The Egyptian Mau is a cat breed distinguished as the only naturally spotted domestic cat breed. Their coat can come in three colors: silver, bronze, or smoke. Mau is the Egyptian word for cat and can be found in ancient Egyptian art.
These cats are also known for their intelligence and affectionate nature, making them great pets. If you consider getting an Egyptian Mau, you should know a few things about them.
Here are 15 things you need to learn about the Egyptian Mau cat.
Table of Contents
- 1. Egyptian Mau Cat History
- 2. Egyptian Mau Cat Price
- 3. Egyptian Mau Cat Lifespan
- 4. Egyptian Mau Cat Traits
- 5. Egyptian Mau Cat Care
- 6. Egyptian Mau Cat Health Problems
- 7. Egyptian Mau Cat Hypoallergenic
- 8. Egyptian Mau Cat Personality
- 9. Egyptian Mau Cat Characteristics
- 10. Egyptian Mau Cat Shedding
- 11. Egyptian Mau Cat: Are they rare?
- 12. Egyptian Mau Cat: What’s special about them?
- 13. Egyptian Mau Cat: How big do they get?
- 14. Egyptian Mau Cat: Are they good pets?
- 15. Egyptian Mau Cat: Can you walk them on a leash?
- Final Thoughts on the Egyptian Mau Cat
1. Egyptian Mau Cat History
According to Egyptian literature, statues, and bas-reliefs, the ancient Egyptians were the first to leave substantial proof of their association with domestic cats, which emerged 5,000 years ago.
Cats were probably initially appreciated for their capacity to keep rodents away from food stockpiles and for their ability to kill snakes. On the other hand, Egyptian domestic cats evolved into valued family pets and holy creatures linked with the gods.
Evidence from representations, paintings, and sculptures indicates that spotted cats lived during the time of Egyptian cat worship. Some think that the precursor of the Mau was the same cat revered by the ancient Egyptians.
If the Egyptian Mau is indeed a living relic from that time, then the Mau is definitely one of the oldest domestic cat breeds.
Modern Maus characteristics may be recognized in papyrus art, even down to the random patches. However, there is no proof of anything other than the existence of spotted cats in ancient Egypt.
Egyptian Maus were popular in Europe in the early 1900s. Fanciers in Italy, Switzerland, and France sought to promote the species; however, World War II destroyed the Egyptian Mau population by the mid-1940s, and the breed was nearly extinct.
Fortunately, the actions of the exiled Russian Princess Nathalie Troubetskoy saved the Mau from extinction. She kept some of the few remaining specimens while in Italy. She also played a role in bringing at least one Mau from Egypt via the Syrian Embassy.
Troubetskoy arrived in the United States in 1956, taking three Maus bred from her original breed with her. Troubetskoy created the Fatima Egyptian Mau Cattery upon his arrival and began to promote the breed.
The Mau quickly gained a following of people who wished to conserve the uncommon, elegant, and historically valuable breed. Because of the tiny gene pool and the difficulty in obtaining new Maus from Egypt, a certain level of inbreeding and outcrossing was essential to keep the breed alive in North America.
Selective breeding for temperament was also a focus, as specific lineages had disposition issues. Additional Maus were imported into the United States in the 1980s and 1990s. This gene pool expansion was critical to the health and well-being of the breed.
The Cat Fanciers’ Federation was the first to recognize the Egyptian Mau for championship status in 1968. The Canadian Cat Association quickly followed, and the Cat Fanciers’ Association was awarded championship status in 1977. All major organizations now accept the Mau.
2. Egyptian Mau Cat Price
You should anticipate paying between $900 and $2,500 for an Egyptian Mau.
Aside from purchasing the cat, budget $1,000-$1,400 for one-time supplies and early vet fees before taking your kitty home.
The monthly expenditures of caring for your Egyptian Mau will range between $150 and $500.
3. Egyptian Mau Cat Lifespan
The average lifespan for an Egyptian Mau is 9-13 years, although some have been reported to live up to 20 years with proper care.
While this may not be the most extended lifespan for a domestic cat, it is still a reasonable amount of time to enjoy your furry friend. The Mau is a relatively healthy breed, but there are a few health conditions to be aware of. These include hip dysplasia, heart disease, and eye problems.
4. Egyptian Mau Cat Traits
The Egyptian Mau has a medium-length, elegant physique with well-developed physical strength. The skin flap extends from the flank to the knee of the rear leg. Overall, balance is more desirable than size alone. Allowance should be provided for mature guys’ powerful necks and shoulders.
Their head is a medium-length, somewhat rounded wedge with no flat surfaces. They are not fully formed. A profile with a soft shape and a modest rise from the bridge of the nose to the brow. When seen from the front, the whole length of the nose is visible, as is its breadth.
The eyes of the Egyptian Mau are huge and alert, almond-shaped, and slanted towards the ears. Apertures in the skull are neither round nor oriental. The Maus have Gooseberry green eyes. Allowance is given for changing eye color, with some noticeable green by eight months and complete green by one and a half years.
Finally, the Mau has a medium-length coat with a beautiful shine. The hair with a smoky hue is smooth and delicate in texture. The silver and bronze hair is robust and durable in texture, with two or more bands of ticking separated by lighter bands.
5. Egyptian Mau Cat Care
The most crucial thing you can do to satisfy your Egyptian Mau is to provide opportunities for her to exercise. These athletic, lively cats require human interaction, cat trees to climb, and cat wheels to run on. Don’t be scared to get your Mau out as well.
When taking home an Egyptian Mau kitten, use caution as you would with any other cat. Maintain a warm bed, a clean litter box, and food and drink dishes for her.
As with any new kitten or cat, they may be reserved first and should be given time to adjust. To avoid stomach issues, communicate with the breeder about what they’ve been eating and provide the same. It’s best to use the litter they’re used to since a sudden change may shock your kitty and cause her to avoid the litter box entirely.
6. Egyptian Mau Cat Health Problems
According to the CFA, crossbreeding with the Egyptian Mau since the twentieth century has remarkably driven most common cat diseases to the background. While they are still susceptible to problems like patellar luxation and periodontal disease as they age, none of these are significant issues for this breed.
Maintain frequent veterinarian checkups to maintain your Mau in good condition. You should also frequently clean their ears, brush their teeth, and trim their nails.
Because Egyptian Maus have a restricted genetic history in the United States, they are likely to have health conditions like renal illness, bladder stones, and lower urinary tract disease.
Egyptian Maus are also susceptible to heart problems that can decrease their longevity. This ailment can be controlled with drugs, depending on severity, and frequent veterinarian checkups are required to monitor this disease’s development.
They may also develop dental disease and gingivitis. Therefore, it’s critical to brush their teeth frequently with cat-friendly toothpaste and regularly have their teeth cleaned by a veterinarian.
7. Egyptian Mau Cat Hypoallergenic
Egyptian Maus are not called hypoallergenic cats because there is no such thing.
Egyptian Maus have short hair that does not shed profusely but does shed. Despite this, many people may see them as fantastic pets due to their reputation for being kind and gorgeous.
Before you bring an Egyptian Mau home, you should see if your allergies respond to them. This will save you time and headaches in the future.
8. Egyptian Mau Cat Personality
The Egyptian Mau is a majestic and clever feline. They are highly devoted to their people and frequently form deep bonds with one person, but they are caring and kind to everyone in their family. Maus might be wary of strangers at first but will generally warm up soon.
They may be hesitant at first and even flee and hide, but with time, they will approach the stranger for a cuddle, given time.
Egyptian Maus are terrific with youngsters who know how to engage with cats, and their friendly behavior extends to two-legged family members. An Egyptian Mau gets along well with four-legged family members if they are socialized with other cats and cat-friendly canines from a young age.
These beautiful kittens may be highly chatty and employ many noises. Egyptian Mau vocalizations include meows, chirps, whistles, and chortles. When Maus are enthusiastic, they do an unusual act: They are colloquially known as “wiggle tales” because they shake their long tails in a way that simulates spraying or marking territory, but don’t worry, not a drop is being released.
9. Egyptian Mau Cat Characteristics
Maus enjoy sitting high and surveying their environment. They frequently act as though they have perfect control over their surroundings. They are incredibly energetic and active. They do, however, have a reasonably balanced disposition.
The Egyptian Mau is an active cat that will regulate its own diet if given enough space to exercise.
Egyptian Maus are excellent jumpers and climbers and should have their own perches and cat trees. If these are unavailable, the Mau will make their own perch on top of the refrigerator or bookcases.
When it comes to cat care, the Egyptian Mau is a breeze. They like being brushed, and brushing may be incorporated into daily playing.
10. Egyptian Mau Cat Shedding
Egyptian Maus are meticulous enough that they don’t require much maintenance.
They are, however, a breed that adores being brushed. So doing this once or twice a week is a terrific way to keep track of their shedding while also planning an enjoyable bonding time.
11. Egyptian Mau Cat: Are they rare?
Egyptian Maus are generally considered as rare.
Finding one to adopt may take time and effort. You may look for the breed on websites such as Adopt-A-Pet and Petfinder, or you can contact breed-specific cat rescue organizations in your region.
12. Egyptian Mau Cat: What’s special about them?
Egyptian Maus are absolutely one-of-a-kind cats. They are the fastest domestic cats, reaching speeds of up to 30 miles per hour. According to the CFA, pregnant Egyptian Maus have the most prolonged gestation period of any domestic cat, averaging approximately 73 days. Egyptian Maus have been measured jumping as high as 6 feet straight up thanks to their muscular rear legs.
What makes them unique is that their ancestors are thought to date back three thousand years to the cats whose pictures decorate the temples and palaces of ancient Egypt.
Perhaps their natural regal appearance and beauty are what distinguishes them. They appear to be aristocratic cats having a royal aura about them. Many people are drawn to these characteristics, primarily since these cats have long been worshiped as gods.
13. Egyptian Mau Cat: How big do they get?
Male and female Egyptian Mau cats may weigh between 8 and 12 pounds.
Their bodies may grow up to 16 inches long and 8 to 14 inches tall.
14. Egyptian Mau Cat: Are they good pets?
The Egyptian Mau is an excellent family pet. They are lively and have an appealing sense of humor; they frequently learn to recover toys tossed for them, and many have an extraordinary love of water, sticking their heads under a running faucet without fear. They will enjoy going outside in a safe setting.
15. Egyptian Mau Cat: Can you walk them on a leash?
Egyptian Maus are clever cats that may be trained to walk while wearing a harness for safe outside outings.
Egyptian Maus like to be above the action, viewing things from above. If cats don’t have access to a high cat perch, such as a cat tree, shelf, or hammock, they’ll likely construct their own on top of a refrigerator or bookcase.
You can also use the quiz below to find out what cat breed is fit for you.
FIRST OFF, WHAT DOES YOUR HOME LOOK LIKE?
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PICK A GRADIENT FROM BELOW:
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WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU HAD FREE TIME?
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FINALLY, WHICH WORD DESCRIBES YOU THE BEST?
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Final Thoughts on the Egyptian Mau Cat
This cat is for you if you want a lively and athletic cat with an unusual and eye-catching appearance. The Egyptian May is the right breed for you! Egyptian Maus may resemble wildcats since they are the only naturally spotted domestic cat breed, but don’t be fooled by their cheetah markings – they are 100% house cats!
They get along well with children and cat-friendly pets, although they can be shy and sensitive around strangers. Socialize them with other humans as early as possible so they may become accustomed to making new acquaintances.
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