A Complete Price Guide for the Egyptian Mau

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Did you know that Mau is the Egyptian word for cat? That being said, the Egyptian Mau is a well-muscled, medium-sized, short-haired feline. It is well known for being one of the most athletic and graceful cat breeds in the world. With its chic spotting, the cat is often mistaken for a jungle cat and has earned itself nicknames like “pharaoh cat”. However, its wild cat looks should not deceive you as the Egyptian Mau is the perfect cat for your family. Are you looking to get yourself an Egyptian Mau? Read on as we explore more about this family-friendly feline.

What Is an Egyptian Mau?

The Egyptian Mau is an extremely popular cat with statuesque looks. According to Pumpkin Care, they are the only domestic cats in the world that are naturally spotted. It has a short-medium silky coat while its legs and tail are banded. It has a slightly rounded wedge-like head, and its forehead has a scarab beetle mark which is one of the reasons why the cats were worshiped by the Ancient Egyptians. They have large almond-shaped eyes and mascara lines which are said to be the ones that inspired Egyptian women to draw their eyebrows the way they do.

Kittens have amber eyes but generally develop gooseberry green eyes from 18 months of age. Their large eyes give them a worried look. The cat is generally playful, active, athletic, and highly intelligent. They are great household cats and are great, especially with older children. If you are looking for a loyal longtime partner, then this is the cat for you. Additionally, the Egyptian Mau has an outgoing balanced temperament. According to Wikipedia, it has a long dorsal stripe running from its head to tail along the spine.

According to A-Z-animals, the cat is as slender as Siamese and as heavy as a Burmese. Generally, it looks like the Abyssinian but is longer in muscle, shapeliness, and height. People often confuse it for an Ocicat, a mixture of an Egyptian Mau and an Abyssian cat with the spotted fur of the latter. You are not short of options when it comes to color, as the cat comes in three main colors. These are silver with charcoal spotting, bronze with black or dark brown spotting, and smoke with black spotting. Other colors include pewter or blue, solid black, blue silver, and blue smoke. These cats have an average lifespan of 18 to 20 years if well cared for. They have an overall longer pregnancy of 73 days compared to other breeds. You will recognize an Egyptian Mau when you see one.

Egyptian Mau History

The Egyptian Mau is believed to be a descendant of the African wild cat, given their greatly similar appearance. Historically, the cat is said to have originated from Egypt over 4000 years ago as it also resembles the cat depicted in Ancient Egypt artwork. Archeologists have found remains of cats that look pretty much like the Egyptian Mau, in the tombs of ancient Egyptians. It is said that the cat was worshipped by a cat cult in ancient Egypt and sometimes used for duck hunting. However, according to feline genome data, the cat is more related to the western-derived breeds like Maine Coon and Korat compared to the east Mediterranean breeds.

It is said that the cat is indistinguishable from the ancient Turkish Angora. Additionally, cats with the scarab mark on the forehead tend to be from the United States. However, the cat has some unique features that are not known in other breeds. So how did the cat arrive in the United States? Russian Princess Nathalie Troubetskoy, who at the time was exiled in Rome, was gifted a silver spotted female Egyptian Mau kitten who she named Baba. She, later on, bred the kitten with a black male kitten that belonged to the Syrian ambassador of Rome. In 1956, Princess Troubetskoy moved to the United States, bringing with her Baba, her progeny, and two rescued Maus. She later established a cattery by the name Fatima Egyptian Mau Cattery, where she promoted Egyptian Mau as a recognized breed in North America. Her efforts paid off as, in 1968, the Egyptian Maus were recognized by the Cat Fanciers’ Association and The Canadian Cat Association shortly thereafter.

Pet Potential

The Egyptian Mau is a perfect choice for families with children and cat-friendly dogs. Maus are easy to train and fun to play with. They are said to play fetch as good as any retriever. As much as they are not lap cats, they love receiving attention, especially from children who treat them with the respect they deserve. They are great pets, given their fierce loyalty and intelligence. They are not a problem at all if you have toddlers in the house, as they are smart enough to stay out of the way of your little baby.

Occasionally, they have been seen looking after babies sleeping near their cribs. However, if you have older children who are of school-going age, the better as Egyptian Maus tend to be fond of them as they match their match level of energy and curiosity. However, Egyptian Maus tend to be shy around new faces and often hide when strangers are present. How are they with other pets? Egyptian Maus are notorious for being established and aggressive towards other pets if not well socialized.

Luckily this can be solved by socializing them early with other pets. If well socialized, Egyptian Mau happily makes friends even with dogs so long as they don’t bring him any trouble. However, they are not to be trusted if you have other smaller pets like birds, as they are very skilled hunters. If you want to introduce another pet to your home, you should do this slowly and in a well-controlled setting. Otherwise, it is near to impossible to introduce another pet to an already established Egyptian Mau. They are moderate vocalizers, and their vocalizations are said to be musical and have often been likened to singing.

What Is the Price of An Egyptian Mau?

It will cost you a whopping $800 to $1,800 for each Egyptian Mau kitten, depending on its color and quality. Whether or not a kitten is fully registered also affects its price. Most silver and bronze spotted kittens are often priced between $1,000 and $1,200 as pets. You should ensure that your kitten is dual registered, vaccinated. Additionally, you should be issued with a health certificate, CFA and TICA slip before purchase. However, if you find one for adoption in a local animal shelter, it is relatively cheaper than buying one from a breeder. At a shelter, you pay an adoption fee which includes expenses like vaccinations, food, and medical supplies.

This is relatively a fraction of the normal price for buying an Egyptian Mau kitten. If you are looking to save money, you can get yourself an Egyptian Mau from a shelter for as low as $75 to $150. Other one-time expenses that you may incur during your purchase are licensing fees, a collar and leash, spaying or neutering, a litter box, scratching post, food bowls, and a travel crate if not included, which will cost you no more than $450. These initial costs are normally the most expensive, especially for a kitten. However, this is just the initial outlay. To get a more accurate picture of how much you can expect to spend on your cat, you also have to factor in recurring expenses. These include everything from food to medicine.

Diet Cost

Every cat must be well fed with a complete and balanced diet. This is no different with Maus. Egyptian Maus don’t have any specific nutritional profile they need to follow. However, as obligate carnivores, you should include high-quality protein, low-fat, and few grain cat foods. With that being said, it is advisable to administer one type of food to your young kitten and only transition to a different variety when it becomes an adult. As they get older, their daily food consumption increases. It would help if you, therefore, considered this when budgeting for your cat food. Fortunately, the annual spending on food for your little feline friend can be categorized into three. Low-cost investment, which sums up to $100-$120. The mid-range food budget averages about $170 per year, and a high-range budget is about $200 every year. If you are not sure what variety of cat food is perfect for your cat, it is wise to ask for recommendations from your vet or the breeder before purchasing.

Grooming Cost

When it comes to grooming, Egyptian Maus are generally low-maintenance cats as they do not require regular bathing. However, they are known to be regular shedders and thus require regular brushing. Brushing at least once a week is crucial as it prevents hairballs, matting and stimulates easier circu7lation. Luckily, given the playful nature of the Egyptian Mau, brushing can easily be incorporated during playtime. Additionally, it is important to ensure the proper dental care for your cat. Brushing daily with a pet’s toothbrush will prevent the build-up of tartar on your kitty’s teeth. According to Cat-World, feeding raw chicken necks or chunks of steak two to three times a week also does the trick.

You should also ensure that you trim the cat’s claws every 4-6 weeks. General necessities for your Egyptian Mau’s grooming needs may include:

• Nail clipper: $7.50.
• Ear cleaning solution: $13.00.

Health Expenses

According to Purina, Egyptian Maus are generally healthy cats; therefore, regular visits to the vet, a balanced diet, plenty of clean water, and exercise will be just enough to keep them in good health. However, like all other felines, Egyptian Maus are subject to inevitable health issues while growing up. According to Your Cat, Pyruvate kinase (PK) deficiency is a hereditary disease that has been identified in the breed. This is the lack of an enzyme in the red blood cells which helps to produce energy for the cells to survive. If not treated, the deficiency can lead to anemia, which can lead to symptoms of lethargy and lack of appetite. In the very extreme case, the deficiency can be more rapid and may lead to death. However, if you buy your cat from a reputable breeder, they should be aware of this condition. This is a simple DNA test for this condition which breeders can use to prevent breeding carriers together. The disease is a recessive gene trait, and therefore, a cat needs to inherit two faulty genes to be affected. Medical costs for your little feline friend may include:

• Health Exam / General Checkup – $15
• Rabies Vax – $12
• FVRCP Vax – $12
• FeLV Test – $25
• Heartworm Test (Snap 4DX) – $25
• Home Again Microchip + Implant – $15
• Neutering – $45
• Spaying – $70
• Cryptorchid Neuter – $65 to $90

When moving your pet from the United States to an international country, it is a requirement that you have a health certificate. If you are moving to a country that only requires a basic health certificate, it will cost you approximately $38. However, for countries that require extra tests such as rabies, titer, or others, the charge depends on the number of tests required. A health certificate with 1-2 tests listed will cost $121, 3-6 tests cost $150, and 7 or more tests cost $173. Therefore, you should be sure to check the regulations in the country you’re traveling to and check what test testing it requires on your cat’s health certificate to plan your budget ahead.

Toys Expenses

Egyptian Maus have gained a reputation for being very active and athletic. Did you know that these cats can run at a speed of 30 miles per hour (48km/hr.)? This could be attributed to their hind legs, which are longer than the front ones. To keep up with their outgoing nature, you need to keep your cat well exercised, occupied, and well entertained. It is therefore wise to invest in a lot of interactive toys. Toy expenses can sum up to $20.

Where Can You Adopt an Egyptian Mau?

If you’re in demand of the Egyptian Mau breed, the easiest would be through a rescue center that specializes in Egyptian Maus. There are many Egyptian Maus available for adoption at local animal shelters or rescues. Do your research online and find a rescue shelter near you with an Egyptian Mau. We hope that you have found our guide on buying an Egyptian Mau helpful. Definitely, your mind is made up on buying these cute kitties, so go ahead and get your little feline soulmate!

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