Care for Egyptian Maus

The Egyptian Mau are a striking cat breed with athletic agility and fierce loyalty to their preferred person. During play, they are highly energetic and prone to bursts of speed; they are said to be the fastest cat breed. They can be reserved or hesitant with people they are not familiar with, but bond well with their family and are hugely loyal to people they know and trust. Learning how to care for your Egyptian Mau can help your pet have a great, long life.

Bringing Your Cat Home

 * 1) Choose a breeder. The Egyptian Mau is an unusual breed, and many breeders have waiting lists for their kittens. However, do not let this pressure you into buying a kitten from a disreputable breeder. Wait until good quality kittens that are well-socialized are available.[[Image:Care for Egyptian Maus Step 1.jpg|center]]
 * 2) *Find a breeder who is also a cat lover. This means they are more likely to treat their breeding stock like pets, which means better socialization for the kittens as they are more likely to be raised in the home, rather than outdoors in runs.
 * 3) *Avoid breeders who keep their breeding stock in outdoor runs, since this means they are less well socialized.
 * 4) *Never buy a Egyptian Mau without seeing the mother. This might seem tempting if there are no local breeders and you find one willing to meet you halfway with the kitten. However, this is a sign of unscrupulous breeding since no serious breeder would stress their kitten this way on the off chance of making a sale.
 * 5) Know when to adopt the kitten. Most kittens can be adopted from around nine weeks of age. Be suspicious of anyone wishing to home kittens at less than eight weeks, as they are unlikely to have the kitten's best interest at heart. [[Image:Care for Egyptian Maus Step 2.jpg|center]]
 * 6) Vaccinate your cat. You should vaccinate your Egyptian Mau against common infectious diseases, such as cat flu, feline infectious enteritis, and feline leukemia virus. You should also vaccinate against rabies. [[Image:Care for Egyptian Maus Step 3.jpg|center]]
 * 7) *The initial kitten vaccinations require two doses to be effective, given from nine weeks of age and given three to four weeks apart.
 * 8) *The rabies vaccine is a single dose which is given from 12 weeks of age.
 * 9) *Make sure to get your cat booster injections, usually given once a year.
 * 10) Neuter or spay your cat. Your Egyptian Mau cat should be neutered or spayed unless you intend to breed from them. The most common age is around five to six months. [[Image:Care for Egyptian Maus Step 4.jpg|center]]
 * 11) *When you have your cat neutered or spayed, it is also a great time to have an microchip fitted. ID chips are a permanent way of identifying your cat.
 * 12) Get your cat dewormed. Other preventative health care includes parasite control and deworming. You need to get a flea medication for your cat. Deworming is an important part of keeping your Egyptian Mau cat healthy. Typically this should be done every three months. [[Image:Care for Egyptian Maus Step 5.jpg|center]]
 * 13) *A good broad spectrum multi wormer tablet will get rid of round, tape, and hookworms.
 * 14) Be aware of breed specific diseases. The only listed problem for an Egyptian Mau is a rare condition known as Leukodystrophy or "Krabbe's" disease. The disease leads to a deterioration in nerve function, commonly to the limb muscles, leading to weakness, poor coordination, and the inability to stand. There is no treatment or cure, so euthanasia of affected cats is recommended. [[Image:Care for Egyptian Maus Step 6.jpg|center]]
 * 15) *The first signs can appear as young as seven weeks of age and progress rapidly so the kitten can be severely disabled at just a few months old.
 * 16) Consider making your Egyptian Mau your only pet. Egyptian Maus are very loyal and form strong bonds with their owners. However, the breed does not generally do well with other animals. This breed is great if you only want one cat. [[Image:Care for Egyptian Maus Step 7.jpg|center]]

Caring For Your Cat

 * 1) Feed your cat quality food. Feed your Egyptian Mau a good quality, protein rich food. This means that meat is listed first and second on the pet food label. [[Image:Care for Egyptian Maus Step 8.jpg|center]]
 * 2) *Avoid foods that are heavy on carbohydrates and have grains or cereals listed as a main ingredient.
 * 3) Keep your cat from being overweight. It is important your Egyptian Mau doesn't become overweight. This will predispose her to health problems such as diabetes or arthritis. Monitor your cat's weight and be alert for weight gain, reducing her portion size accordingly.[[Image:Care for Egyptian Maus Step 9.jpg|center]]
 * 4) *Each cat has a different frame size, so it's not helpful to give a suggested weight. Instead, make sure you can feel your Egyptian Mau's ribs easily, but they aren't staring out through the coat. A good guide is to think how it feels when you run your fingertips over the back of your closed fingers. That kind of gentle bump is how your cat's ribs should feel.
 * 5) Brush your cat’s coat. The Egyptian Mau’s coat is easy to care for, but it does benefit from daily to weekly brushing. This helps to remove shed hair, which reduces the risk of the cat ingesting that hair and having furballs. Regular brushing also helps spread the natural oils over the hair, which adds to the satin-gleam that is associated with the breed.[[Image:Care for Egyptian Maus Step 10.jpg|center]]
 * 6) Trim your cat’s nails. Trim your cat’s nails once every two weeks. This helps keep them from being too sharp and catching on your carpet or furniture. [[Image:Care for Egyptian Maus Step 11.jpg|center]]
 * 7) *If you aren't confident how much to clip away then it's a good idea to have a groomer or vet tech show you how to this.
 * 8) Brush your cat’s teeth. Get into the habit of brushing your Egyptian Mau's teeth. This is best done by introducing the toothbrush to the cat as a toy, so she gets used to it. Teach her each step of the brushing process, and allow her to become comfortable with each step before progressing onto the next. [[Image:Care for Egyptian Maus Step 12.jpg|center]]
 * 9) *Start by lifting her lip, then touching the brush to her teeth, then wetting the brush with water and wiping it up and down, then adding a blob of cat-toothpaste onto the brush.
 * 10) *Never use human toothpaste as the high fluoride content is toxic to cats if swallowed.
 * 11) Keep your Egyptian Mau warm. Egyptian Mau’s like to be warm, so they do better in warmer climates. Their fur insulates them, but they prefer a warm cosy house. This means they need to be inside cats. If you live in a cold climate, make sure you keep your cat warm. [[Image:Care for Egyptian Maus Step 13.jpg|center]]

Bonding With Your Cat

 * 1) Socialize your cat. Egyptian Maus can be very shy and reserved. Because of this, your cat may not like anyone outside of her family. She may also be startled by sudden noises or movements. To help with this, make sure to socialize your cat so she gets used to being around people. [[Image:Care for Egyptian Maus Step 14.jpg|center]]
 * 2) Provide your cat with a lot of attention. Egyptian Maus want to be with people. If you are looking for a sofa cat that will leave you in peace, then think twice before getting a Mau. Your Egyptian Mau is liable to follow you around like a shadow. A Mau is going to want to play with you and ride around on your shoulder, so be sure that level of interaction is something you can provide. [[Image:Care for Egyptian Maus Step 15.jpg|center]]
 * 3) Provide your cat with the proper toys. Egyptian Maus are extremely intelligent cats. Because of this, give you Egyptian Maus puzzle toys that challenge her, provide her with mental stimulation, and offer rewards like treats when she figures them out. [[Image:Care for Egyptian Maus Step 16.jpg|center]]
 * 4) *Because of how intelligent your Egyptian Mau is, you can also teach her how to perform tricks.
 * 5) Provide your cat with chase toys. Egyptian Maus love to hunt and pounce, so let her play with things to chase. This can include a variety of toys, such as such as wings-on-strings. [[Image:Care for Egyptian Maus Step 17.jpg|center]]
 * 6) Play with your cat often. Egyptian Maus are inquisitive and interactive, and so regular play sessions are essential for your cat to feel happy and fulfilled. Play with your Mau at least twice a day, for 10 to 20 minutes.[[Image:Care for Egyptian Maus Step 18.jpg|center]]
 * 7) *Be patient during play because cats are sprinters and will play in a burst, stop to recover, then play again. Don't think because she stopped to pant the game is over. She's just catching her breath before she is ready to go round again.

Sources and Citations
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