Mau Égyptien

Nathalie Troubetzkoï is a Russian princess exiled in the palace of the Egyptian ambassador in Italy during World War II. A lover of cats, she is considered the creator of the breed. She receives her first cat through a little boy who brings her a kitten in a cardboard box. The unusual beauty of this kitten immediately conquers her, and she names it Ludivine, nicknamed Ludol then Lulu. Lulu is a beautiful silver color with black spots. The princess notices that the box in which the kitten was brought to her comes from Egypt. Thus she deduces that the cat is a descendant of pharaonic cats. She uses her many friends to find another cat of this type and obtain a spotted litter. Friends find her Gregorio, a black male of 11 years old from a spotted family, and she acquires Geppa, a black smoke male from the Near East, through the Syrian ambassador. Lulu and Geppa soon give birth to their first litter, which is spotted like its parents. Among these, Nathalie Troubetzkoï keeps a small silver female, Baba. However, the origin of Baba varies according to sources: it may be directly imported from Egypt or is the original kitten from the cardboard box. From Lulu and Gregorio is born, among other kittens, Jojo, the first bronze mau. Liza, daughter of Baba and Jo-Jo, are presented in competition in Rome in 1955. When she obtains permission to immigrate to the United States in 1953, Nathalie Troubetzkoï registers only three cats in 1956. Thus Baba, a 4-year-old silver female, Jojo (or Jo-jo, whose real name is Georgio), a three-year-old bronze male, son of the first, and Liza, an 11-month-old silver female who is sterile, go to conquer the United States. Once settled, Nathalie Troubetzkoï continues to work to publicize Egyptian cats, exhibit them, and have them recognized as a breed under the name of Egyptian Mau. She creates her breeding under the name of 'Chatterie de Fatima.' In 1957, Baba is the first of the breed to be crowned champion. All breeding Egyptian Maus descend from these first subjects.

Character traits remain perfectly individual and are primarily a function of each cat's history, regardless of breed. The Egyptian Mau has a particularly friendly temperament. It is reputed to be very intelligent. It is moderately active. It is considered a good hunter who needs exercise and interactive games with its owner are welcome to maintain its balanced character. A cat close to its owner without aggressiveness, it seeks attention and can be distant with strangers. The Egyptian Mau has a reputation for showing its joy by softly meowing and vigorously waving its tail. According to Egyptian Mau breeders, there are character differences between the different colors. Thus, the bronze Egyptian Mau has the reputation of being much more exclusive toward its owner and more dominant over other cats. The smoke Egyptian Mau would have a more tender character, seeking physical contact.

(en) Standard CFA (en) Standard ACF (en) Standard ACFA (en) Standard TICA (de + en + fr) Standard FIFé (en) Standard WCF

Like any short-haired cat, the maintenance of the Egyptian Mau is reduced to weekly brushing. However, CFA breeders recommend regular grooming by brushing the Mau with a fine-toothed comb and then polishing the coat using, for example, chamois. Before a feline exhibition, a bath is necessary using specially formulated shampoos for the Egyptian Mau's coat type.