Egyptian Mau
Discover the Egyptian Mau, the world's fastest domestic cat, its unique spotted genetics, and the specific health risks like bladder stones owners must know.
The Egyptian Mau is the fastest of all domestic cats, capable of reaching speeds over 48 km/h (30 mph), and it is one of the few naturally spotted tabby breeds. This speed and unique coat pattern result from specific anatomical adaptations, though the breed carries a significantly higher risk of urate bladder stones than mixed-breed cats.
Speed comes from anatomy, not just muscle
The Mau's velocity is not merely a matter of conditioning; it is built into its skeletal structure and skin. The breed has hind legs that are longer than the front legs, creating a posture that looks like standing on tiptoes. This is complemented by a unique flap of skin extending from the flank to the back knee, which allows the legs to stretch back farther during a run. This anatomical feature provides greater agility and a longer stride, enabling the Mau to outpace other domestic cats in short bursts.
Spots are genetic, not painted on
Unlike breeds where spots are the result of selective breeding for a specific pattern, the Egyptian Mau's spots are a natural genetic trait. The spots occur only on the tips of the hairs of its coat, creating a distinct appearance that separates it from other tabbies. The coat itself is medium-length with two or more bands of ticking, and the dark patterns vary in size and shape across the body and limbs. A stripe often runs down the lower spine and tail, and the forehead bears a tabby marking that resembles a scarab design.
History is a mix of legend and specific breeding
The modern breed traces back to 1953 in Italy, when Princess Natalie Trubetskoy obtained a female cat named Baba from the Egyptian ambassador. She bred Baba with the ambassador's cat to produce a male bronze tabby, which was then bred back to his mother to produce a female named Lisa. These progenitors were first shown in 1955 at the Rome Cat Show. While English fanciers later attempted to reproduce this look using Abyssinians and Siamese, resulting in the Ocicat, the true Egyptian Maus were brought to the United States by Princess Natalie in 1956. The US population is purportedly descended from Baba, though some records suggest a lineage from cats named Gepa and Ludol brought in 1953.
Genetics place it in a specific evolutionary group
Genomic data places the Egyptian Mau very closely related to the Maine Coon, Korat, and Western Turkish Angoras. Phylogenetic research confirms that the breed belongs to the group of Western-derived breeds. This genetic profile distinguishes it from the East Mediterranean/Anatolian group, which studies have shown does not contain the breeds previously thought to originate there. The breed's genetic distinctiveness is further highlighted by its coat patterns, which are linked to specific alleles that create the spotted tabby look.
Recognition was a slow process
Championship status was not immediate. The breed first received recognition from the Cat Fanciers Federation (CFF) in 1968. It took until 1977 for the Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA) to grant championship status, followed by The International Cat Association (TICA) in 1979. By the 1990s, breeders were established in North America, Europe, and Japan. The breed did not reach Britain until 1998, when the first Maus were imported by Melissa Bateson, eight years after the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF) granted full recognition.
Health risks are specific and measurable
While generally a healthy breed, the Egyptian Mau has a documented higher prevalence of urate urolithiasis (bladder stones) compared to mixed-breeds. A review of over 5,000 cases found that almost half the Egyptian Mau population had experienced the condition, with an odds ratio of 44.41. A Canadian study of over 10,000 examinations found that 14 out of 17 Egyptian Maus surveyed had the condition. Additionally, the gestation period for this breed is longer than the typical 64–67 days for house cats, lasting 73 days.
Popularity remains low despite unique traits
The Egyptian Mau remains a rare breed worldwide. In 2018, it ranked 27th out of 45 breeds registered with the CFA. Registration numbers in the UK are even lower, with fewer than 200 kittens registered with the GCCF annually. In 2022, only 39 Mau kittens were registered with the GCCF, ranking the breed 27th out of 40. In the 2024 statistics of FIFe, the breed ranked 31st out of 54, comprising just 0.1% of total registered kittens, which translates to 113 cats. This scarcity persists despite the breed's unique combination of speed, appearance, and historical significance.
Coat colors are strictly defined
The breed is accepted in specific color-pattern combinations: black silver spotted tabby, black (bronze) spotted tabby, and black smoke. Non-smoke solid black and blue/pewter are not recognized colorations, though they may appear in pedigrees and are recorded on reference registers. The eyes are round and large, typically light green in adults, though kittens may have amber eyes. The ears are medium to moderately large, broad at the base with a bit of pointing at the tip, and the tail is of medium length and thick at the base.