Arabian Mau

The Arabian Mau is a natural breed with roots in the free-roaming desert cats of the Arabian Peninsula. Long exposure to a harsh climate gave it a lean, athletic body and a short, low-maintenance coat that copes with extreme heat. The breed was only formalised in recent decades, though the cats themselves come from an old population that adapted to the region without any deliberate human selection.

The cat is medium in size, muscular in frame, long in the leg and alert in expression. It gets about quickly and keeps its balance, holding on to the survival instincts of an outdoor hunter. Owners tend to describe it as independent but affectionate, given to following the family from room to room and taking a keen interest in whatever is happening.

Its loyalty usually attaches to the household as a whole rather than to any one person, and it stays lively well into adulthood. It is quick to communicate and responds to attention, so it makes a sociable companion for anyone who wants an engaged cat rather than a quiet lap pet.

Who it suits

The Arabian Mau is at home in active households that can offer play, climbing space and daily interaction. It gets on well with people who are about the house often, or who keep a second pet for company. It is not the cat for anyone after a sedentary companion, as it stays curious and energetic and has little patience for long spells of boredom.

The Arabian Mau goes back to the street and desert cats of the Arabian Peninsula, a population that lived among people in towns and settlements over many generations. These cats were never bred to a written standard. They adapted by themselves to a climate of severe daytime heat and cool nights, which favoured a short coat, a lean body and strong hunting ability.

For most of their history they were working animals rather than pets in the modern sense. They kept rodents in check around homes, markets and storage areas, and they lived on scavenged food and prey. The qualities prized nowadays, such as hardiness, alertness and a level temperament around people, came out of that practical arrangement rather than any deliberate selection.

Interest in documenting the breed grew as the region modernised and breeders set about preserving the local cat as a distinct type. Cats were picked from the existing desert population and assessed against a written standard, so the natural breed could be registered and shown.

Formal recognition arrived in 2009, when the World Cat Federation accepted the Arabian Mau. The breed stays uncommon outside its home region, and much of the breeding stock still comes from cats native to the Arabian Peninsula.

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

Coat and colours

The coat is short and lies close to the body, fine in texture and with almost no undercoat. That single layer is an adaptation to heat and keeps grooming straightforward. You will commonly see solid white, solid black, brown tabby and red, along with bicolour patterns that combine white with another colour. With no heavy undercoat, the breed sheds less than many longer-coated cats, though there is still some seasonal shedding.

The Arabian Mau is independent and self-assured, a trait it carries over from its origins as a free-roaming desert cat. For all that, it forms a close bond with its household and frequently follows the family about the home. It is affectionate on its own terms, seeking company through closeness and play rather than long stints on a lap.

With its family the breed is loyal and interactive. It greets people, watches what is going on closely and uses a range of vocalisations to make itself heard. With strangers it is usually cautious to begin with, warming up once it decides the situation is safe. Being alert by nature, it notices changes in the home without delay.

The Arabian Mau generally takes to other cats and cat-friendly dogs when introductions are made gradually, an inheritance from its history of living in groups around settlements. Its strong prey drive, however, means small animals such as rodents and birds are not safe housemates. Early socialisation helps it settle in 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 called for, as 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 keep dental disease at bay

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
• Give the prey drive a safe outlet through interactive play

Environment

Given enough vertical space and stimulation, the Arabian Mau adapts to indoor life. Its desert origins mean it copes well with warm weather, but it still needs shade, fresh water and protection from severe cold. Where outdoor access is wanted, a secure enclosure suits the breed, since free roaming exposes it to traffic and other dangers.

The Arabian Mau is an obligate carnivore and thrives on a diet built around animal protein. A complete and balanced cat food, be it wet, dry or a mix, should list a named meat as its main ingredient. With the breed's high activity level, plenty of protein and calories support muscle and energy, though portions still need watching to stop indoor cats putting on weight. Fresh water should always be to hand, and wet food helps with hydration.

Treats and supplements

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

The Arabian Mau is thought of as a robust breed, in part because it developed through natural selection rather than intensive line breeding. Its typical lifespan is 12 to 15 years, and many cats reach the upper end of that range with good care. There is no long list of inherited conditions tied to the breed, but like every cat it can meet 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
• Neutering unless the cat is part of a planned breeding programme

The Arabian Mau learns quickly and takes to 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 once 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 do far more than repetition or pressure ever will.

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 become sexually mature within the first year, though responsible breeders wait until a queen is physically mature before mating. Mating follows the ordinary feline cycle, with queens coming into season again and again through breeding periods. Gestation runs about 63 to 67 days, ending when the queen delivers her litter.

Litters generally hold between two and five kittens. Newborns are blind and dependent, leaning entirely on the mother for warmth and milk in the early weeks. Their eyes begin to open within the first fortnight, exploration follows shortly after, and weaning comes at around six to eight weeks of age.

The breed's natural hardiness tends to carry through to easy births and attentive mothering, but breeding should still be planned with veterinary support and genetic screening. Early handling and socialisation help kittens grow the independent temperament into a confident, people-friendly adult. Reputable breeding keeps the small gene pool healthy and preserves the natural type.

Registering an Arabian Mau in Ireland

Cats sit outside the 2015 chipping law, so whatever record your Arabian Mau has is the one you make yourself. Make it a free one: the United Pet Club profile carries your details, her photo, and her chip number for the whole of her life. Registering your cat costs nothing, now or ever.

The fifteen digits on your Arabian Mau's vet paperwork want a registry. United Pet Club lodges them free, keeps them current through every move, and leaves the record findable whenever a scanner asks. Microchip registration plus a free account: both sorted in one cup of tea.