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Egyptian Maus are a medium-sized short-haired cat breed. They are the only naturally spotted breed of domesticated cat.[1] The spots on an Egyptian Mau are just on the coat; a shaved Mau does not have spots on its skin. The spotted Mau is an ancient breed from natural stock; its look has not changed significantly as is evidenced by artwork over 3000 years old. Unlike other spotted cats such as the Ocicat or Bengal cat, the Egyptian Mau is a natural breed.[1] Other breeds are created from domestic breed outcross or, in the case of the Bengal cat, domestic outcrosses with wildcats. The Mau is significantly smaller than these other breeds. The breed conformation is described by The Cornell Book of Cats as - a balance between the compactness of a Burmese and the slim elegance of a Siamese. Its medium-length body is muscular, with the hind legs longer than the front, giving the Mau the appearance of standing on tiptoes when upright.[2]
The Egyptian Mau is the fastest of the domestic cats,[3] with its longer hind legs, and unique flap of skin extending from the flank to the back knee, provides for greater agility and speed.[3] Maus have been clocked running over 30 mph (48 kph).[3] Maus often possess very musical voices. They are known to chirp, chortle and emit other distinctly unusual vocalizations when stimulated.[4] Another behavior, quite common in happy Maus, has been described as "wiggle-tail." The cat, male or female, moves its back legs up and down, and appears to be marking territory, also known as spraying, but it is not actually releasing urine. Even veteran Mau owners are known to check after a joyous Mau does this little dance.[5]
OriginsThe exact origin of the Egyptian Mau is not recorded and therefore cannot be known for certain.[6] The Egyptian Mau is often said to be descended from African wild cats,[7] and a descendant of the cats seen in wall paintings of Ancient Egypt. The modern Mau is said to have originated in 1953, Italy, when exiled Russian Princess Natalie Troubetskoy met the cat of the Egyptian Ambassador to Italy.[7] She convinced him to obtain several cats from Egypt for her, and she began to breed them. From her the Mau has been described as having a "troubled" look, with their round eyes and open expression. The Mau achieved championship status in some organisations in 1968. There were attempts by British breeders to create Maus from cross-breeds of Abyssinians, Siamese and tabbies, however these did not resemble the true Maus. This "recipe" later became the basis for the Ocicat. Egyptian Maus will either have a 'scarab beetle' or 'M' marking on their foreheads,[6] those with the latter tend to be from the United States.[8]
Physical attributesEgyptian Maus are thought to be one of the progenitor breeds of the modern domestic cat.[2] They have anatomical, metabolic and behavioral differences from other cat breeds which could be considered as evidence of antiquity or at least uniqueness from other cat breeds. Maus are more temperature sensitive than most breeds - they are fond of very warm temperatures.[2] They are more sensitive to medicines and anesthesia. Maus allegedly have an unusually long gestational period, about 73 days.[2] The maximum normal period for cats is 65-67 days, although Siamese may take a day or two longer.
Social attributesAlbeit largely anecdotal, the Egyptian Mau is well known for intelligence and close bonding with responsible and loving owners. Such owners typically report their Maus eagerly greet them at the door at the end of a long day at work. Usually requiring more effort than other breeds, Maus can be "lap cats," but their alert nature makes the task difficult, yet far more rewarding once accomplished. Although ill-advised by most veterinarians and animal-care givers, the Egyptian Mau loves an outdoor life. Their speed, coupled with their innate intelligence, allows them to avoid almost all dangers if carefully introduced to an outdoor world very early in life. Unusually averse to loud noises and fast-moving objects, Maus are rarely "road kills," and instead are far too busy wiping out the mouse and rat population in the back yards and farms of your neighbors. Many responsible farmers report that a few Mau crossbreeds have saved entire crops from rodents. The typical Mau is not social with strangers of any species, other cats in particular. Maus will fight trespassing cats with astonishing ferocity and uncannily disappear from strange and loud humans. Accordingly, the Egyptian Mau is not a good choice for an absentee condo owner who, when home, brings in strange pets and humans.
RarityPurebred Egyptian Maus are a relatively rare breed. As of 2007, fewer than 200 kittens are registered with the GCCF each year.[9] As of 2006, a total of 6741 Maus are registered with the CFA. Maus come in five colors. From most to least common these colors are: silver, bronze, smoke, black and blue/pewter.[10] Black and pewter Maus cannot be shown, but may be used in breeding. All Maus must have green eyes, but an amber cast is acceptable in kittens and young adults up to eighteen months old.
Egyptian Mau Rescue OrganizationEMRO is an adoption agency both locally and internationally for tame Maus. Supported solely by private and corporate donors, EMRO aims to increase education, in Egypt and around the world, about cats.[11]
References- Siegal, M., Cornell Feline Health Center (Editors) (1989) The Cornell Book of Cats: A Comprehensive Medical Reference for Every Cat and Kitten. Villard Books. ISBN 0-394-56787-0
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 Three month old red point Siamese kitten. Colorpoint Shorthair is the name the Cat Fanciers Association (CFA), a United States breed association, uses to refer to pointed cats of Siamese ancestry and type in colors other than the four "traditional" Siamese colors (seal, chocolate, blue, and lilac point). This name is also given to cats of Siamese ancestry in the four recognized colors whose eight generation pedigree show ancestors with other colors. In registries of other countries, however, "Colorpoint (or "Colourpoint") is the name given to cats of Persian type and pointed coloring, as in Himalayans.  One year old Red Point Siamese.  Two year old Red Point Siamese Male In the CFA, a Colorpoint Shorthair cat may also be any of the four traditional Siamese colors; however, they may only be shown in the red point (also called flame point in Persian Family) or cream point, or any of the above colors in tabby point (also called lynx point) or tortoiseshell point. In all registries except CFA, the Colorpoint Shorthair is not considered a separate breed but is included in the Siamese breed.
The Red Point Siamese is a highly intelligent, playful, and people-friendly breed. Red Points do not view themselves as pets, but as validated, contributing members of the family, with a self-assured sense of personal value[dubious – discuss]. They are extremely affectionate and enjoy lounging around and playing with people.
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The Chartreux is an internationally recognized breed of domestic cat from France. The Chartreux is large and muscular, with short fine-boned limbs, big paws, and very fast reflexes. They are known for their blue (grey) water-resistant short hair double-coats and gold- or copper-colored eyes. Chartreux cats are also known for their "smile"; due to the structure of their heads and their long, tapered muzzle, they often appear to be smiling. Chartreux are exceptional hunters and were highly prized by farmers. Patellar luxation is a common weakness in the breed which responsible breeders try to screen. The first letter of the official name of a Chartreux cat encodes the year of its birth; all Chartreux born in the same year have official names beginning with the same letter. The code letters rotate through the alphabet each year, omitting the letters K, Q, W, X, Y, and Z. For example, a Chartreux born in 2002 would have an official name starting with the letter T (Fogle 2001:128).
HistoryThere is a legend that the Chartreux are descended from cats brought to France by Carthusian monks to live in the order's head monastery, the Grande Chartreuse, located in the Chartreuse Mountains north of the city of Grenoble (Siegal 1997:27). But in 1972, the Prior of the Grande Chartreuse denied that the monastery's archives held any records of the monks' use of any breed of cat resembling the Chartreux (Simonnet 1990:36–37). Legend also has it that the Chartreux's ancestors were feral mountain cats from what is now Syria, brought back to France by returning Crusaders in the 13th century, many of whom entered the Carthusian monastic order. The first documented mention of the breed was by the French naturalist Buffon in the 18th century. The breed was greatly diminished during the first World War and wild populations[verification needed] were not seen after World War II. A concerted effort by European breeders kept the breed from extinction. The first Chartreux were brought to the U.S. in 1971 by Helen and John Gammon of La Jolla, California. In 1987, the Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA) advanced the Chartreux breed to championship status (Siegal 1997:27). There are fewer than two dozen active Chartreux breeders in North America as of 2007. Historically famous Chartreux owners include the French novelist Colette and French general/president Charles de Gaulle.
TemperamentChartreux cats tend to be quiet, rarely making noises such as mewing or crying, and some are mute. They are quite observant and intelligent, with some Chartreux learning to operate radio on/off buttons and to open screen door latches. They take about two years to reach adulthood. Chartreux cats are playful cats well into their adult years; some can be taught to fetch small objects in the same manner as a dog. Chartreux are good with children and other animals. They are non-aggressive and affectionate, good travelers, and generally very healthy. Chartreux tend to bond with one person in their household, preferring to be in their general vicinity (often following their person from room to room), though they are still loving and affectionate to the other members of the household.
Popular CultureThe mascot of the world's largest jazz festival, The Montreal International Jazz Festival, is a blue Chartreux affectionately named 'Ste Cat[1]', after the festival's hub, 'Sainte Catherine' street in Montreal.
ReferencesFogle, Bruce (2001). The New Encyclopedia of the Cat. New York: DK Publishing Inc [Dorling Kindersley]. ISBN 0789980212. Siegal, Mordecai (1997). The breeds. Chapter 2 in The Cornell Book of Cats: A Comprehensive and Authoritative Medical Reference for Every Cat and Kitten. Second edition. Edited by Mordecai Siegal. Villard:New York. ISBN 978-0679449539. Simonnet, Jean (1990). The Chartreux Cat. Translated by Jerome M. Auerbach. Paris: Synchro Company. ISBN 978-2950600905. (This book's ISBNdb.com page lists "Auerbach Pub" as the publisher, but the book itself gives "Synchro Company, Paris" on an unnumbered page immediately following page 190.)
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The California Spangled Cat is a breed of cat that were bred to resemble spotted wildcats, like the ocelot and leopard. They were originally bred in the 1980s and were only ever a rare breed, and were usually expensive, priced between $800 to $2,500 [citation needed]. The popularity of two other spotted cats breeds- the Ocicat and the Bengal- overshadowed their development. Inspired by the poaching death of a leopard, the anthropologist Louis Leakey motivated Californian scriptwriter Paul Casey to breed a domestic cat resembling a small leopard, and that this would emphasize how important it is to preserve the leopard. California Spangled Cats were a crossbreed of many strains of cat, including the Abyssinian, American Shorthair and British Shorthair. Despite their wild appearance, they were completely domestic.
Physical FeaturesThis cat gives the initial impression of being a miniature leopard. It has a long, lean, somewhat muscular body, a low slung walk, along with those irreplaceable spots. The most desired shape of spots on the cats are round, yet somewhat blockish. Triangular, oval, or square spots are acceptable also. The Spangle's coat may be any of the following colors: bronze, gold, blue, brown, charcoal, red, black, silver, or white.[1] They have conspicuous cheekbones and light, large whisker pads.[2] Spangles may look wild but are purely domestic and adore playing and interacting with their people.[3]
HistoryOriginally bred by Paul Casey, a Hollywood scriptwriter, after his return from Tanzania. This animal was ideally bred to resemble a leopard, thusly giving the impression of a "House-Leopard".[4] His motivation for this breed was that people would not want wear the same type of fur that it looked like their pet had.[5] The Spangle was first introduced in a Nieman Marcus catalog in 1986.[6]
PersonalityCalifornia Spangled Cats are affecionate, social, curious, and extremely devoted to their owners. They are big on eye contact and being in on the action, they love to perch on places that are at your shoulder or eye level so that they can see exactly what is going on. These kitties are known for their well-honed intelligence, athletic abilities, high energy level, and accidental acrobatics. California Spangled Cats love to pounce and have very sharp hunting skills, they also enjoy games that involve a large participation part by their owner.[7]
References- ^ Syufy, Franny. "California Spangle." Ask.Com. 1 Life's Abundance Pet Foods. 19 Feb. 2008 <http://cats.about.com/od/breedprofiles/p/caspangle.htm>.
- ^ Appearance." All About Cats. 1 iLoveindia. 3 Mar. 2008 <http://pets.iloveindia.com/cats/cat-breed/california-spangled-cat.html>.
- ^ Tyson . Pretty Kitty. Flint River Ranch Premium Pet Food. 11 Mar. 2008 <http://www.geocities.com/pndtpa/breeds/CaliforniaSpangledCat.htm>.
- ^ Bryant, Matt. "History." Furry Critter Network; California Spangled. 1 Cat Fanciers Association Inc.. 20 Feb. 2008 <http://www.furrycritter.com/resources/cats/California_Spangled.htm>.
- ^ Syufy, Franny. "History of the California Spangle." Ask.com. 1 Windows Vista. 25 Feb. 2008 <http://cats.about.com/od/breedprofiles/p/caspangle.htm>.
- ^ Ask.com. Arm and Hammer cat litter. 12 Mar. 2008 <http://cats.about.com/od/californiaspangledcat/California_Spangled_Cat.htm>.
- ^ Helgren, Anne J. "Personality." Petplace.com. 1 Promeris. 27 Feb. 2008 <http://www.petplace.com/cats/choosing-a-california-spangled-cat/page1.aspx>.
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