Egyptian Cat Breed

Egyptian Cat The Ancient Pharaoh Breed

What is the Egyptian cat called?

Bastet also called Bast or the Egyptian Mau or the Egyptian god cat, the Bastet was an ancient Egyptian goddess worshipped in the form of a lioness and later a cat.

Despite its name, the Egyptian cat does not originate from Egypt. Its name comes from culture and mythology, but the truth is that this animal first appeared in Canada, and within its recent history. Some people assure that already in ancient Egypt it was possible to find cats similar to those of this breed, but it is something that cannot be demonstrated due to the lack of documentation about it.

The scientific origin of the Egyptian cat, also known as Sphynx or Egyptian Hairless Cat or Egyptian Sphynx Cat, is in a Canadian litter from the 60s, where one of the kittens was born hairless due to a natural genetic mutation. This hairless kitten was studied to rule out that it was weaker or sicker than other hairless cats, which was verified. The reality about this animal is that it had only undergone the mutation for a recessive gene, but it had no lack or difficulty living its life like any other cat.

Thus, during the following two decades, they began to collect hairless kittens that were born in litters of common cats, either on the street or from home pets. After the pertinent tests to rule out any eventual problem, these animals were introduced into breeding programs that aimed to perpetuate and improve a typology of a hairless cat, in what would be the ancestors of the current feline sphynx breed.

Starting in the 1980s, the Egyptian cat already had defined characteristics, and then the efforts of breeders were aimed at strengthening the health of these animals. Specimens of the Devon Rex breed were introduced into these breeding programs, causing Egyptian cats to improve in strength and further fix their phenotype.

Its recognition as a breed would not come until 2000 when most international organizations would give the Egyptian Sphinx Cat its go-ahead. Thanks to this recognition, more and more people were interested in them as pets, which also helped to increase the popularity of the breed. Currently, it is possible to find specimens of the sphynx cat in all parts of the world, and as a pet in many homes. The truth is that it is not a breed that stands out for being very large or majority, but it is highly valued among cat lovers for its friendliness, strange beauty, and temperament suitable for the whole family.

Egyptian cat Description

Egyptian cats are medium in size and usually weigh between 3.5 and 7 kg.

Head

Its head is long, it has a round snout and marked cheekbones. Its short nose and long neck stand out in proportion to the body. A peculiar fact is that this breed (in most cases) does not have moustaches, although it is not usually a problem for them.

Ears

Another characteristic feature of this cat goddess is its ears: large and open, with slightly rounded tips.

Eyes

Egyptian cats have large, separate, slanted eyes that are often said to be lemon-shaped. As for colour, bright colours such as green, blue, copper or yellow stand out. There are also often Egyptian cats with one eye of each colour.

Body

This pharaoh cat has a wide chest and is characteristic of how the skin of the abdomen hangs. In addition, they are considered strong cats, thanks to their musculature.

Legs

The legs of Egyptian cats are sized according to the rest of the body, although the hind legs are somewhat longer and arched. As for the feet, they are medium in size and their long toes stand out.

Tail

The tail is thin with a slightly wider base and medium length.

Fur

One of the biggest attractions of the breed is the absence of hair due to natural mutation. However, they do have a thin coat of hair that is not fully appreciated. In addition, they stand out for having wrinkled skin that can be of different colors and can even have spots.

Color

Silver, bronze, smoke.

Egyptian cat price

you may wonder how much is the Egyptian Mau price? well, this kind of cat breeds Depending on the colour variety and breeder, an Egyptian Mau can cost anywhere between $800 to $1200.

Characteristics of the Egyptian Cat

The sphynx is a medium-sized cat with easily recognizable characteristics beyond the absence of fur. They are elongated and muscular animals, quite wide in their chest and body. Its pronounced belly stands out, which sometimes seems to hang too much with respect to the rest of the body.

The most remarkable thing in its anatomy is the shape of its head and its especially long neck, in addition to the folds that form on its skin throughout the body. His head is rather elongated and his sharp cheekbones stand out. Also notable in the expression of her face is the size of her eyes and ears, very large in proportion to the rest of the body.

The usual weight of the specimens of this breed is between 3 and 5 kilos, also depending on their length, although they are never as bulky as other long-haired breeds. The breed standard has remained unchanged to date, although current breeders are also seeking to establish the characteristics that are most attractive to them. Therefore, it is possible to think that at some point it will be necessary to update the standard, although the breed is currently more than consolidated throughout the world.

Egyptian Cat Behavior

The word that defines the temperament of the Egyptian cat is tranquillity. They differ quite a bit from other cat breeds in character because they are much calmer than cats in general are. They are sweet, affectionate, curious and intelligent animals, which never tend to show an aggressive character neither among themselves nor with people.

They are animals very dependent on their owners, in terms of affection and other care. They always seek their physical contact, and also cover themselves with clothing or with their owner’s own body to increase their body heat, which is usually very low due to the lack of a cloak.

It is also a sociable breed, which gets along well with both adults and children, although it will not participate in the most energetic games of the little ones. Their intelligence enables them to learn basic and some more complex commands, such as their own names, that they associate and obey very quickly.

Main diseases of the Egyptian Cat

The sphynx cat is one of the most expensive cats in the world it has an average life span of 10-20 years and is generally a healthy animal. However, it is prone to suffer certain problems associated with the consanguineal of the units, and that is translated into metabolic, systemic, and genetic defects. Luckily, today this trend is being corrected and bloodlines are being cleaned up little by little, which means that the born Egyptian cat puppies are stronger and more resistant to common feline diseases.

like any other cat, the Egyptian cat can have scabies.

Basic care of the Egyptian cat

The care of the sphinx cat is more complex than that of other feline breeds. To start, you need to go to the vet frequently to do a general check-up and to keep your vaccination and deworming chart up-to-date. Apart from this, there are many other cares to be given to your Egyptian cat so that it is always healthy.

Just because you don’t have hair doesn’t mean you don’t need body hygiene care. Brushing is ruled out, but its skin is very sensitive and requires special treatment, so it is recommended to bathe it once a week with a specific soap for them, and frequently clean your eyes and ears. In case you do not want to bathe it so often, you can always maintain good hygiene with wet wipes, to properly clean the folds of your skin, but always using sensitive animal products.

The metabolism of the sphinx cat is more accelerated than that of other feline breeds, which aims to increase its body temperature to supply the absence of fur. This implies that the feeding of this breed must be specific, different from that of the rest of cat breeds. In the market, there are specific foods for specimens of this breed, composed of more proteins and fats than other foods. You also need more food per day than other cats of the same size, but you must also control that it is not an excessive amount, since it could gain too much weight, something very dangerous for animals.

To properly care for the sphynx cat, you must ensure that the temperature of the house is always adequate. In both summer and winter, the home’s thermostat should be kept between 22 and 25 degrees, an adequate temperature to protect it. These animals are very sensitive to changes in temperature, and could easily catch a cold and become ill if these guidelines are not followed. It will also be necessary to ensure that the kitten plays and exercises every day, something very necessary for it to stay in shape despite the fact that it is not one of the races that demand the most exercise.

As for their education, it is something really easy to control with a little effort from a puppy, since they are animals that learn very fast, obedient and very sociable. Another of its advantages is that they adapt perfectly to coexist with other animals, making it possible to have it together with other cats, dogs, or even rodents in a total state of peace and tranquillity.

Egyptian Cat skin care

Just as the hair of our pets requires a series of care, it is logical to think that a cat that does not have fur and that its fur is more exposed to the entire environment also needs care.

The coat is usually essential to protect the cat from inclement weather, as well as other external agents. Therefore, one of the main care of the Egyptian cat’s skin has to do with maintaining its ideal body temperature. In winter it should be around 20 degrees, and in summer try to have a maximum of 25 degrees.

The sun is the main enemy of this breed, so care must be taken to protect it from it. Your skin can burn in the same way that it happens to people.

If you go for a walk with your cat, always go to the shady areas. If you have it on a terrace or garden, be sure to provide it with a place to retreat, and if you can’t do it, maybe it’s a good time to spend some time at home.

Another care for the Egyptian cat’s skin should be hygiene. Lacking hair, your body works harder to maintain your body temperature and therefore produces more sweat than any other breed. This will make the cat smell bad and you can even produce allergies or skin irritations, so baths should be more frequent.

Other tips for caring for Egyptian cat fur

The hygiene of the house, as well as its bed and other objects, is essential to take care of the skin of the Egyptian cat, which, because it does not have hair, will be more exposed to bacteria, parasites, or infections caused by dirt.

The food can influence directly on the skin of this animal, so it is best to buy a type of specialized think of Egyptian cats. These will supply all your nutritional demands.

Water and wet food will help the Egyptian cat to be well hydrated, something necessary for the fur to stay healthy, shiny and in good condition.

A very delicate area of ​​your skin, and to which we must pay the maximum attention, is the one that is close to your eyes. As they do not have hair, they do not have eyelashes either, so this area is unprotected against all kinds of external agents. Keep an eye on it and clean it with gauze whenever you see it necessary.

If you decide to have an Egyptian cat, you will be adopting an ideal pet for the whole family, although you already see that there will be a series of extra care.

Egyptian Cat Diet

They love to eat! In addition, they need a diet that provides them with more calories, so they tend to eat more food than other breeds with fur. This happens because they lose heat more easily and require more energy. The basic diet should be based on feed and wet food. Food must contain high levels of protein and a low percentage of carbohydrates.
and better be careful about what u feed your cat because there is a lot of dangerous food for cats that can make them sick or even die

Egyptian Cat Life Span

Egyptian cats tend to be in good health and have a life expectancy of up to 20 years. However, on many occasions crossings between siblings are carried out, which leads to genetic deficiencies that lead to health problems.

It is very important to take the feline to the vet at the beginning of the symptoms of any disease so that he can give him the necessary medicines for his cure.

Egyptian cat breeds

there are few Egyptian cat breeds now we will talk about 4 breeds in this article:

1-The Egyptian Mau

The Egyptian Mau is a long cat although she tends to be medium in size, with the males larger than the females. The Mau is heavily muscled and strong.

2-The Chausie Breed

The Chausie’s history dates back to the ancient Egyptians, who prized these cats for their laidback demeanor and natural hunting ability. In fact, Chausie’s name was derived from the Latin name “Felis chaus,” which translates to “jungle cat.” The Chausie typically resides from the Nile Valley to the Caspian Sea, as well as in South Asia as far as Vietnam.

3-Egyptian Sphynx The Egyptian hairless cat

some people think this Egyptian hairless cat is not an Egyptian cat breeds. The Sphynx cat is a breed of cat known for its lack of coat (fur) its one of the most expensive cats in the world. Hairlessness in cats is a naturally occurring genetic mutation; however, the Sphynx cat, as a breed, was developed through selective breeding, starting in the 1960s

The Egyptian Sphynx Cat breed has an average life span of between 10 and 20 years, its general health is good but it requires certain fundamental care such as:

• Annual visit to the vet
• Teeth cleaning from 2 years
• Vaccines
• A healthy diet, with products free of chemicals and additives (as for all pets)
• At least one weekly bath is recommended
• Careful and regular cleaning of ears.

Egyptian Cat Facts

• That one of its names is that of an Egyptian cat has to do with the resemblance of this animal to the Egyptian goddess Bastet, usually represented in the form of a human and a cat’s head, or with feline anatomy in general.
• Although many people think that the characteristic baldness of the Egyptian cat has to do with human genetic manipulation, it is not. Certainly, it was the scientists who potentiated and fixed this feature. But the first hairless cats were born in normal litters from natural causes, something that can even happen today as part of natural genetics.
• The belief that sphinx cats do not cause allergies is totally unfounded. Just because they are hairless does not mean they are hypoallergenic. This is because allergy production is found in the animal’s hormones and the dead cells that accumulate in the skin and saliva. Hence, an allergic person cannot share her life with one of these animals. People with an animal allergy should seek information about hypoallergenic cat breeds.
• Although it is not a very energetic breed, the truth is that they are also agile and strong animals, as evidenced by the fact that they can jump more than two meters vertically thanks to the strength of their hind legs.
• There are certain precautions to take with regard to temperature with this breed, and they are sensitive to heat and especially cold. It is not uncommon to see them in winter on radiators or stoves, or hidden among their owners’ blankets and clothing.
• One of the reasons this breed is so famous is for its presence in television and film culture. There are many examples that can be found of sphinx cats that appear in the cinema and on television, as part of series and films both in live action and animation.

Egyptian Cat History and origin

Historical evidence points to the Mau being an Egyptian breed. The feline genome data published in the Pentascope document shows the Egyptian Mau to be very closely related to the Maine Coon, Korat, and American Turkish Angoras (not distinguishable from native Turkish Angoras). The phylogenetic tree published in PlosOne demonstrates that the Egyptian Mau belongs to the group of Western-derived breeds. The East Mediterranean/Anatolian group is omitted because breeds that supposedly originate in that geographic area do not do so.

The Mau achieved championship status in some organizations 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 mix became the basis for the Ocicat.

Egyptian Maus will have either a “scarab beetle” or “M” marking on their foreheads. Those with the latter tend to be from the United States.

A Bengal breeder named Jean Mill also made some contributions to the breed. Mill was working with the Egyptian Maus during the time she was creating the Bengal cat breed. In 1982, Mill took a trip to India and spotted a domestic cat “running around the rhinoceros compound” in a zoo. “He was an orange cat with little spots all over him,” Mill said. “He was so unusual, I asked [the zookeepers] to catch him for me.” Mill called him “Millwood Toby of Delhi”. The curator of the New Delhi Zoo also gave Mill the sister of the cat in the rhinoceros cage which Mill named “Millwood Tasha of New Delhi”. These two Indian domestic cats Toby and Tasha introduced a feature previously unknown in the Mau: the rufous polygene. The descendants of these two cats Toby and Tasha were often recorded as both Egyptian Mau and Bengal.

It has been said that all glitter in the Bengal cat, Egyptian Mau and Toyger breeds originates from Millwood Tory of Delhi.

Egyptian cat names :

• Egyptian Mau cat
• Egyptian cat god
• Cat goddess
• Mau cat
• pharaoh cat
• Egyptian hairless cat

More than 5,000 years of the cultural history of Egypt provides a rich language of names. For your Egyptian Mau, Sphynx cat, or mixed breed, how can you choose between Mekal (fierce devourer) and Pakhet (she who scratches)?

Female Names	Meaning
Acenath	Daughter
Akila	Intelligent
Amunet	Goddess of mystery
Anat	A wife of Seth
Anippe	Daughter of the Nile
Asenath	Daughter
Astarte	A wife of Seth
Auset	Another name for supreme goddess
Aziza	Precious
Bahiti	Fortune
Bast	Warrior goddess of cats
Bastet	Goddess of cats and the home
Bennu	Eagle
Chione	Mythical daughter of the Nile
Cleopatra	A queen of Eygpt
Dalila	Gentle
Dendera	From Dendera
Ebonique	Black
Ebony	Black
Echidna	Mythical monster
Edjo	Another form of Uadjit
Eshe	Life
Femi	Love
Fukayna	Intelligent
Habibah	Loved
Hafsah	Married to the prophet
Halima	Gentle
Haqikah	Honest
Hasina	Good
Hathor	Goddess of destruction
Hatshepsut	Name of a queen
Hehet	Goddess of the immeasurable
Heqet	Frog headed goddess
Ife	Love
Isis	Supreme Goddess
Jamila	Beauty
Jendayi	Thankful
Kakra	A twin
Kamilah	Perfection
Kanika	Black
Keket	Goddess of darkness
Kesi	Born of a troubled father
Khepri	Morning sun
Kissa	Sister of twins
Lapis	Named for the lapis stone
Layla	Born at night
Lotus	Lotus flower
Maat	Goddess of order & justice
Mafuane	Soil
Maibe	Grave
Mandisa	Sweet
Masika	Born during rain
Meht urt	Represented by a cow
Mert ekert	Lover of silence
Mesi	Water
Meskhenet	Destiny
Monifa	Lucky
Mosi	Born first
Moswen	White
Mukamutara	Daughter of Mutara
Mukantagara	Born during war
Mukarramma	Revered
Muminah	Pious
Mut	Mythical mother
Nabirye	Mother of twins
Naeemah	Benevolent
Nailah	Successful
Nashwa	Wonderful feeling
Nathifa	Pure
Naunet	Goddess of the ocean
Nebt het	Nature goddess
Neema	Born to wealthy parents
Nefertari	Name of a queen
Nefertiti	Name of a queen
Neith	The divine mother
Nekhbet	Mythical vulture goddess
Nephthys	Mythical nature goddess
Net	The divine mother
Nile	From the Nile
Niut	Goddess of nothingness
Nourbese	Wonderful
Nubia	From Nubia
Nuru	Born during the day
Nut	Mythical sky goddess
Ode	From the road
Ojufemi	Beloved of the gods
Olabisi	Brings joy
Olufemi	Beloved of the gods
Omorose	Beautiful
Oni	Wanted
Oseye	Happy
Panya	Mouse
Pili	Born second
Quibilah	Peaceful
Rabiah	Born in the spring
Ramla	Predicts the future
Rashida	Righteous
Raziya	Agreeable
Rehema	Compassionate
Renenet	Goddess of fortune
Sabah	Born in the morning
Sabola	Prophetess
Safiya	Pure
Sagira	Little one
Salihah	Agreeable
Sanura	Kitten
Sekhet	Wife of Ptah
Sekhmet	Goddess of destruction and healing
Selk	Another form of “supreme goddess”
Selma	Secure
Serq	Another form of “supreme goddess”
Shani	Wonderful
Sharifa	Respected
Shukura	Grateful
Siti	Lady
Sslama	Peaceful
Subira	Patient
Suma	Ask
Tabia	Talented
Tahirah	Pristine
Tale	Green
Talibah	Seeks knowledge
Tauret	Goddess of pregnant women
Tefnut	Atmospheric moisture
Thema	Queen
Theoris	Great
Thermuthis	Another form of Renenet
Uadjit	Mythical cobra goddess
Uatchit	Another form of Hathor
Umayma	Little mother
Umm	Mother
Urbi	Princess
Walidah	Newly born
Zahra	Flower
Zalika	Wellborn
Zaliki	Wellborn

Male names	Meanings
Abasi	Stern
Abayomi	Brings joy
Abubakar	Noble
Adio	Righteous
Adofo	Fighter
Akiiki	Friendly
Akil	Intelligent
Akins	Brave
Amenhotep	Name of a pharaoh
Amenophis	Name of a pharaoh
Ammon	God of a united Egypt
Amsi	Personification of reproduction
Amun	God of mystery
Anpu	God of the dead
Anubis	God of the dead
Anzety	God of Busiris
Apis	Dead bull thought to be Osiris
Asim	Protector
Astennu	God of the moon
Aswad	Black
Ata	Twin
Atemu	Mythical great god of Annu
Aten	Sun disk
Azibo	Earth
Azizi	Precious
Babafemi	Beloved of his father
Badru	Born during the full moon
Baniti	Teacher
Bastet	A cat
Bes	Brings joy
Bomani	Warrior
Chafulumisa	Fast
Chatuluka	Departs
Chenzira	Born on a journey
Chibale	Kinsman
Chike	Power of God
Chisisi	Secret
Chuma	Wealthy
Dakarai	Happy
Darius	Name of a pharaoh
Fadil	Generous
Fenuku	Born late
Fenyang	Conquers
Gahiji	Hunter
Geb	Mythical earth god
Gyasi	Wonderful
Haji	Born during the pilgrimage
Hamadi	Praised
Hanbal	Pristine
Hanif	Believes
Hapi	A god of the Nile
Hapu	Name of a pharaoh
Hasani	Handsome
Heru	Sun god
Horus	God of the sky
Husani	Handsome
Ishaq	Laughs
Jabari	Brave
Jafari	Creek
Jahi	Dignified
Jibade	Related to royalty
Jumoke	Loved by all
Kafele	Would die for
Kasiya	Departs
Kazemde	Ambassador
Kek	God of darkness
Khafra	Name of a pharaoh
Khalfani	Shall rule
Khalid	Immortal
Khentimentiu	God of the dead’s destiny
Khons	God of the moon
Khufu	Name of a pharaoh
Kosey	Lion
Lateef	Gentle
Lisimba	Lion
Lukman	A prophet
Luzige	Locust
Menes	Name of a king
Menkaura	Name of a pharaoh
Min	God of fertility
Minkabh	Justice
Month	God of Thebes
Mosegi	Tailor
Mudads	Provider
Musa	Of the water
Musim	Believer
Naeem	Benevoent
Narmer	Name of a king
Nassor	Victor
Neb er tcher	God of the universe
Nuru	Born during the day
Oba	King
Omari	High born
Onuris	Brings back the distant one
Osahar	God hears me
Osiris	God of the dead
Oubastet	A cat
Ptolemy	Name of a pharaoh
Qeb	Father of the earth
Quasshie	Born on Sunday
Ra	The sun
Radames	Egyptian hero
Ramses	Begotten by Ra the sun god
Rashidi	Wise
Re	Midday sun
Rsmses	Name of a pharaoh
Runihura	Destroyer
Saa	A nature god
Sadiki	Faithful
Seb	God of the earth
Sefu	Sword
Sekani	Laughs
Senusnet	Name of a pharaoh
Serapis	Another name for Apis
Sethos	Name of a prince
Shabaka	Name of a king
Tarik	Name of a warrior
Tau	Lion
Tehuti	God of earth, sky & sea
Teremun	Loved by his father
Thabit	Strong
Thoth	God of the moon
Thutmose	Name of a pharaoh
Tor	King
Tum	Great god of Annu
Tumaini	Hope
Umi	Life
Un nefer	God of the dead
Usi	Smoke
Yafeu	Bold
Yahya	Given by God
Zahur	A flower
Ziyad	He shall add
Zuberi	Strong

cats in ancient Egypt

We all know the great esteem and adoration that the Egyptians had for cats, in fact, they were the first to tame them. But why them and not another animal? Today we tell you where this veneration comes from and some other curiosities about Ancient Egypt and cats.

Cats were a very important part of the culture of Ancient Egypt for a religious theme, since the cat, being a feline, belongs to the same family of animals as the lion, the Sun God Ra for the Egyptians. The lion’s eyes reflect the rays of the sun and fight the darkness. Thus the cat becomes one of the most sacred animals in this culture, having replicas in temples and pyramids in order to protect the gods.

If you think this breed is right for you, it’s time to find a suitable puppy. For this, you must go to breeders specialized in the breed, who can offer you all the necessary guarantees about the health of your new pet. Remember that the Egyptian cat is one of the most special that exists, so you must make sure you are receiving a quality specimen. In addition, by talking to an experienced breeder you will receive first-hand information on the care of the breed, so you can have everything under control from the first moment.