| From out of Ancient Egypt Comes the Egyptian | | | | small pet cat has been clocked at 30 MPH! Even |
| Mau | | | | with its small size, however, the Mau possesses a |
| 07th April 2007 | | | | working cat's muscles in an overall sleek package |
| Author: Donovan Baldwin | | | | that is topped, or bottomed, off by a graceful tail |
| Only one cat has a valid claim to being the pet of | | | | which may be as much as two thirds of its total |
| Pharaoh and the idol of ancient Egypt. I give you | | | | length. |
| the Egyptian Mau! After all, the very word "mau" | | | | A feature that particularly endears this breed to |
| means cat. Could you ask for a better set of | | | | me is that it tends to chuckle or chortle when |
| credentials? | | | | happy, rather than mewling. It also becomes quite |
| Well, what if this breed of cat can be clearly seen | | | | animated when happy and expresses its pleasure |
| and identified in many ancient Ebyptian works of | | | | with rapid tail movements and kneading with the |
| art? Even better, what if Hollywood itself has | | | | feet while chuckling to itself. |
| given its stamp of authenticity to the breed? In | | | | The Mau is a great family cat. It is friendly but |
| the 2004 movie, "Catwoman", Halle Berry's | | | | protective, and is devoted to its family. A possible |
| character, Patience Phillips, is killed, but is brought | | | | drawback here is that they tend to like a lot of |
| back to life by a Mau named "Midnight", which was | | | | one-on-one companionship and plenty of play. In |
| actually played by three different cats. It's not | | | | the absence of a stay-at-home human, they are |
| surprising that they turned out to be movie stars, | | | | graciously willing to play instead with other cat |
| however, because they are known for not only | | | | friends. So, if you cannot be at home as often as |
| their striking appearance, but for their personality | | | | your Mau would like, you may have to get him or |
| and charisma as well. | | | | her a pet! |
| When your lineage goes as far back into ancient | | | | Living with the Mau is the least of your problems, |
| history as does that of the Egyptian Mau, you are | | | | however. A Mau does not come cheap, with one |
| bound to find a few wild and unrefined ancestors. | | | | site I visited quoting a starting price of $400, and |
| The Mau is directly descended from wild African | | | | it goes up from there, of course. The other issue |
| spotted cats. These ancestors were | | | | is the scarcity of the breed. They are a popular |
| domesticated, by the ancient Egyptians and may | | | | breed with a limited supply, so you may be on a |
| be, as some believe, the starting point for all | | | | waiting list for some time. |
| modern breeds of domesticated felines, from the | | | | While the Mau can have several different shades |
| pretty Persian kitty to those backyard | | | | and variations of colors, the Cat Fanciers' |
| balladeers...the alley cats. | | | | Association only recognizes three acceptable |
| The Mau haa retained its trademark spots | | | | colors for show - smoke, silver, and bronze. Cats |
| throught the centuries which separate it from its | | | | of other colors, such as black, blue-silver, blue |
| wild ancestors. In fact the spots are even more a | | | | spotted, blue smoke, and solid blue, are still one |
| part of the Mau than just a hair color. Its skin is | | | | hundred percent Mau, although they are not |
| actually spotted as well! Another note on spots is | | | | recognized for show. |
| that this cat breed is the only naturally spotted | | | | The Egyptian Mau is a cheerful, playful |
| breed. All of today's spotted cats have actually | | | | family-loving cat that brings a hint of history and a |
| been bred to produce their spotted fur. | | | | touch of the wild into your home. |
| The Mau is a smallish cat, only weighing in the | | | | Donovan Baldwin is a Texas writer, and a |
| vicinity of five to about eleven pounds. Don't let | | | | University of West Florida alumnus. He is a |
| its small size and compact body fool you. It still | | | | member of Mensa, and the National Society of |
| has the graceful hunter's moves of its wild | | | | Newspaper Columnists. He is retired from the |
| ancestors. Among domesticate cats it is one of | | | | Army after 21 years of service. His many |
| the fastest breeds . It has a natural design in the | | | | interests include nature, animals, the environment, |
| skin which allows its rather long hind legs to take | | | | global warming, health, fitness, yoga, and weight |
| bigger strides than other cats is the same feature | | | | loss. |
| found in another cat relative...the cheetah. This | | | | |