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In reply to the discussion: Cat communication with humans [View all]

wnylib

(26,485 posts)
17. Interesting. I was very surprised to find that
Sun Feb 22, 2026, 06:15 PM
Feb 2026

Ember had Mau Ancestry because they are a rare breed and expensive. Most breeders are careful to avoid accidental matings. If one does happen, they neuter or spay the kittens before giving them away. Most Mau breeders also neuter or spay pedigrees before they sell them in order to prevent amateurs from trying to breed them or from carelessly letting them mate with other cats. That's one reason why they are so rare. I suspect the motive is to keep the price high.

The breeder that Ember's mother came from was known among breeders to be less careful and could not get accreditation as a Bengal breeder because of that. Bengal breeding has to be very well regulated because Bengals are a mix of an Asian wild cat with the domestic Mau to breed the wild behavior out of the Asian cat. Legally, only the 4th generation of the mixture can be sold as a pet, for safety reasons.

The Bengal breeder that Ember's mother came from eventually went out of business because they could not get accredited.

The wiggle tail behavior in Maus often looks like a male cat spraying, but that's not what it is. It not a random act or something that happens only in reaction to one object. It is an expression of great happiness or positive, happy excitement. Ember does it most often when she sees that she is getting food, especially a food that she really loves. But she also does it when she sees that I am going to play with her with one of her favorite toys. It's as if she is thinking, "Oh goody. I just can't wait to get started."

A couple times Ember did it when I returned home after being out for a while, which was flattering to me that my return made her so happy. Maus are not lap cats, but they do not like to be alone, either. They love interactive play with people and tend to bond with one person more than with others. So that's why she was so happy to see me come home.




Recommendations

2 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Sounds like you are acing reading cat comminication class SheltieLover Feb 2026 #1
I never heard of Egyptian Maus either. wnylib Feb 2026 #5
Mom's Tinker Bell did that inexplicable "butt wiggle" too ! eppur_se_muova Feb 2026 #12
Interesting. I was very surprised to find that wnylib Feb 2026 #17
The Cat Distriution System rewarded you well! SheltieLover Feb 2026 #21
Gorgeous breed! SheltieLover Feb 2026 #2
Well, Ember does not have the Mau spotted coat wnylib Feb 2026 #10
Wow! 30 mph? SheltieLover Feb 2026 #16
Yes, 30 mph. All the breed descriptions of Maus wnylib Feb 2026 #18
Wears me out imagining it SheltieLover Feb 2026 #19
AWWWW, clever girl. And clever Mom for understanding her. niyad Feb 2026 #3
My cat, Patches go to the fridge he also response to the word chicken Walleye Feb 2026 #4
Watch them closely for any change in expression wnylib Feb 2026 #7
I'm sure they understand. SheltieLover Feb 2026 #20
I agree, sometimes I think he understands everything I'm saying. I know they all know the word tuna Walleye Feb 2026 #24
Not subtle Norrrm Feb 2026 #6
Hillarious. That cat communicates well. wnylib Feb 2026 #8
What a clever cat Ember is! MIButterfly Feb 2026 #9
Well, like most Maus, Ember sort of forces you wnylib Feb 2026 #11
Egyptian Maus are very smart and have many unique quirks. The tail thing is really a Mau quirk. flashman13 Feb 2026 #13
Oh yeah. Very stubborn and strong willed. wnylib Feb 2026 #23
Thump! Eva Jo Feb 2026 #14
LOL. Before Ember I had an orange tabby who wnylib Feb 2026 #22
This morning Roy Rolling Feb 2026 #15
Our middle daughter and son-in-law rescued a cat about five years ago that showed up battered and cut phylny Feb 25 #25
Cats are very intelligent. I love them 💙 TommieMommy Feb 25 #26
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