Your guide to finding and caring for an Egyptian Mau in Seattle
An Egyptian Mau suits a Seattle apartment well, as long as the place has plenty of vertical space. Maus are athletic climbers, so a tall cat tree by the window of a Belltown high-rise or a Wallingford bungalow gives one plenty to do on a rainy afternoon. They tend to be devoted to their people and cautious with visitors, which works best in a calm household. The breed is uncommon, so a cat labeled Mau may be a spotted domestic shorthair. Judge the cat in front of you.
Bring home an Egyptian Mau
While we don't have enough cats near Seattle, keep in mind that many rescues may offer transport.
F, 2 y., 998 miles
Egyptian Mau, Tabby
F, 3 y., 998 miles
Egyptian Mau, Tabby
M, 5 y., 998 miles
Egyptian Mau, Domestic Long Hair
M, 4 y., 998 miles
Egyptian Mau, Tabby
F, 6 mo., 998 miles
Egyptian Mau, Tabby
M, 6 mo., 998 miles
Egyptian Mau, Tabby
M, 8 mo., 1358 miles
Domestic Short Hair, Egyptian Mau
F, 2 mo., 1424 miles
Tabby, Egyptian Mau
F, 2 y., 1510 miles
Egyptian Mau
M, 4 y., 1510 miles
Egyptian Mau
The Egyptian Mau is a medium-sized, spotted shorthair, usually 7 to 14 pounds, and the only naturally spotted domestic breed. Spotted cats appear in ancient Egyptian art, but the modern breed dates to the 1950s, when Princess Nathalie Troubetskoy brought Maus from Italy to the United States. Silver, bronze and smoke are the recognized colors, and most Maus have green eyes with dark lines beside them and an M-shaped mark on the forehead.
Many Maus bond closely with one or two people and take their time with strangers. They're fast, curious and often happy to learn fetch, and their voices are usually soft chirps. Shedding is low to moderate, so weekly combing is enough. Like any breed, Maus vary in confidence and energy, so spend time getting to know the cat.
Having an Egyptian Mau in Seattle
Egyptian Maus combine athletic energy with a strong attachment to their people. In Seattle, that means planning for rainy-day play, vertical space in a rental and a calm introduction for a cat that may be shy with visitors.
Egyptian Maus tend to be loyal and affectionate with the people they choose, and many stay cautious with visitors and loud noises. In a Seattle apartment building, a quiet hiding spot helps a wary cat settle in. Each cat differs, so notice how the cat reacts to handling and new sounds.
Plan on daily interactive play: wand toys, chasing games, fetch and puzzle feeders, spread over several short sessions. Seattle sees roughly 90 rainy days a year, so most of that play happens indoors, which makes shelves and tall cat trees worth having. Some Maus learn harness walking, which can add safe outdoor time on dry days.
Maus are generally sturdy, but the breed has a higher rate of urate bladder stones, and pyruvate kinase deficiency, an inherited cause of anemia, has been reported. Fresh water, a suitable diet and watching litter habits help. Schedule a wellness exam with a veterinarian soon after adoption, and keep up with dental care.
A Mau can do well in a Seattle apartment, townhome or house that offers cat trees, shelves and window perches. Secure screens and balconies, since Maus jump readily. Keep the cat indoors or in an enclosed outdoor space, because coyotes are present across much of Seattle, including many parks and wooded green spaces.
| Expense | Typical cost | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| 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* | $480 to $1,180 per year | $480 to $1,180 |
| Estimated yearly total (after year one) | $1,230 to $2,730 | |
Other costs are estimates and vary with size, age and health.
* Litter, the $30 Seattle license for an altered cat, 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 have cats available in and near Seattle.
Seattle's shelters and rescues care for cats of every age, including spotted shorthairs that may resemble a Mau. Here are the rescues & shelters in the Seattle area with cats available for adoption, worth asking whether an Egyptian Mau is coming in.
Yes, you can own an Egyptian Mau in Seattle. The city has no breed bans, and Washington law limits breed-based rules statewide, so a Mau is treated like any other cat. What matters is the basics: a city license, a current rabies vaccination and, if you rent, a lease that allows cats.
Yes, an Egyptian Mau can live happily in a Seattle apartment if it has outlets for its energy. Offer a tall cat tree, a window perch and two or three short play sessions a day with wand toys. Maus are usually soft-voiced, which helps in shared buildings, and a cautious cat will appreciate a quiet hiding spot away from hallway noise.
An Egyptian Mau fits Seattle best with someone who's home often enough to play with it daily and doesn't mind spending rainy days indoors. It suits apartments and houses alike, as long as there's vertical space. It's less ideal if you host lots of guests, since many Maus stay wary of visitors, though each cat varies.
Yes, Seattle's mild, damp climate suits an indoor Egyptian Mau. Winters rarely stay frozen and summers are mild, so the cat mainly needs warm perches in winter and shade and fresh water on rare hot days. The bigger challenge is keeping an energetic cat entertained through the long rainy months, so plan extra play on stormy days.
Yes, as long as the Egyptian Mau rides in a carrier. On King County Metro buses, pets other than dogs must be in a carrier, and there's no fare for them. Sound Transit allows pets in small containers, and the King County Water Taxi requires cats in an enclosed carrier. Choose a sturdy, ventilated carrier and let your Mau practice at home first.
An Egyptian Mau needs little grooming: a quick weekly combing is usually enough for its short coat, and shedding is low to moderate. Seattle's damp weather matters less for an indoor cat, but wipe off wet paws after harness walks. Trim nails regularly. Most owners skip a professional groomer, so brushing supplies stay within the yearly Other costs.
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.
Without papers or a DNA test, you cannot be certain your cat is an Egyptian Mau. Signs that point toward the breed include randomly spotted fur in silver, bronze or smoke, a scarab-like M on the forehead, mascara lines by the eyes, gooseberry green eyes and a loose skin flap by the hind legs. Many spotted shelter cats are domestic shorthairs.
Expect roughly $1,230 to $2,730 a year for a Mau in Seattle. That covers food at $25 to $50 a month, insurance at $25 to $50 a month, routine vet care at $150 to $350 a year, and other costs of $480 to $1,180 a year, including litter. Emergencies and illness are extra.
Looking for a different breed? Browse other cats available for adoption in Seattle.
