- In the silver and bronze colour varieties the hair accommodates two or more bands of ticking separated by lighter bands.
No breeder is on record here yet. Portugal’s FIFe member club does not list this breed in its breeder directory at all, so an absence here says nothing about whether anyone breeds it in Portugal.
Medium-sized, muscular spotted cat with distinctive gooseberry-green eyes. One of the few naturally spotted domestic cat breeds.
One of the oldest domestic cat breeds, possibly descended from ancient Egyptian cats. The only naturally spotted domestic breed. Name 'Mau' is the Egyptian word for cat.
Generally described as agile, dependent, gentle, intelligent, lively, loyal, playful and devoted.
That is the breed in general, not a promise about one animal. Ask the breeder what their own line is like, and meet the parents before you decide.
Breed reference from The Cat API.
Drawn from sources, not opinion: The Cat API; UC Davis VGL — PK Deficiency test; FIFe breed standard. An empty column means we hold nothing for that side, not that there is nothing to say.
The Egyptian Mau standard is published by the FIFe (Fédération Internationale Féline), the international federation of pedigree-cat clubs, and it is what show judges apply. This section sums up what it says about coat and colour. It does not assess any one animal: use it to know what to ask the breeder.
Short, but long enough to show 2-3 bands of ticking, with a lustrous sheen.
In the smoke colour the hair is silky and fine in texture.
In the silver and bronze colour varieties the hair is dense and resilient in texture.
Shortened from FIFe standard MAU — each label is the standard’s own wording with the verdict lifted into the tag beside it. Read the full clause at source. FIFe lists this standard’s last modification as 2026. Text read on 31 Aug 2026.
The colour varieties FIFe recognises for this breed are listed, with their EMS codes, in the table at the end of its standard. FIFe describes each colour group in the General Part of its standards.
The colours and patterns the standard admits, and what it prefers, discourages or disqualifies in each. An accepted colour says nothing about health. Quotations from the FIFe are in English, as the standard publishes them; the headings are ours.
Known hereditary risks for the Egyptian Mau breed, and the specific documentation to request from any breeder before paying a deposit. A responsible breeder will have these readily available; deflection is a red flag.
1 condition documentedThis is breed-level literature, not veterinary advice about an individual animal — your vet knows the animal.
Health checklist (PDF)Found in more than about one in twenty of the breed's dogs screened, or described as common in the sources.
Breed-level information from The Cat API. It describes the Egyptian Mau in general; any individual animal can differ.
An inherited defect in the red blood cell enzyme pyruvate kinase causes red cells to break down early, leading to intermittent or chronic haemolytic anaemia. Severity varies: some affected cats have repeated bouts of lethargy, pale gums and weight loss, while others are only mildly affected. It is common in the breed, though both screens are small: 9 of 36 Egyptian Maus carried it in a 2012 study and 12 of 51 in a 2022 screen (one with two copies), about one in four.
What to ask for
Pyruvate kinase (PK) deficiency DNA test on both parents
An inherited defect in the red blood cell enzyme pyruvate kinase causes red cells to break down early, leading to intermittent or chronic haemolytic anaemia. Severity varies: some affected cats have repeated bouts of lethargy, pale gums and weight loss, while others are only mildly affected. It is common in the breed, though both screens are small: 9 of 36 Egyptian Maus carried it in a 2012 study and 12 of 51 in a 2022 screen (one with two copies), about one in four.
What to ask for
Pyruvate kinase (PK) deficiency DNA test on both parents