Egyptian Mau
the athletic and elegant cat of Egypt
The Egyptian mau is an elegant, spotted cat whose
ancestry may date back 3,000 years to the cats whose images adorn the
temples and halls of ancient Egypt. The name “mau” comes from the
ancient Egyptian word for cat. Egyptian maus are known for their
athleticism and are some of the fastest runners among domestic cats,
reaching speeds of up to 30 miles per hour.
Egyptian maus can make wonderful additions to homes willing to make them
an integral part of the family. They have several unusual
characteristics that make their appearance unique among cat breeds.
Their spots are naturally occurring and appear in random patterns on
their coat. While the only colors accepted by the Cat Fanciers’
Association are smoke, bronze, and silver, they can also be found in
black, blue, and caramel colors.
Egyptian maus have a distinctive “M” or scarab shape on the top of their
head, and “mascara” lines that run from the corners of their
eyes to their cheeks. Their tails are heavily banded with a dark tip and
a dorsal stripe that runs the length of the tail. The overall coat
pattern of the Egyptian mau is tabby. Smoke-colored cats generally have
finer fur than the other colors. They have short hair on their ears that
may be tufted at the tip. Their eyes are a striking light green called
“gooseberry”, and they are often described as having a slightly
worried look.
Egyptian maus are fast, athletic cats with
well-developed muscles. Males are generally larger than females. Their
hind legs are longer than their front legs, giving them a
“tiptoe” stance, and they’re impressive jumpers, capable of
jumping up to 6 feet. They also have a skin fold from their flank to
knees, a trait shared with cheetahs that may relate to their speed.
Learn more about the breed.
This page was built by Tamara Đogić