Explore the Mysteries of 5 Fascinating Egyptian Cat Breeds Discover the true origins and histories of iconic Egyptian felines. By Jackie Brown Updated on 05/28/25 Credit: Mordolff / Getty Images Key Takeaways Egyptian Mau and Chausie are the only two cat breeds in the article with direct roots to Egypt.The Abyssinian, Savannah, and Sphynx breeds have been mistakenly attributed to Egypt; however, their origins lie elsewhere.Egyptian cats played a significant cultural role in ancient Egypt, revered and sometimes mummified alongside their owners. Egyptian cat breeds are some of the oldest. Egypt, along with the Fertile Crescent in the Middle East, is a birthplace of domesticated cats. These cats originated from small wildcats in Egypt around 1500 B.C. History and Cultural Significance of Egyptian Cat Breeds Cats are documented in ancient Egypt for over 3,000 years. They played a vital role in protecting grain stores by hunting rodents and killing poisonous snakes near Egyptian homes. To the Egyptians, cats were considered sacred and an important part of their culture. In life, they were pampered and revered. Egyptian royals even dressed their pet cats in gold and jewels. In death, Egyptians mummified cats and placed them in tombs. The goddess Bastet, who took the form of a cat, appears in many ancient Egyptian works of art. Egyptian Cat Breeds Few modern cat breeds can trace their roots directly to Egypt, though some are mistakenly believed to be Egyptian. Learn about two breeds that truly originated in Egypt and three commonly thought to be Egyptian but are not. 01 of 05 Egyptian Mau Credit: Getty Images/Mordolff We have no written records of the Egyptian mau’s history, but it’s commonly accepted that the breed has ancient origins and developed from Egyptian street cats. Egyptian drawings show heavily spotted cats with the same mascara markings and barring pattern seen on the modern Egyptian mau. The breed is thought to have first appeared in the United States in 1956 when exiled Russian Princess Nathalie Troubetskoy brought her Egyptian mau cats with her. Today, street cats in Egypt are often called Nile Valley Egyptian Cats and many of them resemble the Egyptian mau. The Bengal cat breed is believed to have been developed through cross-breeding with the Egyptian mau. Breed Overview WEIGHT: 6 to 14 poundsLENGTH: Up to 16 inchesPERSONALITY: Playful, active, devoted, loyal, alert, affectionate on their own termsCOAT LENGTH: Medium-length shorthairCOAT COLOR: Silver, bronze, or smoke with dark spots of varying sizes that occur only on the tips of the fur. Other characteristics include a dorsal stripe extending along the tail to a dark tail tip. The forehead has an “M” marking and the face has “mascara” lines that start at the corner of the eyes and sweep along the cheeks.EYE COLOR: GreenLIFESPAN: 12 to 15 years 02 of 05 Chausie Credit: Getty Images/Milk Photography The medium- to large-sized chausie (pronounced chow-see), is a hybrid breed created by crossbreeding domestic cats and a small wildcat species called the jungle cat that was revered by ancient Egyptians. Although the chausie is a modern breed—created in the United States in the 1990s—their jungle cat heritage ties them directly to Egypt. Domestic cats used in the creation of the chausie include the Abyssinian and the domestic shorthair. Breed Overview Weight: About 15 to 25 poundsLength: About 20 to 22 inchesPersonality: Friendly, playful, active, affectionateCoat Length: Short to medium, with a dense, soft undercoat and a somewhat resilient, slightly coarser outer coatCoat Color: Brown ticked tabby, black grizzled ticked tabby or blackEye Color: Any color, including blue or odd-eyedLife Expectancy: 15 to 20 years 10 of the Rarest Cat Breeds That Are Hard to Find 03 of 05 Abyssinian Credit: Getty Images/Josef Timar The small, shorthaired Abyssinian is one of the oldest cat breeds. Perhaps due to the breed’s striking resemblance to the cats depicted in ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs, many sources identify the Abyssinian cat’s country of origin as Egypt or Ethiopia (formerly known as Abyssinia). However, the most recent genetic research suggests the coast of the Indian Ocean and parts of Southeast Asia as the most likely birthplace of the Abyssinian cat. The breed name Abyssinian came about because, in the 1800s, some English fanciers imported cats matching the description of today’s Abyssinian and exhibited them at cat shows in England, stating that the cats were obtained from Abyssinia. Breed Overview WEIGHT: Up to 12 poundsLENGTH: Up to 28 inchesPERSONALITY: Friendly, interactive, animated, active, and playfulCOAT LENGTH: Short hairCOAT COLOR: Solid or ticked; ruddy, red, blue, cinnamon, or fawnEYE COLOR: Green or goldLIFESPAN: Up to 15 years 04 of 05 Savannah Credit: Getty Images/ajr_images With their spotted coat, the Savannah cat might look like cats in Egyptian art, but they were developed in the United States in the 1980s by crossing a small, African wildcat species called the serval with domestic cats. Like their serval relative, the Savannah cat is tall and slender with a long neck, large ears, and a gorgeous spotted coat. This breed needs more exercise and mental stimulation than most cats, so don't plan to bring one home unless you can give them the exercise and stimulation they need to be healthy and happy. Breed Overview WEIGHT: 12 to 25 poundsLENGTH: 20 to 22 inchesPERSONALITY: Affectionate and social with owners, pets, and older children; intelligent and trainableCOAT LENGTH: Short to medium hairCOAT COLOR: Tawny, black/brown spotted tabby, black/silver spotted tabby, or black smoke with a solid or tabby patternEYE COLOR: Amber or greenLIFESPAN: Up to 20 years These 7 Hybrid Cat Breeds Look Like They Belong in the Jungle—But Can Be Great Pets Continue to 5 of 5 below 05 of 05 Sphynx Credit: Getty Images/flukyfluky Many people think that the Sphynx cat comes from Egypt due to their resemblance to ancient Egyptian depictions of cats. It’s also possible that people confuse the Sphnyx cat with the mythical sphinx—a creature with the head of a human, body of a lion, and wings of an eagle. Ancient Egyptians believed the sphinx could guard royalty, so they built many statues of the sphinx, including the most famous: the Great Sphinx of Giza. Alas, the wrinkled, hairless Sphynx cat claims Canada, as their birthplace. Sphynx cats feel like warm suede or chamois because they are covered in a soft down. Sphynx don’t shed and need no brushing, but they must be bathed somewhat regularly to remove any buildup of skin oils and to keep their skin healthy. Breed Overview WEIGHT: Less than 12 poundsLENGTH: 13 to 15 inches, head to tailPERSONALITY: Playful, affectionate, friendly, energetic, and lovingCOAT LENGTH: Nearly hairless, peach fuzzCOAT COLOR: Any color, including white, black, red, brown, white, and lilacEYE COLOR: Any colorLIFESPAN: 8 to 14 years More Cat Breeds and Further Research To explore more cat breeds, check out: 15 Best American Cat Breeds 14 Top Cat Breeds from Asia 10 Best British Cat Breeds Discover 46 Unique Egyptian Cat Names for Your Regal Feline Explore more: Cats Cat Breeds Sources The Spruce Pets uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. The origins of cats | international cat care. How cats became divine symbols in ancient Egypt. HISTORY. Cats, bastet and the worship of feline gods. ARCE.