Egyptian Mau

This breed originated in Egypt. It is the only natural domesticated breed of spotted cat. Egyptian Maus still have a bit of a really, wild cat look about them. With gooseberry green eyes slightly slanted toward the ears and a coat of medium length hair with a lovely sheen - the Egyptian Mau looks striking. In young adults upto 11/2 years of age, the eyes may be amber coloured before they change to the distinct - gooseberry green eyes.

Smoke, silver and bronze are accepted coat colours. For the Egyptian Mau with a smoke colored coat the hair is silky and fine in texture.On the other hand for the silver and bronze colored Egyptian Maus, the coat is dense and resilient and often has two or more bands of ticking separated by lighter bands

Strong points for disqualification are lack of spots, blue eyes, short or round heads, pointed muzzles and short or whip tail. Other points that do not confirm to breed standards are the pencillings in spotting pattern on torso and solid stripes on underside of body instead of "vest button" spots.

A typical Mau pattern
Random spots of different sizes and shapes, small or large, round, oblong, or irregular shape are all acceptable. Mascara lines on cheeks, banded tails, barred forehead with typical "M" and frown marks forming lines between the ears which continue upto the back of the neck breaking into elongated spots along the spine are typical.

The Egyptian Mau with unsymmetrical spotting patterns on either side are often seen. " Vest buttons" spots on the underside of the body with a heavily banded tail and a dark tip are distinctive features specific to the Mau.