Fun Egyptian Mau Facts For Kids

Egyptian Maus are one of the most beautiful and oldest domestic cat breeds in the world. They are said to have originated from Ancient Egypt where their forefathers were worshipped in temples. They have a naturally occurring spotted coat that is very rare among domestic cats. This spotted coat makes them unique and beautiful. People love this breed for its elegance and history.

Physically they are strong and agile. They are muscular and slender. Unlike many other breeds of domestic cats, they are fond of exercise, and outdoor activities. They are shy but friendly in nature and make for very loyal companions. They were recognized by the Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA) in 1968, and also by the Canadian Cat Association shortly after. They can run up to 30 mph and are said to be the fastest of the domestic cat breeds on this planet. They look beautiful and unique with their spotted coats and long ears. Their eyes are also beautiful to behold with their almond shape and gooseberry green color. The Egyptian Mau's temper is also very gentle and they make very musical sounds to communicate. They might try to prey on other smaller animals as they are natural predators. Read these Egyptian Mau cat facts, and facts about  Egyptian Mau cats if you want to learn more about them. 
 

What type of animal is an Egyptian Mau?

The Egyptian Mau is a breed of domesticated cat that originated in Egypt.

What class of animal does an Egyptian Mau belong to?

The Egyptian Mau belongs to the Mammalia class of the Animalia kingdom.

How many Egyptian Maus are there in the world?

Egyptian Maus are a relatively rare breed of cat. It is estimated that there are less than 3000 cats of this breed all over the world today.

Where does an Egyptian Mau live?

As a domesticated cat breed, Egyptian Maus are generally found in houses. They are kept as housepets all over the world as they make great pets.

What is an Egyptian Mau's habitat?

Egyptian Maus can live in any household as long as it has places that they can exercise in. They are a generally playful breed and like climbing. So polls and trees are ideal to have around if you have an Egyptian Mau in your house. They also like to play in the water.

Who do Egyptian Mau live with?

Egyptian Maus are a domestic cat breed kept as pets. They cohabitate with humans and sometimes other animals that might live in the same house.

How long does an Egyptian Mau live?

Egyptian Maus can live for up to 12-15 years if they are properly taken care of by their owners. They do not have any breed-specific health problems. So, a proper diet and regular health checkups should keep your Mau healthy. Keeping them indoors is also the best choice so they are not exposed to harmful infections and dangerous animals.

How do they reproduce?

Like any other animal from the Mammalia class, Egyptian Maus reproduce through mating. One male and one female from the species mate and then the female of the species gives birth to kittens. There can be up to six or more kittens in an average Egyptian Mau litter.

What is their conservation status?

They are a domestic breed of cats but they are pretty rare. There are less than 3000 cats of this breed around the world.

What do Egyptian Maus look like?

The Egyptian Mau cat is one of the most elegant breeds of domesticated cats. Their history goes back to Ancient Egypt. Their characteristics are also unique. They are one of the few naturally spotted cats in the world. They are also the fastest breed of domestic cats. Their hind legs are longer than the front ones that help them in running faster. They have long, dark stripes running down their spine from their head to tail. It's one of the most distinguishable traits of this breed. They have short fur that comes mostly in these colors- grey, black, silver, bronze, or smoke. They also have almond-shaped green eyes that are a very rare shade of the color in gooseberry green. They also have a wedge-shaped head. Their eyes seem to have mascara lines around them, which makes them distinct and unique.

How cute are they?

The Egyptian Maus are a very cute breed of cats. Their natural elegance and sleek bodies give them a graceful aura. They also have large, beautiful eyes. Their wedge-shaped head and naturally spotted coats are also beautiful.

How do they communicate?

The Egyptian Maus are a very musical breed of cats. Even though they are not very loud, they emit different noises to aware people of their moods They are also very playful and tend to wiggle their tails when they are happy.

How big is an Egyptian Mau?

Egyptian Mau cats are a medium-sized breed of housecats. They are approximately 12-17 in (30-45 cm) long, and 10-14 in (25-35 cm) tall. They are very strong and muscular and thus can be heavier than they appear. An adult Egyptian Mau can weigh between 6-11 lb (3-5 kg).

How fast can an Egyptian Mau run?

The Egyptian Mau is actually the fastest domestic cat in the world. Their long hind legs and slender yet powerful muscles make help them run faster than any other domestic cat. Their strides are long and elegant. They have been observed to run up to 30 mph (46km/h).                                                      

How much does an Egyptian Mau weigh?

The Egyptian Mau cats are agile and slender. The adult cats of this breed can weigh anywhere between 6-11 lb (3-5 kg).

What are their male and female names of the species?

The male of the species is called a tomcat and the female is called a queen.

What would you call a baby Egyptian Mau?

A baby Egyptian Mau is called a kitten.  

What do they eat?

The Egyptian Mau cat does not have any breed-specific nutritional needs. They like to take a few bites of their food all throughout the day. Dry cat food is the best option for free feeding a Mau. Any good cat food rich in nutrition is a good choice for them. They also occasionally like to prey on smaller animals like birds and rodents.

Are they friendly?

The Egyptian Mau cat is moderately friendly and not hostile at all. They might be a little skittish around new people but they are a generally happy breed. They are playful and active and make for great companions.

Would they make a good pet?

There are a few pros and cons of having an Egyptian Mau as a pet, but the pros outweigh the cons. Their unique characteristics make them great pets. They are friendly and playful.  They might be skittish around people they don't know but they are rarely violent. Egyptian Maus are outdoorsy and active cats. Their muscular bodies were made for exercise and activities. They also like playing in water. Egyptian Maus like being held but they also need their own time. They are friendly but independent. Being a short-haired breed of cats, they do not shed much and they are a relatively healthy breed of cats that can live up to 15 years. They are very smart and cunning. The only cons of having them as a pet would be that they like to prey on birds and rodents. Other than that, an Egyptian Mau is as good as a pet gets.

Did you know...

Egyptian Maus have a unique skin flap from their flank to the back of their knee, which, coupled with their long and muscular hind legs- helps them to run faster.

History And Powers Of The Egyptian Mau

The Egyptian Mau is one of the oldest breeds of cats still living on this planet. Their history goes back to ancient Egypt and got their name from the Egyptian language. The Egyptian word for 'cat' is 'Mau'. There have been instances of old statues of cats in Egypt that bear striking resemblance to the Egyptian Maus of today. These cats were worshipped by the ancient Egyptians. They are told to have been originated from a special spotted cat breed of Cairo. One of these species of cats was taken to Rome by a Russian princess Nathalie Troubetskoy in 1953 and apparently, that is where they originated from. She came to the United States in 1956 and that's how the breeding of Maus began in America. The modern Mau is told to have originated from this lady.

Getting Your Own Egyptian Mau

Egyptian Maus are a rare breed of cats. Close to 200 kittens are registered each year. It might cost you around $75-$150 to adopt an Egyptian Mau kitten. They would also need adequate space to exercise and run around in. Since they are also excellent climbers, you should have tall trees or other high places where they can climb. They are friendly and communicative, and they do not shade that much. If you are looking to buy from a breeder, the Egyptian Mau price can be anywhere from $800-$1800.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover!

You can even occupy yourself at home by drawing one on our Egyptian Mau coloring page.