Egyptian Mau Cat Breed… Everything You Need to Know at a Glance!

Few can deny that seeing a “spotted cat” is certainly unusual.  This is why, so many folks are automatically attracted to those selectively few cat breeds that actually have “spots”.

Heck…

Even we here at IndulgeYourPet find them fascination, which is why we wanted to take a moment and discuss the Egyptian Mau in this article so that you can get a better idea about what it might be like to own one of these “awesome” cats so that if you ever do get a chance to adopt one, you won’t be disappointed that you did six months later.

You see…

Cats are very unique animals, and while each one of them will typically have their own unique personality, there are certain “assumptions” one can make based on the “type” of breed a particular cat is.

Which means that…

While you’ll never be able to know for sure if a particular cats personality is going to “mesh” well with your own, it is safe to say that if you’re not a “fan” of a high energy cat, chances are you’re not going to like owning an Egyptian Mau.

That said however…

Before we make any “definitive” decisions about whether or not an Egyptian Mau is going to be right for you, let’s learn a little bit more about the breed and see why these cats are one of our favorites here at IndulgeYourPet.

 

Egyptian Mau Cat Breed Fast Facts

Country of Origin:  Egypt

Size:  Medium

Weight:  7 to 9 pounds

Eyes:  Almond shape (light green)

Shape of Head:  Wedge-shaped

Life Span: 13 to 16 years

Origin of the Egyptian Mau cat breed

As you can tell by the name the Egyptian Mau cat breed was first developed within Egypt thousands of years ago where it was first used to help reduce the rodent population that would threaten food supplies held within the ancient Egyptian silo’s.  A role that was very important during this time because living in the Egyptian desert is not an easy thing to do, and the ever-present risk of famine was never far from any Egyptians consciousness.

This is probably why…

These cats over the years became more and more “valued” and why they were probably chosen to be the animal that the “sun god Ra” chose to become.

You see…

In ancient Egyptian times dating all the way back to 2800 B.C, these cats became much more than just a domesticated animal to help rid the community of vermin.  Back in 2800 B.C, they also took on the role of becoming “mini” deity themselves.

Because…

According to Egyptian mythology, the sun god Ra, chose to take the form of a spotted cat to defeat “darkness” thus making the Egyptian Mau something that should be worshipped according to ancient Egyptian beliefs.

Ironically…

Despite the fact that this cat remains one of the “oldest” cat breeds in existence, there aren’t all that many of them around today.  In fact, they’re considered a pretty rare breed and as of 2007, only about 200 were registered in the governing Council of the Cat Fancy, and number that seems to remain stable year after year (Keep in mind, however, that not all of these kittens are registered.)

Today…

They are considered the only naturally occurring domesticated cat with spots, despite the fact that modern cat breeders have been able to selectively create other cat breeds with similar coats.

Egyptian Mau characteristics
Let’s now talk a little bit more about what exactly an Egyptian Mau looks like.

In general…

What you’re going to find is that most if not all Egyptian Mau cats are going to be rather short and medium sized.  And as we’ve already mentioned they’re going to have a very “exotic” look about them because of their spots.  May of which are going to look like a “snow leopard”

Their coat…

Will be short and silky and can come in a variety of colors including silver, bronze, or smoke, or a solid black, and blue. That said however, most of the one’s that we’ve seen tend to be silver simply because this color seems to “show off” their spots the best.

Egyptian Mau’s will also…

Have very large eyes, that are often referred to as “gooseberry-green”. Which are “set” in a way that actually gives them a look as though they’re worried or always on alert.
Their ears…

Are medium or large-sized and stand on their rounded wedge-shaped head which seems to be “stamped” with a large M on their foreheads.  Folks also like to say that these guys have what appear to be “mascara” lines on them because when they have a silver coat, the black lines on their faces makes it look as if they are wearing makeup.

Now…
Other than the fact that the Egyptian Mau has a spotted coat, one of their other really unique features is their hind legs. You see, their hind legs are longer then their front legs, and many people say that it makes them look as if they’re tiptoeing.  All we know is that it REALY helps them to be excellent jumpers!

Lastly…

You’re going to find that the Egyptian Mau’s tail is going to be rather thin and long ending with their “classic” black tip.

So…

Now that you know what an Egyptian Mau looks like, and you’ve totally fallen in love, let’s fall in love with them even more and talk about what they’re like. Long story short—they’re great.
Egyptian Mau temperament and personality

Probably one of the first things that we want to let you know about these little guys is that they don’t “meow” a lot.  In fact, they’re actually a really “quite” breed.  That is of course unless you’re petting them which in case you’re going to be rewarded by a steady and constant purr.

You see…

Rather than “meowing” constantly, the Egyptian Mau chooses to use body language and “expressions” to let you know how they are feeling.  So, you will know exactly when they’re happy and when they are sad.

Now these little guys…

Do love being around people and are very loyal to their owners. They’re devoted to their family and not afraid to show it.  Plus, because they are full of energy, they love to be around kids who always seem to have time to play with them.
You see…
The average Egyptian Mau is going to have a TON of energy! They like to stalk and cling and jump on whatever they see. This is why they love playing with children so much because they have just as much energy as they do. They also enjoy playing games like hide and seek, and they love to run.
Speaking of running…

This feline is actually one of the fastest cats out there—so keep your eye on them! They can run up to 30 miles per hour!
And despite all…

Of this energy, this cat breed is actually very patient.  So, as long as they’re entertained and are able to release any “pent” up energy every now and they, they should be quite content and happy.

One thing that…

We should point out though is that if you’re looking for a cat that is going to just “love” sitting in you lap all day or sleeping on the couch for hours and hours, you’re probably going to want to scratch this cat off of your list because that’s just not what you’re going to get when you choose to adopt an Egyptian Mau.
Egyptian Mau health concerns

Considering the fact that the Egyptian Mau is a pretty rare breed that has been around for centuries, it’s actually quite surprising just how healthy they are as a “breed” are.

You see…

Typically, when a cat breed has been “managed and breed” by people for centuries to “highlight” certain traits they find more desirable many unintended consequences can often arise.  And by unintended consequences, we mean inheritable diseases.

Fortunately…

This doesn’t seem to be the case when it comes to the Egyptian Mau cat breed.  And while it is true that they may be at a higher risk of suffering from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, this should be something that a qualified and reputable breeder can screen for and minimize within their litters.

This is why…

If you do decide that you want to purchase an Egyptian Mau kitten, just be sure to spend plenty of time researching different Egyptian Mau breeders and be sure that they are willing to guarantee the health of all of their kittens.

Lastly…

While you’re doing your due diligence to find the “right” kind of cat to make your next pet, we would also encourage you to take a moment and due a bit or research on different pet insurance policies that are available as well.

This way…

If your pet ever becomes sick or injured in the future, you won’t be on the “hook” for 100% of his or her medical bills.  Because as just about any pet owner can tell you, owning a pet can be expensive.  Particularly if you find yourself visiting the “vet” on a regular basis.

Which is why…

We chose to write our Best Pet Insurance Companies article so that if you’re interested in understanding how these policies work and what it might cost for you to be able to get one, you won’t need to spend hours researching it on your own, we’ve got you covered!