| A shorthair cat breed, Egyptian Mau is thought to | | | | present on the whole body, with the legs and tail |
| have lived for thousands of years in Egypt where it | | | | being striped. Recognized coat colors are bronze, |
| was once the object of worship, 'Mau' being the | | | | silver and smoke. Eyes are in shades of dazzling |
| Egyptian term for 'cat'. It was adored, protected and | | | | green. |
| buried alongside Pharaohs in their tombs as mummies. | | | | Egyptian Maus are healthy and active felines and |
| Over the years, the cat continued to be cherished in | | | | don't suffer from any recurring hereditary medical |
| its native lands as an object of fancy as well as a | | | | conditions. Owing to their love for the outdoors and |
| remarkable hunter. Even today farmers keep | | | | excellent hunting skills, many owners are tempted to |
| crossbreeds from Egyptian Maus as pets to keep | | | | let them outside. Though the cats are surprisingly |
| their fields safe from rodents. The modern | | | | adept at avoiding any accidents and mishaps, it's still |
| recognition of this elegant feline came in the nineteen | | | | not a good idea to leave these rare treasures |
| fifties when a pair was brought over to United | | | | outdoors unsupervised. |
| States. They were given championship status in the | | | | Athletic and playful, the Maus are always alert. They |
| seventies. | | | | are very protective of their 'territory' and are quite |
| A sturdy yet finely built cat, the Egyptian Mau is a | | | | prepared to defend it against any intruders. They |
| medium sized animal. It has a well muscled and | | | | don't accept other cats and pets well and fare best |
| graceful presence. Hind legs are longer than the front, | | | | in a single animal household. From the beginning, they |
| enabling the cat to reach speeds of up to fifty | | | | develop a close affiliation with their humans and |
| kilometers an hour. Mau is the only naturally occurring | | | | maintain a very loyal relationship with them |
| domestic cat that is spotted. The spots run | | | | throughout their lives. |
| underneath the fur to the cat's actual skin. They are | | | | |