Arabian Mau Cat
Updated July 19, 2026
The Arabian Mau is a lean, muscular natural cat from the Arabian Peninsula, shaped by a hot climate and known for high activity, alertness, and strong bonds with familiar people.
Highly athletic, Alert and intelligent, Affectionate with familiar people, Strong prey drive, Potentially territorial
8-16 pounds
12-16 years
At a Glance
Maintenance Level
Affection Level
Energy Level
Good with Kids
Vocalization Level
Jump to Section
About Arabian Mau Cat
The Arabian Mau is a lean, muscular natural cat from the Arabian Peninsula, shaped by a hot climate and known for high activity, alertness, and strong bonds with familiar people.
Coat Length
Short Hair
Breed Group
Natural
Weight
8-16 pounds
Great For
What Makes Arabian Mau Cats Special
Arabian Maus are strong jumpers and persistent hunters, often most active during cooler parts of the day.
They can be affectionate and loyal at home while remaining alert, territorial, and selective about unfamiliar animals.
Arabian Mau Cat History & Origin
The Arabian Mau descends from free-living cats long established across the Arabian Peninsula. Formal breed development was led in the United Arab Emirates by Petra Müller beginning in the early 2000s, and the World Cat Federation accepted the standard in 2008.
The population developed naturally in desert and urban environments rather than through recent hybridization.
The breed standard values a functional, athletic body and close coat suited to heat.
Formal pedigree recognition represents only a selected part of the peninsula's broader free-living cat population.
Arabian Mau Cat Characteristics
Individual Variation
Cats are individuals and not all cats, even those of the same breed, will exhibit all the same qualities.
Care Requirements
Exercise Needs
Grooming Needs
Shedding Level
Arabian Mau Cat Appearance
The breed has a medium-to-large, firm, muscular body carried on relatively long legs, without the extreme slenderness of an Oriental.
A short, close coat with little undercoat, large ears, and oval eyes reflect adaptation to a hot environment.
Physical Features
Ears
Large, upright, broad at the base, and slightly side-set.
Eyes
Large, oval, and slightly slanted; color should harmonize with the coat.
Nose
Moderate and gently concave in profile.
Coat & Build
Tail
Medium length, broad at the base, and tapering toward the tip.
Arabian Mau Cat Temperament
Arabian Maus are strong jumpers and persistent hunters, often most active during cooler parts of the day.
They can be affectionate and loyal at home while remaining alert, territorial, and selective about unfamiliar animals.
Temperament Traits
Good With
Health
Arabian Maus are considered robust, but systematic breed-specific health studies are limited and pedigree lines should not be assumed free of inherited disease.
Common Health Issues
Preventive Care
Keep the cat safely indoors or use secure outdoor enclosures, provide core vaccination and locally appropriate parasite control, maintain dental care and lean condition, and investigate exercise intolerance promptly.
Caring for Your Arabian Mau Cat
Grooming Requirements
The close coat has little undercoat and needs minimal grooming. Regular handling still helps remove loose hairs and identify skin, weight, or parasite changes.
Brushing
Brush once weekly with a rubber mitt or soft bristle brush.
Bathing
Bathe only when dirty. Use a mild cat-safe shampoo and protect the cat from chilling after the coat is wet.
Eye Care
Check the eyes weekly and wipe minor discharge with a separate soft, damp cloth for each eye; persistent redness or discharge needs veterinary assessment.
Nail Care
Every 2-3 weeks.
Essential Grooming Tools
Exercise & Play
The Arabian Mau is a high-energy jumper and hunter. It needs substantial daily play, vertical territory, and opportunities to run, stalk, and solve problems.
Daily Requirements
Provide at least 40-60 minutes of active play each day, divided into several sessions, plus free movement through a safely enriched home.
Mental Stimulation
Rotate puzzle feeders and prey-style toys, vary climbing routes, and use short reward-based training sessions. Secure aquariums and small-pet enclosures because prey drive may be strong.
Recommended Activities
Nutrition & Feeding
Feed a complete-and-balanced diet for the cat's life stage. A naturally athletic outline should remain lean and muscular after transition to indoor companion life.
Daily Amount
Use the food manufacturer's feeding guide as a starting point, measure the daily ration, divide it into two or more meals, and adjust with a veterinarian to maintain ideal body condition.
Special Considerations
Match intake to actual activity rather than the breed's outdoor history. Provide several fresh-water sources in hot climates and keep human food, bones, and raw prey out of the diet.
Living Environment
Space Requirements
Can adapt to a large apartment or house when given generous vertical territory, daily exercise, sturdy scratching surfaces, hiding places, and securely screened windows and balconies.
Climate Preferences
The close coat sheds heat efficiently, but no cat is immune to heatstroke. Provide air-conditioned shade, abundant water, and protection from hot surfaces as well as cold indoor drafts.
Ideal Lifestyle Match
Best with an active owner. Its intelligence, territorial awareness, and hunting drive require secure containment and careful introductions to other animals.
Colors & Patterns
Several natural colors occur, with red tabby, brown tabby, black, and black-and-white commonly represented.
Solid Colors
Patterns
Eye Colors
Any clear color that harmonizes with the coat, commonly green or yellow
Fun Facts About Arabian Mau Cat
The pedigree breed was developed from indigenous cats of the Arabian Peninsula.
Its large ears and close coat suit heat dissipation but do not make it immune to dangerous temperatures.
World Cat Federation recognition dates to 2008.
The coat has very little undercoat and lies close to the body.
The Arabian Mau is a domestic natural breed, not a wild-cat hybrid.
Pedigree Arabian Maus represent only part of a much broader regional cat population.
Many individuals retain strong climbing and hunting behavior.
Safe indoor housing or enclosed outdoor access protects the cat from traffic, heat, conflict, and infection.
Training Tips
Frequently Asked Questions
Can an Arabian Mau tolerate extreme heat?
Its body and close coat suit a hot climate, but it can still suffer burns, dehydration, and heatstroke. It needs shade, cooling, water, and indoor protection during dangerous temperatures.
Is every street cat from the Arabian Peninsula an Arabian Mau?
No. The pedigree breed is a selected population developed from regional landrace cats; the broader free-living population is genetically and physically more varied.
Is the Arabian Mau suitable for an apartment?
It can be, provided the home offers extensive vertical space, vigorous daily play, secure windows and balconies, and enough social and mental stimulation.
Specialized Care Guides
Kitten Care
Provide extensive positive socialization, teach cooperative grooming and carrier skills, redirect hunting to toys, and secure windows, balconies, doors, and small-animal habitats.
Senior Care
Arrange veterinary checks at least every 6-12 months as advised, monitor teeth, heart, kidneys, thyroid, weight, and joints, and adapt climbing routes while preserving gentle daily activity.
First-Time Owner Tips
Best for an owner comfortable with a high-energy natural cat, secure containment, careful pet introductions, and frequent interactive play.
Looking for a Arabian Mau Cat?
Connect with responsible breeders, rescue organizations, and pet adoption services in your area.