IN MEMORY OF QUAZY
Qzar Iben Aswan, affectionately known as Quazy, was a bronze Egyptian Mau and the most beautiful cat I’ve ever seen. When we got him, there were only 2 breeders in Canada and maybe 5 breeders in all of North America. He was a rare beauty. He was a cross between the African Serval cat and the original Egyptian cat. He was a show cat. He was disqualified because he had a crook in his tail. A Vet said it looked like it was broken and he could probably fix it. We opted not to do that.
We first got him when he was 9 months old, he wouldn’t let anyone near him. I would sit in the kitchen the nights Ray was out and read out loud so he would get used to me. One night, as he was walking by me I managed to stroke the last 4” of his tail. He stood still and just shivered with pleasure with his back arched and he stood up tall. He was remarkably muscular and slim with a stiff tail and very long fingers.
He wouldn’t drink still water so I put lots of water in a plastic loaf pan and he would jerk it to get it moving before he would drink. There was often water spilled over the floor and the pan would be moved around. Sometimes the pan would be in the way and I would accidentally kick it and spill more. He loved his water. There could be a cooked chicken sitting out on the table and he wasn’t interested. If you left your glass of water unattended, he’d be drinking it. He was always on the lookout for water.
He was a very gentle guy and shy. When he wanted my attention, he would very gently place his paw on my lap.
I had a top cupboard in the kitchen that I kept empty because he liked to sit in there and watch whatever was going on. (Maybe it was his royal lineage, wanting to look down on everything.) When he was young, he could jump from the floor to the top of the fridge, a height of 6”.
I often called him an undercover cat because he could be found sleeping under the bed covers or under a throw blanket in the living room.
He loved to play. One of his favourite toys was an elastic band. He would hold it down with one paw and use his other paw to pull on it and make it snap. Occasionally, it would smack him back. Sometimes I would put the elastic under a scatter rug and let just a small piece jut out. Found treasure is always the best.
Years ago, I used to keep his cat food in a lower kitchen cupboard. He would pull on the door to make it rattle to tell me he was hungry. I moved the cat food long ago but he still rattled the door. (I had him on demand feeding and he could be demanding.)
His sometimes put me in mind of a mountain goat. He liked to balance himself on the back of a kitchen chair that had only a ¾” wide back.
I loved him and I miss him so much.
Love hurts.
From the Net:
Egyptian Mau’s
Maus are first and foremost a spotted cat and hold the distinction of being the "only naturally spotted breed of domestic cat." Other breeds may be spotted as a result of man-made hybridization (Bengal, Savannah). The Egyptian Mau will breed true to spots generation after generation unlike a hybrid that occasionally needs a re-introduction of a spotted Mau in the genetics. They are an athletic cat, svelte like in appearance with a cheetah like gait. The so called "worried look" expression which judges often refer to belies a very intelligent nature. They are quick to learn, not impulsive and have exceptional memory capabilities. Couple that with extraordinary senses of smell, sight and hearing, enable them to be keenly aware of everything around them and some of us who are privileged to be "owned" by one swear they can read our minds. They are by nature great athletes, capable of bursts of speed up to 36 miles per hour, making them the fastest breed of domestic cat. Their longer hind legs and extra flap of flank skin enables a Mau to jump and leap heights up to 8 feet or more effortlessly. They are not a "hyper" cat but they enjoy playing with "their" toys and interacting with their feline and human families. It is not unusual for them to have a "stash" hidden where no one else can find the toys and frequently those items include but are not limited to contact lens cases, wristwatches, or anything else we humans may leave lying around unattended. When in a happy mood, running through the home, it is not unusual to hear a Mau "chortle" a melodic sound that is peculiar to the breed. Their regal appearance at cat shows causes quite a stir and draws "oohs and aahs" from the audience as they are taken out of their cage by the judge. The comments we hear at the shows from admirers goes something like "We never thought we'd see on in person." Or "I only read about them in books or magazines." However, their uncanny intelligence, strong stubborn streak and independence can make them a challenge to show. If you wish to show a Mau you must begin early when it is a kitten, getting it acclimated to the sights and sounds of a cat show, otherwise they may decide they don't like the whole idea of leaving home when they are older. Its that stubbornness coming through!
The three recognized colors for showing a Mau are silver spotted, bronze spotted, and smoke spotted although recently in France the self blacks were approved for competition. The genetics are somewhat complicated so we won't go into that here. See our link on The Egyptian Mau Breed Standard (CFA) for specific details.
The first Egyptian Maus were imported to the US in the 50's by exiled Russian Princess Natalie Troubetsky. Their history goes back to the domestications of the wild African cats Felis Libica Ocreata by the Egyptians around 2000 B.C. The art on tombs of the Pharaohs depict a spotted domestic cat as a pet and hunting companion. Mummified remains of the cats buried with their royal owners show the cats had a spotted and ticked coat. CFA approved the breed for championship competition in 1977. After WW II, there were only 3 Egyptian cats left so they had to be cross bred due to the small gene pool. They were crossed with an African Serval.
Mau Facts and Factoids
The Egyptian Mau has often been described as aloof and distant or shy. To some extent that is true but the breed in general has a special affection and loyalty to its own family be it feline or human. In a multi breed cat household the Maus tend to "hang together" as if they know they are special! They are not a fickle breed easily persuaded to leave one loyalty for another. That is why adopting an older Mau can be a test of human patience and understanding. Whether a kitten or an older Mau they will command your attention as they seem to crave the touch of a special person or persons they "own." They love their down time with you but are perfectly happy to go around independently being a typical cat too. They are good with children provided the children have been instructed on proper handling and care of a cat. And last but not least, Maus love to eat! They can hear a drawer open and can opener turn from any room in the house! They will often hound you until you break down and allow them that extra morsel or portion.
Serval Photos Mindy Stinner, Conservators Center, Inc
The Serval inhabits the plains and forests of Algeria and Morocco, central and southern Africa (excluding the southern-most tip and the rainforest belt in central Africa).
It has a relatively small head with huge rounded ears set on top of the head and almost touching each other at their bases. The tail is very short. They are yellow-buff in colour with black markings all over; the markings comprise bars on the chest and legs, spots on the body, and tabby stripes on the face. It is sometimes called the Poor Man's Cheetah as it is long-legged, small-headed and similar in colour. Servals in the grasslands have larger spots than those from forest regions. A colour form peppered with numerous small spots is known as the Servaline and was once believed to be a separate species.
Melanistic (all-black) servals are found at higher elevations and on the borders of rainforests. White servals exist in captivity; these are white or creamy colored, often with a lilac tint, with normal and pale spots.
Servals rely on their keen hearing to locate prey such as small rodents, birds, young antelope, and lizards and make spectacular pounces. Servals are preyed on by leopards, dogs and humans.
In captivity they have been crossed with Caracals to create Caravals and Servicals as exotic hybrid pets. They are hybridised with domestic cats to create the Savannah breed; in addition to black-spotted golden hybrids, breeders also replicate the melanistic and albino forms by using appropriately coloured domestic cats in the breeding programme.
No comments:
Post a Comment