Felis catus
Arabian Mau
Featured photoarabian-mau.jpgThe Arabian Mau is a natural breed indigenous to the Arabian Peninsula, where it has lived as a desert and street cat for centuries. The breed was formally documented by Petra Muller of the Middle East Cat Society beginning in 2004, and the World Cat Federation recognized the Arabian Mau in 2009. CFA, TICA, GCCF, and FIFe have not published Arabian Mau standards. The breed is regarded as a national symbol of the United Arab Emirates and is the first Middle Eastern natural breed to receive international registry recognition.
Quick facts
- Origin country
- Arabian Peninsula (United Arab Emirates)
- Origin period
- Natural Arabian Peninsula breed; WCF recognition 2009 (Petra Muller, Middle East Cat Society)
- Coat type
- Short
- Coat colors
- Solid White, Solid Black, Solid Brown, Tabby, Bicolor, Tortoiseshell — all colours common in Arabian street cats
- Size category
- Medium
- Average lifespan
- 12-15 years
- Recognition
- —
Origin
The Arabian Mau is a natural breed indigenous to the Arabian Peninsula, where shorthaired cats have lived for centuries adapted to the harsh desert climate. Petra Muller of the Middle East Cat Society in Dubai began documenting the breed in 2004 and submitted it to the World Cat Federation. The breed is regarded as a national symbol of the United Arab Emirates and a first Middle Eastern natural breed to gain international recognition.
Recognition
The World Cat Federation recognized the Arabian Mau in 2009. CFA, TICA, GCCF, and FIFe have not published Arabian Mau standards. The breed is shown primarily through WCF-affiliated bodies in the Middle East and Europe. The Middle East Cat Society in Dubai maintains the breeding programme.
Standard
The WCF standard describes a medium-sized, athletic, well-muscled cat with a long body, long legs, and a moderately wedge-shaped head. The coat is short, single-layered with no undercoat, and lies close to the body — adapted to high desert temperatures. The ears are large and set wide on the head. All colours and patterns common to Arabian street cats are recognized: solid white, solid black, solid brown, tabby, bicolour, and tortoiseshell.
Sources & further reading (3)
- registry-standard — accessed 2026-04-30
- encyclopedia — accessed 2026-04-30
- breed-club — accessed 2026-04-30
Frequently asked questions
Where does the Arabian Mau come from?
The Arabian Mau is a natural breed indigenous to the Arabian Peninsula, where shorthaired cats have lived for centuries as desert and street cats. The breed was formally documented by Petra Muller of the Middle East Cat Society in Dubai beginning in 2004.
When was the Arabian Mau recognized?
WCF recognized the Arabian Mau in 2009 — the first Middle Eastern natural breed to receive international registry recognition. CFA, TICA, GCCF, and FIFe have not published Arabian Mau standards.
Is the Arabian Mau related to the Egyptian Mau?
No. Despite the shared 'Mau' name (the Egyptian word for cat), the Arabian Mau and the Egyptian Mau are unrelated breeds with separate origins. The Egyptian Mau is a spotted-tabby breed from Egypt with formal pedigree lines from 1956. The Arabian Mau is a natural Arabian Peninsula breed with no formal pedigree history before the 2000s.
