Egyptian Mau Cat vs Maine Coon Cat: Vet-Verified Key Differences (With Pictures)

If you’re trying to decide between an Egyptian Mau and a Maine Coon for a pet, you may have trouble since they have several characteristics in common. However, the cats also have a few differences. Although you may be unsure which breed to give a forever home, we have you covered. We’ll go into everything you need to know about the differences between the Egyptian Mau and the Maine Coon in the guide below, so join us.

Visual Differences

At a Glance

Egyptian Mau Cat Overview

The Egyptian Mau is an ancient breed that may be related to the ancient Egyptian cats and is considered the fastest of all domesticated felines. They’re intelligent, playful, and loving to their owners.

They’re one of the few domestic cats with naturally occurring spots, and their wild appearance is one of the characteristics that put them in high demand. We’ll tell you more about the personality, exercise needs, and any health issues you should know about in the sections below.

Personality / Character

The Egyptian Mau is an energetic and incredibly friendly feline. They are also curious and very observant. You can expect them to be calm about being around strangers, but they don’t easily make friends with humans they don’t know. They’re not aloof, and they’re affectionate to their owners, but it may take them a few weeks before they’re affectionate to unfamiliar people.

However, you must watch your Egyptian Mau closely if they spend time outside. They love to hunt and may bring you a kill as a present, so don’t be surprised to find a dead animal lying on your doorstep when you leave for work in the morning.

Exercise

The Egyptian Mau’s “wild cat” appearance matches their athletic prowess. They can run over 30 miles an hour and leap 6 feet vertically. Since they’re livelier and more active than most breeds, they will need much more exercise than the average cat.

Your Egyptian Mau must get over 20 minutes of exercise and playtime every day, more if possible. The right amount of activity will keep the cat from becoming bored, depressed, frustrated, and obese. They love chasing plush toys and laser pointers, but you can also provide interactive toys to keep them entertained when you’re away.

Health & Care

If you take care of your Egyptian Mau by taking them to regular vet checkups, feeding them the best food, and ensuring they’re groomed and exercised properly, you can expect them to live a long life. Although they don’t require a specialized diet, they need high-protein cat food to fuel their energetic bodies. They’re healthy cats, but there are a few health issues that you need to be on the lookout for.

• Pyruvate kinase deficiency
• Urinary stones

Suitable For:

The Egyptian Mau is intelligent and social and makes an excellent pet. They are extremely affectionate with the humans they love and great with kids. They don't like sharing their home with other animals unless they’re raised with other pets when they’re kittens.

However, if your other pet is an Egyptian Mau, they won’t have any issues. They’re dog-like felines that follow their owners around and drop toys at their feet if they’re ready to play. Egyptian Maus are ideal companions for active families that spend most of their time at home.

Maine Coon Cat Overview

The Maine Coon is a very sweet cat, initially bred to keep rats out of barns and houses. Until the Savannah came on the scene in the 1980s, Maine Coons were considered the largest domestic cats. Their thick coats protect them in cooler weather, and their large paws are advantageous for walking in deep snow.

Although native to Maine, where they endured chilly winters, they’re popular worldwide and make excellent pets. Below, we’ll discuss their personality, exercise needs, and health issues.

Personality / Character

The Maine Coon is a loyal, easygoing, adaptable cat that makes a good pet. The breed is also independent, so you don’t have to worry about leaving them alone occasionally while working or away. They’re incredibly smart and easy to train, and unlike most felines, they enjoy playing in water. Maine Coons are not clingy pets, but they love playing games with their owners.

Exercise

Maine Coons are muscular felines with a high prey drive, and their wild ancestors were expert hunters. However, like most cats, they’re much safer living indoors. Unlike the Egyptian Mau, they can adapt to apartment living and smaller spaces with enough exercise.

They enjoy playing fetch and other games with their owners, but can entertain themselves with toys and cat trees. They can be trained to go on walks with a leash and harness, which is ideal if you live in an apartment.

Health & Care

The Maine Coon Cat is a pretty healthy breed, but they’re vulnerable to a few health conditions. It’s vital to develop a healthy diet plan for the Maine Coon since, like many cats, they’re vulnerable to obesity.

• Hip dysplasia
• Polycystic kidney disease
• Cutaneous food allergy
• Middle ear polyps
• Pyometra
• Spinal muscular atrophy
• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

You can talk to a veterinarian about how much to feed your pet, depending on their size, age, and health. Free-feeding them is not recommended, and it’s better to serve them portioned meals twice a day to keep them healthy.

Suitable For:

No matter what size your family is, the Maine Coon will make a great pet. They need daily exercise, but unlike the Egyptian Mau, they’re happy to spend part of the day playing alone. They’re loyal and friendly to their owners and don’t take long to warm up to strangers.

Maine Coons get along well with other cats and dogs, but they can also become friends with farm animals, like horses and goats. They have a strong prey drive, so it’s still best to supervise them closely outdoors.

Which Breed Is Right for You?

As you can see, the Egyptian Mau and Maine Coon have similar traits but also a few differences. If you want to give one of these kitties a forever home, you can’t go wrong with either. They are both great with kids, make great family pets, and are quite social. However, the Maine Coon is more accepting of unfamiliar humans and other pets. The Maine Coon doesn’t need quite as much exercise as the Egyptian Mau Cat does, but they still need daily exercise and playtime with their owners. Either breed will make a loyal companion for many years, and although we’ve discussed them thoroughly, you may have trouble deciding which remarkable feline to adopt. See also:

• Bengal vs. Egyptian Mau: Main Differences (with Pictures)

• Toyger Vs. Bengal: Main Differences (With Pictures)

Featured Image Credit: Left -COULANGES, Shutterstock | Right - Seregraff, Shutterstock