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Egyptian Mau History
Ancient History
The Egyptian Mau is an ancient cat, worshipped and revered by pharaohs and kings. There is little doubt that domestic cats originated in the Fertile Crescent, of which Egypt is part. “Mau” is literally the ancient Egyptian word for “cat.”
Frescoes and papyrus scrolls dating back as far as 1550 BC depict the ancestors of these spotted cats. For example, the fresco scene from the tomb of Nebamun in Thebes, Egypt, includes a Mau devouring fowl. Today this fresco resides in the British Museum in London.
Cats were an integral part of ancient Egyptian culture and religion. As far back as 3200 BC, an entire Egyptian city was founded just to worship the feline deity Bastet. Another Egyptian cat god, Mafdet, was often depicted with the head of a lion, house-cat, or cheetah. The sun god Ra took the shape of the “Great Tomcat” or Mau during his visits to the underworld.
Modern History
The Egyptian Mau also has an exciting modern history. The breed almost went extinct around the time of World War II.
Its ancient lineage notwithstanding, the Egyptian mau was first shown in Europe prior to World War I, but during the war, its numbers were decimated with most of its known survivors found in Italy.
Russian Princess Nathalie Troubetskoy, exiled in Rome shortly before World War II, was given a spotted Egyptian mau kitten she named Baba. In 1956, Princess Troubetskoy emigrated to the U.S., bringing with her Baba and two other rescued maus. Shortly thereafter, she founded the Fatima Egyptian Mau Cattery which produced many of the ancestors of today’s Egyptian Mau cats in the U.S. and established Egyptian maus as a recognized breed in North America, notably by the Cat Fanciers' Association in 1968.
Fun Facts
Naturally Spotted
The Egyptian Mau is the only naturally spotted breed of domestic cat. This exotic look has made her a fan favorite of cat fanciers around the world—particularly when shown in her naturally occurring colors of silver, bronze, and smoke.
With her spotted tabby markings, the Egyptian Mau also typically bears the “M” shape on the forehead. Ancient Egyptians believed the “M” was a reference to Mau, or that the mark represented the sacred scarab beetle.
The Fastest cat around!
The Egyptian Mau may be the fastest domestic cat in the world. With her characteristic flap of skin extending from the posterior end of the ribcage to the hind leg, she has an uncanny leaping ability and is capable of great bursts of speed—up to 30 miles per hour, in fact!
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