Egyptian Mau Breed Facts and Information

Coat & Grooming: The Egyptian Mau’s medium coat varies in texture depending on its color—smoke-colored Maus will have silky, fine fur, while silver or bronze Maus tend to have a more dense and resilient texture, says Morgan. Whatever the texture, you can keep your Egyptian Mau’s coat at its healthiest with weekly combings.

Shedding: Egyptian Maus don’t shed more than average, so grooming them weekly will keep extra hair at bay.

Personality: The Egyptian Mau is more than just a pretty face — they’re the whole package with a personality to match. Smart, friendly, gentle and fun, this breed is fiercely loyal to its family and gets along with children and other animals alike.

“Although the Egyptian Mau is an athletic breed, they are unique in that for them, home is where their human goes,” says Melanie Morgan, Egyptian Mau Breed Council Secretary with the Cat Fanciers’ Association and a breeder for more than 20 years. “As a result, they can happily get along in relatively small spaces, although ideally some extra space is nice. “

Egyptian Maus may bond more closely with one family member than others and are outgoing and very curious. While they make great companions, their curiosity, combined with their athletic ability and love of jumping, means they could easily get into trouble if you aren’t careful to cat proof their surroundings.

Personality: The Egyptian Mau is fiercely loyal to their people and gets along well with everyone, although they may be shy or reserved around strangers at first.

Behavior with Kids: This breed is extremely friendly and gentle, plus they are very smart and can be taught to do tricks, which kids love.

Life span: The average Egyptian Mau can live between 13 and 16 years.

Inherited Health Issues: The Egyptian Mau is generally a healthy breed, although certain conditions can occur at an increased frequency within the breed or through a genetic association. These conditions may include, but are not limited to, the following: Leukodystrophy, Pyruvate kinase deficiency and Urate urolithiasis.

Preventive Care: Although Egyptian Maus are generally healthy cats, it is still important to maintain routine visits to the veterinarian for wellness exams, vaccines and parasite prevention. Veterinarians have been extensively trained to detect subtle changes on a physical exam that can be useful in diagnosing medical conditions before they become more serious. Owners of Egyptian Maus should take care to ensure that their cat maintains a healthy body weight with proper diet and exercise. Regular use of preventive medications should be instituted under the guidance of a veterinarian to prevent infections with fleas, ticks, heartworms and internal parasites.

Although the Egyptian Mau is a generally active and energetic breed, they can still become overweight or obese with overfeeding. It is best to avoid offering table scraps and only offer treats in moderation to prevent excessive weight gain. Treats should compose less than 10% of the diet. It is generally best to offer portion controlled meals of a good quality, balanced diet.

Daily Consumption: Average daily consumption for an adult Mau is 1/4 to 1/2 cup.

Energy Level: Enjoys some moderate exercise every now and then

Exercise: The Egyptian Mau is gentle and loving, but they do require a certain level of attention from their people. You can expect an Egyptian Mau to be wherever you are, including your shoulders or your lap, and they are at their happiest when interacting with their family.

This quick cat loves to run, jump and chase things, and much of their exotic nature has stayed with them throughout domestication. It has been said the breed can run up to 30 miles per hour. The Egyptian Mau is happiest when playing with the people it loves and toys that test its abilities. Since they are such great jumpers, remember to keep anything hazardous locked away, not just up on a high shelf.

Climate: The Egyptian Mau originated in warm weather and, as such, doesn’t love cold climates.