The Egyptian Mau is an elegant, naturally spotted cat of moderate foreign type, and the only naturally spotted breed of domestic cat. With its gooseberry-green eyes, ‘worried’ expression and markings that echo the cats painted on the walls of ancient Egyptian tombs, the Mau is one of the most distinctive — and one of the rarer — pedigree breeds in the United Kingdom.
The Egyptian Mau Club is the UK’s founding club for the breed. These pages are our breed guide: written by experienced Mau breeders and grounded in the GCCF breed standard, they explain where the Mau came from, what makes it special, how its colours are inherited, and how it is judged in the show ring.
Explore the breed
- The origins and history of the Egyptian Mau — from the spotted cats of ancient Egypt to the breed’s rescue in 1950s Italy and its arrival in the UK.
- Egyptian Mau breed facts and figures — character, size, colours, temperament and what it is like to live with a Mau.
- Egyptian Mau colour genetics — how silver, bronze, smoke and black are inherited, and how to predict the colours in a litter.
- The Egyptian Mau Standard of Points — the GCCF breed standard against which every Mau is judged.
Fallen for the Mau?
If you love the breed, we would love to have you with us. Members receive friendly advice and support, connect with fellow owners and breeders, and help to promote and safeguard the Egyptian Mau in the UK.