Egyptian Mau Cat Breed Information
The only naturally spotted domestic cat breed. Athletic, fast (officially the fastest cat breed at sprinting speeds over 50 km/h), and reserved with strangers. Looks the part of an ancient Egyptian temple cat in tomb paintings.
A highly affectionate, high energy, highly playful cat. On the practical side: low grooming demands and minimal drool.
About the Egyptian Mau.
The Egyptian Mau is the only domestic cat breed with naturally inherited spots, rather than spots produced by selective breeding from tabby or hybrid lines. The breed traces back through Italy and Egypt to the spotted cats depicted in 4,000-year-old Egyptian tomb art. Adults are athletic, lean and notably fast.
Personality and behaviour
Reserved with strangers, devoted to family. The breed is intelligent and active, but slow to warm to new people. Bonds within the household are strong; relationships with strangers stay distant.
Care and grooming
A weekly rub with a rubber mitt is plenty. The breed sheds lightly.
Indoor vs outdoor in New Zealand
Indoor or catio. Prey drive is among the highest of cat breeds, so the SPCA NZ wildlife case applies.
Where to find an Egyptian Mau in New Zealand
NZCF and Catz Inc list registered breeders (NZCF Egyptian Mau, Catz Inc Egyptian Mau). Expect a six month or longer waitlist given small NZ breeder numbers, NZD 1,500 to 3,500.
The Egyptian Mau, by the numbers.
Each trait scored 1 to 5 on the AKC scale. The verdict synthesises the data; the panels below show the strengths, group averages, and the full trait table.
Top strengths
Family Life
avg 3.3Affectionate with Family
Good with Young Children
Good with Other Pets
Physical
avg 1.5Shedding
Grooming Frequency
Social
avg 3.0Openness to Strangers
Playfulness
Adaptability
Independence
Personality
avg 4.0Trainability
Energy Level
Vocal Level
Prey Drive
Mental Stimulation Needs
Living with a Egyptian Mau.
A 24-hour breakdown of how this breed's day typically goes, scaled to its energy, mental-stimulation, and grooming needs.
What a Egyptian Mau costs to own.
An indicative NZ lifetime cost: purchase, setup, then food, vet, insurance, grooming and other annual outgoings. Adjust the inputs to see how your choices change the total.
A Egyptian Mau costs about
$134per month
$31
$4
$25,340
Adjust the inputs:
Where the monthly cost goes
Food
$33 / mo
$400/yr · breed-appropriate dry & wet food
Insurance
$32 / mo
$380/yr · lifetime cover protects against breed-specific claims
Vet (avg)
$44 / mo
$530/yr · routine checks plus breed-specific risk
Grooming
$0 / mo
$0/yr · brushes, shampoo, professional clips
Other
$25 / mo
$300/yr · toys, treats, dental, boarding
Indicative NZ averages calculated from breed weight, grooming need and screened-condition count. One-off costs (purchase $2,500 + setup $300) are factored into the lifetime total but not the monthly figure.
How does the Egyptian Mau compare?
This breed
Egyptian Mau
$25,340
14-year lifetime cost
- Purchase + setup$2,800
- Food (lifetime)$5,600
- Vet (lifetime)$7,420
- Insurance (lifetime)$5,320
- Grooming (lifetime)$0
- Other (lifetime)$4,200
Reference
Average NZ cat
$23,600
14-year lifetime cost
- Purchase + setup$500
- Food (lifetime)$7,000
- Vet (lifetime)$5,600
- Insurance (lifetime)$5,600
- Grooming (lifetime)$1,400
- Other (lifetime)$3,500
A Egyptian Mau costs about $1,740 more over a lifetime than the average nz cat, mostly higherpurchase + setup and highervet.
What to ask the breeder.
Reputable NZ cat breeders test for these conditions and share results. The bigger health drivers for the breed appear in the Common group.
Occasional
3 conditionsHypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM)
An occasional condition in the Egyptian Mau. Worth asking about.
Pyruvate kinase deficiency
An occasional condition in the Egyptian Mau. Worth asking about.
Asthma
An occasional condition in the Egyptian Mau. Worth asking about.
The Egyptian Mau in NZ.
- Popularity: A small but established Catz Inc and NZCF breed in NZ.
- Typical price: NZ$1500–3500 from registered breeders or rescues
- Rescue availability: rare
- NZ climate fit: Short coat handles warmer regions well; warm sleeping spots in cooler regions.
- Living space: Houses with vertical climbing space and a fenced or catio outdoor area suit best.
Who the Egyptian Mau is for.
Suits
- Active households where the cat will be played with daily
- Owners wanting an athletic, working-built cat
Less suited to
- Households with constant visitor traffic
- Outdoor-roaming setups
Common questions.
Is the Egyptian Mau really the fastest cat?
Why are Egyptian Maus reserved?
If the Egyptian Mau appeals, also consider.
Breeds with a similar profile that might suit your household.
Bengal
A spotted, athletic hybrid cat developed by crossing the Asian Leopard Cat with domestic shorthairs. The single highest-prey-drive breed on this site, with the energy budget of two normal cats. Magnificent to live with for the right household, a poor fit for indoor sedate life or NZ outdoor roaming.
Ocicat
A spotted cat that looks wild but has no wild blood, developed from Abyssinian, Siamese and American Shorthair foundation. Athletic, dog-like, sociable, and a good fit for households that want a Bengal look without the Bengal hybrid status.
Abyssinian
Lithe, ticked-coated, and famously busy. The Abyssinian is one of the most active and intelligent cat breeds, often described as a small wild-cat in build with the temperament of a curious, people-oriented terrier.
Last reviewed:
Sources for this pageInformation only. Breed traits and health notes on this page are aggregated from public registry and breed-authority sources. Individual animals vary; this page is general information, not veterinary, behavioural, or insurance advice. Always consult a registered NZ vet or breeder for guidance specific to your situation.