When it comes to human-feline friendships, we go WAY back with the Egyptian Mau. Learn more about the world’s oldest cat breed, including history, health, and the personality traits that won humans over. Are you looking for a Cat Sitter who will Mau down to this ancient breed? Mad Paws can connect you with first-rate Pet Minders in Sydney, Darwin, Adelaide, and all across our great land!
Quick Facts
Weight – 3 – 5kg
Lifespan – 12 – 15 years
Country of Origin: Egypt
Best breed for:
- Owners who spend a lot of time at home
- Families with older children
- Multi-cat households
Egyptian Mau Breed History ♜
Is it possible that the Egyptian Mau of today is the same cat that was once revered by the Ancient Egyptians? And would you ever guess that this cat has a connection to Russian royalty? The Egyptian Mau is all tangled up in historical intrigue, so let’s take a closer look at their lineage!
In the case of the Egyptian Mau, the name says it all. Mau means cat in Egyptian, and it’s likely that the Egyptian Mau is one of the first—if not the first—domestic cat breed.
Just look at the resemblance to this cat’s wild ancestors: felis silvestris lybica, the African wildcat. This free-roaming feline is about the same size or slightly larger than the Egyptian Mau, with a spotted or striped coat pattern that is almost identical to our modern Mau.
And, there are more clues in Ancient Egyptian artifacts. From hieroglyphs to pottery art to recovered mummified kitties, we know that the Ancient Egyptians were cat people, with a particular affinity for the African wildcat. Experts believe that this was the beginning of true domestication of cats in the region. In other words, the African Wildcat, and thus the Egyptian Mau, were the beginning of many of the domesticated cat breeds we know today.
Now, you may remember from our Savannah Cat breed profile that another wildcat also made its way into Egyptian lore: the Serval. So why is it that the Egyptian Mau is credited as the oldest cat breed instead of the Savannah? Well, it was probably a matter of personality. Servals were never fully domesticated and were more likely to be traded as exotic pets than family house cats. In fact, we didn’t get a successful cat-serval hybrid until the 1980s.
African Wildcats, on the other paw, were much friendlier. Not only were they helpful little hunters of mice and other pests, but they also cuddled their way into Ancient Egyptian households. With skill and charm, they claimed their place as the first cat breed of the Middle East.
We promised you a cameo by a member of the Russian royal family, did we not? And the royal cat-lover in question is Nathalie Troubetskoy, a Russian princess who went into exile after the Bolshevik Revolution. Newly settled in Rome, the princess adopted an Egyptian Mau kitten, who would follow her to the United States in 1956.
When the princess wasn’t painting in her Manhattan apartment, she was working to establish the breed in America. Indeed, most Egyptian Maus in the US can trace their lineage back to Russian royalty.
Egyptian Maus aren’t among the most popular pets in the world, but as the world’s oldest cats, we can all appreciate this important breed!
Egyptian Mau Personality Traits ★
As we mentioned, the Egyptian Mau made its way into human society for two reasons. One, they are excellent mousers. Two, they have wonderful personalities.
For starters, Maus are very loyal. They love to be with their favourite humans and will bond particularly strongly with one or a select few family members. If you’re looking for a cat who will never leave your side, the Egyptian Mau is for you. These cats have an attention-seeking personality that will ensure they’re always on your mind! And they may follow you from room to room, usually with the goal of enticing you to play.
While Egyptian Maus may look perpetually worried, the expression is only partially true. These cats do have a sensitive side, and don’t respond well to lots of noise and commotion. And, when they’re upset, they tend to hide until the coast is clear. But, when they’re comfortable in their environment, Maus are a confident and curious cat. They follow their curiosity to the limit, and can get into plenty of mischief while exploring the world around them.
As dedicated as these cats are to their beloved humans, Egyptian Maus tend to give all other humans the cold shoulder. But, though they may not warm up immediately to strangers, it’s still a good idea to leave them in the care of a devoted Cat Sitter if you’ll be out of the house for too long. When left to their own devices, Maus are easily bored.
Like most cats, Maus can be fearful with other cats or animals. They do love being in a multi-pet household, but only if they’ve been properly socialised and carefully introduced to newcomers. Take a look at our article, How Do I Introduce My Cat to a Second Pet?, for some helpful tips.
And, because Egyptian Maus are quite playful, care should be taken with young children. Maus mean well, but their active antics can be dangerous around babies and toddlers. And, if you were to ask your Mau, they would prefer to be the only baby in the house. So, if they live in a household with children, make sure to give them plenty of one-on-one time so that they don’t feel left out.
Trainability & Training Tips
Egyptian Mau cats have what it takes to be a highly trainable cat. Not only are they active and intelligent, but they love attention from their favourite human! It’s a winning combo for training.
And that’s great news, because without training, these cats can be a lot to handle. Training gives them the mental stimulation they need to ward off boredom, and it gives you the opportunity to reinforce some house rules.
To get started, you’ll want to find a reward system that works for this feline. Treats are a great option, especially because Maus are so naturally active that weight gain isn’t a huge risk (don’t overdo it, of course!)
And remember that they have a sensitive side. Most cats don’t respond well to punishment, but you might lose this cat’s engagement completely after a harsh reprimand. Instead, if you feel you’ve lost their attention, it’s better to end the training session gently. You can always come back to it later.
And once you’ve got the basics down, such as “come” and “sit,” you can teach your cat to sit in specific areas. These commands come in handy for an adventure-lover like the Egyptian Mau, as you can redirect them from dangerous areas such as kitchen counters.
With enough training, your cat can also learn fun tricks and games. Egyptian Maus can be taught to jump through hoops, shake, roll over, and even play fetch. And, they tend to do well with leash training, as well!
Exercise Needs & Living Conditions ⌂
It won’t shock you to learn that the Egyptian Mau is an energetic cat. And as such, they need plenty of exercise and playtime for their physical and mental wellbeing.
If you’re looking for a cat who will tire themselves out, the Egyptian Mau may not be a good fit. They’re team players, and would much rather have an enthusiastic human to play with than run around on their own. You’ll want to invest in some high quality cat toys that will get them stalking, pouncing and climbing. And, don’t be surprised if this clever cat requires new toys to stay engaged.
If your Egyptian Mau is accustomed to other cats or animals, playmates will help take the load off! Just be sure that the other furry family members are equally as playful. Otherwise, a Mau’s persistence will annoy older animals who can’t keep up with their high energy levels.
A few changes to your living conditions can also help to manage the Mau’s exercise needs. These cats love to climb, jump, hide and explore, so cat trees, ledges, and hiding spots are a must. They especially enjoy sitting areas where they can keep one eye on their territory and another on the outside world.
And, as we mentioned, Maus are not solitary cats. They prefer to be in the company of their beloved humans, but will also be happy with the attention of a friendly Cat Sitter.
One final thing to keep in mind when it comes to living conditions is sound. Because Maus can be stressed by loud noises, they may not be comfortable living in an apartment complex with noisy neighbours, especially of the canine variety.
Grooming & Care ✄
Egyptian Maus have a beautiful coat that is unique in the feline world. As a member of the small group of naturally spotted cats, along with Bengals and Savannahs, the Egyptian Mau’s spots are a standard of the breed. And Maus show off a gorgeously glossy coat from whiskers to tail.
If you’re worried about taking care of the Mau’s beautiful coat, you’re in for a pleasant surprise. This cat has very low grooming needs. Their short-to-medium length coat only needs to be brushed about once per week to help with shedding. But they don’t need baths or any special care to keep their coat clean.
As with all cats, you’ll want to check their ears, trim their nails, and keep those teeth clean.
Egyptian Mau Health +
Egyptian Maus have been around for a long time, which means that they benefit from a wide and varied gene pool. The result is a generally strong cat with very few health concerns:
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. This is a form of heart disease that can appear in many different cat breeds. Check-ups with the vet can rule out heart murmurs which are a common symptom of the disease.
- Exposure to parasites, viruses, and bacteria. Because Egyptian Maus have so much energy, it’s not uncommon for Owners to want to give them some time outdoors. The risk is that these curious cats can stick their whiskers in areas where ticks, fungus and bacteria are common. They may also cross paths with another cat who can transmit feline-borne illnesses such as Feline Leukemia Virus. It’s important to keep these cats up-to-date on their vaccines and limit their free-ranging time outdoors.
Fun Fact about the Egyptian Mau ♥
When we think of duck hunting, the animal that probably comes to mind is a dog. But, historical records show that the Egyptian Mau may also have held the title of duck hunting companion!
A tomb painting uncovered in Thebes from 1350 BC shows an Egyptian Mau-like cat with a duck in its mouth next to a man in the middle of a hunt. Of course, it’s not clear whether these cats were actually trained as hunting companions. It’s possible that the artist was simply capturing the opportunistic hunting style of the Egyptian Mau or conveying a symbolic message that has been lost to the ages.
Whatever the case may be, with the Mau’s superior retrieving skills, we wouldn’t rule out the idea that the Egyptians invited cats on the hunt!
Final Thoughts on the Egyptian Mau
Beautiful, amiable, and loyal to no end, it’s easy to see why the Egyptian Mau was one of the first cats to leap into domestic life. Thousands of years later after these cats first entered human homes, we still love the Mau for their playful antics and sweet personalities.
Egyptian Maus are people-cats and won’t respond well to long stretches home alone. With the help of furry flatmates or the attention of a dependable Cat Sitter, the Mau will never feel lonely or bored.
And because they’re such smart little cookies, Egyptian Maus are great candidates for kitty training and outdoor leashed adventures. Make sure this energetic cat gets plenty of exercise, because they can be trouble-makers otherwise!
If there’s one thing that an Egyptian Mau expects from their Owner it’s to be worshipped as they have been for millennia. These gorgeous cats know just how special they are, and we’re sure that the Egyptian Mau will continue to be the centre of attention for generations to come!
