Egyptian Mau vs American Wirehair - Breed Comparison

The American Wirehair started as a spontaneous mutation so that somewhere along the line, an unusual litter with this unique wiry type of fur was born.

The cat hails from New York and it was in 1966 that a couple of barn cats had a litter of kittens, some of which were born with this peculiar wiry hair. Only one kitten survived – a male – and later it was discovered that the gene responsible for the wirehair coat was dominant so that only one parent required the gene to produce Wirehair offspring.

Today, all American Wirehairs are descendants of this one surviving male kitten. Today the breed is still fairly rare. It is, however, recognized by the four largest North American cat associations.

The Egyptians have always been interested in cats, and it is believed that in 1953 a noblewoman left Egypt with a tabby cat, returning to Italy.

Later, another cat was also brought to Italy and the pair were mated. The Egyptian Mau is a natural breed.

In 1956, a kitten of the pair was brought to the United States and the Egyptian Mau was developed. A breeding program was started in the United States. The breed Egyptian Mau was recognized in 1958 in the United States and 1992 in Europe.

The American Wirehair is a medium-sized cat, strong and powerful, and can weight 5, 6 or 7 kg.

The head is in proportion to the body and the cat has a strong muzzle and chin. The ears are medium-sized and are rounded at the tips while the eyes are large, round, and set well apart.

It’s the coat that draws attention as unlike a regular cat’s silky fur, the fur of this cat is springy, coarse and wiry to the touch. The coat can be any color or pattern. It is the cat’s very coat that distinguishes it from all other breeds.

With this coat, the less grooming the better. Brushing or combing can damage it, so unless he is shedding heavily, leave it alone.

The only other care he needs really is nail trimming, to check inside his mouth for bad teeth and to also check inside his ears for redness. Both the teeth and the ears can be a source of pain for your pet.

Temperament:

The American Wirehair may have a harsh coat but there is nothing harsh about his personality at all. He is amicable and loving, getting on well with all members of his human family.

He is an independent cat and while he loves spending time with his family, he is quite capable of spending time on his own as well.

The American Wirehair is a playful cat so you want to give him some toys to entertain himself for when you’re not around.

This is a medium-sized, long, athletic cat that is well muscled. It weighs between 3 to 5kg. The Mau is heavily muscled and strong. It has a triangular-shaped head with large almond-shaped eyes.

The coat of the Mau is medium in length and is glossy and soft. There are spots on the coat but the cat is particularly well known for the dark stripe that runs from its head to its tail. The coat comes in several different colors such as silver, black, tan and blue. All Maus have green eyes.

Temperament:

These cats are known for being loyal and friendly and they love warm weather and enjoying a spot in the sun.

They are talkative cats too and also love to sit on high perches and survey the world from these high positions. They are excellent climbers and you’ll need to supply these cats with a climbing tree. Its an intelligent breed and he will get along well with children in the home as well as be friendly towards other pets.

The American Wirehair makes a splendid pet, and while he isn’t the best breed for children, he can make a good pet with those children who have been taught kindness, gentleness and respect for animals.

He is calm, quiet, dependent, and sociable and by providing him with a good home, he’ll prove to be a wonderful pet and companion.

These are social cats with their own human family but the Egyptian Mau does tend to be a bit reserved around strangers.

They make excellent pets and companions and if he is happy, you’ll hear him making little noises to express his contentment.

What also makes him so attractive as a pet is that he is a short-coated cat that is considered to be low maintenance.

Before you decide to take on any animal as a pet and before you bring the Egyptian Mau into your home, do thorough research on this rare cat breed. If you do decide to take him in, find out all you can on how to provide for him so that he receives the best care and love in your home.

The American Wirehair is a healthy type of cat but any cat can develop health issues.

Be aware of Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy – a common form of heart disease in cats where there is the thickening of the heart muscle.

Be careful of overfeeding your cat as obesity is a major contributory disease to many illnesses that a cat gets. Excess weight can contribute to diabetes and arthritis and put pressure on your cat’s joints. Certainly, carrying extra weight can shorten your cat’s life. Make sure your cat gets smaller, healthier meals and that he is active and exercised.

Egyptian Maus are strong, robust cats and they don't have any particular health problems.

Obesity is a major disease with this cat and all other cats and it's worth noting, as obesity contributes to a great number of illnesses in cats. Excess weight can lead to diabetes and arthritis and well as other life-threatening diseases.

Two things that play an important role in his health are ensuring that he has access to excellent, nutritious, meaty food, as cats are carnivores.

You also want to ensure that he gets all his vaccines and de-wormings. If you notice that your cat seems to be under the weather, get him to the vet as soon as possible.

General:

Brush the cat gently once a week. Your cat will love the connection you and he has. While you brush him, make a point of checking inside his ears and inside his mouth as well. It is also time to trim his nails. If you are hesitant to do this, ask you vet for suggestions or you can make use of a pet groomer too.

Make sure your pet cat is free from parasites such as fleas, ticks and heartworm. Your vet can recommend a treatment and it is also a good idea to talk to your vet about vaccines for your cat.

No unwanted kittens:

Have your American Wirehair spayed or neutered to prevent unwanted kittens and to promote better health for your cat.

Diet:

Always choose healthy food for your pet, bearing in mind that cats are carnivores, which means that you need to choose cat-food for your pet that has fish and meat in it. It can be difficult making good homemade food for your cat but there are excellent commercially prepared cat foods to ensure your cat gets the correct balance of nutrients and calories. Bear in mind that your cat's nutritional requirements change through their different stages of life.

The beautiful coat of the Egyptian Mau is easy to care for and a weekly brushing will ensure it stays shiny and healthy.

If he will let you, try to look inside his mouth to ensure the teeth and gums are healthy.

Remember, if there are any grooming activities for this cat that you feel you can’t cope with, professional groomers will do it for you.

Provide your Egyptian Mau with a climbing tree and scratching post as the cat loves to jump and climb.

He is an active, intelligent cat and needs to be stimulated with exciting toys, particularly when you’re not around to entertain him.

Cats such as the Egyptian Mau are clean and they want their litterbox to be kept clean. Invest in scoop and rake and rid the litter box every day of cat droppings. There also comes a time when you will have to replace all the sand or grit as well.

It will be fantastic if you can provide this cat with a water fountain and a type of pool as they love playing in water.

Make sure your Mau has constant access to fresh, cool drinking water.