An Egyptian Mau with striking green eyes

Egyptian Mau Cat Insurance, Care and Health Advice

The first thing you’ll notice about an Egyptian Mau is that they look like the cats of Ancient Egypt. They’re beautiful, elegant cats with spotted coats. It’s not an old breed but the result of crossing Egyptian street cats with Italian domestic cats just after World War II – Mau means ‘cat’ in Egyptian Arabic.

Though popular in many countries, the Egyptian Mau is relatively rare in the UK having arrived here in 1998. This breed guide has all the information you need to care for your Egyptian Mau.

Egyptian Mau Cat Facts

Cat breed type icon
Type
Domestic
Cat breed lifespan icon
Lifespan
12 - 15 years
Cat breed size icon
Size
Medium
Cat breed weight icon
Weight
3 - 6 kg
Cat breed height icon
Height
20 - 25 cm
Cat breed temperament icon
Temperament
Playful, intelligent and affectionate
Cat breed exercise icon
Exercise
15 mins 3x a day
Cat breed grooming icon
Grooming
Low maintenance

Is an Egyptian Mau Right for Me?

Egyptian Maus are intelligent, affectionate cats that are very active and playful. They make wonderful companions, and their short coats means that they’re low maintenance. They form strong bonds with their owner but can be possessive of their owner and toys. They’re good with children if they’re treated gently and with respect.

They don't like to be alone for too long so if you’re out at work all day, consider getting a companion cat. This will help to prevent boredom and behavioural problems such as separation anxiety from developing.

Two Egyptian Mau kittens sitting on a blanket

What are Egyptian Mau Kittens Like?

Egyptian Mau kittens will have lots of energy so will always be up to something! They can be wary of strangers and startled by loud noises. Early socialisation will help them to cope with any new situations, people and pets.

An Egyptian Mau with green eyes

Life with an Egyptian Mau

Egyptian Maus are playful and have loads of energy so will need lots of toys to keep them entertained. They can be quite vocal and will let you know when they want your attention. They're loyal and loving to their owners.

They’ll want to follow you around the house and be by your side. But they may be a bit too active to be a lap cat.

Egyptian Maus are best kept indoors to keep them safe and out of trouble. They also have a strong prey drive and will go after any wildlife if allowed outside! 

Caring for Your Egyptian Mau

These cats are very active so make sure they have a nutritious diet that fits their requirements. If you buy your kitten from a breeder, they should provide you with a feeding schedule. If you can, stick to a routine by feeding your cat at the same time every day.

If you decide to change their diet, do it gradually over a few days to avoid any tummy upsets. You can also ask your vet which cat food they recommend to best fit your cat’s needs, and how much to feed.

Egyptian Maus have short coats with a silky, fine texture. Their coats are easy to maintain themselves. But, as they love attention, they’ll enjoy a weekly brush with a soft brush or grooming glove. Their teeth should also be brushed at least three times a week to prevent dental disease.

Egyptian Maus are smart and will learn quickly. Toilet or litter training shouldn’t be a problem. You should have at least one litterbox for each cat plus an extra one. This means there are plenty of places for your cat to go to the toilet if they get caught short!

These cats are very active! High-energy, athletic and agile, they like chasing toys and playing games like fetch. Keep them entertained with lots of interactive toys and provide them a perch or cat tree that they can climb and jump on. They like to be up high to survey the world beneath them.

As they have longer hindlegs, these cats are perhaps the fastest runners of all domestic cats - speeds of 30 miles per hour have been reported! Unusually for cats, they also enjoy playing with water and having a splash around in it.

Egyptian Mau Insurance

These naturally spotted cats certainly know how to catch the eye, like ancient Egyptian art. If you’re looking to welcome one into your home, it can be a good idea to think about Cat Insurance to cover those claws. After all, Egyptian Mau’s are an extremely active cat breed, and sometimes that can lead to accidents.

Everypaw’s Lifetime Cat Insurance has a range of Lifetime options to choose from, and with policies starting from 8 weeks of age, you can cover your Egyptian Mau for as soon as you get them home. Everypaw can help when it comes to illness or injury, but also comes with our Petcall helpline who you can call any time you have a query or concern about your cat’s health, care or behaviour.

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Common Egyptian Mau Health Problems by Vetstream

The Egyptian Mau breed is generally a very healthy domestic cat breed, but a few problems have been reported. We've got together with veterinary experts Vetstream, to give you an idea of what to keep an eye out for in your Egyptian Mau.

Egyptian Maus can be affected by PK def, an inherited enzyme deficiency that affects the lifespan of red blood cells. This results in anaemia (a reduction in the number of red blood cells). There is no cure but most affected cats cope well with the condition.

A genetic test is available to identify cats that carry the gene. Affected cats and those that carry the gene shouldn’t be used for breeding.

Egyptian Maus can be affected by HCM, a condition where the heart muscle becomes abnormally thick. This prevents the heart from working properly and can lead to heart failure. Long-term medication can slow the disease down but unfortunately there’s no cure.

Reported in some lines of Egyptian Maus, umbilical hernias occur when there’s a weakness in the stomach muscles around the belly button. A bulge or protrusion may be visible as the abdominal organs push forward. Some hernias may sort themselves out, but others may need surgery. The problem can easily be corrected when kittens are neutered.

Egyptian Maus are prone to patellar luxation, a condition where the kneecap slips out of place. Cats with this condition will be seen limping. Sometimes the kneecap goes back into place on its own without any treatment.
But in other cases, it will need to be manipulated back into the correct position by your vet. Severe cases will need surgery to sort it out permanently.

Quick Egyptian Mau Q&A

Egyptian Maus are easy to identify by their spotted coats. The coats come in three breed standard colours with random spots: silver with black or grey spots, bronze with dark brown or black spots, or smoke a dark grey with black markings. Other colours that can be seen are blue smoke, blue silver and solid black or blue. Their tails are banded with a dark tip.

They also have beautiful, large almond-shaped gooseberry-green eyes. An M shape on their forehead, described as a ‘scarab beetle’ or ‘mask of scarab’, is another distinctive feature. They also have small, dainty feet.

No, the Egyptian Mau isn’t hypoallergenic and despite being a short-coated breed, they'll still shed hair. No cat is completely hypoallergenic. All cats produce the glycoprotein Fel d1 in their saliva that is responsible for cat allergies.

Egyptian Maus generally live to the age of 12-15 years which is average for most cat breeds.

Yes, the breed is quite rare in the UK. Numbers are low and there are only a couple of hundred registered with the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy each year.

The Egyptian Mau has a playful and affectionate temperament, known for its energetic nature and strong bond with owners. While curious and intelligent, it can be reserved around strangers.

That’s All You Need to Know About Egyptian Maus

Elegant, with spotted coats, Egyptian Maus may look like the cats of Ancient Egypt but are descended from the crossing of Egyptian street cats with Italian domestic cats after World War II. Intelligent, affectionate, and playful, they’re low maintenance and form strong bonds with their owner. They’ll always be up to something so if left alone all day, they may need a companion cat to keep them from being lonely and bored.

Content provided from Vetstream's Vetlexicon Felis.

Vetlexicon is the world’s largest peer-reviewed online clinical reference source. All our content is written and peer-reviewed by over 1,000 of the world’s leading veterinarians, ensuring relevance, accuracy and quality.

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