The cat is an animal that has not separated from it since it became close to humans more than 10 years ago. At first, it was in charge of hunting mice and other rodents that wanted to eat human grain, but very soon, and thanks to this quality, began to gain the trust and affection of humanity. And it was not long before she offered her home to this curious new friend, with pointed ears and an enigmatic gaze.
Thus were the first steps of the domestic feline. Steps more or less slow, but safe. Like someone who knows where they are going and what they want, but is in no rush to get there. Living with us, the people, is not an easy task for a feline, but even this obstacle was able to overcome the Egyptian cat. A cat that today has millions of human hearts in love, Will you be one of them?
The cat in Ancient Egypt
These elegant and precious animals began their domestication in Ancient Egypt, specifically, around the 3rd millennium BC. Because of her character and personality - or, as I like to call her, felinity - she immediately earned the respect of the inhabitants of the Country of the Nile, as she not only protected the granaries, but also prevented diseases like the plague from spreading by eliminating rodents, which is a vector of this and other health problems.
In the courts of Egypt it did not take long to idolize him. This is how the figure of Bastet, the goddess of fertility and beauty; Undoubtedly, two of the most representative characteristics of the cat, because on the one hand, a single cat can have up to 12 young ... every six months !, and on the other, these are animals with a very elegant, very beautiful bearing; nothing is left over or missing: everything is in its right place. The goddess Bastet also symbolized the night, the mystery and the moon, something that does nothing more than remind us, again, of the cat, that when the sun gives way to the moon, something awakens in him that gives it an energy which he seemed not to have during the day. And that is not to mention that he does not know for sure what they do while we sleep.
The cat in Egypt was a sacred animal. He was worshiped and given a whole series of attentions so that he was always well cared for. Once it died, it was mummified and placed in a sarcophagus as if it were a human mummy, in a chest surrounded by reeds. The family also mourned and shaved their eyebrows.
Such was the love and respect they felt for these animals that even in 525 BC in a war against the Persians, they did not dare to attack them for fear of hurting the cats that Cambyses II, who at that time was king of Persia, had cats tied to the shields of his 600 soldiers. But if this seems little to you, you should know that if anyone dared to harm a cat, they were punished, and since then they were frowned upon by Egyptian society.
The Egyptian Mau, the cat of the ancient Egyptians
Little by little, time passed, and today we have a race whose ancestors coexisted with the pharaohs, and is none other than the egyptian mau. This is a splendid cat, with a calm but active character, who loves to be around people. Let's learn more about him:
Physical characteristics of the Egyptian cat
The Egyptian cat has a slightly rounded head, with a wide and long nose, medium-sized and well-spaced ears. The eyes are light green, large. Its body is of medium size, elegant, muscular, with its hind legs longer than the front ones; and its tail is long, thick. All of it - except his eyes, evidently 🙂 - is protected by a short, resistant, shiny, and mottled hair.
Varieties of the Egyptian cat
There are four varieties of the mantle of the Egyptian Mau, and they are:
- Silver with gray spots
- Bronze with brown spots
- Gray with black spots
- Yellow with brown or gray spots
Egyptian cat behavior
This is a cat that has a very unique behavior. Although it walks like wild cats, leading us to believe that it is aggressive, it is actually an animal very calm. Due to its origin, it is also very independent, and has a keen predator instinct. Still, it must be said that adapts very well to living indoors, where you will enjoy being under the blankets during the winter, as it is very cold.
Egyptian cat care
Are you encouraging yourself to buy an Egyptian cat but are you worried about not knowing how to take care of it? Stop worrying. This is a breed of cat that does not need the attention that, for example, the Persian cat does. In fact, it will be enough to brush it daily and give it a lot of love and games, plus food and water daily, of course.
Tips for buying an Egyptian cat
Buying a cat puppy always carries risks, whether purchased over the Internet or directly from the cattery. Therefore, let's see what we have to do so that they do not deceive us:
- The seller should be nice to you. This means that he must answer all the questions you have, send you all the photos you ask for, and also show that he knows about the breed and that he cares about the puppies. If you see that it only limits itself to setting a price, be suspicious.
- If you go to a hatchery, look at the facilities, and make sure they are clean and well-maintained. In addition, animals must be clean and well cared for.
- It is important that you deliver the kitten with the vaccinations up to date, with an excellent state of health, and with the pedigree papers.
Egyptian cat prices
This breed is very expensive, and very difficult to find. In Spain, for example, there is no hatchery that sells them. So you have to look for international or private farms. The price, as we said, is very high: it can cost about 1250 euros with all the papers in order.
Egyptian cat names
And when you have been able to get your new friend, what name are you going to give him? You do not know? Again, we help you. Here are a few suggestions:
For females
- Bastet, as a tribute to the Egyptian goddess 🙂
- Kity, or Kitty
- Frida
- Estrella
- Cora
- Isis
- Ibis.
For males
- chifus
- Lion
- Dodo
- Angus
- karuso
- Eddie
- Orion
So far our special on one of the most spectacular breeds: the Egyptian cat. What do you think?