Quick Facts
- Weight: 7 – 9 pounds
The Look of a Egyptian Mau
This shorthaired breed is blessed with gooseberry-green eyes, a twitching tail, and a coat that comes in silver, bronze, or smoke beneath the natural spots. That’s right. The spots are also on the skin.
Some people confusion the Egyptian Mau with the Ocicat, which also sports spots. The Mau features a rounded, wedge-shape head and lithe, muscular body.
Grooming needs are minimal. Their easy-maintenance coat will benefit by being wiped down by a damp washcloth once a week or so and keeping the nails clipped.
Females weigh between 6 and 10 pounds and males average between 10 and 14 pounds.
Traits
- Loyal to their owners
- Extremely agile and athletic
- Capable of making different sounds
- Inquisitive and highly intelligent
- Masters tricks easily
- Easy-to-care-for spotted coat
Ideal Human Companion
- Families with children
- Singles with no other pets
- Experienced cat owners
What They Are Like to Live With
Fans of this breed boast of the Mau’s fierce loyalty and devotion, moderate activity level, and soft, melodious voice.
Don’t be surprised if your Mau is standing at the door waiting to greet you when you come home from work. They totally bond with their favorite people. However, they are not readily fans of other critters, even other cats and fare best being the one-and-only cat.
For an unexplained reason, Maus tend to be more sensitive to anesthesia and medicine, so work closely with your veterinarian if any medical treatment is required. In addition, they prefer warm temperatures, more so than the average cat.
Things You Should Know
The Egyptian Mau prefers to be a “four on the floor” cat (all four feet on the ground) rather than being picked up and placed in your lap.
This athletic breed is capable of leaping up to six feet in the air from a standing position.
Regarded as the greyhound of cats, the Mau can run at speeds up to 30 miles per hour.
Egyptian Mau History
Ranked as one of the oldest domesticated breeds, the Egyptian Mau is thought to be related to a spotted subspecies of the African Wild Cat. Held in high esteem, this breed was worshipped as deities, protected by laws, and mummified upon death in ancient Egypt. The matriarch of this breed was silver spotted female named Baba.
According to historical records, a female Egyptian Mau kitten was scheduled to accompany exiled Russian princess Nathalie Troubetskoy from Rome to the United States. However, they missed getting on a huge luxury ship, the ill-fated Andrea Dorian that sank after being rammed a Swedish liner. In 1956, the princess successfully arrived in the United States and brought the first Mau to this country.
Today, the Egyptian Van is ranked 20th in popularity among the breeds listed by the Cat Fanciers Association, which granted it championship status in 1977.
2 thoughts on “Egyptian Mau”
Thomas, thank goodness, you took in this brilliant little kitty.
I have an Egyptian Mau, his name is Tumbleweed (Tweed). He is called this as a result of the circumstances in which I found/rescued him.
While driving home from a function in a nearby town, I saw a semi ahead of me, hit him. As I watched in horror, his tiny little body was sucked underneath the tractor trailer, then tumbled down the Hwy. to be deposited on the roadside in front of me.
He suffered many injuries. Although, thankfully there were no broken bones!
In the weeks to come, I was able to nurse him back to health – He lives with two dogs, four other cats, two horses and several fowl. I am of the opinion, all of these friends, especially one horse and one dog, played a large part in his healing. To date, Tweed is five years old, happy and thriving.
If you have not made friends with this little one, as of yet – Perhaps it would benefit your little friend, to have a mutual fur-friend. A wise farmer once told me, two pigs will grow better than one.
Blessings to you and the Mau.
Stay Free!
My wife and I just took in a party feral, partly stray male silver Egptian cat. We can’t touch him, he’s VERY frightened of us, but does play with toys, looks at us, and does the big four–poop, pee, eat, drink–with ease.
Since he is non-neutered and we can’t touch him, if he gets sick, or is we need to take him to our vet, how do we do this? Yes, I have a have-a-heart trap, but I’m loathe to erode any provisional trust he might have gained in us by trying to trap him.
What do you think?