The mau has a triangular shaped head with large almond shaped eyes. The profile is gentle and nothing appears extreme, with the exception of the spotted tabby markings of the coat.The coat of the mau is medium in length and glossy and soft. The spots on the coat cover the body with tabby striping on the face, extremities and tail. Most maus have a flap of looser skin, which goes from the flanks to the knees on the hind legs.|

Maus like to sit up high and survey their surroundings. They usually act as if they are in complete control of their environment. They are extremely strong and very active, but they have a very balanced temperament.

The Egyptian mau is an athletic cat and will adjust their own nutrition if given enough room to adequately exercise.Egyptian maus are great jumpers and climbers, and should have perches and cat trees to make their own. If these are not provided, the mau will create their own perch on the top of the refrigerator or on bookcases.The Egyptian mau is an easy cat when it comes to care and likes being brushed. Brushing can easily be made a part of regular playtime.

The Egyptians were well known not only as lovers of cats but also as worshipers of them. In the "Book of the Dead," Ra, the God of the Sun, is portrayed as a spotted tabby cat. He is depicted in Egyptian art as slaying the serpent Apep. In many Egyptian depictions, a scarab is shown on the forehead of the cat. In actuality, a mark that resembles the scarab is a natural marking of tabby cats. This important scarab marking may have been part of the reason that cats were worshipped by ancient Egyptians.In 1953, a noblewoman returned to Italy from Egypt with a tabby cat. This tabby cat was bred to a male tabby that had also been brought to Italy from Egypt, this time with the help of a Syrian ambassador. In 1956, the progeny of this original pair were brought to the United States by this noblewoman, and the Egyptian mau was created. "mau," in Egyptian, means "cat."The resulting breeding programme in the United States produced cats that appeared to recall the ancient tabby cats, which were worshipped by the Egyptians. The breed Egyptian mau was recognised in 1958 in the United States and 1992 in Europe.