The Egyptian Mau cat has a striking appearance due to its athletic build and sleek, spotted coat. Though this breed looks similar to the Bengal, with their spotted coats, Bengals’ are more like leopard spots, whereas Egyptian Maus’ spots are smaller and more polka-dotty. As the name suggests, this breed originated from Egypt around 3,000 years ago. Their forehead markings are often described as looking like scarab beetles!
Facts & advice
Egyptian Mau
Athletic and elegant, this breed loves to play
Vital stats
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| Size: | Medium |
| Coat: | Short, fine and silky |
| Life span:9 | 15 years |
| Temperament: | Loyal, playful, athletic |
Egyptian Mau personality & temperament
The Egyptian Mau can be a true and loyal friend. However, they need their own space and toys to play with of their own accord.
- Its graceful body and almond-shaped green eyes look exotic, yet this breed is far from aloof – an Egyptian Mau cat is a playful addition to the family and loves to learn new tricks. Boredom can be kept at bay with lots of attention and plenty of toys, games or companion pets to play with.
- The Egyptian Mau cat personality is affectionate and friendly, but the cats often form a strong bond with just one person.
- Egyptian Maus are very playful when feeling comfortable and can make lovely faithful companions. However, they can be a bit standoffish with strangers and do need their own space.
- Despite needing their own space sometimes, Egyptian Maus’ personality traits mean that they can suffer from depression and loneliness if they don’t have sufficient attention. It’s a balance that takes time to work out and differs according to your individual cat’s personality and characteristics.
- While this isn’t the most vocal of cat breeds, Egyptian Mau cats do have a chatty personality and their vocalisations have even been described as musical! They make a variety of entertaining sounds.
Egyptian Mau food & diet
Egyptian Maus don’t tend to run into nutritional issues, so they’re easy to feed! It’s best to keep them on a high-protein, meat-based diet.
- All cats, including this breed, are obligate carnivores, so an Egyptian Mau’s diet should always be meat-based.
- Like many other cat breeds, good hydration can be difficult to maintain as they tend to not drink enough water. That means, the best cat food for Egyptian Maus is a mixture of wet and dry to ensure they get their water from their food.
- While there’s no specific Egyptian Mau kitten food, younger cats usually need a different diet than they do when fully grown. Most kitten foods in pet shops will meet this requirement but check with your vet if you need some guidance.
Egyptian Mau grooming & coat care
- The Egyptian Mau cat coat is more or less self-grooming, so you don’t need to worry about any specific cat grooming This is a very clean and well-maintained breed.
- However, the breed is a moderate shedder so you will need to keep an eye on this, and might want to consider regularly brushing your cat, for the sake of your furniture and clothes.
- Egyptian Maus are tactile and affectionate, so your cat will probably enjoy being brushed even if it’s not necessary. Gentle cat grooming - especially with their favourite human - is a lovely way to bond. As with any cat, though, make sure your cat is well-socialised to grooming from an early age.
- Use your grooming sessions to check your cat for lumps and bumps, as well as any skin issues and flea bites.
Egyptian Mau training & behaviour
With intelligence and playfulness to spare, there’s never a dull moment with an Egyptian Mau in your life.
- Egyptian Mau cats are highly intelligent and can be taught to do many things, such as fetching, coming when called or being walked on a lead.
- Egyptian Mau cats are extremely athletic and they love to climb and chase toys. They need plenty of exercise and opportunities to stretch their legs and scratch their claws. They have a great sense of fun and love to play games!
- They are very athletic and like running and jumping, and have very powerful hind legs that allow them to jump impressively high. They’re also the fastest domestic housecat.
- You’ll likely find your Egyptian Mau cosying up next to warm things in your home - this breed is a bit sensitive to temperature. Why not check out these recommended heated cat beds?
Common Egyptian Mau health conditions
As a cat owner you will want what’s best for your pet’s health so they can live a long, happy life. Like all breeds, Egyptian Maus are prone to certain health conditions. To help you be more aware and prepared for these potential ailments if they should arise, we have put together information on the health issues that we see the most in Egyptian Maus.
Like most breeds, Egyptian Maus may suffer from gum and dental disease during their lifetime. Gum disease occurs when some (or all) of a tooth’s deep supporting structures become inflamed. This begins when food, bacteria and minerals accumulate along the gum line, leading to the build-up of a brown scale known as tartar. When this undermines the gum the condition is called gingivitis. Eventually, small spaces can form between the gums and the teeth creating pockets of space for bacteria to grow, resulting in what is known as periodontal disease. The bacteria from infected gums can spread around the body and damage the liver and kidneys. This condition can be prevented with basic routine care such as feeding cats dry food and brushing their teeth, helping them to lead a normal, pain-free life.
Heart disease in cats refers to when the heart’s structures aren’t working as they should be. There are two categories of heart disease: congenital (meaning the cat is born with it) and acquired (meaning the disease develops later in life). Congenital heart diseases include defects in the wall of the heart, abnormal valves and blood vessels. Egyptian Maus are prone to a disease called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which can lead to heart failure. Whilst this condition is not curable, it can be treated with lifelong medication.
Egyptian Maus, like other cats, can suffer from problems in the lower respiratory tract (the trachea and the lungs). Feline asthma, for example, occurs when allergies and irritants cause the lower airways (bronchi) and lungs to become inflamed and sensitive. Symptoms include coughing and wheezing. While asthma is not curable, it is manageable with various longterm medications including tablets, injections and even inhalers.
The Egyptian Mau, like all cats, can suffer from problems affecting the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The GI tract is a long, winding tube that starts at the mouth and ends at the anus, with various twists and turns along the way. Signs of gastrointestinal disease include vomiting and diarrhoea. These symptoms can be caused by infections (such as campylobacter), poisoning or obstructions (caused by the cat eating something that can’t be digested), although these symptoms can indicate other more serious problems as well.
Conditions that affect a cat’s bladder and urethra are collectively known as feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD), which is more commonly referred to as cystitis. Egyptian Maus can suffer from these conditions, which can be caused by stress, not urinating enough, infections and bladder stones or crystals. Cats suffering from cystitis make frequent, painful attempts to urinate, and blood is often found in the urine. Treatment depends on the cause, but cats diagnosed with cystitis will usually require pain relief, access to plenty of water, special diets and perhaps some help to reduce stress.
What to know before you buy or rehome a Egyptian Mau cat
Egyptian Maus make lovely pets but what do you need to know before bringing your cat home?
- This is a very rare breed of cat in the UK - with fewer than 200 kittens officially registered with the Cat Fanciers’ Association. This not only makes them an expensive breed to bring into your family, but means they are more likely to be stolen - and as such, should be kept indoors.
- They’ll need a lot of stimulation and fun - so if you’re looking for a lap-cat, an Egyptian Mau is probably not the best fit.
- Before welcoming your new cat, it’s worth bearing in mind that this breed often form strong bonds with just one human.
- Egyptian Maus can be heavy shedders so be prepared for lots of cat hair on your clothes and furniture.
- These cats love to jump and scratch so you’ll need to provide them with plenty of toys and cat-friendly perches to prevent them from getting bored.
Egyptian Mau frequently asked questions
Despite their permanently worried expression, Egyptian Mau cats are very loving and can make a wonderful family pet. You’ll know they’re happy when you see them wiggling their tails - a behaviour common in a satisfied and well-loved Egyptian Mau.
Like all cats, Egyptian Mau cats are ‘obligate carnivores', which means they have to eat meat, and can’t survive on plant-based foods. Make sure your cat has a good, complete cat food and ask your vet if you need advice.
Egyptian Mau cats are highly intelligent and can be taught tricks, such as running and fetching, and even opening windows. Cat training techniques using positive reinforcement, such as clicker training, will work best if started early on in your pet’s life. You might want to think about stocking up on cat toys to keep them amused and entertained.
Egyptian Mau cats tend to live long lives and generally have very few breed-specific illnesses. However, they can be prone to some heart conditions, so regular vet checkups will help to keep them fit and healthy. The average lifespan is around 15 years.
The Egyptian Mau cat was a common feature of early Egyptian domestic life and it’s believed they formed strong relationships with humans. Many of the cats you see depicted in hieroglyphics will be the ancestors of the cats you see today! You’ll truly be bringing home a slice of history.
Egyptian Mau insurance considerations
Egyptian Maus sometimes suffer with certain health conditions and may require treatment. Petplan cat insurance offers peace of mind that they will always be protected.
We always offer these things as standard:
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy & pet therapies
Along with physiotherapy, which is covered within the Vet Bills benefit, we also cover Pet Therapies like herbal medicine, homeopathy and acupuncture. You can also claim for hydrotherapy, up to £500 per illness/injury in dogs and cats (no additional limit for rabbits).
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