generally also possible to keep them purely as indoor cats as long as there is enough entertainment, such as suitable climbing facilities.
The coat of the Egyptian Mau is very easy to care for. The cats are hardly prone to hair loss, so it is generally sufficient to brush them once a week.
Egyptian Mau diseases
So far, the Egyptian Mau has been fortunate to have been spared from an increased susceptibility to disease. Also hereditary diseases are not known, unlike many other cat breeds.
Nevertheless, the Egyptian Mau can of course fall ill with widespread cat diseases and become infected with cat sniffles, for example, or develop chronic renal insufficiency in old age.
Regular examinations by a veterinarian as well as vaccinations recommended for cats should therefore also be an integral part of her health care.
Apart from that, it is advisable to pay enough attention to dental care. Otherwise, problems such as gum inflammation or caries can quickly develop in the Egyptian Mau.
The life expectancy of the Egyptian Mau
The life expectancy of the Egyptian Mau is considerably influenced by the living conditions of the cat. If kept in a species-appropriate manner, it usually reaches an age of about 14 to 16 years. Occasionally, individual specimens of the Egyptian Mau even reach an age of up to 20 years.
The right food for the Egyptian Mau
Feeding according to your needs is essential for the health of your Egyptian Mau. Like all cats, it requires in particular a sufficient amount of animal proteins, while an excessive content of vegetable food components must be avoided.
In addition, you should make sure that the amount of food your cat is given is adapted to its actual needs, otherwise your Egyptian Mau can quickly become overweight.
With wet and dry food from I Love My Cat, you are opting for species-appropriate cat nutrition with high-quality products made from natural ingredients. All varieties are characterized by the absence of cereals and a high proportion of easily digestible animal proteins. This ensures that our food not only tastes good to your Egyptian Mau, but also provides her with optimal nutrients.
Furthermore, you can promote the well-being and vitality of your Egyptian Mau with the following products from our range:
- Shiimun Skin as nutrient supplier for a shiny coat
- Shiimun Immun as a natural food supplement for permanently strong defences
- Dental powder for effective dental care for your Egyptian Mau
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