Explore the Mysteries of 5 Fascinating Egyptian Cat Breeds
Egyptian cat breeds are some of the oldest. Egypt, along with the Fertile Crescent in the Middle East, is a birthplace of domesticated cats. These cats originated from small wildcats in Egypt around 1500 B.C.1
History and Cultural Significance of Egyptian Cat Breeds
Cats are documented in ancient Egypt for over 3,000 years. They played a vital role in protecting grain stores by hunting rodents and killing poisonous snakes near Egyptian homes.
To the Egyptians, cats were considered sacred and an important part of their culture. In life, they were pampered and revered. Egyptian royals even dressed their pet cats in gold and jewels. In death, Egyptians mummified cats and placed them in tombs. The goddess Bastet, who took the form of a cat, appears in many ancient Egyptian works of art.2
Egyptian Cat Breeds
Few modern cat breeds can trace their roots directly to Egypt, though some are mistakenly believed to be Egyptian. Learn about two breeds that truly originated in Egypt and three commonly thought to be Egyptian but are not.
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Egyptian Mau
We have no written records of the Egyptian mau’s history, but it’s commonly accepted that the breed has ancient origins and developed from Egyptian street cats. Egyptian drawings show heavily spotted cats with the same mascara markings and barring pattern seen on the modern Egyptian mau. The breed is thought to have first appeared in the United States in 1956 when exiled Russian Princess Nathalie Troubetskoy brought her Egyptian mau cats with her.
Today, street cats in Egypt are often called Nile Valley Egyptian Cats and many of them resemble the Egyptian mau.
The Bengal cat breed is believed to have been developed through cross-breeding with the Egyptian mau.
Breed Overview
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Chausie
The medium- to large-sized chausie (pronounced chow-see), is a hybrid breed created by crossbreeding domestic cats and a small wildcat species called the jungle cat that was revered by ancient Egyptians3.
Although the chausie is a modern breed—created in the United States in the 1990s—their jungle cat heritage ties them directly to Egypt. Domestic cats used in the creation of the chausie include the Abyssinian and the domestic shorthair.
Breed Overview
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Abyssinian
The small, shorthaired Abyssinian is one of the oldest cat breeds. Perhaps due to the breed’s striking resemblance to the cats depicted in ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs, many sources identify the Abyssinian cat’s country of origin as Egypt or Ethiopia (formerly known as Abyssinia). However, the most recent genetic research suggests the coast of the Indian Ocean and parts of Southeast Asia as the most likely birthplace of the Abyssinian cat.
The breed name Abyssinian came about because, in the 1800s, some English fanciers imported cats matching the description of today’s Abyssinian and exhibited them at cat shows in England, stating that the cats were obtained from Abyssinia.
Breed Overview
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Savannah
With their spotted coat, the Savannah cat might look like cats in Egyptian art, but they were developed in the United States in the 1980s by crossing a small, African wildcat species called the serval with domestic cats. Like their serval relative, the Savannah cat is tall and slender with a long neck, large ears, and a gorgeous spotted coat. This breed needs more exercise and mental stimulation than most cats, so don’t plan to bring one home unless you can give them the exercise and stimulation they need to be healthy and happy.
Breed Overview
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Sphynx
Many people think that the Sphynx cat comes from Egypt due to their resemblance to ancient Egyptian depictions of cats. It’s also possible that people confuse the Sphnyx cat with the mythical sphinx—a creature with the head of a human, body of a lion, and wings of an eagle. Ancient Egyptians believed the sphinx could guard royalty, so they built many statues of the sphinx, including the most famous: the Great Sphinx of Giza.
In reality, the wrinkled, hairless Sphynx cat originated in Canada, not Egypt. Sphynx cats feel like warm suede or chamois because they are covered in a soft down. Sphynx don’t shed and need no brushing, but they must be bathed somewhat regularly to remove any buildup of skin oils and to keep their skin healthy.
Breed Overview
More Cat Breeds and Further Research
To explore more cat breeds, check out:
15 Best American Cat Breeds
14 Top Cat Breeds from Asia
10 Best British Cat Breeds
