Mau arabe

The Arabian Mau is a natural breed but was not recognized until 2009. These cats have occupied the Arabian Peninsula for thousands of years, living in deserts and around hamlets. These cats were shaped by the extreme climatic conditions of the Gulf countries and naturally selected. With the economic and demographic development of these countries, cities gradually built up and the desert cats moved closer to inhabited areas in search of food. These street cats were long ignored by residents who preferred more popular cat breeds. In 1995, a German woman named Petra Müller, expatriate to the United Arab Emirates, rescued these cats and developed a breeding program after a few years. The last four generations were monitored for recognition of the breed by various feline associations. In November 2007, 18 cats from these last four generations were presented to a WCF jury which indeed noted the presence of a common physical appearance to all these cats and unique to this new breed, now called Arabian Mau. Officially, on January 1, 2009, the Arabian Mau was accepted as a "new breed" by the WCF. Other feline associations do not yet recognize it.

The Arabian Mau is a medium-sized cat with a rather compact appearance. Its physique should represent that of cats living naturally in the Arabian Peninsula and should therefore not go too far to extremes. Males are taller than females. The Arabian Mau is tall-legged and very muscular. The legs are long and the paws are oval. The tail is of medium length and tapered at the tip. The head seems round but is slightly longer than it is wide and the muzzle is clearly visible. The profile is slightly curved with a marked chin. The eyes are oval-shaped and should give the impression that the cat is alert. Their color should match that of the coat. The ears are large and placed slightly to the side of the head. The coat is short, without undercoat and close to the body. To the touch, the coat should not seem too soft, too silky, it should be rather firm. In kittens, soft fur is tolerated. The allowed coats are as follows: solid white, solid black, bicolor black, brown and gray mackerel tabby (with or without white).