In -1957 Princess Nathalie Troubetski disembarked in New York with two cats called Ludol and Gepa, said to be direct descendants of those sacred cats of ancient Egypt whose effigy or statuette was kept by every family as a house god.
The cats were received with acclaim in America, but in fact the origins of the breed prove to be rather more recent. Ludol and Gepa had one peculiarity: they carried on their foreheads the sacred mark of the scarab. This beetle pattern is in fact a tabby marking not unusual in some cats, and is probably a causal factor in the choice of the cat as an object of worship.
They founded a line and the Egyptian Mau breed became officially recognised in the United States in 1968. The Egyptian Mau’s profile resembles that of the Abyssinian, and beneath its elegant outer appearance is a very muscular body. Adult cats make charming companions: calm, affectionate and sociable.
Their voice is melodious and only used to good purpose, as for instance when they want to attract their owner’s attention. Slightly reserved with strangers, they do know how to play the fool sometimes and make the family take notice!
Extremely clean, the Mau spends a lot of time at its toilet. An occasional brush, in the direction of the hair, is all the grooming it needs. The diet needs to varied and the quantity of food weighed out. Like most cats the Mau is a good hunter. It is still, unfortunately, little known in Europe.
General:
In build very like the Abyssinian. svelte and elegant. The paws are long.
Head:
A rounded triangle in shape with a small chin. The whiskers are very long and a notable feature. The scarab pattern on the forehead is not clearly defined. The eyes are slightly almond shaped and very brilliant. Normally green eyed. yellow and hazel are also acceptable.
Coat:
The texture is fine, dense, silky and glossy. The pattern is spotted with one or two rings. It may be any of three colours: silver, with charcoal markings and green eyes; smoke, with black markings and green eyes, or bronze, with chocolate or dark brown markings and green eyes.