Egyptian Mau
Medium
Short
High
between 2.5 to 5kg
Silver, bronze and smoke
A wedge-shaped, but soft head sits atop her muscular body. The forehead features an “M” shape, and her cheeks have “mascara” lines, all of which create a slightly “worried” look. Medium-to-large ears top the wedge-shaped head.
Her spots range from small to large and vary in shape. The hind legs are longer than the front and she has small, delicate feet. Her tail is long and banded with a dark tip.
The Egyptian Mau is an active cat and will require approximately 80 Kcals of food per kg of bodyweight per day. They are not prone to obesity and will limit what they eat themselves.
Although the breed’s exact origins aren’t known, ancient Egyptian texts and paintings dating back to 1550 BC depict spotted cats worshipped by the Egyptians. Although the breed was recorded in Europe prior to World War II, the war nearly wiped out the Egyptian Maus. Natalie Troubetskoy, a Russian princess, was gifted a silver female kitten while living in Rome.
She named her “Baba”, and when she moved to the U.S. in 1956, Baba and her two kittens tagged along. To ensure the breed’s survival, Troubetskoy developed a standard and began breeding the Egyptian Maus.
The breed was recognized by the Cat Fanciers Federation in 1968, followed by the Cat Fanciers Association (CFA) in 1977 and The International Cat Association (TICA) in 1979. It’s recognized by most associations today.
“Mau” is the Egyptian word for cat.
The Egyptian Mau is the only naturally spotted domestic cat, meaning the unique markings were not created through human manipulation.
Egyptian Maus are the fastest domestic housecat. They’ve been clocked running at speeds up to 30 miles per hour.