Sunday, April 15, 2012
Friday, September 9, 2011
The Egyptian Mau is one of the oldest existing breeds of domestic cat, and the only naturally spotted one. Evidence in the form of depictions, paintings, and sculptures shows that spotted cats existed during the time of the Egyptian cat cult, and it is theorized that the predecessor of the Mau was the very same cat worshiped by the ancient Egyptians. A papyrus painting dating around 1100 B.C. shows Ra in the form of a spotted cat beheading the evil serpent Apep. In 1580 B.C., a papyrus record quotes a spotted cat as saying, I am the cat which fought near the Persea Tree in Annu on the night when the foes of Neb-er-tcher were destroyed!? On a more mundane note, a 1400 B.C. tomb painting found in Thebes depicts a spotted cat retrieving a duck for an Egyptian hunter, showing that cats were not only worshiped but played an important role in everyday life as well.
Egyptian Maus joined the European cat fancy in the early 1900s. Fanciers in Italy, Switzerland, and France worked to develop the breed; however, as it did many purebred breeds, World War II decimated the Egyptian Mau population and by the mid-1940s the Mau was almost extinct.
The efforts of the exiled Russian Princess Nathalie Troubetskoy brought the Mau back from the brink of extinction. While in Italy, she rescued some of the few remaining specimens. She was also instrumental in importing at least one Mau from Egypt via the Syrian Embassy.
In 1956 Troubetskoy immigrated to the United States, bringing with her three Maus bred from her original stock. Upon arrival, Troubetskoy began her own Egyptian Mau cattery (Fatima) and began to promote the breed. The Mau soon collected a following of fanciers who wanted to preserve the rare and historically significant breed.
Because of the small gene pool and because additional Maus were almost impossible to obtain from Egypt, a certain amount of inbreeding and outcrossing were required to continue the breed in North America. Selective breeding for temperament was also a priority, since disposition problems were noted in some bloodlines. Finally, in the 1980s breeder Cathie Rowan brought 13 additional Maus into the United States, paving the way for more imports. In 1991 breeder J. Len Davidson imported four more. This widening of the gene pool was vital to the breed?s health and well-being.
In 1968 CFF was the first to accept the Egyptian Mau. CCA soon followed, and the CFA granted Championship in 1977. Today, all major associations accept the Mau.
Personality
While fanciers might at first be attracted to the Egyptian Maus beautiful spotted coat, most become enthusiasts because of the breeds temperament and personality. Maus, like their ancestors that were invited along on the duck hunts of their Egyptian companions, love to fetch. In fact, they love any play activity that mimics hunting behavior, and if allowed outside will become very competent (some might say savage) hunters.
That?s not to say they are not devoted to the humans who pay them homage. Fanciers describe them as fiercely loyal cats that generally dont take to strangers. Once they bond with their human companions, they choose to be worshiped by their own family, rather than by the entire human race.
While not overly talkative, Maus will let their owners know if something is amiss, particularly if that something concerns their food dishes. Their voices are usually melodious and quiet. When engaged in conversation with their human companions, Maus wag their tails, tread with their feet, and make a variety of sounds that fanciers call chortling.
Conformation
One of this breed?s most striking features is its random, distinctive spots. Considerable variety exists in placement and shape. The spots can be large or small, round or oblong, or combinations thereof. What is important is that the spots be vivid and distinct, with good contrast between the background color and the color of the spots. The face bears tabby markings including the characteristic ?M? on the forehead, which is sometimes described as a scarab beetle mark. Two mascara lines grace the cheeks. The first begins at the corner of the eye and continues along the cheek?s contour. As the story goes, ancient Egyptian women patterned their elaborate eye makeup after the Maus markings.
 | The Egyptian?s impression should be one of an active, colorful cat of medium size with well-developed muscles. |
 | Medium long and graceful, showing well-developed muscular strength. A loose skin flap extends from flank to hind leg knee, which allows for greater length of stride and agility. |
 | Slightly rounded wedge without flat planes, medium length; not full-cheeked; profile shows gentle contour with slight rise from bridge of nose to forehead; muzzle should flow into existing head wedge, neither short nor pointed; chin firm. |
 | Medium to large; alert, and moderately pointed; broad at base, slightly flared with ample width between ears; may be tufted. |
 | Large and alert; almond-shaped, with slight slant toward ears; aperture neither round nor Oriental. Color gooseberry green (light green). |
 | Medium long; thick at base, with slight taper. |
 | Medium length with lustrous sheen. In smoke color hair is silky and fine. In silver and bronze, hair is dense and resilient and accommodates two or more bands of ticking. |
 | Silver, bronze, smoke. |
Information provided by Animal Planet.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Cats!
In the 370 or so years that American Shorthairs have inhabited this continent, the environment?and more recently, human-controlled breeding?have shaped them into their present form. Shorthaired domestic cats arrived in America with the Europeans. Evidence indicates that several cats may have sailed over from England aboard the Mayflower in 1620. Upon arrival, these felines became working cats in the barns and fields of the early Americans. Years of natural selection turned them into a strong, hardy breed of dependable temperament.
With the import of foreign breeds, however, the original American Shorthair bloodlines became diluted. In the early 1900s a group of breeders began a selective breeding program to preserve the natural beauty, mild temperament, and hardiness of the American Shorthair. Acceptance in the show ring was a long time coming for the American Shorthair. As late as the 1960s American Shorthairs were treated like the strays of the cat fancy.
Breeders also battled confusion between their carefully bred American Shorthairs and randombred domestic cats. While a nonpedigreed domestic cat may look like a pedigreed American Shorthair, the mix of uncertain genes means that the domestic generally will not breed true; you cannot count on type, temperament, and length of hair as you can with a purebred American Shorthair.
The first American Shorthair to be registered in this country was an orange tabby male named Belle that ironically was imported from England in the early 1900s. It wasnt until 1904 when the first American-born American Shorthair (named Buster Brown) was registered under the breed name of Shorthair.
Later, the breed was renamed Domestic Shorthair, and in 1965 the breeders voted to change the name again, this time to the American Shorthair. The same year, CFA named a silver tabby male (Shawnee Trademark) Best Cat, and the breed finally began to receive some hard-earned respect in the cat fancy. Today, American Shorthairs are playing at show rings everywhere, and earning their due share of admiration and rosettes.
Personality
When describing the American Shorthair, the expression ?happy medium? springs to mind. These all-American cats are medium in size, build, type, and temperament; neither too big nor small, not overly cuddly nor distant, neither couch potatoes nor hyperactive. Breeders note that the American Short-hair is the perfect breed for the person who wants a cat that enjoys being in your lap but not in your face. American Shorthairs are known for their quiet voices and adaptable personalities; they are sociable, easily trained, and adapt well to other animals and children. They generally do not like to be picked up; like their Pilgrim companions who left England to find independence, they cherish their freedom.
Because of the American Shorthair?s history as a working cat, they make great companions in terms of health, strength, and vitality. With proper care Americans enjoy long life spans, generally between 15 and 20 years.
Conformation
The American Short-hair is known as a healthy, hardy breed with few genetic defects, not surprising since the breed developed from hardy domestic stock. A relatively large gene pool helps keep the breed healthy. The standard emphasizes that the American Short-hair should be a ?true breed of working cat? and that no part of the anatomy should be exaggerated as to foster weakness.
The most striking and best known color is the silver tabby; more than one- third of all American Shorthairs exhibit this color. With the black markings set against the brilliant silver background, the pattern is dynamic and memorable.
| The American Shorthair is a strongly built, well-balanced, symmetrical cat with a conformation that indicates power, endurance, and agility. It is medium to large with proportions slightly longer than tall. |
| Solidly built, powerful, and muscular with well-developed shoulders, chest, and hindquarters; back broad, straight, and level. |
| Large, with full-cheeked face; sweet, open expression; strong jaws; viewed in profile, forehead forms smooth, moderately convex continuous curve flowing over top of head into neck; squared muzzle; nose medium length and same width for entire length; chin firm and well-developed. |
| Medium size; slightly rounded at tips; not unduly open at base. |
| Large and wide with upper lid shaped like half an almond, lower lid shaped in a fully rounded curve; at least one eye width between eyes. Color depends on coat color. |
| Medium long, heavy at base, tapering to blunt end. |
| Short, thick, even, and hard in texture; dense enough to protect from moisture and cold. |
| Colors are broken into four divisions: solid colors?black, white, blue, red, and cream; particolors (combinations of two or more colors)?tortoiseshell, calico, blue-cream, and bicolor; shaded and smoke colors; and tabby patterns (classic, mackerel, and patched)?brown, red, blue, cream, and cameo. |
Information Provided by Animal Planet.