Once worshipped as gods, the Egyptian Mau is one of the oldest cat breeds in existence, hailing from a line that extends back to the days of Ancient Egypt. In Egyptian, "Mau" means, "cat".

Truly the cat of Egyptian legend, the Egyptian Mau is the basis for the cat drawings seen engraved in the tombs of the Egyptian Pharaohs. These cats are thought to have been bred from a species of wildcat that was indigenous to Egypt when the Pharaohs ruled. There are no other breeds that look anything like the Egyptian Mau, and while it may share some similar lineage and traits with its Egyptian cousin the Abyssinian, it is still visually unique. A fierce hunter, the Egyptian Mau has been likened to a little tabby-sized panther. It has a streamlined body and chiseled features, and it is known for its amazing speed. It can run up to 35 miles per hour, faster than any other shorthaired, domestic cat in the record books. Egyptian Maus are usually very personable cats that adore their owners. They are very talkative, sociable, and playful! They will happily ride on your shoulders and sit in your lap, and they will always be curious about what's going on. The Mau can be a bit on the expensive side - you will pay at least 400 dollars for a kitten from a good breeder. Buying a Mau from a pet store is a bad idea, since kitten breeders who work for pet stores typically have less than adequate methods for socializing kittens properly and thus, you may end up with an ill-tempered Mau that won't like you, your house, or your family.

The Egyptian Mau is a sleek, statuesque cat, its Egyptian heritage showing through in shining colors. They have a light, medium length coat overall, displaying dark spots as their trademark trait. They come in a few select colors, most notably silver, smoke and bronze. Egyptian Maus also come in black, but this color in unacceptable in show. They have a classic Egyptian-style face, the picture of feline antiquity. Though the beautiful green eyes lose a bit of color depth as the cat ages, none of the expressiveness of their eyes is lost. The typical Egyptian Mau weighs around eight pounds.

Egyptian Maus were first brought to the United States in the late 1950's, when a Russian Princess brought them from the Fatima Cattery. For a long while, all members of the Egyptian Mau breed were descended from one of these two cats, until more of these magnificent animals were imported and bred.

Egyptian Mau Cats are susceptible to food allergies, causing them hot spots or irritated skin. They are also quite prone to cardiomyopathy and feline asthma.

There is currently no special breeding information in our databases for this animal. To submit breeding / propagation information that is specific to this animal please click here.