Arabian Mau
A natural desert breed from the Arabian peninsula, living alongside people long before anyone registered it. Large ears and a short coat, both built for heat.
Photo by SolnishkoA, CC BY-SA 3.0
Overview
The Arabian Mau is a desert landrace from the Arabian peninsula, standardised only recently from the street and desert cats that have lived alongside people there for centuries. It was not designed, it was recognised.
That shows in the build: long legs, large ears, a short close coat with no undercoat, all of which are adaptations to serious heat rather than to a show bench.
Temperament
Independent, alert and confident. Arabian Maus are affectionate with their own people and reserved with strangers, and they are noticeably self possessed.
They are active and vocal, particularly around food, and they retain a strong hunting instinct. They generally get on with other cats and are territorial about outdoor space.
Care and grooming
Almost nothing. The short coat with no undercoat needs an occasional brush and sheds lightly.
As a landrace with a wide natural gene pool it has no documented breed specific disorder, and it is a genuinely hardy cat. The one thing worth attention is that a cat adapted for desert heat is not adapted for cold, and it feels a northern winter.
Living and exercise
They want space and stimulation and they do best with outdoor access or a secure catio. An Arabian Mau in a small flat with nothing to do gets loud.
They are good with children who are past the grabbing stage and fine with dogs. Twelve to fourteen years is the usual span.
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