Egyptian Mau

The Egyptian Mau is a naturally spotted domestic cat breed originating in Egypt and established in the 1950s.

Ancestors of the breed trace back to spotted street cats from Cairo, echoing images depicted in ancient Egyptian artwork and papyri. In 1953, exiled Russian princess Nathalie Troubetskoy acquired three spotted cats in Rome after securing help from the Syrian ambassador to Egypt. She established Fatima Cattery and transported several cats to the United States in 1956. The Cat Fanciers' Association granted official championship recognition in 1977, followed by The International Cat Association in 1979 and the Fédération Internationale Féline in 1992.

Males weigh 4-5 kg (9-11 lb) and females 3-4 kg (6-9 lb). The anatomy combines an athletic muscular torso with hind legs longer than the forelegs, giving the cat a characteristic tiptoe stance. A loose skin flap stretches from the flank to the hind knee, allowing a long stride when the cat runs. Random dark spots mark the short, dense coat on silver, bronze, or smoke backgrounds, matched by gooseberry green almond eyes. Standards characterize the Mau as alert, loyal, and reserved around unfamiliar people. It forms intense attachments to family members, chortles when pleased, and actively climbs to elevated perches.

Coat maintenance involves weekly brushing with a soft bristle brush to remove dead hairs and sustain a glossy sheen. The natural skin flap requires no specialized hygiene, but claws need regular weekly clipping and ears need prompt routine inspection. Its moderate build has none of the structural extremes found in some other breeds. Reported genetic conditions include pyruvate kinase deficiency, which can trigger hemolytic anemia, as well as occasional occurrences of umbilical hernias and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.