Is My Cat Part Egyptian Mau?

by Mindy
(Massachusetts)

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We just picked up this cat at a local shelter and she has calico markings but the shape of her head and body looks like a Egyptian Mau. What do you think.

Thanks Mindy

Hi Mindy.. I would actually like a breeder of Egyptian Maus to answer this one. If he or she did they would probably say that there is no Egyptian Mau in your cat. Or at least that it was unlikely. This though in no way lessens the status of your cat. Purebred cats are only that because their parents and grandparents were also purebred. Purebred is no better than random breed.

What they might say is that your cat is a DSH - domestic shorthair of foreign type. This means a body conformation that is slender or slenderish.

This type of cat body is generally applies to cats from warmer climates as it is hotter. The cats from the colder northern European countries are cobby or stocky (e.g. Norwegian Forest Cat).

But the slender shape is ubiquitous across the southern continents and it includes the wild cats. The African wildcat is slender while the Scottish wildcat is stocky.

Yes, the Egyptian Mau does have s slender lithe appearance with a longish as opposed to square or rounded face and head. But that on its own is not enough to speculate that your fine looking cat is part Egyptian Mau. Not in the view of a breeder anyway.

But the truth is there may be some Egyptian Mau genes in your cat.

The Egyptian Mau is the refined version of the domesticated African wildcat; tamed by the ancient Egyptians. Although please note that the purebred Egyptian Mau bred in America is not connected to the Egyptian Mau street cats found in Egypt today.

There would be a good bit of movement (dispersal) of these cats over the centuries and although there are general trends in the movement of the spread of the domestic cat from the area where first domesticated (the fertile crescent east of the Mediterranean) there is no reason to suppose that some Egyptian Mau genes have not found their way to America and into your cat.

One day we might have full genetic profiling of the breeds so we can do a DNA test and compare. At the moment that is not possible and appearance alone is not a good test in my opinion.

A pedigree or at least evidence of some sort as to how your cat was bred would obviously answer the question. If your cat was close to Egyptian Mau I think the appearance would be closer - meaning that there would be tabby cat spots not a dilute calico coat. The Mau is the only cat with naturally occurring spots and spots are a basic necessity as I understand the breed.

Best
Michael
PoC

Is My Cat Part Egyptian Mau? to Egyptian Mau

Comments for
Is My Cat Part Egyptian Mau?

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Apr 15, 2012 Me too! NEW
by: Anonymous

We've got a cat just like yours. Couldn't believe how long the body and tail is. She was wild born in some stables, and taken in by the vets as a kitten. Calico markings. Just happened to see a picture of an Egyptian Mau and she has the same body. Perhaps a genetic throwback that occurs sometimes?


May 06, 2010 Bob
by: Anonymous

Hi Bob. I would love to see a picture of your cat. Do you have a picture of it on this site?


May 06, 2010
I have one!!!
by: BOB

I have one of hese cats and i LOVE Them Her name is Karama and OMG I nver thought that cat could be sooooo awesome and majestic. She has her own personality!! I LOVE Egyption Mau.!! I Love there ears too!!!!!!!!!!! I got one from a humane society!! I cant believe it!


Apr 28, 2010
A beautiful shelter gem
by: Finn Frode, Denmark

Hi Mindy. No wonder you fell for this girl - she has a very special look about her with the slender body and clear calico markings.
There are some great cats to be found at the shelters, but usually they don't carry any papers with them. I think it's very human when we try to find out more about the background of our new adoptees, but usually we have to settle for the mixed breed label. Also see my page titled 'My Snow White is Not a British Shorthair' in the moggie section.
Like Michael I see your cat as leaning more towards the Mediterranean than the Northern European type, but that's probably as close as we'll ever get. She is a beautiful gem all the same. 🙂

Finn Frode avatar


Apr 21, 2010 To Mindy
by: Ruth

I don't know much about the various breeds of cats but I just want to say what a beautiful cat you have !

Kattaddorra signature Ruth


Apr 21, 2010
Thanks Micheal
by: Mindy

Hi Micheal, thanks for your comments. Its very helpful and interesting. We where just curious if she had Egyptian Mau in her because of her head and body shape. THanks again, Mindy


17 thoughts on “Is My Cat Part Egyptian Mau?”

  1. We rescued a cat that came from Egypt. Here is a picture of her. Her fur is very different then any other cat have had. The only way I could discribe it would be that it is like bunny fur. She also has a belly flap, and can jump from the floor to above our kitchen cabinets.

    Reply
    • Hello Madalena! I hope you could read this. I am currently raising a cat that looks exactly like yours. I wish I could see more of your rescued cat’s photos to compare but here’s a pic of my pet:

      Reply
        • Hello Michael! Thank you very much for appreciating. Is it correct to assume that my cat has a “diluted” breed? I have raised a domestic shorthair before (we call them “PusPin” [blend of “Pusang Pinoy” ‘Filipino Cat’]) and my current pet (Elektra—the one on the photo) behaves quite differently. She is very conversational and uses a wide range of vocalization.

          Reply
          • The word ‘diluted’ refers to saturation (strength) of the coat colours and not the breed. If it is diluted the colours are weak and lack vibrancy. You cat’s coat is not diluted. As to her character, it is said that tortoiseshell cats and tortoiseshell-and-white cats have ‘catitude’ a made-up word meaning that they have a strong character. Being vocal is part of that. She has a very attractive coat.

            Reply
            • Thank you very much for your clarification, Michael! I am so glad to have come across this website of yours. “Catitude” is a nice wordplay. Indeed— Elektra just barged into our house a few months ago and never left. It’s as if she has chosen us. Now she has just made my perspective about cats much wider and richer. Here’s a snap of her from the front side. Thank you and more power!

              Reply

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