Egyptian Mau: Temperament, Size, Care & Health

The Egyptian Mau is a cat that can be recognized from ancient Egyptian frescoes: slender, muscular, with randomly scattered dark spots on a silver or bronze coat, a "scarab" mark on its forehead, and large light green eyes. This is one of the few naturally spotted domestic cat breeds—its spots were not bred through crossing, but inherited. In the cat breeds catalog profile, you will find the history, appearance, temperament, and health traits of the Egyptian Mau.

Origin	Egypt; breed developed in Italy and the US since 1953.
Recognition	CFF 1968, CFA 1977, TICA 1979; FIFe, GCCF
Size	small to medium, muscular
Coat	short to medium, with several bands of ticking
Pattern	naturally spotted; "scarab" on the forehead
Colors	silver spotted, bronze spotted, black smoke
Eyes	large, round, light (gooseberry) green
Feature	skin fold from the flank to the hind knee
Grooming	brush once a week

Egyptian Mau spots—natural, not bred

Most spotted breeds, like the Bengal or Ocicat, got their spots by crossing different breeds or even species. The Egyptian Mau's spotting is natural. The spots are scattered randomly, without a clear pattern, and vary in size and shape; a dark stripe may run along the spine and onto the tail. The spots are only on the tips of the hairs, and each hair has several bands of ticking. It is noted that the spots can be seen even on the shaved skin of a Mau.

Three colors are recognized: silver spotted, bronze spotted, and black smoke. The CFA notes that the coats of silver and bronze cats are dense and resilient, while smoke coats are finer and silkier; all three have a glossy finish. Solid black and blue (pewter) kittens are registered but do not compete in shows. On the forehead, there is a characteristic M-shaped mark resembling a scarab, and the eyes are outlined by dark "mascara" lines, giving the face a worried expression.

The fastest domestic cat with skin folds

The Egyptian Mau's body is described as a balance between the compactness of the Burmese and the elegance of the Siamese. The hind legs are longer than the front legs, so a standing Mau looks as if it is on its tiptoes, and the shoulder blades are high—the gait resembles that of a cheetah. A special feature is the loose skin fold from the flank to the knee of the hind leg. It allows the legs to extend further when running, which is why the Mau is often called the fastest domestic cat—it is claimed to be able to run faster than 30 mph, although there is no reliable source for this measurement.

The head is gently rounded and medium-sized, with medium to moderately large ears that are broad at the base, sometimes with tufts. The eyes are large and round; adults have light green eyes, while kittens may have amber eyes. The tail is medium in length and thick at the base.

History: from pharaohs' frescoes to Princess Troubetskoy

The CFA notes that the word "mau" meant cat or sun in ancient Egypt, and papyruses and frescoes from around 1550 BC depict spotted cats very similar to today's Mau. The modern breed began in Italy in 1953: Russian Princess Natalie Troubetskoy, living in Rome, saw the Egyptian ambassador's cat and convinced him to help her get a cat from Cairo. A female named Baba was mated with the ambassador's male, and their offspring were shown at a cat show in Rome in 1955. In 1956, the princess moved to the US with three Maus.

The first championship status was granted in 1968 by the CFF; the CFA registered the Mau in 1970 and granted championship status in 1977, and TICA recognized it in 1979. The first Maus did not arrive in Great Britain until 1998. Interestingly, genomic studies assign the Egyptian Mau to the Western breed group and show a close relationship with the Maine Coon, Korat, and Western Turkish Angoras. The Mau remains a rare breed: in 2025, 103 kittens were registered in the FIFe studbooks.

Temperament: intelligent, loyal, and alert

The CFA describes Egyptian Maus as highly intelligent and devoted cats who expect to be full-fledged family members. Their sense of smell, hearing, and sight are very acute, so they are acutely aware of what is happening around them, while also being sensitive to their owner's mood. Maus enjoy interactive games, can teach their owner to play fetch, and happily walk on a harness. The CFA jokes that they sit on shoulders, stand guard by the refrigerator, and serve as fluffy alarm clocks.

Maus are strong-willed: they have a clear opinion on who can pick them up and when, and they can be cautious with strangers. With their own people, they are affectionate, loyal, and fearless. Their voice is quiet and melodic; they love to "chat" and chirp in greeting. It is widely noted that Maus love to romp and play at any age, and they gladly interact with other animals.

Health: urate stones and PK deficiency

• Urate urinary stones. These are diagnosed much more often in Egyptian Maus than in mixed breeds: in a large review of over 5,000 cases, the Mau's odds ratio for developing them was around 44, and in a Canadian study, urate stones were found in 14 out of 17 tested Maus. Therefore, it is important for them to drink plenty of water and follow a veterinarian-recommended diet.
• Pyruvate kinase (PK) deficiency. This causes anemia; the CFA notes that breeders carefully perform genetic testing.
• Longer gestation. A Mau's pregnancy lasts about 73 days, compared to the usual 64–67.

In other words, this is a healthy natural breed that, with proper care, lives a long time. However, because there are not genetic tests for all diseases, it is worth asking the breeder about the family's health history.

Care: weekly brushing and plenty of water

• Coat. Maus do not shed heavily, but the CFA recommends brushing them once a week—this takes just a few minutes and reduces the risk of hairballs.
• Water. Due to the risk of urinary stones, encourage drinking: use a water fountain, multiple bowls, and wet food.
• Exercise. For a fast cat that loves to jump, provide space to run, tall cat trees, and hunting games.
• Bathing. Usually unnecessary; human shampoos are not suitable for cats.

Egyptian Mau, Ocicat, and Bengal

Trait	Egyptian Mau	Ocicat	Bengal
Origin of spots	natural	Abyssinian × Siamese cross	hybrid with leopard cat
Colors	silver, bronze, smoke	various	brown, silver, snow, etc.
Eyes	light green	various	various
FIFe kittens in 2025	103	164	3,535

How to choose an Egyptian Mau kitten

The CFA notes that there is a shortage of breeders, so you may have to wait for a kitten. Ask for the parents' PK deficiency test results and inquire if there is a history of urinary stones in the bloodline. Evaluate the spots—they should be distinct and random, not blurred into stripes. Keep in mind that kittens' eyes may still be amber. Reputable breeders and registries like TICA or CFA generally recommend that kittens go to their new homes no earlier than 14 weeks of age. We discussed microchipping and registration requirements in the guide introduction.

You can find a spotted but hybrid-origin cat in the Bengal profile, and another natural, highly active breed in the Abyssinian description.