Your guide to finding and caring for an Egyptian Mau in St. Louis
An Egyptian Mau fits a St. Louis brick flat well, especially in a neighborhood like Tower Grove South, as long as there's something tall to climb. These spotted, athletic cats treat a bookshelf or a sunny window perch like a racetrack, so a two-family flat or a Lafayette Square townhouse near the park can work nicely. Maus bond closely with their own people and take their time with visitors, which suits a calm household. Expect a cat that follows you from the kitchen to the couch.
Bring home an Egyptian Mau
While we don't have enough cats near St. Louis, keep in mind that many rescues may offer transport.
The Egyptian Mau is the only naturally spotted domestic cat breed, with a scarab-like M on the forehead, dark mascara lines beside gooseberry green eyes, and silver, bronze or smoke coats. Spotted cats resembling it appear in ancient Egyptian art, but the modern breed dates to the 1950s. Long hind legs and a loose flank flap give it a springy stride.
Many Maus are devoted to their own people and cautious with strangers. They're athletic climbers that love interactive play and high perches, and their voices are usually soft. In a city of older brick flats and townhouses, a cat that wants to be included in daily life does well with a window view. The breed is uncommon, so a shelter cat labeled Mau may be a spotted domestic shorthair.
Having an Egyptian Mau in St. Louis
Maus are agile, observant cats that bond closely and need real outlets for their energy. In St. Louis, that means vertical space in a brick flat, a plan for storm and fireworks noise, and a calm routine that gives a cautious cat time to settle.
Many Maus are loyal and affectionate with their chosen people, and slow to trust visitors or sudden noise. That caution matters in a city where fireworks are still heard around July 4 and New Year's despite the ban, and spring thunderstorms are common. Give a nervous cat a quiet room to retreat to, and judge each cat by its own comfort level.
Plan on daily interactive play: wand toys, chasing games, fetch and puzzle feeders, in several short sessions. St. Louis winters and humid summers keep most cats indoors, so cat trees, shelves and window perches do much of the work. A harness-trained Mau may enjoy supervised outings, but an enclosed outdoor space is safer.
Maus are generally sturdy, but urate bladder stones are more common in the breed, and pyruvate kinase deficiency, an inherited anemia, has been reported. Keep fresh water in several spots, especially through warm St. Louis summers, and watch litter habits. A veterinarian can review any records, check teeth and plan yearly exams.
A Mau can thrive in a brick flat, townhouse or house if there's vertical space: cat trees, shelves and window perches matter more than floor area. Because Maus jump and climb readily, secure window screens and balconies. A quiet hiding spot helps a cautious cat settle in, especially in a lively building.
| Expense | Typical cost | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Adoption fee | $125, one time | $125 in year one |
| Food | $25 to $50 per month | $300 to $600 |
| Pet insurance | $25 to $50 per month | $300 to $600 |
| Routine vet care | $150 to $350 per year | $150 to $350 |
| Other* | $454 to $1,154 per year | $454 to $1,154 |
| Estimated yearly total (after year one) | $1,204 to $2,704 | |
| First-year total (with adoption fee) | $1,329 to $2,829 | |
Adoption fee is the fee on Egyptian Mau listings in St. Louis on GetBuddy today. Other costs are estimates and vary with size, age and health.
* The $4 City registration for a spayed or neutered cat, litter, flea prevention, a dental cleaning allowance, toys, scratchers and cat trees, and occasional brushing supplies.
Now that you know more, let’s find you a new best friend. These rescues and shelters below currently have Egyptian Maus available.
St. Louis has a city shelter and several private rescues that take in cats of every breed and mix. Here are the rescues & shelters in the St. Louis area where you can find Egyptian Maus and other cats available for adoption.
1705 S. Hanley, Saint Louis
11660 Administration Dr, Saint Louis
2700 Walnut Place, Saint Louis
6400 Chippewa, Saint Louis
Saint Louis
3202 Cherokee Street, Saint Louis
2151 59th Street, Saint Louis
Yes. St. Louis's rules for cats center on rabies vaccination and City registration, not breed, so an Egyptian Mau is treated like any other cat. Because the breed is uncommon, a cat labeled Mau may be a spotted domestic shorthair, which doesn't change the rules. If you later move to a St. Louis County suburb such as Brentwood, review that municipality's animal rules, since they are separate.
Yes, Maus do well in apartments when they have vertical space and daily play. In St. Louis's brick flats and converted downtown lofts, tall cat trees, shelf perches and window seats with secure screens matter most. Maus are usually quiet, but a bored one can get destructive, so plan several short wand-toy sessions a day. Review your lease's pet terms first.
Mostly yes, because a Mau lives indoors. Summers are hot and humid, with about 47 days a year at 90°F or higher, so air conditioning matters. Winters bring roughly 85 freezing nights, and a short-coated Mau will want warm bedding and sunny perches. Spring thunderstorms and tornado season call for a carrier and a safe interior room.
No. Metro allows only service animals on MetroBus and MetroLink, and pets aren't permitted even in carriers. Without a car, plan on a rideshare or a veterinarian within walking distance for checkups. Confirm a rideshare driver's pet policy before booking, and use a secure, well-ventilated carrier for every trip.
Very little. An Egyptian Mau's short coat sheds low to moderate, and a weekly combing handles most of it. Humid summers and dry heated winter air rarely change that routine. Professional grooming is seldom needed, so occasional brushing supplies fit comfortably within the Other costs of $454 to $1,154 a year.
It can be, especially for people who are home often and want an interactive cat. A Mau suits a quiet indoor home with plenty of perches, but fireworks around July 4 and New Year's, spring storms and frequent visitors may unsettle a cautious cat. Offer a hiding spot and keep routines steady. Each Mau differs, so judge the cat in front of you.
No, Egyptian Maus are not hypoallergenic. No cat breed is, because the main cat allergen comes from saliva and skin glands rather than the hair itself. Maus have short coats that shed lightly, which may help a little, but people with allergies can still react. Spend time with the specific cat before adopting if anyone in the household has allergies.
Yes, Egyptian Maus are fairly rare. The modern breed descends from only a few cats brought to the United States in the 1950s, and it ranks in the middle to lower range of the CFA's breeds by registrations. Purebred Maus seldom appear in shelters, so breed rescues and patient searching give the best chance of adopting one.
We have 1 rescue with Egyptian Maus available: Animal Protective Association of Missouri. You can see every rescue with Egyptian Maus available in the list above these questions, or scroll to the top to see the Egyptian Maus near St. Louis.
Expect about $25 to $50 a month for food, $25 to $50 a month for insurance, $150 to $350 a year for routine vet care, and $454 to $1,154 a year for other costs such as litter and dental care. Together that's roughly $1,200 to $2,700 a year, before any illness or emergency.
Looking for a different breed? Browse other cats available for adoption in St. Louis.
