Fun Arabian Cat Facts For Kids

Moumita Dutta
Oct 20, 2022 By Moumita Dutta
Originally Published on Aug 18, 2021
Edited by Katherine Cook
Fact-checked by Pradhanya Rao
Kids love reading and learning Arabian cat facts.
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Age: 3-18
Read time: 8.0 Min

Are you interested in learning about different breeds of cats, like the Egyptian Mau? Then you are going to love reading about Arabian Maus.

Arabian Maus are native to the Middle East and not at all rare. They were previously found in countries like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Now, these Arabian cats are found distributed all over the world, living in households as domestic cats.

The Arabian Maus, also known as the Arabian cat, has finally been recognized by the World Cat Federation as an actual cat breed after all these years. These animals have a well-developed body with long pointy ears and long legs that once helped them to survive in the desert of Middle East countries like Saudi Arabia.

They are social cats with high energy levels and love spending time with humans and other pets. Due to their energetic nature, they need constant training and attention.

The temperament of the cat is quite friendly and this makes them a great choice for a pet.

The Arabian Mau has a short coat of hair and grooming them does not require much work. Grooming them occasionally, providing proper food, and spending quality time with them are all they need to live a long, healthy life.

Keep on reading to learn and know more about this breed. To learn about other breeds, check out Asian golden cat facts and Singapura facts.

Arabian Cat Interesting Facts

What type of animal is an Arabian cat?

The Arabian cat or Arabian Mau is a cat that is native to the Arabian Peninsula. It is a natural feline cat breed and is among the oldest ones. The Arabian Mau has been around for over 1000 years but became recognized by the World Cat Federation only recently.

What class of animal does an Arabian cat belong to?

Like all cats in the world, this desert cat belongs to the Mammalia class of Animalia kingdom. It is a member of the phylum Chordata and the family Felidae. The genus of cats is Felis and the scientific name is Felis catus.

How many Arabian cats are there in the world?

Earlier, the Arabian Maus were found in the desert of Arabia. Today, they are popular as domestic cats all over the world.

They are bred in captivity under the supervision of breeders and this makes it hard to know the exact population of such breeds of cats. The exact number of Arabian Maus living in this world is not known.

Where does an Arabian cat live?

The Arabian cat originates from the desert of Arabia. They were found in Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates for more than 1000 years.

Today they are found spread all over the world as domestic cat breeds. They live in the houses of their owners and you can also find a large number of Arabian Maus living in a shelter or in the streets.

What is an Arabian cat's habitat?

Arabian cats are pretty adaptable and are perfectly capable of living in an apartment or a big house. However, since the cat has ancestorial ties to the desert, they crave warmth. They do not do great in extremely cold areas or when the temperature becomes extremely cold.

Who do Arabian cats live with?

Being domestic cats, the Arabian cat lives with their owners. Unlike many cat breeds, the Arabian Mau is a social cat breed. They are energetic and love to spend time with their owner.

They do not mind sharing their space with other pets. Unless the other pets are aggressive, they will get along just fine. The Arabian cat is perfectly compatible with children as well.

How long does an Arabian cat live?

The Arabian Mau lives a fairly long life. The average lifespan of the cat is about 12-14 years.

However, it is not uncommon for these cats to have a lifespan of about 17 years. One of the characteristics of the Arabian Mau is that it is a healthy breed of cat. These cats usually do not suffer from any major health conditions meaning they can live a long life.

How do they reproduce?

The Arabian Mau is often bred in captivity under the supervision of breeders. Like other cats, the Arabian Mau breed has multiple estrus cycles throughout the year.

However, a good reputable breeder will not make their cats breed frequently as it takes a toll on the mother. They have a gestation period of about 71 days and three to four kittens are born. The kittens are taken care of by the mother and the breeders in the case of captive breeding.

What is their conservation status?

The conservation status of the Arabian Mau cat is Not Evaluated in the International Union for Conservation of Nature or the IUCN Red List. This natural feline cat has been quite widespread in the Arabic deserts for years and now they are found in numerous households all over the world.

It is evident that the population status of this cat is not facing any immediate risks.

Arabian Cat Fun Facts

What does the Arabian cat look like?

The Arabian Mau cat is a medium-sized breed with short glossy hair and no undercoat. It has large pointy ears and long legs. The Arabian Mau is blessed with cute oval paws and a medium-length tail. The coat color of the Arabian Mau may vary from brown, tabby, white, black, or even at times, red.

The Arabian cat has various coat colors.

How cute are they?

Like the Balinese cat and Egyptian Mau, an Arabian Mau is an adorable breed of cat. It has a sleek body with a glossy short coat for hair that makes them look extremely cute. The erect ears on its round head add to the beauty of the Arabian Mau.

How do they communicate?

The Arabian Mau, like most breeds of cats, communicates through vocalization and gestures. They can be really vocal about their needs and will scream if required.

They meow at each other and at their owners to convey messages. They will circle around you or lick you to show affection. They have different body postures and facial expressions that they use to show their mood or discomfort.

How big is an Arabian cat?

The Arabian Mau is classified as a medium-sized cat breed. Males are slightly bigger than females. These animals have an average height of 8-10 in (20-25 cm). They are almost the same size as Bombay cats.

How fast can an Arabian cat run?

The Arabian Mau is an energetic cat that does not like sleeping on the couch the entire day. It likes being active with its owner or other pets. However, the exact speed of the Arabian Mau is not known.

How much does an Arabian cat weigh?

Females of this breed weigh somewhere between 8-14 lb (3.6-6 kg). The slightly bulkier males have an average weight of 9-16 lb (4-7 kg). They are slightly bulkier than Somalia cats.

What are the male and female names of the species?

A male cat is referred to as a tomcat, and a female cat is referred to as a molly. Male and female Arabian Mau cats will be referred to as the same.

What would you call a baby Arabian cat?

A baby Arabian Mau will be referred to as a kitten, just like babies of all breeds of cats.

What do they eat?

One of the characteristics that make Arabian Mau a great breed is it is not a picky eater. A well-balanced protein diet is all they need to maintain a healthy life.

Make sure to divide their allotted food into portions of meals throughout the day. Please don't give in to their greedy adorable eyes when it comes to food.

These cats tend to eat even when they are full and that might lead to them becoming overweight. It is always advisable to consult or visit a veterinarian for a proper food chart.

Are they dangerous?

The Arabian Mau has a high energy level and likes being active. It has a friendly temperament and likes playing with its owner.

They are perfectly compatible with small children and other pets. They cannot be considered dangerous or aggressive, unlike Siamese cats which are considered to be the meanest cat in the world.

The Arabian Mau breed does not like sitting on the couch the entire day and so they should not be locked in a room all day. Just make sure not to force them to do something they absolutely do not like to do.

Would they make a good pet?

If you are a cat lover and have some time to spend with your cat, then an Arabian Mau would be a great addition to your family. Arabian Maus are active cats and are not known to face any major health issues.

They are quite social and adaptable that makes these animals be great pets. They can live in an apartment and get along just fine with other pets and children. Just make sure to spend time with them and give them adequate training.

Did you know...

The Arabian Mau does not have a long coat of hair and grooming them is not at all difficult. Occasional hair brushing, claw cleaning, teeth brushing is all they need to stay fit.

The Arabian Mau craves affection and it is quite vocal about it. It will scream if it is not paid attention to for a long time. It is not advisable to leave them alone for long periods of time.

A cat of this breed can cost about $500-$800 USD.

Are Arabian cats hypoallergenic?

The Arabian Mau is a short-haired cat with glossy hair. The shedding intensity of Arabian Maus is less than many other cat breeds. However, they are not hypoallergenic. Due to this low shedding characteristic, the chances of a reaction to allergic people are lower than many other breeds of cats.

Are Arabian cats territorial?

The Arabian Mau is a social breed of cat and does not mind sharing their space with small children and other pets. However, they crave affection and may act territorial when not paid attention to for a long time.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other mammals from our Kishu Ken dog facts and yellow baboon facts pages.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable Arabian cat coloring pages.

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Written by Moumita Dutta

Bachelor of Arts specializing in Journalism and Mass Communication, Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Management

Moumita Dutta picture

Moumita DuttaBachelor of Arts specializing in Journalism and Mass Communication, Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Management

A content writer and editor with a passion for sports, Moumita has honed her skills in producing compelling match reports and stories about sporting heroes. She holds a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management, Calcutta University, alongside a postgraduate diploma in Sports Management.

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Fact-checked by Pradhanya Rao

Bachelor of Commerce specializing in Marketing and HR

Pradhanya Rao picture

Pradhanya RaoBachelor of Commerce specializing in Marketing and HR

With a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce from Christ University, Bangalore, Pradhanya's passion for the English language and literature led her to explore the field of content writing, where she has gained extensive experience in writing, reviewing, editing, and fact-checking. She has also earned certifications in Google Ads Search, Google Ads Display, and Social Media Marketing, showcasing her proficiency in digital marketing.

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