Arabian Mau

A natural breed, the Arabian Mau developed from the free-roaming desert cats of the Arabian Peninsula. Its lean, athletic body and short, low-maintenance coat are the product of centuries spent in a harsh climate built around extreme heat. Only in recent decades was the breed put on a formal footing, but the cats behind it belong to an old population that adapted to the region without any planned human breeding.

Medium in size, the cat carries a muscular frame on long legs and wears an alert expression. Fast and well balanced on its feet, it retains the survival instincts of an outdoor hunter. The temperament most owners report is independent yet affectionate, with a habit of trailing family members from room to room and keeping close watch on the household.

Attachment usually spreads across the whole home rather than settling on one person, and the cat stays active long into adulthood. Ready communication and a clear response to attention make it a sociable companion, better suited to someone who wants an engaged cat than a quiet lap pet.

Who it suits

Active households that can provide play, climbing space and daily interaction are the natural home for an Arabian Mau. People who are home often, or who keep another pet for company, tend to suit it best. Anyone after a sedentary cat should look elsewhere, because this one stays curious and energetic and takes poorly to long stretches of boredom.

Behind the Arabian Mau lie the street and desert cats of the Arabian Peninsula, a population that lived alongside people in towns and settlements over many generations. There was no written standard guiding them. On their own they adapted to a climate of blistering daytime heat and cool nights, which favoured a short coat, a lean body and strong hunting ability.

Through most of their history these cats worked for a living rather than serving as pets in the modern sense. Rodent control around homes, markets and storage areas was their role, and they lived off scavenged food and prey. Hardiness, alertness and an even temperament around humans, the traits valued today, grew out of that practical relationship rather than any planned selection.

As the region modernised, interest in recording the breed grew, and breeders looked to preserve the local cat as a distinct type. From the existing desert population, cats were selected and set against a written standard so the natural breed could be registered and shown.

Recognition came in 2009, when the World Cat Federation accepted the Arabian Mau. Outside its home region it remains uncommon, and much of the breeding population still draws on cats native to the Arabian Peninsula.

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

Coat and colours

Short and close-lying, the coat has a fine texture and almost no undercoat. That single layer is an adaptation to heat and keeps grooming simple. Solid white, solid black, brown tabby and red turn up often, along with bicolour patterns pairing white with another colour. Because there is no heavy undercoat, the breed sheds less than many longer-coated cats, though some seasonal shedding still occurs.

Independence and self-assurance run through the Arabian Mau, carried over from its beginnings as a free-roaming desert cat. Alongside that, it forms a close attachment to its household and often follows family members about the home. Its affection comes on its own terms, sought through nearness and play rather than long periods on a lap.

Within the family the breed is loyal and interactive. It greets people, keeps a close eye on activity and draws on a range of vocalisations to communicate. Strangers usually meet caution at first, with the cat warming up once it judges the situation safe. Being naturally alert, it registers changes in the home quickly.

Other cats and cat-friendly dogs are generally accepted when introductions are gradual, a legacy of the breed's history of living in groups around settlements. A strong prey drive, though, rules out small animals such as rodents and birds as safe companions. Early socialisation helps the cat settle with children and other pets.

Grooming

• Brush the short single coat once a week to clear loose hair and spread skin oils
• Bathing is seldom needed, 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 limit dental disease

Exercise

• Provide at least two active play sessions a day with 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 occupied
• Give the prey drive a safe outlet through interactive play

Environment

With enough vertical space and stimulation, the Arabian Mau adapts well to indoor life. Its desert origins leave it comfortable in 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 hazards.

As an obligate carnivore, the Arabian Mau does best on a diet built around animal protein. A complete and balanced cat food, whether wet, dry or a mix, should name a meat as its main ingredient. The breed's high activity level calls for ample protein and calories to support muscle and energy, yet portions still need control to keep indoor cats from gaining weight. Fresh water should always be available, and wet food assists with hydration.

Treats and supplements

Treats are best kept 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 worth discussing with a vet before starting, since over-supplementing can cause harm.

Regarded as a robust breed, the Arabian Mau owes some of that resilience to developing through natural selection rather than intensive line breeding. Its typical lifespan is 12 to 15 years, and many cats reach the upper end with good care. No large catalogue of inherited conditions attaches to the breed, but like all cats it faces 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 programme

Quick to learn and fond of a mental challenge, the Arabian Mau proves more trainable than most cats. Name recognition, coming when called and even simple tricks or harness walking are all within reach when training stays consistent and rewarding. Its independent streak means cooperation follows when there is something in it for the cat, so short, positive sessions outperform repetition or pressure by a wide margin.

Basics

1. Begin 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 aim

Sexual maturity arrives within the first year for Arabian Mau cats, though responsible breeders wait until a queen is physically mature before mating. The normal feline cycle applies, with queens coming into season repeatedly through breeding periods. Gestation lasts about 63 to 67 days, ending in the delivery of a litter.

Most litters number between two and five kittens. Blind and dependent at birth, newborns rely entirely on the mother for warmth and milk through the early weeks. Eyes begin to open within the first fortnight, exploration follows soon after, and weaning comes around six to eight weeks of age.

The breed's natural hardiness generally extends to easy births and attentive mothering, yet any 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 and its chip in New Zealand

With no national database covering cats, the record behind your Arabian Mau's chip is entirely yours to provide. A free United Pet Club profile does it: your number, her photo, her details, one scan away. Registering your cat is free for life and done in minutes.

Pop the fifteen digit number from the vet paperwork into your free United Pet Club account, check your phone number is current, and your Arabian Mau's chip finally points somewhere. Every brand is accepted, every update free, and the record answers scans at any hour. Microchip registration is the link in the middle.