Egyptian Mau cats are the only naturally occurring spotted cat among domesticated breeds. They are intelligent and easily trainable, as well as playful and loving. Not only can they be trained, the Egyptian Mau often appears to truly enjoy learning tricks and showing them off. These cats are usually easily trained to walk on a leash. Egyptian Mau are high-energy cats who love being around others, both of the feline and non-feline persuasion. They are gentle and affectionate with children, making them a good choice as a family cat.
Egyptian Mau cats hail from Cairo, Egypt. Their name is from the Egyptian word for cat. They were introduced in Europe first in the early 1950’s, and by the end of that decade had been introduced in the U.S. as well.
The Egyptian Mau is a medium sized cat, usually weighing around 5 to 10 pounds. They tend to have an overall athletic look about them, with well defined muscles. The head of the Egyptian Mau is a slightly rounded wedge, with large, wide set ears. The Egyptian Mau has a pinkish inner ear that may or may not have tufts. Egyptian Mau have a silky and lustrous agouti coat. Each individual hair has at least two bands of ticking. The tops of their legs are striped, as are their tails. Their necks sport one or more “necklace” of stripes. Egyptian Mau have spotted bodies, with random sized spots. There are three colors of Egyptian Mau: Silver, Bronze, and Smoke.
The Egyptian Mau does not require any special Grooming. Occasional brushing with a soft brush is sufficient. Average litter size for Egyptian Mau is six kittens. Maus are known by breeders for being easy to breed. They are generally healthy cats, and are not prone to any particular illnesses or ailments. The life expectancy of an Egyptian Mau cat is around fifteen years. Well-cared for, many Egyptian Mau live as long as 18 or 20 years.
