Egyptian mau
The Egyptian mau is the only naturally spotted domestic cat breed — the spots occur on the hairs themselves rather than being bred in from a wild cross.
Cats of this appearance are depicted in Egyptian art three thousand years old, though the modern breed was established in the 1950s by an exiled Russian princess, Nathalie Troubetskoy, from cats obtained in Cairo.
It is a medium, muscular cat with a longer hind leg and a loose skin flap at the flank, both of which contribute to remarkable speed — maus are reckoned the fastest domestic cats. Gooseberry-green eyes and a worried-looking expression are characteristic.
- Origin
- Egypt, established in Europe and America from the 1950s
- Size
- 3–5 kg
- Lifespan
- 12–15 years
- Coat
- Short and silky, naturally spotted
- Temperament
- Loyal, active, reserved with strangers, talkative at home
- Grooming
- Weekly
Related: Arabian mau
3 egyptian mau photos, newest first
Living with a egyptian mau
A weekly comb suits the short silky coat.
Maus are athletic and need height and play, and they are notably sensitive to change — a new routine or a house move unsettles this breed more than most. They tend to attach strongly to one or two people and stay wary of visitors.
They are also unusually sensitive to cold, and to some anaesthetics and medications, which is worth mentioning to a vet.
The main inherited risks are hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and, in some lines, pyruvate kinase deficiency, which has a DNA test.
General guidance, not veterinary advice. Individual cats vary, and anything about a specific animal is a question for a vet who has seen it.
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