By Keith Bush Thousands of years ago, an Egyptian prepared a papyrus depicting a spotted cat killing a serpent. “I am the cat, which fought hard by the Persea tree,” the scribe wrote, adding that the cat represented the sun god Ra, also called Mau (Egyptian for “cat”). Bast, a daughter of Ra traditionally depicted as a cat-headed woman, became one of the most popular deities of ancient Egypt, which is widely considered the birthplace of the domestic cat. “It is thought that when the Egyptians became agricultural rather than nomadic, the wildcats came out of the mountain regions to clear the granaries of rats, snakes and other vermin,” explains CFA Egyptian Mau breed-council secretary Jessie Brown of South Daytona, Fla. “They also became a subject of worship in the form of Bast and were so honored that when they died, the family would shave off their eyebrows in mourning. If a cat were killed, the offender would be put to death. The markings on the face of the Egyptian Mau include ‘mascara lines,’ and it is said that the Egyptian women began to wear their exaggerated eye makeup to emulate Bast.” Fifty years ago, Nathalie Troubetskoy likewise became captivated by the appearance of a spotted kitten. This exiled Russian princess living in Rome resolved to revive the ancient breed. Legend tells that she booked passage on the final voyage of the Andrea Doria, a luxury liner that sank off the coast of New England in July 1956, but she canceled because one of her cats fell ill. In any case, the princess and her
precious cargo arrived safely that December in the United States, where she established the Fatima cattery. The Cat Fanciers’ Association, the world’s largest purebred cat registry, recognized the Egyptian Mau breed for championship competition in 1977. The Eqyptian Mau remains the only recognized natural breed of spotted domestic cat. Other spotted breeds result from deliberate crossing of different breeds. “The ocicat was created from the hybridization of American shorthair, Abyssinian, and lynx-point Siamese,” says Bonnie Wydro, who breeds Egyptian Maus at Matiki cattery in Atlanta. “The ocicat is a larger, bigger-boned cat, and in their standard it
specifies spots are to be large and thumbprint-shaped.” The Egyptian Mau standard calls for a medium-sized cat with random spots. “Many of us like to think of the Mau as a bit more elegant and typical of the ‘sacred cat of Egypt,’ seen on the walls of the tombs, while the ocicat is more of a ‘jungle-type’ cat. Some also confuse the Bengal with the Egyptian Mau. Again, spots are in common, but the original Bengals were developed from hybridization of the Mau and an African or Asian wildcat. Egyptian Maus have no wild blood.” Coat colors include silver (white, ticked with black), smoke (dark gray, with white roots) and bronze (brown, ticked with black), all with black markings. Blue and solid-black Egyptian Maus can’t become show champions, but they can still make fine pets. The Mau’s spotted coat is not its only distinctive attribute. “Its ‘back to the wild’ look is what catches the eye first off, but the look in the Mau eyes, the look of worry or great thought, is something that
is really unique in this breed,” says Egyptian Mau Fanciers’ and Breeders’ Club president Steve Bergeron of Tavaron cattery in southern New Jersey. Egyptian Maus have gooseberry-green eyes, although cats younger than 1½ may have an amber cast to their eyes.
Sparkling Personalities.
“Most people buy the first one for the wild, spotted look, but they come back again for another because of the intelligence, love and loyalty exhibited by their cat,” Wydro says. She recalled an incident
in which an owner who had taught an Abyssinian to use the toilet expressed concern that his new Mau would not be able to learn to do the same. “Reporting back a day later, he stated that the Mau had already used the toilet four times, but the Aby was now urinating on the floor! He summed it up thus: ‘Most cats can learn things, but Maus save time; they just read your mind!’” Maus form strong bonds with people but may choose to demonstrate affection on their own terms. “The Mau is a loyal member of the family and it is not unusual to have one following along from room to room,” Brown says. “They are not a 'cuddly' breed; however, they are in the middle of anything that is going on. Persians and Burmese would make better pets for the 'cuddly' home.” On the other hand, Mau owners should plan to set aside time for their cats. “The ideal Mau owner is one who has time to devote to the cat. “Most cats, including Maus, sleep much of the day and accommodate their schedule to yours,” Wydro says. “However, they look forward to a special time with their owner, as well as meals and treats on time.Some Maus enjoy being part of a busy household with lots of activity, other animals, children, and noise. Others prefer a quieter atmosphere with only one or two people. It is up to the breeder to discern the nature of the kitten and make sure it will fit the adoptive household. Some Maus are very outgoing; others are a bit shy. They exhibit personality differences just as people do.” Maus typically possess speed and agility and enjoy activity. “They especially love to play with feathers, fur mice and shiny toys,” Wydro says. “The Egyptian Mau is known by judges to be one of the most
playful and interactive breeds in the ring. Often the judges move the toys aside to judge the cat; however, the Mau knows that they toys are usually there somewhere, and they are disappointed when they do not get to play. They also are very intrigued at home by a laser light, operated carefully by the owner to avoid shining it in their eyes.” The short coat of the Egyptian Mau requires no special grooming. Regular use of a flea comb will remove shedding hair. A diet of high-quality cat food will help the coat maintain its luster. Living Treasure
The temples of Ra and Bast lie in ruins, but the Egyptian Mau still has its acolytes.
“This is an addicting breed,” Bergeron says. “When you own this breed, you find yourself becoming interested in the ancient Egyptian culture and watching shows, reading books, and collecting Egyptian statues, always looking for the cat to be mentioned. The first day I encountered this breed, I knew it was something I not only wanted to own, but get involved with.” Those who fall under the spell of the Egyptian Mau might need to exercise some patience.
“It took me a year to get my first Mau,” Brown say. “It is not a breed one decides to get one today and gets the next. There is usually a waiting list with any breeder before one becomes available. There are
only a couple hundred kittens born each year” After thousands of years of history and legend, crossing paths with royalty and divinity, the Egyptian Mau remains a rare gem. 
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