The ancient Egyptians were known for their love of cats and with a breed like the Egyptian Mau out there, we understand why
Considered by some to be one of the progenitor breeds of the modern domestic cat, Egyptian Maus are one of the only naturally spotted domestic breeds of cats. They’re also the fastest domestic cat breed thanks to a combination of unusually long hind legs and a unique skin flap that gives the hind legs greater stretch, improving agility and lengthening the stride.
Egyptian Maus are known for their playful personalities and for their closeness to their owners.
There’s no denying that the Egyptian Mau cat is a rare and wonderful breed. From their distinctive spotted coat to their playful personalities, there’s a lot to love about these active cats. As well-loved as they are, however, Egyptian Maus are pretty rare with estimates as low as 3,000 in the entire world.
If you’re going to make the effort to hunt down a specimen of this beautiful breed, you ought to be willing to do everything it takes to keep your cat healthy. A nutritious and species-appropriate diet is the best way to protect your cat’s long-term health and wellness.
Read on to see our top picks for the best cat food for Egyptian Maus on the market.
At a Glance: Best Cat Food for Egyptian Maus To Buy
Want a quick look at the products reviewed in this article? In the comparison table below, we’ve highlighted some of the most important features of each product. You’ll find more detailed information about each product later in the article.
Smalls Ground Bird Fresh Cat Food
- Chicken-based formula rich in protein
- Limited list of digestible ingredients
- Good source of hydrating moisture
Wellness CORE Natural Grain-Free Chicken, Turkey & Chicken Liver Pate
- Multiple sources of high-quality animal protein
- Rich in moisture to support your cat’s hydration
- Free from fillers, by-products and artificial additives
Open Farm Wild-Caught Salmon Rustic Blend Wet Cat Food
- Made with ethically sourced, 100% traceable ingredients
- Contains a single source of animal protein
- Rich in moisture to support your cat’s hydration
Fancy Feast Fish & Shrimp Feast Flaked Canned Food
- Rich in animal protein and fish flavor
- High moisture content to support hydration
- Affordably priced around $0.25/ounce
Dr. Elsey’s cleanprotein Chicken Formula Grain-Free Dry Cat Food
- Made with over 90% animal protein
- Low glycemic formula, low in carbohydrates
- Highly digestible and biologically valuable
Nature’s Variety Instinct Ultimate Protein Grain-Free Dry Cat Food
- Packed with animal-based protein
- Nutritious chicken fat for essential fatty acids
- Supplemented with freeze-dried chicken organs
Wysong Optimal Vitality Dry Cat Food
- Contains 50% fresh, frozen, and dried meats and organs
- Low glycemic index
- Free from artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives
What Is the Ideal Diet for an Egyptian Mau?
As a domesticated cat, the Egyptian Mau’s diet is typical to that of other cats. This doesn’t mean, however, that you can be lazy when it comes to choosing what to feed your cat. Too many pet owners make the mistake of misunderstanding their pet’s nutritional needs.
The first thing you need to know about your Egyptian Mau is that he is a carnivore – an obligate carnivore, to be exact.
Obligate carnivores are animals who have a biological requirement for a meat-based diet. In the wild, cats subsist primarily on prey animals, consuming the muscle meat as well as the organs and raw bone. Plant products play no major nutritional role in the diet of a wild cat or a house cat.
Commercial cat foods tend to be very plant-heavy, especially lower quality brands that use cheap fillers like corn, wheat, and soy to keep costs down. Even some of the highest quality brands on the market use high percentages of plant products, however, so it’s important to cultivate an understanding not only of your cat’s nutritional needs, but of how to interpret the information on pet food labels.
Your Egyptian Mau deserves a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet. What form that diet takes, however, is up to you.
Raw and homemade diets are good options when properly formulated but we understand that these options may not always be viable financially or time-wise. Fresh cat food is a great alternative. It provides quality nutrition along with the moisture your cat needs, plus many companies deliver right to your door.
If none of these options suit your budget, a high-quality wet food or dry food might be your best bet. Let’s take a look at some of our top picks for the best dry food and wet food for Egyptian Maus.
Our Top 4 Recommended Wet Cat Food for Egyptian Maus
When shopping for commercial cat food, look for a recipe that prioritizes animal products over plant products. Generally speaking, canned food tends to be higher in protein and lower in carbohydrates than dry food – it also contains the moisture your cat needs for optimal hydration.
Here are our top 4 picks for the best wet cat food for Egyptian Maus:
Our Top 3 Recommendations for Dry Food for Egyptian Maus
While canned food is generally our preference for cats, it can be pricey, and some cats simply prefer kibble. If you’re looking for a high-quality dry food for your Egyptian Mau, check out our top picks.
Here are our top 3 picks for the best dry cat food for egyptian maus:
Egyptian Mau Allergies
Egyptian Maus are generally healthy cats with no major breed issues. Pyruvate kinase deficiency has been recognised in the breed, but luckily, a genetic test is available to rule this out in breeding cats.
While Egyptian Maus are no more prone to food allergies than any other breed, it’s important to be able to recognize the signs. Diagnosing food allergies can be difficult because the symptoms may overlap with those of other health problems. Common food allergens include chicken, beef, fish, and dairy.
Some of the most common symptoms of food allergies in cats include:
- Chronic skin problems
- Dry, itchy skin
- Redness and inflammation
- Recurrent ear infections
- Vomiting or diarrhea
If you suspect that your cat is suffering from food allergies, visit your veterinarian. They may recommend conducting a food trial. Start with an elimination diet, switching your cat to a diet made with main ingredients your cat hasn’t had before.
A recipe made with a single source of novel protein may be best or a hypoallergenic diet. Keep your cat on the diet for at least 6 weeks to see whether his symptoms resolve.
Once your cat’s symptoms resolve, you can try adding potential allergens back into his diet one at a time to identify the culprit. The other option is to keep feeding your cat a single-protein, limited ingredient diet to reduce the risk of triggering his allergies. Seek veterinary advice if his symptoms aren’t resolving.
Click here to see our list of the best hypoallergenic cat foods.
Overview
A healthy diet is the best way to keep your Egyptian Mau healthy. Your cat is a carnivore and requires a meat-based diet that provides the right balance of protein, healthy fat, and essential nutrients. Raw and homemade foods are great as long as you use a vet-formulated recipe, but if you don’t have the time or budget, the list above contains some great alternatives.
Do your homework and choose the highest quality cat food you can consistently afford.
Finally, remember that diet is just one piece of the puzzle in keeping your cat in good health. Regular exercise is essential to prevent obesity which can put your cat at risk for a wide variety of health conditions. Mental stimulation through regular play is important as well, especially for indoor cats.
Hi there. I have three Egyptian Mau kitties, a Silver Mau named Sylvie; a Smokey Mau named Onyx (Nyxxi) and a Bronze Mau named Ramzy. Sylvie is now 13 years old. We were unaware of the problem cats had with grain in their food until 3 or 4 years ago. We immediately switched to an all grain-free diet so Ramzy has been raised entirely on grain-free food.
Sylvie, although 13 years old, is a spry, spunky, “alpha” cat who can still run down squirrels. No, I don’t let her keep them. I don’t let her put anything in her mouth unless I know where it’s been. Oh, by the way, Egyptian Mau’s are short hair cats, do not have ear tufts and only have bushy tails when they get excited or frightened.
Hubby is Sylvie’s person. She is SO attached to him she even goes out to his wood working shop to be with him. All three cats are strictly indoor cats. Sylvie goes on supervised walks around the front yard shrubbery when the weather isn’t rainy, with her Person, of course.
Nyxxi is nine years old and she is my watcher. Nyxxi can always be found up on things, the highest ledge on the cat tree, on top of my kitchen cabinets and the fire place mantle. She watches over me and has even waken me from nightmares. She’s my special girl.
Ramzy just turned two and is the family funny guy. He is amazing. He loves to play fetch, he loves to play period. I have toys for him in almost every room of the house. He loves his toys and will spend a whole afternoon playing with a ball and a sheet of brown shipping paper. He also has a stuffed bunny he carries around the house meowing to the bunny as it is being carried. He is a little love.
I keep dry food out for the kitties all day because cats are nibblers by nature. However, Ramzy wakes me up between 7 and 8 in the morning for his breakfast. Breakfast consists of a little dry food mixed with half a can of his wet food. The other half is covered and put in the cabinet for a little later, this boy is a real eater. When Hubby get up three or four hours after I do, he then gives Ramzy the other half of his food. Mid evening between 4:30 and 6 all three cats split a can of wet food and that’s it for the day.
I wish you guys had a place for pictures. I would love to share with you the World of the Mau!
Peggy,
We have two silver Egyptian Maus, a brother and a sister. They were born on a December 5th, 2010,
And a when they were little, I had them on Precise, but they got tired of it , so I switched them to wellness cat food, after a few years on that they got tired of it, so I switched them to natures variety,
They loved it, especially the turkey, turkey and chicken, then I noticed that they started itching and shaking their heads, and my Ramesses Boy shook his head so much that he had a hematoma, I really didn’t realize that it was the peas and eggs in the cats food, the only dry food I feed them is Instinct by Nature’s Variety Ultimate Protein Grain-Free Cage-Free Chicken Recipe Dry Cat Food. I have been trying to find another food that has a raw coating like natures variety, I did try another brand and they hated it, I have tried freeze dried food, and I am slowly getting them use to it, by hiding it in their wet food. If you don’t mind me asking what food do you feed your three Egyptian Maus ?
All I can say is that my bronze girl Papyrus has made it to 17 on Wellness grain free in all its varieties and is still an aware, agile cat with a silky coat of Mau glitter.
Thanks for your reply. I have them on wellness too, but I still put freeze pieces in their wet food for extra protein.
I have two 15 year old Egyptian maus, silver and bronze boys. Six years ago, one of them had Pancreatitis. I have given both of the Royal Canin selected proteins dry food (prescription) ever since. They like the venison and rabbit flavors best. They occasionally get dehydrated. So I try to give them a little wet food every day but they don’t eat much of it. The one they liked the best and seems not to have side effects was Holistic Select feline grain-free Ocean Fish and Tuna pate. It is no longer made as of mid-year 2020. The American Journey’s can food (flavor?) made them vomit.
You are describing a Main Coon cat not an Egyptain Mau! Please check this out and make changes.
Hi Jan, that’s worrying. I removed the sentence you’re referring to and can see that this article is in need of rewriting. Putting it on our list of articles to update now. Thank you!
I have a beautiful black Arabian Mau he’s age 3. He is so fussy with his food. He doesn’t like meat I’ve tried fresh cooked chicken and he walked away wouldn’t even try it. The only food he will eat is fish meals and biscuits containing fish. He is so loving and funny