Egyptian Mau

Elegant, fast and mysterious: the Egyptian Mau carries in its spotted coat the mark of thousands of years of history, combining feline loyalty with unmatched energy.

Features

Height at the withers

Male: Between 30 and 36 cm (at the shoulder).

Female: Between 28 and 32 cm (at the shoulder).

Weight

Male: Between 3.5 and 5.5 kg.

Female: Between 2.5 and 4.5 kg.

Life expectancy

Between 12 and 15 years.

Coat

Short, silky and glossy, with a unique natural spotted pattern.

Color

Silver, bronze or smoke, always with natural, random spots.

Diet

Protein-rich diet with high-quality animal proteins to maintain agile musculature and support the breed's active nature.

Care and diseases

Weekly brushing to maintain the coat's gloss; periodic ear and dental cleaning.

Origins

The Egyptian Mau is one of the oldest cat breeds in the world. Its lineage dates back to Ancient Egypt, where it is depicted in papyri and wall paintings over 3,000 years old. The Egyptians revered these spotted cats as sacred animals, associated with the goddess Bastet.

In modern times, the breed was revived in Italy in the 1950s by Russian princess Natalia Troubetzkoy, who imported specimens from Cairo. In 1968, the Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA) officially recognized the Egyptian Mau as a breed.

Characteristics and aptitudes

The Egyptian Mau is the world's fastest domestic cat, capable of reaching 45 km/h thanks to its athletic build and a unique skin flap between the flank and the hind knee. Its spot pattern is completely natural and random.

In temperament, it is deeply loyal to its family but can be reserved with strangers. Highly vocal, it communicates through a wide variety of sounds. Its strong hunting instinct and high activity level require a stimulating environment.

Care

The Egyptian Mau needs an enriched environment: tall scratching posts, interactive toys and space to run are essential for its well-being. As a stress-sensitive breed, sudden environmental changes, loud noises or frequent strangers can affect its balance.

The coat is low-maintenance, requiring only weekly brushing. Vet visits should include cardiac monitoring and pyruvate kinase testing to detect common conditions early.

Most common diseases

The Egyptian Mau may be prone to some hereditary conditions worth knowing about:

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM): thickening of the heart walls; periodic echocardiography recommended from age 3-4.
Pyruvate kinase deficiency (PK): hereditary enzyme disorder that can cause hemolytic anemia; genetic test available.
Spongy leukodystrophy: rare neurological disease described in the breed; affects the central nervous system in young animals.
Environmental stress: high sensitivity to change; without proper management can lead to behavioral issues or immunosuppression.

A balanced, high-quality diet is key to your cat's health. Discover our selection of cat food.