Egyptian Mau Cat Breed Guide
Active | Energetic | Divine. The Egyptian Mau is one of the most ancient breeds of kitties, having roamed the Earth for over 3000 years. Once the pets of pharaohs, nowadays they’re still treated like the divine animals that they are by their pawrents due to their stunning spotted coats and playful purrsonalities. Read on as we take a closer look at the intricacies of this godly creature and whether they’ll be a good fit for your fur fam.
EGYPTIAN MAU CAT BASICS
Average Lifespan: 10 - 15 years
Average Weight: 2.7 - 6.3kg
Coat Length: Short
Colouring: Bronze, silver, smoke
Shedding: Moderate
WHAT IS THE ANCESTRY OF THE EGYPTIAN MAU CAT?
The heritage of the Egyptian Mau can be traced all the way back to Ancient Egypt where these kitties were seen as godly creatures that brought good fortune and fertility to their lucky owners. Spotted cats that resemble the Egyptian Mau have been seen in hieroglyphics and ancient wall paintings, pointing to their origins over three thousand years ago. Some Egyptians even mummified their furry buddies and had them buried in their tombs so that they could be together in the afterlife - talk about taking the term BFF literally!
Although these cats have been around for thousands of years, it wasn’t until 1998 that the first Egyptian Mau was imported to the UK by Melissa Bateson. From here, she went on to establish a breed club, gaining GCCF recognition for the breed in 2006. These kitties remain very rare in the UK with only two breeders listed on the Egyptian Mau cat club’s website but have grown in popularity in the States and continental Europe due to their playful purrsonalities and striking good looks.
WHAT DOES AN EGYPTIAN MAU CAT LOOK LIKE?
Egyptian Mau cats have a unique worried look about them. With large eyes and a small puckered mouth, they always look like they’re up to no good and concerned about getting caught.
All Egyptian Maus have a short spotted coat that comes in bronze, silver or smoke shading. They also have a faint “M” or scarab-looking marking across their forehead which is set between their large eyes that are traced in deep black as if they forever have a perfect paint of mascara on.
Their eyes are a brilliant light-green colour called “gooseberry” and they follow their owners intently, particularly if they’re reaching for the cat treat drawer. Egyptian Maus are rumoured to be one of the fastest breeds of cats, and their muscular, athletic bodies nod to this.
WHAT IS THE PURRSONALITY OF THE EGYPTIAN MAU CAT
Once praised for keeping the temples of Ancient Egypt clear of rodents and snakes with their expert hunting skills, the Egyptian Mau certainly hasn’t lost its active purrsonality. These kitties love to play and show off their acrobatic skills running, jumping and climbing so be sure to keep them entertained with plenty of toys, climbing frames and cat tunnels.
They’re speedy little floofs, and take zoomies to the next level with some being known to run at speeds of 30 miles per hour across the living room floor! Surprisingly, these cats also enjoy playing with water, swiping at the tap or even putting their whole head underneath a running faucet for lols.
As they are a highly social breed, it’s impawtent to consider adopting another floof to keep your Egyptian Mau company during the day when you’re not at home…as well as in the afterlife.
HOW BIG DO EGYPTIAN MAUS GET?
Egyptian Mau cats are moderate in size and reach maturity at around 18 months of age. At this point, they stand at 20-35 cm in height and weigh between 2.7 and 6.3kg.
HOW TO FEED AN EGYPTIAN MAU
Although not officially linked to the breed, a condition called Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency has been inherited by some Egyptian Mau cats. This condition causes anaemia, and the treatment is based on managing the symptoms as there is no known cure.
Other than this, Egyptian Maus are generally very healthy cats. As they are an active breed it’s impawtent that you’re feeding your Mau a highly nutritious cat food that provides them with the essential vitamins, minerals and nutrients they need to sustain their busy lives.
One of the most crucial nutrients for your Egyptian Mau is protein which maintains the strength of their muscles and bones and provides them with their boundless source of energy. Therefore make sure you choose a cat food that has high levels of quality animal meat to provide them with the essential protein levels they need to stay healthy and purring.
SCRUMBLES, THE PAWFECT MATCH FOR EGYPTIAN MAU CATS
Treat your Egyptian Mau like the god that they are by choosing one of our high protein gut friendly cat foods.
Here’s why you and your divine furry best friend will love our cat food:
- High in Protein - Packed with up to 77% human-grade fish or meat, our high protein cat food provides your Egyptian Mau with all the protein they need to keep up with their active lifestyle.
- Added Gut Health - We use gut-loving prebiotics or probiotics in our recipes to improve the gut health of your Egyptian Mau and improve digestibility. We also avoid common allergens including dairy, soy, gluten and egg to suit even the most sensitive of kitty-cats.
- Built-in Feeding Calculators - We have built-infeeding calculators on our cat food pages so that you know exactly how much of our food to feed your Egyptian Mau depending on their size and activity levels.
- Balance and Nutritionally Complete Recipes - All of our wet and dry cat food recipes are nutritionally balanced and complete. They’re designed by nutritionists and approved by vets and can be fed to your cat day in and day out, delivering them the nutrients they need to thrive.
- Eco-Conscious Commitment - We use eco-friendly packaging and are B-Corp certified with a brand commitment to improve the health of our pets whilst also reducing our carbon pawprint on this Earth. With this, Scrumbles is the purrfect choice for furmilies who want to make a difference to their floof and their planet with every bowl.
