The only house cat that is spotted by nature: fast, playful and loyal, with light green eyes.
The Egyptian Mau has separate spots all over its body, and they were not bred in: they occur by nature. Old Egyptian paintings show cats that look like it, but the breed itself only began in 1953, with a few spotted cats from Cairo. It is athletic and very fast, loves to play and fetches toys. It is very loyal to its own people; with strangers it waits and sees first.
Very devoted to its own family, sometimes to one person most.
Not much of a lap cat: it would rather watch from a high spot.
Loves to play, often learns to fetch and stays playful as it gets older.
An active, athletic cat that runs, jumps and climbs a lot.
Fairly quiet, but talks in soft chirps and trills.
Clever and quick to learn tricks, but has a mind of its own.
Reserved with visitors. Meeting lots of people as a kitten helps.
Fine with calm, gentle children, less so in a busy, noisy home.
Can live with a friendly dog, but needs time to get used to it.
Usually likes having another cat in the house.
Does not like being alone for long. A second cat helps.
Can live indoors with tall cat trees and daily play. A safe garden or run is a bonus.
The Egyptian Mau is the pharaohs' cat and descends straight from the cats of ancient Egypt.
That is not proven. Old Egyptian paintings show spotted cats, and the Mau comes from Egyptian street cats. But today's breed began in 1953 with a handful of cats, and cats from India and Egypt were added later. A direct line to the cats of ancient Egypt is possible, but nobody knows for sure.
The Mau is the fastest house cat and runs at 48 km/h.
That number is everywhere, but nobody has ever really measured it. It is fast, though: a loose flap of skin from its flank to its hind knee lets it stretch its hind leg far.
The 'scarab' on its forehead is a sacred mark only the Mau has.
No. It is the M-shaped marking every tabby cat has on its forehead. In the Mau it is just very clear.
'Mau' was the ancient Egyptian word for cat, and Egyptian wall paintings thousands of years old show spotted cats that look like the Mau. That is a lovely story, but no proof that it descends from those cats. What is certain: the breed began in 1953, when a Russian princess in Rome was given spotted cats from Cairo. Because there were so few, cats from India and Egypt were added later. It is still a rare breed.
Princess Nathalie Troubetzkoy, a Russian exile in Rome, gets spotted cats from Cairo and starts breeding them.
The first Maus are shown at a cat show in Rome.
Troubetzkoy moves to the United States and takes three Maus with her: Baba, Jojo and Liza.
America's CFA accepts the Egyptian Mau for registration.
The CFA gives the Mau championship status, so it can win titles at shows.
America's TICA recognises the Egyptian Mau in the year it is founded.
Breeder Jean Mill brings Mau-type cats from India to America to widen the small group of cats.
A Dutch and a Swiss breeder bring the first Maus from America to Europe.
The European federation FIFe recognises the Egyptian Mau.
Melissa Bateson brings the first Egyptian Maus to Britain.
Britain's GCCF gives the Egyptian Mau full championship status.
A medium-sized, graceful and muscular cat, between stocky and very slim. Its long hind legs make it look as if it stands on tiptoe.
Cat registries write colours as an EMS code. The letter is the colour (n black, a blue, d red, f tortie), s means silver or smoke, y golden, and the numbers tell you about white (01–09), shading (11, 12), the tabby pattern (22–25) or colourpoint (33).
Silver spotted(ns 24)
Bronze spotted(n 24)
Black smoke(ns)There are only three show colours, and only spots. Black and blue Maus are sometimes born; the CFA and GCCF register them for breeding only. Stripes, points, white, red, tortie or chocolate are in no standard: such a 'Mau' is probably a cross.
The Mau is the only domestic breed that is spotted by nature: its spots were not bred in from other breeds.
Mau kittens have amber eyes. Only at about 18 months do they turn light green, like a gooseberry.
'Mau' was the ancient Egyptian word for cat.
A loose flap of skin from flank to hind knee lets it stretch its legs far when it runs and jumps.
The spots on its belly are called 'vest buttons', and the lines on its cheeks 'mascara lines'.
No study has measured it. Britain's GCCF and most guides say about 12 to 16 years. Take it as a rough guide.
Small stones form in the bladder. The cat pees often or with pain, or has blood in its urine. In the Mau this is far more common: in a Canadian study 14 of 17 stones from Maus were urate stones, against about 1 in 25 in other cats. A cat that cannot pee needs a vet straight away.
How it is found: There is no test. Wet food and plenty to drink lower the risk.
Red blood cells break down too early, so the cat is sometimes anaemic, tired and weak. About 1 in 4 Maus tested are carriers; carriers themselves are healthy. A kitten only gets it when both parents are carriers. Studies have not yet found an affected Mau.
How it is found: DNA test of the parents. Two carriers are not mated with each other.
A rare inherited illness in which kittens start to walk unsteadily from a few weeks old. It gets worse and there is no treatment.
How it is found: There is no test. Breeders stop breeding from related cats.
A soft bulge at the navel, where the belly wall did not fully close. The GCCF says it is common in the Mau. Usually harmless, and the vet easily closes it when the kitten is neutered.
How it is found: Check kittens' bellies. Cats with a hernia are not used for breeding.
Easy: a soft brush or a damp cloth once a week. Brush its teeth and trim its claws regularly.
Active play every day and high places: a tall, sturdy cat tree, shelves and toys to chase. Some Maus enjoy walks on a harness.
No special food needed, but it loves to eat and a neutered cat soon gets heavy: weigh the portions. Wet food and a water fountain help it drink enough.
Many Maus love water and put their heads under a running tap. Some even try to join you in the shower.
A Mau is not hypoallergenic: nothing shows it makes less allergen than other cats.
Checked on 21 October 2026
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