Low and wide suits the Mau's long frame
For an older Egyptian Mau, aim for a litter tray entry about two to three inches above the floor, cut wide into the side of a generously long tray. The Egyptian Mau is a spotted, athletic breed with a longer body and longer hind legs, built historically for speed rather than compact curling. A senior Mau who is stiff through the hips needs room to walk in straight, turn without folding himself tightly, and step out without catching a long hind leg on the rim. A low but narrow notch in a small tray solves the height problem while creating a twisting problem, so judge entry height and tray length together for this breed.
How stiffness shows in an athletic cat
An older Egyptian Mau may still move fluidly around the house, which can hide how much a litter tray rim costs him. The clues are specific: a bunny-hop of both hind legs over the edge, a pause to shake each hind paw after stepping out, or deposits left near the entrance because he perched half in and half out rather than committing to the climb. Maus are observant, routine-driven cats, and one painful entry can make this cat quietly relocate his toilet spot to a rug or laundry pile. Treating early rim-clipping as information, not stubbornness, protects both his comfort and his habits.
Building the entry for a longer body
Choose the largest tray that fits the space, then lower one of the long sides so this Egyptian Mau enters along his natural line of travel rather than turning sharply at the opening. The lowered section should span enough width that his shoulders and hips pass without brushing, and the edge should be smooth and slightly rounded where his belly clears it. Because Maus dig with enthusiasm, keep the back and side walls full height and use a mat that extends well beyond the entry to catch kicked litter. Avoid hooded trays during this change, since a lid forces a crouched, head-down entry that adds neck and shoulder work to the hip problem.
When a low entry is no longer the whole answer
If an older Egyptian Mau still hesitates at a two-inch entry, look at the whole route rather than cutting the tray lower and lower. A slippery hallway, a tray tucked behind a door he must push, or litter that shifts underfoot can each undo a good entry height. Watch for crying when he postures, straining with little result, blood in urine, or a sudden change in how often he goes, and treat any of those as a prompt vet appointment for this cat rather than a tray experiment. Likewise, a Mau who stops covering his waste after years of tidy habits may be telling you that digging itself has become uncomfortable.
Keeping the winning setup consistent
Once you find the height this Egyptian Mau uses confidently, measure it and note the tray's length and position, because replacement trays are rarely the same shape twice. A house move, a new sitter or a second tray upstairs can silently reintroduce a rim he had stopped coping with. Writing the entry height, tray dimensions and his preferred quiet location into KinsLe Pet Passport keeps those senior-care specifics attached to his records, ready for vet visits, travel or a handover to whoever cleans and positions his tray next.