Arabian Mau

The Arabian Mau is a natural breed that grew out of the free-roaming desert cats of the Arabian Peninsula. Generations of life in a punishing climate produced a lean, athletic cat with a short, easy-care coat built for extreme heat. Formal recognition came only in recent decades, yet the cats themselves are an old population that adapted to the region with no deliberate human breeding.

This is a medium cat with a muscular frame, long legs and an alert look about it. It moves quickly and keeps its balance well, and it holds on to the survival instincts of an outdoor hunter. Owners here describe it as independent but affectionate, prone to trailing family members from room to room and keeping a close eye on whatever is going on.

Rather than fixing on one person, the Arabian Mau tends to attach itself to the whole household, and it stays lively well into adulthood. It talks readily and responds to attention, which makes it a sociable companion for anyone after an engaged cat instead of a quiet lap warmer.

Who it suits

The Arabian Mau fits active households that can give it play, climbing space and daily interaction. It does well with people who are home often, or who keep a second pet for company. It is a poor match for anyone wanting a sedentary cat, since it stays curious and energetic and does not cope well with long stretches of boredom.

The Arabian Mau traces back to the street and desert cats of the Arabian Peninsula, a population that lived beside people in towns and settlements across many generations. No written standard shaped these cats. They adapted on their own to a climate of fierce daytime heat and cool nights, which favoured a short coat, a lean body and sharp hunting ability.

For most of their history these were working animals rather than pets in the modern sense. They kept rodents down around homes, markets and storerooms, and they got by on scavenged food and prey. The qualities valued now, among them hardiness, alertness and a steady temperament around people, came out of that practical relationship rather than any deliberate selection.

Interest in documenting the breed picked up as the region modernised and breeders set out to preserve the local cat as its own distinct type. Cats were chosen from the existing desert population and measured against a written standard so the natural breed could be registered and shown.

The World Cat Federation accepted the Arabian Mau in 2009, giving it formal recognition. It stays uncommon outside its home region, and much of the breeding population still draws on cats native to the Arabian Peninsula.

The Arabian Mau has a medium, muscular build with a deep chest and long, well-proportioned legs that give it a tall, athletic stance. The head is slightly rounded with a defined muzzle, and the large ears sit high and wide, which helps the cat shed heat. The eyes are oval and set at a slight angle, and their colour generally matches the coat. The tail is medium in length and tapers to the tip.

Coat and colours

The coat is short and lies close to the body, with a fine texture and almost no undercoat. This single layer is an adaptation to heat and keeps grooming simple. Common looks include solid white, solid black, brown tabby and red, along with bicolour patterns that pair white with another colour. Without a heavy undercoat the breed sheds less than many longer-coated cats, though some seasonal shedding still occurs.

The Arabian Mau is independent and self-assured, a trait carried over from its beginnings as a free-roaming desert cat. Even so it forms a close attachment to its household and will often follow family members about the home. Affection comes on its own terms, and it looks for company through nearness and play more than long spells on a lap.

With its own family the breed is loyal and interactive. It greets people, watches activity closely and uses a range of sounds to make itself understood. With strangers it is usually wary at first and warms up once it decides the situation is safe. That alert streak means it picks up on changes in the home quickly.

The Arabian Mau generally accepts other cats and cat-friendly dogs when introductions go slowly, helped by its history of living in groups around settlements. Its strong prey drive means small animals such as rodents and birds are not safe housemates. Early socialisation helps it settle with children and other pets.

Grooming

• Brush the short single coat once a week to lift loose hair and spread skin oils
• Bathing is rarely needed, since the coat stays clean and dries quickly
• Check the large ears regularly and clean them gently when wax builds up
• Trim nails every few weeks and put out a scratching post
• Brush the teeth several times a week to hold off dental disease

Exercise

• Give it at least two active play sessions a day with wand toys or chase toys
• Set up climbing furniture and high perches to satisfy the urge to jump and watch
• Use puzzle feeders and a rotating set of toys to keep its mind busy
• Give the prey drive a safe outlet through interactive play

Environment

The Arabian Mau settles into indoor life when it has enough vertical space and stimulation. Its desert origins mean it handles warm weather well, but it still needs shade, fresh water and protection from severe cold. A secure outdoor enclosure suits the breed where outdoor access is wanted, since free roaming exposes it to traffic and other hazards.

The Arabian Mau is an obligate carnivore and does best on a diet built around animal protein. A complete and balanced cat food, whether wet, dry or a mix, should list a named meat as its main ingredient. Given the breed's high activity level, ample protein and calories support muscle and energy, but portions still need managing to keep indoor cats from putting on weight. Fresh water should always be within reach, and wet food helps with hydration.

Treats and supplements

Treats should stay under about ten per cent of daily calories. A cat on a complete commercial diet usually needs no extra supplements. Talk over any addition, such as a joint or skin supplement, with a vet before starting, since over-supplementing can do harm.

The Arabian Mau is regarded as a robust breed, partly because it developed through natural selection rather than intensive line breeding. The typical lifespan is 12 to 15 years, and many cats reach the upper end of that range with good care. There is no long catalogue of inherited conditions attached to the breed, but like all cats it is subject to common feline health problems and benefits from routine veterinary attention.

Preventive care

• Annual veterinary checkups, with twice-yearly visits for senior cats
• Core vaccinations and boosters on a vet-set schedule
• Routine flea, tick and worming prevention
• Dental care through brushing and professional cleaning when needed
• Desexing unless the cat is part of a planned breeding program

The Arabian Mau is quick to learn and enjoys a mental challenge, which makes it more trainable than most cats. It can pick up its name, come when called and manage simple tricks or harness walking when the training stays consistent and rewarding. Its independent streak means it cooperates best when there is something in it for the cat, so short, upbeat sessions work far better than repetition or pressure.

Basics

1. Start with litter training, which most kittens take to quickly given a clean, accessible tray
2. Teach name recognition by rewarding the cat when it looks or comes towards you
3. Introduce a scratching post early and reward its use to protect the furniture
4. Use clicker or treat marking to shape tricks such as sit, target touch or come
5. Build up to harness and lead work gradually if outdoor walks are the goal

Arabian Mau cats reach sexual maturity within the first year, though responsible breeders hold off until a queen is physically mature before mating. Mating follows the normal feline cycle, with queens coming into season repeatedly through breeding periods. Gestation runs about 63 to 67 days, after which the queen delivers her litter.

Litters usually run from two to five kittens. Newborns are blind and dependent, relying wholly on the mother for warmth and milk in the early weeks. Kittens begin to open their eyes within the first fortnight, start exploring soon after, and head towards weaning at around six to eight weeks of age.

The breed's natural hardiness generally carries over into easy births and attentive mothering, but breeding should still be planned with veterinary support and genetic screening. Kittens gain from early handling and socialisation so the independent temperament settles into a confident, people-friendly adult. Reputable breeding keeps the small gene pool healthy and preserves the natural type.

Arabian Mau registration and microchipping in Australia

Torn flyscreens and doors left ajar send indoor cats to the pound every week, and a fair few states expect pet cats chipped and on the register anyway. A free United Pet Club profile means the scan pulls up your number wherever your Arabian Mau turns up. Register your cat in a couple of minutes, free for her whole life.

Scanners find chips in seconds; the question is what the number points at. Point your Arabian Mau's chip at a live record: free with the lifetime plan, open to all brands, kept current through every move without charges. Microchip registration plus a free account, and she's covered.