EGYPTIAN MAU Standard of Excellence GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The Egyptian Mau is the only natural domestic breed of spotted cat. The body is graceful, showing well-developed muscular strength. It strikes a balance between the heftiness of the cobby and svelteness of the oriental types. It is an alert, active, strong, colourful cat of medium size. It should be well balanced physically and temperamentally. General balance is more to be desired than size alone.

Body	Torso	Balance between cobby and foreign types. Medium in size. Medium-long in length. The shoulder blades are high and angulated. There is a loose skin flap (belly flap).
	Legs	Medium in length, with hind legs proportionately longer. Medium boning with well-developed musculature. The hind legs are longer than the front, but carried flexed so the back is level.
	Feet	Slightly oval, almost round. Small in size, with very long toes on back feet.
	Tail	Medium length, medium at base, with slight taper.
	Boning	Medium.
	Musculature	Well-developed.

Coat	Length	Medium, long enough to carry two bands of ticking.
	Texture	Fine, silky, resilient and close-lying.

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Pattern

There is good contrast between pale ground colour and deeper markings. The forehead has characteristic tabby “M” and frown lines, which run between the ears and down the back of the neck, becoming elongated spots along the spine. On the haunches the spine lines meld into a dorsal stripe which continues to the tip of the tail. The tail is banded with the tip dark. The cheeks have mascara lines, from the corner of the eye along the contour of the cheek, with the second line starting at the centre of the cheek and curving upward, almost meeting the first line below the ear. There are one or more necklaces, broken in the centre. The shoulder markings are a transition between stripes and spots. The upper legs are heavily barred but do not necessarily match. The spots on the body are random, with variance in size and shape. The pattern on the sides of the body may be unmatched, but spots should not form a broken mackerel pattern. The haunches and thighs have stripes, which break into elongated spots on the lower leg. Belly spots should have good contrast against pale ground colour.

Allowances	Broad head and jowls in mature males. Very muscular necks and shoulders in mature males.
Penalise	Short or round head. Pointed muzzle. Full cheeks. Small ears. Small, round or oriental eyes. Cobby or oriental body. Short or whippy tail. Spots on body which run together. Unbroken necklaces. Poor condition.
Withhold all Awards	Lack of spots. Wrong eye colour. White locket or spots. Lack of ticking in silver or bronze. Lack of grey undercoat in bronze.

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SILVER

Coat	Pale silver ground colour ticked with black. Undersides fade to brilliant pale silver. Markings are charcoal with good contrast.
Back of Ears	Greyish pink tipped with black.
Nose, Lips & Eyes	Outlined in black.
Upper throat, chin & Nostrils	Silver, appearing white.
Nose Leather	Brick red.
Paw Pads	Black with black between toes and up back of hind legs.

BRONZE

Coat	Warm bronze ground colour ticked with dark brown with grey undercoat close to skin. Colour darkest on saddle, fading to tawny buff on sides and creamy ivory on undersides. All markings dark brown with good contrast.
Back of Ears	Tawny pink tipped with dark brown.
Nose, Lips & Eyes	Outlined in dark brown.
Upper throat, chin & Nostrils	Pale creamy white.
Nose Leather	Brick red.
Paw Pads	Black or dark brown with same colour between toes and up back of hind legs.

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RECOGNISED COLOURS:
Silver, Bronze & Black Smoke only.

ALLOWABLE OUTCROSSES:
None

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