Egyptian Mau

Temperament

The Egyptian Mau is an intelligent cat with a strong personality and clear preferences. It is deeply devoted to its people: it greets them at the door, chirps and chortles in its soft, musical voice, and often treads its paws with happiness. It keeps strangers at a distance and needs time to trust them. It has boundless energy and great reflexes; its long hind legs and a loose flap of skin on its flank allow lightning-fast sprints and high jumps. It loves hunting a wand toy, playing fetch and watching the world from high places. It is not a typical lap cat; it shows affection by staying close rather than lying in your arms. It can be dominant with other cats, and small animals bring out the hunter in it. It gets along with children if they respect its space.

Energy

calmvery energetic

Affection

independentvelcro pet

With children

not idealgreat

With other pets

difficultgreat

Trainability

stubborneager to learn

For first-time owners

for experienced ownersyes

With strangers

waryoutgoing

Playfulness

dignifiedeternal puppy

Shedding

minimalheavy

Grooming

easydemanding

Being left alone

strugglescopes well

Apartment living

needs a house and yardgreat in a flat

Talkativeness

quietchatterbox

Indoor-only life

needs outdoor accessgreat

Scores of 1–5 compare the breed with other breeds of the same species, based on the sources at the bottom of the page. Every animal is different. How we score traits

Who is the Egyptian Mau for?

The Egyptian Mau suits active, experienced owners who have time for vigorous play every day and value a cat that is loyal to its family but not necessarily cuddly. It does well in a larger apartment or a house with a safe outdoor enclosure. Choose another breed if you keep rodents or birds, often have guests over or want a calm lap cat.

Size and looks

Care and exercise

The Mau's short, dense coat sheds little and needs minimal work: comb it once a week or wipe it with a slightly damp cloth to bring out the shine. Baths are not necessary. Activity is key: the Egyptian Mau needs daily, vigorous hunting games, tall cat trees, shelves and ideally a long hallway or a fenced enclosure for sprinting. It responds well to clicker training and harness walks, which help burn off energy. Because of its predisposition to urinary stones, make sure it stays hydrated: wet food, a water fountain and several bowls in different places. This cat values a steady daily routine and its own hiding places, from which it can watch guests without having to interact. Trim its nails every few weeks.

Health and breed-related conditions

The Egyptian Mau is usually healthy and long-lived: TICA gives 10–15+ years, and VCA as much as 18–20. TICA does, however, list three predispositions in the breed: urinary stones, pyruvate kinase deficiency and leukodystrophy. Pyruvate kinase deficiency causes anemia; according to the breed council, citing a study by Grahn and colleagues, 9 of 36 Maus tested carried the mutation and none were affected. Breeders now test their cats before breeding. Stones can form in the kidneys and urinary tract, so encourage drinking and have the urine checked periodically. Leukodystrophy is a rare nervous system disease in kittens with no widely available test, which is why the CFA advises asking the breeder about the health of the line.

• pyruvate kinase deficiency (PK deficiency)Causes anemia; according to the breed council, 9 of 36 Maus tested were carriers. Breeders test their cats.
• urinary stones (urolithiasis)TICA and the CFA list kidney and urinary tract stones among the breed's predispositions.
• leukodystrophyA rare, inherited disease of the brain's white matter in kittens, listed by TICA.

This is general breed information, not a diagnosis. If something worries you, talk to your veterinarian.

Breed history

Spotted cats resembling today's Mau appear on Egyptian papyri and frescoes from before about 1550 BC, and the name mau itself means cat in Egyptian. Modern breeding began in the mid-20th century in Italy: the Russian princess Nathalie Troubetzkoy, who lived in Rome, imported spotted cats from Egypt and started a breeding program. In 1956 she emigrated to the United States with three Maus, and there the breed gained recognition. The CFA accepted it for registration in 1970 and granted championship status in 1977. Because there were so few foundation cats, breeders spent the following decades widening the gene pool while trying to preserve the breed's health and distinctive spotted pattern.

Fun facts

• In ancient Egyptian, the word mau meant cat.
• A loose flap of skin running from the flank to the hind leg lets the Mau make very long leaps.
• The Egyptian Mau is the only naturally spotted breed of domestic cat.
• Nathalie Troubetzkoy brought the first Maus to the US in 1956.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

1. 1CFA – Egyptian Maucfa.org
2. 2TICA – Egyptian Mau breedtica.org
3. 3VCA Animal Hospitals – Egyptian Mauvcahospitals.com
4. 4Purina – Egyptian Maupurina.ca
5. 5Egyptian Mau Breed Council – PK position statementegyptianmaubc.org
6. 6FIFe – Breedsfifeweb.org
7. 7WCF – Breed standards shorthairwcf.de

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.