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Dog Kitten Birds
Egyptian mau
Egyptian mau - a noble cat breed with a mysterious origin
There are many myths about the origin of the Egyptian mau. Her ancestors are said to be cats that were embalmed in ancient Egypt and crematoriums with their masters, the pharaohs. One thing is clear, however, and that is that it is one of the oldest cat breeds ever. The word mau means cat in Egyptian, so you can sometimes find it under the name of an Egyptian cat. Egyptian mau is very intelligent and always likes to be the center of attention. The whole household will boss you.
History
The origin of this breed dates back to ancient Egypt, more precisely to the time 3,500 years ago. There are many myths and superstitions about the origin of the Egyptian mau. Her ancestors appeared in murals in ancient Egypt. It is said that its predecessors are cats, which were in ancient Egypt embalming and crematoria with their masters, the pharaohs. In Egypt, mau was a welcome animal, as it protected grain supplies from mouse invasions. However, the exact origin of this breed has not yet been fully clarified. The modern history of the Egyptian mau begins in 1952, when several cats were brought to the USA by the Russian princess Natalia Trubecka, where they then began to behave them. The first litters were born in 1953 and 1954. However, the cats suffered from the risks associated with inbreeding. In the early 1980s, a pair of Egyptian mau was caught in the USA and caught at a zoo in Delhi, India. These cats improved American breeding lines, brought a gene for shiny fur, and helped improve the brightness and contrast of spots. The largest European breeding organization FIFe officially recognized the Egyptian mau only in 1994. The breed has been bred in Europe since 1988.
Behavior and temperament
Egyptian mau is a very peculiar cat that "beats" your whole household. She is very much tied to her things, whether they are a lady or a toy. Thanks to that, she is very affectionate and shows her love to you very much. She is quite careful with strangers. She is very intelligent, better than other cats you can teach her to walk on a leash and retrieve, for example. The cat is very active and agile, so it is not good to keep her in the apartment. It is one of the fastest cats, reaching speeds of up to 50 kilometers. It tolerates solitude quite badly, it is good to devote a lot to it, either by playing games together or by providing a large number of jumping and cat trees. Getting a second cat is also not a bad idea, especially if you know that most of the time the cat will spend at home alone. Dissatisfaction can be expressed quite loudly, but he will always welcome you when you come home. He has a very strong voice with which he reveals everything to the owner. However, despite all this, the Egyptian mau is a little calmer and more affectionate than its ancient ancestors.
Appearance
Thanks to its weight of 2.5 - 5 kg, the Egyptian mau ranks among medium-sized cats. The body is muscular, adapted to active life, yet it gives an elegant impression. Walking an Egyptian mau is similar to walking a cheetah. The head is rounded wedge-shaped. The eyes are penetrating, slanted with an almond shape of the oriental type. The ears are larger, set far apart and the tips of the ears are rounded. At first glance, the typical dotted drawing of the fur, which glitters shimmering, is fascinating. The dots must be round and evenly spaced, contrasting with the base color. On the forehead, the drawing must be assembled in the shape of the letter M. Three basic colors are recognized - silver, bronze and smoke. There are still Egyptian black or tin mau, but these cannot be exhibited. The Egyptian mau is the only naturally spotted breeding cat in the world.
Care and living conditions
Taking care of Egyptian mau fur does not require much care. All you have to do is brush it occasionally to remove dead hair. It is advisable to clean the cat's eyes from time to time and check or clean the ears. The beast is very active, if you keep it in the apartment, it would be appropriate to go for walks on a leash. However, with the outdoor enclosure, he will definitely feel better. To care for the claws needs enough scraping and climbing "trees" or poles.
Health
The breed is not bred, so the diseases are almost non-existent. However, some disease can still occur. This is, for example, a disease of neurological origin - leukodystrophy (also called Krabbe disease). This can, among other things, cause behavioral disorders. Of course, you should see a veterinarian and vaccinate the cat regularly, deworming and protect it from external parasites.
When feeding, pay attention to quality granules and sachets. They should always contain as many animal ingredients (especially meat) as possible and should be free of cereals and other added preservatives. Granules should be available to the cat at all times, pockets can be served as a diversion of the diet. Constant access to a bowl of fresh water is a matter of course.
Feeding
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