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Why, How, When... Your Answer Is Likely Here
Q:"Nile Valley Egyptian Cats" (NVE's)? What are they?
A: The Nile Valley Egyptian (NVE) is both the newest, and the oldest, domestic cat breed in the world.
Registered with TICA (The International Cat Association) in September 2010 in their Experimental New Breed program, the Nile Valley Egyptian is a Natural Breed indigenous to the Nile Valley area of Egypt.
EMRO supports a group of breeders worldwide who have banded together in an effort to save as many of these ancient, unique, and precious cats as we can, the Feline Missing Link between the African wild cat and all domestic cats of today around the world. To that purpose, we are working to bring the Nile Valley Egyptian (NVE) breed to full recognition by TICA, and hopefully eventually by all the cat registries.
We invite you to join us in this effort to save the only living Egyptian artifacts that still survive. For more information about this breed, please read this article: <link to history> and for info about classifications of NVEs, read this link <colours>. EMRO is participating in regrouping the cats in its care by reclassifying its cats as Native Egyptian Mau (if applicable) and/or by NVE classification. The Native Egyptian Mau is actually a subgroup of NVE, known as the Lybica NVE.
Q: What is a Mau? What is a Shirazi Mau? What is an Arabian Mau? What are the differences?
A: To read Ms. Sabine Harding's article entitled "The Shirazi Cat", click on this icon  . To read her article entitled "Purebred vs. Native Egyptian Mau", click on this icon . Sabine Harding is an Egyptology student studying at the American University in Cairo, Egypt. If you are unable to access these two articles on this page, they are also available on our web page "Articles, Brochures & Information" located HERE.
For information and specifications on the Arabian Mau, click HERE to connect with the World Cat Federation's (WCF) page for information and specifications or at "MeCats.net". Currently, EMRO has only one Arabian Mau in the shelter - Gihan. To view additional Arabian Maus, please go to our KSA
Cats web site to view them.
Q:What procedures, guidelines, restrictions, etc. must I be aware of in order to have my pet(s) fly out with me from Egypt?
A: There are certain rules and procedures that you must follow in order to take your pet with you when you travel out of Egypt. To view these guidelines, read our "Pet Travel Information" by clicking on this icon .
Q: Who are you and why are you helping Maus?
A: EMRO (The Egyptian Mau
Rescue Organization) was founded by a Canadian and Canadian-Egyptian
family (Ms. Lauris & Dr. Elkholy) in 2004, who had a Mau as
a pet in Canada and discovered that it wasn't easy to obtain a Mau
from its Egyptian homeland. Plus they realized that Maus were not
appreciated or respected in Egypt, and currently they run feral
in deplorable situations (see Who We
Are and History). EMRO was established
as a non-profit organization to try to help the welfare of these
ancient Mau cats in Egypt, make them more accessible to those interested
in this wonderful, naturally spotted cat, and to increase the education
about their historic past. An adoption center is being created for
tame Maus to be adopted locally in Egypt, as well as internationally.
We also try to help feral Maus and provide education on these ancient
cats.
Q: Can I adopt a Mau?
A: Yes! Currently we have
several available, from kittens to adults, and often new cats come
in regularly, check our website (see Adopt
a Mau). Costs vary, but we operate on a cost recovery basis
(cost of vaccines to travel, spay or neuter costs, travel crates,
veterinary costs and actual travel costs). Prices vary, but it is
estimated the average cost is about USD 300.00 to 400.00 total cost
per cat. Price could be less if a person travels with the cat rather
than shipping it etc. PayPal is the easiest for payment purposes,
although sending money directly to a local bank account is also
an option. Check with us for options.
Also, we require a brief adoption form to be filled out before the
cat is shipped anywhere.
Prices may be eventually reduced through corporate sponsorship
or if we can get pharmaceutical companies to donate some of the
medical supplies or vaccines. These savings in turn would be passed
on to the potential adopter. Any monies go to help the rest of the
Maus, who require food, veterinary care and ongoing maintenance.
All costs are the costs locally to prepare a cat for travel or to
sponsor one locally (animal supplies are rare and thus costly in
Egypt). Tax deductible receipts are available upon request of adoption
or sponsorship.
Q: Do you ship anywhere?
A: Yes, we can ship anywhere,
although please check your local customs about receiving animals
from out of country. For instance, in the United States, each State
has vaccine requirements that may vary; in the United Kingdom there
may be a quarantine of 6 months before the cat can enter.
Q: Why doesn't EMRO accept Paypal, credit cards, etc? Why are monies accepted only by cash or through expensive Western Union?
A: Monies being submitted for cat adoptions, or any donations for direct, specific purposes to EMRO (not for general donations towards operating expenses, generic sponsorships, etc.), must be made either in person at the EMRO shelter (local), or must be submitted via Western Union (international) to EMRO in order to be received in time for adoption processing.
Please be advised that Egypt, at this time, does not accept direct Paypal payments. Egypt is currently a cash-based society and, so far, cash and Western Union have been the best and secure methods EMRO has known to get funds safely and quickly to the source.
Adoption monies from out-of-country adoptions must be received directly by EMRO HQ before any cat is able to travel, meaning either cash (local) or Western Union (international). Unfortunately, at this time EMRO is unable to accept credit cards, Paypal, or debit cards for adoptions, since timing for the processing of adoptions is very crucial. Monies are not to be sent via mail or cheque, as it will not reach EMRO due to the corruption in the current postal system.
If you require further information, please contact info@emaurescue.org.
Q: Can I sponsor a cat?
A: Yes, please! Many Mau
cats are not adoptable (e.g., feral, too old, health problems etc.)
and sponsorship helps to keep the cat fed and vet bills covered.
We are asking $10 US a month for Sponsorship,
and in exchange you will receive a virtual "passport"
of the animal with photo and information particulars about it, as
well as monthly or quarterly updates and photos of the cat. It makes
a great gift idea as well for animal lovers! Your first name and
country go on the website as the sponsor of that cat.
Q: Where does the Mau come from?
A: Most Maus will come from
the streets of Cairo, Egypt. EMRO works with local animal shelters
who often house Maus among all their adoptable cats, and some Maus
are received through private homes of people who found abandoned
or orphaned kittens and raised them.
Not all Maus will look like the typical Maus one finds in North
America or Europe. Some will have a mix of white or a couple of
bronze colours on them, making them look quite exotic. Those that
look the most "typical" we state as Maus; those that have
some other colours or white are Mau mixes. All must have spots on
their backs or tummies to qualify as at least a Mau mix. All will
still have the Mau temperament, that is, of intelligence, sociability
(depending upon their previous experiences with people) and loyalty.
Q: Do these Maus come with a pedigree
certificate?
A: No. These are rescued
shelter and street Maus. However, Maus are recognized worldwide
as a specific breed, due to their naturally occurring spots. We
hope, in time, to create a specific Egyptian lineage of the best
spotted and healthy Maus for those who wish to have a "pedigreed"
Mau, and also to ensure the survival of the best of the breed locally.
These will likely be a little more expensive.
However, our main purpose is to save the existing Maus and rehome
as many as possible at the lowest possible price. All cats will
be sent neutered or spayed, unless sent to a recognized and reputable
cattery of Egyptian Maus, with the purpose of strengthening the
Mau gene pool internationally. If you require a pedigreed Mau, please
check our website for more Mau information.
Q: Can I get a Silver Mau?
A: Maus usually come in four recognized colors: silver,
bronze, smoke, and black. There is also the Red Mau, which should
not be bred due to recessive genes, but makes a lovely pet and is
very beautiful as well. Silver is not very common in Egypt; bronze
is by far the most common and naturally occurring colour. Some smoke
and black-colored ones are also occasionally available.
Q: How soon can I get a Mau?
A: Depending upon what you
are looking for. Kittens are not always available, silvers are very
rare. You would usually have to go on a waiting list for these.
If you are interested in a Bronze Mau or a Mau mix, they are the
most readily available. What also determines readiness is where
you live and what your country requires for vaccines etc. for entry.
Some Maus may be ready to ship within 10 days (vet check-over and
health certificate showing vaccines), others may take a month or
more.
Any other questions not answered here? Visit our Contact
page for our phone numbers and email addresses, so that we can
get answer(s) for you! |
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