Egyptian Mau

By 1000 Ventures · Last reviewed

One of the few naturally spotted breeds, with gooseberry-green eyes and a slightly worried look.

A Egyptian Mau cat sitting, full body
Size
Medium
Weight
6 to 14 lb (2.7 to 6.4 kg)
Lifespan
12 to 15 years
Coat
Short, fine and silky
Colors
Silver, bronze and smoke, always spotted
Origin
Egypt, brought to the United States in the 1950s
98% of the time, our scanner puts a Egyptian Mau in its top three. It names it first 92% of the time. How we tested

What does a Egyptian Mau look like?

The Egyptian Mau's spots are random and distinct, on a silver, bronze or smoke coat. Mascara lines run from the eyes across the cheeks, and the forehead shows an M or scarab mark. The large eyes are a pale gooseberry green that can make the cat look slightly worried. A loose flap of skin runs from the flank to the hind knee.

Egyptian Mau personality

Maus are loyal, sensitive and very quick. They bond closely with their people and can be shy with strangers.

How to care for a Egyptian Mau

The short coat needs little grooming. Give it room to run and climb, because Maus are among the fastest domestic cats.

How do I know if my cat is a Egyptian Mau?

A spotted silver cat with green eyes and mascara lines is likely a Mau. Bengals have rosettes and a glittery coat. Spotted house cats usually have smaller, more even spots and yellow or green eyes.

A photo can only tell you what your cat looks like. Pedigree papers from a breeder, or a cat DNA test, are the only ways to prove a breed. For a quick first answer, upload a photo to our free cat breed identifier. It compares your cat with 31 breeds and the ordinary house cat and shows the three closest matches.

Curious which breed your own cat looks like? Upload one photo to the free cat breed identifier and see the three closest matches in seconds.

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Breeds that look like the Egyptian Mau

Bengal BengalA muscular, athletic cat with a leopard-like spotted or marbled coat. Savannah SavannahA tall, spotted cat with huge ears and very long legs, descended from the African serval. House cat House catA mixed-breed cat, called a domestic shorthair or longhair. Most pet cats in the world are house cats, not purebreds.

Or browse all 31 cat breeds side by side.

Frequently asked questions

Are Egyptian Maus related to ancient Egyptian cats?
They come from cats found in Egypt and look a lot like cats in ancient Egyptian art, but no genetic line back to antiquity has been proven.
What is the difference between an Egyptian Mau and a Bengal?
Maus have random single spots, a fine silky coat and green eyes. Bengals have rosettes or marbling, a pelt-like coat and are usually bigger.

What breed is your cat?

Upload one photo and the free cat breed identifier shows the three closest breeds in seconds, or tells you it is a classic house cat.

Identify my cat