Ukrainian Levkoy vs Egyptian Mau - Breed Comparison

The Ukrainian Levkoy is a distinctive looking cat with its folded ears. This is a new breed of cat, only being developed recently early in the 2000s.

The cat was first developed by Elena Biriukova in Ukraine, by crossing the hairless Donskoy cat with the Scottish Fold. Also, Oriental and domestic cats were also brought into the mix.

This particular cat breed was recognized in 2005 in Ukraine and recognized in Russia in 2010. The cat isn’t recognized by any of the major international cat organizations.

The Egyptians have always been interested in cats, and it is believed that in 1953 a noblewoman left Egypt with a tabby cat, returning to Italy.

Later, another cat was also brought to Italy and the pair were mated. The Egyptian Mau is a natural breed.

In 1956, a kitten of the pair was brought to the United States and the Egyptian Mau was developed. A breeding program was started in the United States. The breed Egyptian Mau was recognized in 1958 in the United States and 1992 in Europe.

With his distinctive appearance, the medium-sized, muscular but slender Ukrainian Levkoy cat weighs in the region of 3 to 6kg.

He has these inward-folding ears with very little hair. These are two distinctive features of this cat. The skin is soft and wrinkled, the eyes large and almond-shaped while the ears are also large and set wide apart and high on the wedge-shaped head.

He has long, slender legs and a narrow tail. The litter size of these cats is generally 3 to 6.

Temperament:

Friendly and playful, the Ukranian Levkoy is also intelligent and enjoys having human companionship.

He is social and will make friends of other pets in the house. He is also compatible with children.

This is a medium-sized, long, athletic cat that is well muscled. It weighs between 3 to 5kg. The Mau is heavily muscled and strong. It has a triangular-shaped head with large almond-shaped eyes.

The coat of the Mau is medium in length and is glossy and soft. There are spots on the coat but the cat is particularly well known for the dark stripe that runs from its head to its tail. The coat comes in several different colors such as silver, black, tan and blue. All Maus have green eyes.

Temperament:

These cats are known for being loyal and friendly and they love warm weather and enjoying a spot in the sun.

They are talkative cats too and also love to sit on high perches and survey the world from these high positions. They are excellent climbers and you’ll need to supply these cats with a climbing tree. Its an intelligent breed and he will get along well with children in the home as well as be friendly towards other pets.

The Ukrainian Levkoy, even though he is fairly docile, is a very sociable cat that thrives on human interaction. He is able to get on well with children as well as with other pets. He is also quite a vocal cat and will let you know when he is hungry or wants to play. Some call them ugly and others call them sweet - whatever you make of the Ukranian Levkoy, he needs your love and care to be the best pet he can be.

These are social cats with their own human family but the Egyptian Mau does tend to be a bit reserved around strangers.

They make excellent pets and companions and if he is happy, you’ll hear him making little noises to express his contentment.

What also makes him so attractive as a pet is that he is a short-coated cat that is considered to be low maintenance.

Before you decide to take on any animal as a pet and before you bring the Egyptian Mau into your home, do thorough research on this rare cat breed. If you do decide to take him in, find out all you can on how to provide for him so that he receives the best care and love in your home.

These cats are generally considered to be healthy cats. Having said that, they can be predisposed to the same conditions that the Donskoy and Scottish Fold breeds face.

It is always beneficial to know and recognize some of the symptoms of a sick cat - lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, heavy breathing and lack of appetite. Then it's time to schedule a visit to your local vet.

While there aren't any breed-specific health problems associated with the Ukrainian Levkoy, it is imperative to have him vaccinated against the deadly cat diseases that there are.

Egyptian Maus are strong, robust cats and they don't have any particular health problems.

Obesity is a major disease with this cat and all other cats and it's worth noting, as obesity contributes to a great number of illnesses in cats. Excess weight can lead to diabetes and arthritis and well as other life-threatening diseases.

Two things that play an important role in his health are ensuring that he has access to excellent, nutritious, meaty food, as cats are carnivores.

You also want to ensure that he gets all his vaccines and de-wormings. If you notice that your cat seems to be under the weather, get him to the vet as soon as possible.

As with all cats, it's important to keep up your Ukrainian Levkoy's regular veterinary checkups. This means you can get to any health concerns early so that your vet can come up with a treatment plan for your pet.

Some cat lovers make a point of scheduling yearly wellness visits with their vet, and this can be a good thing. Cats are natural scratchers so make sure you invest in a scratching post for him.

The inside of the Ukrainian Levkoy's ears should be examined regularly for signs of dirt and wax build-up. It can lead to infection. Speak to your vet about your cat's ears if yourself.

The Ukrainian Levkoy is an active cat and if he is an indoor cat, he will definitely need a climbing tree or some kind of cat perch to leap up onto.

The Ukrainian Levkoy is a hairless cat, so you won't brushing your cat's hair but he will need to have a bath. The skin can become oily and attract dirt. Diet is absolutely important. You'll need to make sure you're feeding your cat a high protein diet as every cat is a carnivore. A cat like this needs to stay in shape to avoid cat diseases related to being overweight.

Most Ukrainian Levkoys need to be kept warm, so you might well have to invest in a jacket or jersey to keep him warm on a cold day.

The beautiful coat of the Egyptian Mau is easy to care for and a weekly brushing will ensure it stays shiny and healthy.

If he will let you, try to look inside his mouth to ensure the teeth and gums are healthy.

Remember, if there are any grooming activities for this cat that you feel you can’t cope with, professional groomers will do it for you.

Provide your Egyptian Mau with a climbing tree and scratching post as the cat loves to jump and climb.

He is an active, intelligent cat and needs to be stimulated with exciting toys, particularly when you’re not around to entertain him.

Cats such as the Egyptian Mau are clean and they want their litterbox to be kept clean. Invest in scoop and rake and rid the litter box every day of cat droppings. There also comes a time when you will have to replace all the sand or grit as well.

It will be fantastic if you can provide this cat with a water fountain and a type of pool as they love playing in water.

Make sure your Mau has constant access to fresh, cool drinking water.