Arabian Mau

The Arabian Mau is a natural breed that developed from the free-roaming desert cats of the Arabian Peninsula. Centuries of life in a harsh climate shaped a lean, athletic body and a short, low-maintenance coat suited to extreme heat. The breed was formalised only in recent decades, but the cats themselves belong to an old population that adapted to the region without deliberate human selection.

This is a medium-sized cat with a muscular frame, long legs, and an alert expression. It moves with speed and balance, and it retains the survival instincts of an outdoor hunter. Owners describe it as independent yet affectionate, with a habit of following family members from room to room and watching activity closely.

The Arabian Mau tends to bond with one household rather than a single person, and it stays active well into adulthood. It communicates readily and responds to attention, which makes it a sociable companion for people who want an engaged cat rather than a quiet lap pet.

Who it suits

The Arabian Mau fits active households that can offer play, climbing space, and daily interaction. It does well with people who are home often or who keep more than one pet for company. It is less suited to those wanting a sedentary cat, since it stays curious and energetic and dislikes long stretches of boredom.

The Arabian Mau traces back to the street and desert cats of the Arabian Peninsula, a population that lived alongside people in towns and settlements for many generations. These cats were not bred to a written standard. They adapted on their own to a climate of intense daytime heat and cool nights, which favoured a short coat, a lean body, and strong hunting ability.

For most of their history these cats were working animals rather than pets in the modern sense. They controlled rodents around homes, markets, and storage areas, and they survived on scavenged food and prey. The traits valued today, including hardiness, alertness, and an even temperament around humans, came from this practical relationship rather than deliberate selection.

Interest in documenting the breed grew as the region modernised and breeders sought to preserve the local cat as a distinct type. Cats were selected from the existing desert population and assessed against a written standard so the natural breed could be registered and shown.

The Arabian Mau was accepted by the World Cat Federation in 2009, which gave the breed formal recognition. It remains 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, a feature that helps the cat release heat. The eyes are oval and set at a slight angle, and eye 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 makes grooming simple. Common appearances include solid white, solid black, brown tabby, and red, along with bicolour patterns that pair white with another colour. The lack of a heavy undercoat means 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 origins as a free-roaming desert cat. At the same time it forms a close attachment to its household and often follows family members around the home. It is affectionate on its own terms and tends to seek company through proximity and play rather than long periods of lap sitting.

With family the breed is loyal and interactive. It greets people, watches activity closely, and uses a range of vocalisations to communicate. With strangers it is usually cautious at first and warms up once it judges the situation safe. Its alert nature means it notices changes in the home quickly.

The Arabian Mau generally accepts other cats and cat-friendly dogs when introductions are gradual, 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 companions. Early socialisation helps it settle with children and other pets.

Grooming

• Brush the short single coat once a week to remove loose hair and spread skin oils
• Bathing is rarely needed because 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 provide a scratching post
• Brush the teeth several times a week to limit dental disease

Exercise

• Provide at least two active play sessions a day using wand toys or chase toys
• Offer climbing furniture and high perches to satisfy the urge to jump and observe
• Use puzzle feeders and rotating toys to keep the mind engaged
• Allow safe outlets for the prey drive through interactive play

Environment

The Arabian Mau adapts to indoor life when given enough vertical space and stimulation. It tolerates warm climates well thanks to its desert origins, but it still needs shade, fresh water, and protection from extreme cold. A secure outdoor enclosure suits the breed if outdoor access is desired, 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 the main ingredient. Given the breed's high activity level, adequate protein and calories support muscle and energy, but portions still need control to prevent weight gain in indoor cats. Fresh water should always be available, and wet food helps with hydration.

Treats and supplements

Treats should stay under about ten per cent of daily calories. A cat fed a complete commercial diet usually needs no extra supplements. Discuss any addition, such as a joint or skin supplement, with a veterinarian before starting, since over-supplementing can cause 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. The breed has no large catalogue of inherited conditions, 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
• Spaying or neutering unless the cat is part of a planned breeding programme

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

Basics

1. Start with litter training, which most kittens take to quickly with a clean, accessible box
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 furniture
4. Use clicker or treat marking to shape tricks such as sit, target touch, or come
5. Build to harness and lead work gradually if outdoor walks are a goal

Arabian Mau cats reach sexual maturity in the first year, though responsible breeders wait until a queen is physically mature before mating. Mating follows the normal feline cycle, with queens coming into season repeatedly during breeding periods. Gestation lasts about 63 to 67 days, after which the queen delivers a litter of kittens.

Litters typically range from two to five kittens. Newborns are blind and dependent and rely fully on the mother for warmth and milk in the early weeks. Kittens begin to open their eyes within the first two weeks, start exploring soon after, and move towards weaning around six to eight weeks of age.

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

How to register an Arabian Mau in the United Kingdom

Since June 2024, pet cats in England must be microchipped, with kittens chipped by twenty weeks, and a chip is only useful once a record stands behind it. A free United Pet Club profile ties your details to your Arabian Mau for life. Registering your cat takes a few minutes, suits indoor cats as much as roamers, and costs nothing.

Until the fifteen digit number is lodged in a registry, your Arabian Mau's chip identifies nobody. Lodge it free with United Pet Club: the lifetime plan takes any brand, keeps every update free, and leaves the record searchable day and night. Microchip registration first, then a free account if you are new here.