How to Identify an Egyptian Mau

Last Updated: April 1, 2021 References

Egyptian mau cats are a distinct breed that are known for their naturally spotted coats and striking green eyes. They look like an exotic cat and their lineage may go back as far as ancient Egypt. If you want to know how to identify them, you also need to be able to assess their personality, in addition to their distinctive physical characteristics. Assessing the physical characteristics in combination with the personality will allow you to identify an Egyptian mau cat.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Identifying Physical Characteristics

1
Look for a distinctly spotted coat. The most distinctive attribute of the Egyptian mau is its uniformly spotted coat. Aside from being spotted, the coat is typically medium length, dense, and shiny.^{[1]
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- The spots on a Egyptian mau are typically charcoal or jet black, depending on the coats other colors.
- The cat's coat aside from the spots may be silver, bronze, or smoke colored. This makes it distinct from other spotted cats, like the Bengal, which may have a more reddish coat.
2
Recognize the striking green eyes. An Egyptian mau has distinctively green eyes. The color is often described as "gooseberry green," which is a light green color. The more vibrant the green, the better.^{[2]
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- These large green eyes are almond-shaped and are set at a slight angle.
- The color of the eye may change a bit with age, with the full green color usually developing by the age of one and a half.
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3
Assess the proportion of the body. The Egyptian mau is a medium-sized cat with a long and graceful body and long, lean legs. Its body parts are generally in proportion to each other and it has a long, graceful tail.
- An Egyptian mau is usually medium sized, weighing in at about seven to nine pounds when full grown.^{[3]
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4
Check for a moderately muscular appearance. The Egyptian mau has some muscle definition, although it should not be overwhelming to the cat's general balanced appearance. The muscular development may be most pronounced in its neck and shoulders, especially if your particular cat loves to climb and leap.
- This muscular build adds to the cat's agility and flexibility.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Recognizing Egyptian Mau Behavior

1
Look for loyalty with family members. The Egyptian mau is typically fiercely loyal to its family members. This cat likes to spend time with its people and wants love and affection from them on demand.^{[4]
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- The Egyptian mau tends to pick a specific person to bond to. This will clearly be their favorite person and their attention will be directed at that particular person most of the time.
2
Expect an air of reserve with strangers. Although Egyptian maus are fiercely loyal to their family members, they tend to be shy with strangers. This is not a breed that will rub up on just any person walking by. Instead, their loyalty and friendliness needs to be earned over time.^{[5]
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- In some cats, this reserve can be seen when the cat hears an unexpected noise or sees something unexpected. They are likely to run away and hide from the unknown. This behavior is best prevented by giving Egyptian mau kittens lots of socialization.
3
Identify athleticism and inquisitiveness. An Egyptian mau loves to climb and leap and will do this in order to explore its surroundings. They will likely climb anywhere in the house that they can, including onto your shoulders or on top of your refrigerator. Don't be surprised if they jump out at you from an unexpected high spot. ^{[6]
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- Their intelligence combined with their athleticism means that they may quickly learn how to get to what they want, whether it be food, toys, or treats.
- The Egyptian mau is particularly agile and athletic. This is partly due to their physical build, which includes loose skin between the legs that allows for agility when jumping and twisting.^{[7]
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Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Getting Breed Verification

1
Discuss your cat's breed with its veterinarian. If you have a question about your cat's breed, the easiest person to ask that has some expertise is your veterinarian. A veterinarian should be versed in common cat breeds and may be able to give you verification. However, they may not know more obscure breeds or be able to identify your cat without a doubt.
- If your veterinarian doesn't know your cat's breed off hand, they may be willing to do a little research and then get back to you with what they find out.
2
Talk to a reputable breeder. In order to get verification of your cat's breed, consider talking to an expert in the cat's potential breed. If you think you have an Egyptian mau, contact a breeder of Egyptian maus and ask if they would consider consulting with you about your cat.
- Reputable breeders can usually be found by looking at the websites of national cat associations or breed appreciation groups.^{[8]
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- If the breeder is in your area, you may be able to bring your cat to them for assessment. If there are no breeders in your area, you may be able to get an assessment by sending the breeder photos.
3
Have a cat ancestry DNA test done. The best verification you can get of your cat's breed is through a DNA test, specifically one that tests the cat's ancestry. In order to get DNA testing done you will need to contact a company or organization that does cat ancestry testing and have them send you a sampling kit. Once you have collected a sample of your cat's saliva using the kit and the directions included, you will send it back to the company to be analyzed. Once the sample has been analyzed, the company will send you the results.^{[9]
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- There are a variety of companies and organizations that scientifically analyze cat saliva in order to give you information about its breed. Some are private labs that do a variety of DNA testing and some are labs connected to organizations, such as veterinary schools or animal appreciation organizations. This is done for a fee, so you may want to look for reviews of various companies and compare prices before committing to a specific company.

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Question

Are Egyptian Mau cats rare?

Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
Veterinarian
Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.

Pippa Elliott, MRCVS

Veterinarian

Expert Answer

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The Egyptian Mau is considered a relatively rare breed. In any one year, the number of purebred kittens registered is often in the 100s or low 1000s.
Question

How fast can an Egyptian Mau run?

Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
Veterinarian
Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.

Pippa Elliott, MRCVS

Veterinarian

Expert Answer

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The anatomy of the Egyptian Mau, with unusually long back legs, makes them awesome sprinters. Records suggest they are able to run in bursts of around 30 mph.
Question

How long do Egyptian Mau cats live?

Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
Veterinarian
Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.

Pippa Elliott, MRCVS

Veterinarian

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

An average life expectancy is around 12 years. However, some do live longer than this, up to around 15 years.