Breed Profile
Forged in the harsh deserts of the Middle East, the Arabian Mau is a survivor. This ancient natural breed is not a product of human engineering but of natural selection. Tough, agile, and deeply affectionate, they bring the spirit of the desert into your living room.
⚡ Quick Look
This is a high-energy cat that thrives on activity. They are incredibly heat-tolerant, possess a dog-like loyalty to their owners, and are vocal about their needs. Not for those seeking a sedentary lap ornament.
History: 1,000 Years in the Sand
The Arabian Mau is a “landrace” breed, meaning it developed naturally over centuries without human intervention. For over a thousand years, these cats lived in the deserts of the Arabian Peninsula—in countries like the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, and Oman.
They were originally semi-wild cats that lived near human settlements, controlling vermin populations. It wasn’t until recently (2008) that the World Cat Federation (WCF) formally recognized them as a pedigree breed, thanks largely to the efforts of Petra Müller, a UAE-based breeder who wanted to preserve their unique characteristics.
Today, they are still somewhat rare outside the Middle East but are gaining recognition for their robust health and striking appearance.
Personality: A Warrior with a Heart
Don’t let their wild origins fool you—the Arabian Mau is intensely devoted to its human family. They are known to follow their owners from room to room, supervising every activity.
🏃 High Octane Energy
These cats are athletes. They love to jump, climb, and hunt. If you don’t provide a tall cat tree, they will climb your curtains or bookshelves. They need playtime to burn off their desert energy.
🗣️ The Vocal Supervisor
They are not shy about voicing their opinions. They have a distinct meow and will “talk” to you, especially when it’s time for food or play.
They are territorial and protective of their home, making them excellent watch-cats. However, they are generally friendly with children and other pets if introduced properly.
Appearance: Built for Heat
Every inch of the Arabian Mau is designed for survival in a hot climate. They are medium-sized but very muscular, with long legs that keep their bodies elevated above the scorching sand.
- Ears: Large and upright, helping to dissipate body heat.
- Coat: Short, crisp, and lies close to the body. Uniquely, they have no undercoat, which helps them stay cool.
- Colors: They come in a variety of patterns, including red, white, black, and tabby combinations found in the wild population.
Health & Care
The Arabian Mau has an “iron stomach” and a robust immune system, a legacy of their survivalist ancestors. They are widely considered one of the healthiest natural breeds.
🌿 Low Maintenance Grooming
Because they lack an undercoat, they shed very little. A quick brush once a week is more for bonding than necessity. They are famously clean cats.
Their main requirement is space and stimulation. A bored Arabian Mau can become destructive. Puzzle feeders and interactive toys are highly recommended.
Is the Arabian Mau Right for You?
If you want a low-maintenance, high-energy companion who will be a loyal (and vocal) part of your family, the Arabian Mau is a perfect choice. Just be ready to play!
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loyal
desert cat
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— Last update —
Straight from the Arabian Peninsula, this desert cat is now popular as a domesticated cat. The Arabian Mau cat is very sweet and affectionate like most cats. It is a very devoted pet to its owner. It easily adapts with children and other pets as companions at home. They are very neat and are generally low-maintenance cats. They love to eat and most of the time, they hunt for their food. They are very playful and active. They are also great hunters. However, they can be very territorial so other male cats have to be careful. These cats, including kittens, have great immune systems.
I have an Arabic Mau at home and he has been superb. Great temperament though he does not get along well with other animals.
We have had our Arabian Mau (Alibaba) now since October 2013. Actually he adopted us as he decided to live in our garden in the UAE. We figure he was 6 to 9 months old when we first met him. I can’t say enough good things about these cats. They are just wonderfully affectionate and loyal. They are also incredibly intelligent and very easy to house train. We love him so much that we shipped him back to the States with us and he now spends his time between Florida and upstate New York. We have other cats in the family and will be introducing Alibaba to our daughters cat Milo this weekend. Milo is an American short hair of the tuxie variety….I hope the intro goes well…
have adopted my Arabian mau after I found him injured in Oman. I also cannot say enough good things about this breed. my cat is so devoted and loving, I have not experienced this degree of feelings with European cats. One thing I don’t agree with is that the description states that those cats are little talkative but mine is very chatty so it must be dependent on the actual personality of the cat rather than a standard feature of the breed.
I have adopted different breed of cats .but my experience is so profound when it came to Arabian Mau or mixed breed with Arabian Mau,they are amazing personality and the level of intelligence is so high . I have so many stories that reflects empathy and effection
For example I had a cat that used to wake up the children for school when he noticed how my sister in law was stressed about the children waking up on time (he simply tap on their face to wake them up)
Another at used to attempt to rescue the children if they are in the bath tub
taking. Bath by making a lot of noise and camping out if bathroom to get our attention to go and see what is going on in the bath tub as he thinks children are in danger of drawning .
In conclusion they are wonderful as pets .
We have rescued two 3-4 weeks old tabby Arabian mau kittens from the parking lot in a very busy street of Dubai. In less then a week those feral kittens became tamed nd friendly. They already using their litter box and are not afraid of dogs. Male and female in a good health Now we are looking for a permanent home for them either here in UAE or abroad. It would be ideal if they would get adopted together as they are very attached, but also can be adopted separately to a good homes. Please email me for more information if interested.
I stumbled across the most beautiful, intelligent, and wonderful mau way out on a little ranch near Showlow, AZ. I had lined up with a cat breeder out there to purchase a grand champion sired pure bred of some sort or other (I’ve forgotten what breed it was as that was around 8 years ago).
The breeder also had a motley crew of stray cats running around the years. I paid the rather large fee for the pure-bred, and when I was putting her in the car, I noticed the most astonishingly beautiful cat running around. The breeder didn’t know what it was, but on a whim I offered $50 for it. That worked, and that darned cat jumped right into my car and sat up on the front seat. The $400 grand championed sired cat hid under the seat and stayed there ’til we made the 3 hour trip.
I identified my extra cat as an African Wildcat or Egyptian Mau. After reading this article, he could be an Arabian Mau. The expensive purebred ran away and probably was eaten by a coyote. The wildcat also ran off, and came home with a rabbit in his mouth.
I named him Macoco, and we are strongly bonded. I named him Macoco after the Pirate of the Caribbean. I’ve seen cats like him being sold for $2,500.
Macoco likes my cottage, but if I didn’t leave the door open, he just ripped a big hole in the screen door and went hunting. Fortunately, I live in Sedona, Arizona so I can leave the door open for him. Macoco knows how to navigate the street without being run over. I’ve had to just learn to live with it!
Macoco has cleared most of the wild life out of the neighborhood, except for a few birds. Neighbors are dedicated to wildlife, so I have to cover up for Macoco. Oh yes, there are squirrels that he can’t catch. Could be worse, I guess.
Macoco is no lap cat, but he comes when I call him when he’s out hunting. He sleeps at the foot of my bed. My other cat is a big Black Bombay, a female, who is a little older, she holds her own with Macoco.
Macoco likes raw hamburger every day along with his health food crunchers. I guess he can’t help it, because he does have a lot of wild blood. My Bombay, Tweets, spends the day out in her “patio”, and Macoco roams freely. Fortunately, there is a semi-wild reviene on one side which is prefect for Macoco’s hunting and hanging out.
Macoco is a wonderful, mellow friend. People steer clear of him because he looks like a small wildcat. A cat with a lot of wild blood is not for everyone because he’s more like a friendly wild animal that lives with me. He simply must live his life his way! Fortunately, I offer Macoco carte blanche. Unlike grand champion Burmese I had for years, (who would be content living like adornments), the Egyptian Mau has to be “that cat thou truly is”!
Ed, I’m in UAE and will be bringing our adopted Mau to the US in March. Any tips on getting her home? Airline, customs, etc…
I just rescued two Arabian mau brothers here in El Paso texas. The owner got them in Dubai five years ago. According to paperwork, he moved Abu dhabi recently and was not able to take the cats into the country with him. Stroke of luck for me! These cats liked to be walked. I am a dog person….I recently lost my dog and miss her very much. I rescued the cats to hunt and keep mice at bay. The walking part is a giant plus. It’s like I still have a dog! They are great cats. I have already fallen in love with them.
We adopted our Mau almost 2 yeas ago and we knew immediately that we had a very special cat. As he has grown he has shown all the characrteristics of the Mau breed. Highly intelligent, extremely agile and even acrobatic, has the natural movements of a hunter, loves to play and seems to miss us when we go away for a while. he displays extreme affection, not by cuddling, but by rolling over on his back and looking at us with a sweet expression, and also by approaching us to “”kiss”” us with his nose. His walk is that of a natural hunter and his running speed is amazing, We keep him indoors but we have a sprawling ranch style house and he gets lots of exercise running from one end to the other. Loves to play with little balls of tinfoil and will “”hide:: them on himself and later discover it and pounce on it with vengeance, tossing it in the air and jumping after it. He also likes to carry it in his mouth from place to pace. We often find one in the toilet! He’s fascinated by rnnning water, and often picks bits of food off our plates and puts them in his mouth using his paw. I have never loved a cat so much, and I have had many. I wouldn’t give him up for a million dollars (absolute fact!) Nothing could replace the joy he brings to us. (We named him “”Chance”” and he responds to it (if he feel like it!)
when i first moved to the Gulf there were cats in my compound that a spayed and fed. when my last house we demolished, i relocated the 2 cats to my new compound and added 3 rescues. they are mostly outdoor cats. one of the girls has been with me for 7 years and she is still very ferrel and has never let me touch her. but all the cats get along swimmingly with each other and with the new cats i bring. the boys get along with everyone right away but for the girls it takes a short while. they are so playful and loving. very easy to train. they know when its time to eat and actually answer their names. they are the most incredible breed i have ever dealt with. i have been rehoming and fostering animals for many years but these cats have the most incredible energy level, know how to take care of themselves and how to love you back.
one of my girls that has a half broken hip, she still likes to run up trees and chase everything, she hates to use the litter box since i started letting her out so she meows at the door to go in and out. she walks by my side when i take talks. i actually think she thinks shes a dog.
I lived in the UAE for 13 years and have fed many many Arabian Cats …all strays…..I even brought my Scottish cats with me. Sadly they died of old age, well they were 20 yrs. Now I have 5 Arabian Maus and would not change them for the world. I agree with posters here…..they are totally affectionate…….very vocal….and if something is not right in our world….ie….husaband and me…….they sort it out! They always have the last word….well the tri colour cat does. She screams…yells…and the rest of us all stand to Attention! Love them all!
All animals need a good start in life….I totally believe in that!
I totally agree with you .i have 5……2 boys….3 girls…..and the guys are brilliant…..females are right in ur face……and if they are not happy…then no-one else is…..but would never changed them for the world. 3 females born in the house….the 2 boys…..well they have history..beyond my control. The mother of one…brought her kittens indoors when I was out working, through the window in the middle of the summer heat…..which I actually admire her for….and one never left. The youngest boy….I found behind an electric box….took him in to find a good home for him…..oh…he has a good home so he stayed! Now we all live in Thailand and they are just loving it.
Comparing Arabian Mau to a regular domestic cat in Europe, I firmly believe that the Arabian Mau is a bit more active and require a bit more play. Maybe that is why people leave their cats behind when they discover that their cat want’s to hunt all the time? Seeing all street cats and street dogs in the UAE, makes me feel sad. Too many people seem to leave their pets behind, believing that the pet will survive somehow. Well, you are never bored with an Arabian Mau :) once they become your friend, they are very loyal. I have created a blog to help you as an Arabian Mau owner, arabianmaus.com Please come with feedback, I do it for the cats :)
I have two lushouse Arabian muas sooty and sweep one is black and white (sooty) and one is a grey and white tabby (you forgot to add that one) we found being kicked around in a car park in mall of the Emirates at only 1 month of age. They are extremely playful and EVRY night there always jumping on me there only 6 months old now and exteramly big but still fin and not fat. Evry day when I get home from school they always play with me and in the mourning they always follow me around because they know the first thing I do in the mourning
is feed them.
Hi
We live in uk permanently
is there organisations in uk that we would like to adopt two females if possible they siblings, both Arabian mua, we would like to find a new home for both of them please contact me.
We are ready to re home..
Thank you
Hi
we are interested to adopt a pair of cats you can contact me on my email for more information
Thank you Jeannette
My husband & I adopted 2 Arabian Mau brothers when we lived in Oman (they started life as feral kittens).
As someone who was not a cat person before, I can say having the two of them in our lives has changed my view on cats- they settled into life away from the desert so very easily. Previously they lived outdoors & I tried to litter train them before moving (they seemed to enjoy lounging in the tray rather than using it).
But once we moved (& they had to become house cats as we live in an apartment), they took to the litter box straight away & 3 years on, we have had no issues!
They are so friendly & talkative, love to play & easy going that both the OH & I agree, adopting them was the best decision we ever made- they really have brought joy to our lives.
mine was rescued by a friend last christmas….it was to given to me
because she couln’t get along with other cats and I have lots of space. She trusted me almost immedialtly and started interfering with household matters after a few days. It struck me that she is more refined and intelligent than any other cat I’ve ever known. She is moving around a lot and very playfull (eg. she can keep busy with a small piece of paper for an hour sometimes) she climbs stairs fast as a rocket but does NO damage. She sleeps next to me and wakes up when I wake up.she watches tv with me. when I eat she doesn’t
bother me but starts eating her own food !
I just recently found out that she was a mau, but I don’t really care because she’s the sweetest pet I ever got…..wouln’t part with her for a million bucks……..
I have 2 Arabian mau. They are the sweetest things ever..Both very chatty..One if them sits to command..I lived in Egypt 10years and had dealings with many Arabian mau.. They are one of the most loving and clever cats I’ve ever nown…There should be a law in Egypt to protect these .
About 5 months ago, my girlfriend was sitting in our backyard, when an orange, tiger striped looking, very young cat showed up, and just plopped himself in her lap! He was very friendly, and very cute, and had just been fixed (still had stitches).
We figured he belonged to someone, and had just gotten lost. We fed him, and let him in to stay with us, as it was beginning to get cold out. We live in the desert in the southwestern US.
His left ear was missing a chunk, and we thought he lost it in a fight or something. It gives him character, and we didn’t think much of it. Then, a few days later, a beautiful black long haired cat showed up in our yard, and he seemed to know our cat, as they acted like old friends. We noticed the tip of his left ear was missing too, and thought it was too much of a coincidence. We looked it up, and it turns out that animal services has a “trap, neuter, release” program where they clip the left ears of the cats so they can identify them.
Well, turns out they were buddies on the street, and so we took in the black cat, and they have been the best buddies ever. They are the two best cats ever!
I did some research and the first definitely looks to be an Arabian Mau. He is very much like the other commenters cats, he is loyal, loving, energetic, and loves to sleep at our feet. He likes to roam, but always comes home, and spends lots of time with us. He is fascinated by running water, can jump high, and follows us around!
He is very vocal, and has many different vocalizations he uses. Wish I knew what they all meant! He wakes us up for breakfast, and loves to play with his toys. He can amuse himself for a long time with a ball, stuffed mouse, or just a piece of garbage like a wad of paper. He will throw them around and chase them for quite a while. He also likes to wrestle with the other cat. They look like they are having a jiu jitsu match, with side control, guard, and cool transition moves trying to take each other down and get dominant position.
Arabian Maus are GREAT cats that would be a wonderful addition to any family. We are normally dog people, but these cats stole our hearts when they adopted US.
My parents brought a male Arabian Mau back from Abu Dhabi with them when they moved back to the states. He’s extremely loyal to my dad and is very smart (can open doors,etc.). He’s also a bit of an a**, doesn’t play well with our other cats. He’s also very loud and very vocal. Him and my dad carry on full fledged conversations, lol…
Hes definitely a good cat.
I have an indian cat who is a arabian mau . Thise cats came from the gulf in the early 80s and 90s by ship or people bringing them. Now all indian cats are arab mau
Meow! I looove the Arabian Mau. I have 5 Arabian Maus in my house, They are cutie pies! Sometimes I get a bit too excited with them, but they love me all the same. They really love it when I grab their tails and give them a nice massage!
This picture and this site soothes my tempered soul, I have been searching for a new playmate for quite a while, my old lover was not able to handle the girth of my intention and the pool of my fragrant fluids. This new partner will be mine and mine alone, sharing is no option for my huge overload of enzymes will need the full focus of one individual. This angelic creature is forever my slave…Goodbye to my old love……. meowuni
*Living in Kuwait*
I rescued a little baby black Mau. I am super allergic – but I want to find her a loving home. If you know of anyone, let me know! She is amazing :)
I’d like to get some feedback please. We’re considering adopting two Omani Mau brothers (kittens)… our vet suggests they might be difficult to manage in some ways – any feedback would be helpful. Here’s what she wrote:
They look like some of the exotic breeds we see now like Savannahs and Bengals (which are derived from Egyptian Maus). Their behavior description sounds very much like the behavior of Savannahs and Bengals. Savannahs are very difficult cats to deal with, not only for us but also for their owners. They are sweet and beautiful until you try to do something they do not want done, for example until you try to give them medicine, or examine them, or brush them, etc.
We have 2 Arabian Maus and both of them are incredibly active and affectionate. The 1st one we rescued is very demanding and extremely intelligent, what you would call ‘street wise’ as he grew up in the streets before we rescued him. Our 2nd cat is a bit more clumsy. I would often compare him to Labradors, esp. when he chases after a toy. However, they are both very sweet cats. I would wake up with cat #1 embracing me like an actual human and cat #2 would follow us everywhere all day, even in the shower.
I tried to find arabianmaus.com but could not get it to load.
I have a 5 month old kitten now on Pinterest:
https://www.pinterest.com/cheeto922/_saved/
that I think is an Arabian Mau, so I would like to find out more about them.
Hello,
I’m not sure you’ll read me since this thread goes back to 2018. I adopted 3 May cats 2 months ago. Had to leave for 6 days and wren I came back I couldn’t find the older one. Since he’s tall and very energetic I guess he’s roaming (I live in a very green neighborhood) but it’s been several days…. He is so affectionate and bonded with me quickly. I’m afraid he won’t come back (though he’s very smart and knows the immediate neighborhood perfectly). Do you think he might be chasing? The temperatures were fresh until one week ago. Maybe he’s hunting…? Thank you very much for your feedback!