Egyptian Mau

Coat and looks how to spot one

short to medium-length, close-lying spotted coat

The Mau is a medium-sized, graceful but muscular cat, built somewhere between a compact Burmese and a slender Siamese. Its hind legs are a little longer than the front ones, which gives it a slightly tiptoe stance, and a loose fold of skin runs from the flank to the back knee, giving extra reach when it runs and leaps. The coat is glossy and close-lying: dense and springy in silver and bronze cats, finer and silkier in smokes. Randomly placed spots cover the body, the forehead carries an 'M' often likened to a scarab, dark 'mascara' lines sweep from the eyes across the cheeks, and the large almond-shaped eyes are a light gooseberry green, amber in kittens and turning fully green by about 18 months.2651

Personality what they are like

Clever, alert and very attached to its own people, the Mau likes to be part of everything going on at home and often rides on shoulders or acts as a furry alarm clock. It shows happiness with tail wiggles, chirps and a soft, musical trill rather than loud demands. It tends to be reserved with strangers and sensitive to sudden loud noises, so it thrives in a calm household.2643

Daily activity how busy a day looks

High. Athletic, agile and a strong jumper and climber, the Mau needs daily play and room to run and climb. Cat trees, climbing shelves, fetch games and wand toys suit it well, and some enjoy playing with water.6342

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Low. A weekly comb or brush with a pin or firm bristle brush keeps the coat glossy. Trim nails regularly, clean ears gently as needed and brush teeth with a cat toothpaste.264

Home where they are happiest

Does well indoors if given plenty of vertical space, scratching posts and toys. It loves warm resting spots such as sunny windowsills, blankets or a spot by the fire. A home where someone is around a good part of the day suits it best.346

Food basics what goes in the bowl

A complete, balanced commercial cat diet (wet, dry or both) matched to age and activity; cats are carnivores with specific nutrient needs. Active Maus that get enough exercise tend to keep themselves in good shape.43

Company who they like around

Very people-oriented and bonds closely with its family, so it does not like being left alone for long stretches. Best with an experienced owner and an older, calm family; it can be shy with visitors.462

The story where it all began

Spotted cats appear in ancient Egyptian papyri and wall paintings from around 1550 BCE, and the Mau is seen as a living link to those cats, although the modern breed is a 20th-century creation. In 1953 the exiled Russian princess Nathalie Troubetskoy, living in Italy, came across spotted Egyptian cats through the Egyptian ambassador and started a breeding programme, showing the cats in Rome in 1955. In 1956 she emigrated to the United States with three Maus, and one of them, Baba, became a champion in 1957. The Cat Fanciers' Federation granted championship recognition in 1968, CFA accepted the breed for registration in 1970 and for championship in 1977, and TICA followed in 1979. The first Maus reached Britain in the late 1990s, and the breed gained recognition there and across Europe from the 1990s onwards. It remains a rare breed with only small numbers of kittens registered each year.21634

Recognised by the official bits

CFF

Championship recognition 19681

CFA

Accepted for registration 1970, championship status 1977; colours silver, bronze and smoke2

TICA

Recognised 19796

FIFe

Fully recognised breed, Category 3 (code MAU); Hill's gives 1992 for European recognition7

GCCF

Has a GCCF breed standard; Wikipedia gives 1990 for GCCF recognition, while Purina UK says official UK recognition came in 20065

Popularity Rare: FIFe 2024 ranked it 31st of 54 breeds with 113 kittens registered (0.1%); GCCF 2022 ranked it 27th of 40 with 39 kittens; CFA 2018 ranked it 27th of 45 breeds1