Egyptian Maus - Tradition & History

The domestication of the Egyptian Mau occurred sometime between 4000 and 2000 BC. It is the only naturally occurring domestic spotted cat.

It became highly regarded by Egyptian civilization as an animal of awe and wonder and Egyptians very quickly saw the value of the Mau. They used them initially to hunt and retrieve birds and it was very common to see parchments of cats in marshes with birds in their mouths. The oldest images of cats in ancient Egypt are hieroglyphs carved on a temple wall found to the south of Cairo dated around 2200 BC.

From then on the Mau held a great importance in religion and was worshiped as a god. The Mau represented almost every aspect of their life and they were reflected by some twenty some gods and goddess. Today they still retain their God-like status in their demenor and desposition.

Because cats were deeply respected, they were often mummified and even buried in great tombs with their owners. So highly regarded were cats in Egyptian society that it was considered a high crime to kill a cat, punishable by death. Families owning cats took care that they received attention and respect.

Deep regard was also given to cats even after they died. Whenever a household cat died, the entire family would go through a period of grief, shaving their eyebrows to mark their sadness. Deceased cats were very often mummified and entombed with fine jewelry and treasures; a custom usually reserved for only the most powerful and wealthy. Mummified rats and mice have even been found in cats' tombs, signaling the Egyptian belief in a cat afterlife.

Renaissance of an Endangered Breed

During the war, the Mau was saved by the exiled Russian princess, Nathalie Troubetskoy and it is her effort that brought the Mau back from the edge of extinction.

She was living in Italy, when a young boy gave her a silver spotted female kitten that he had been keeping in a shoe box. The kitten had been given to the boy by a diplomat working in the Middle East. Troubetskoy strived to learn more about the kitten. Her research led her to conclude that the kitten was an Egyptian Mau.

Their history in North America began with their importation in 1956 by the Princess. Recognition by The Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA) for championship competition came in 1977. In the past, all Egyptian Maus in the U.S. and Canada traced their ancestry to two of the original imports from the Fatima Cattery. Recent importations have enriched and broadened the available gene pool for breeders.

Modern lines also have Indian and Egyptian gene pools.

Traits & Temperament

An extremely intelligent animal, the Mau places a great importance on family, both human and their own, and is fiercely loyal in their 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.

Personally, I've seen a wide range of calls, mews and meows from them. Although Memphis doesn't do it, Maus have been known to ride on shoulders! They possess an elegant body that is randomly spotted, with 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 true that the Mau attracts a tremendous amount of attention at cat shows.

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