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Arabian Cat Gets its Due Recognition

DUBAI — Petra Mueller has been captivated by the region’s beautiful desert cats she saw them slink through her Jumeirah garden 10 years ago.

Her eye for cats, honed by her role as president for the Middle East Cat Society, realised the felines were unique to the region and her resolve to have them recognised as such finally paid off. In August, the World Cat Federation officially recognised the ‘Arabian Mau’, a breed unique to the Arabian Peninsula.

Mueller had to observe four generations of the cat to prove it wasn’t the result of inbreeding and she visited Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar, where she found evidence of the cat’s existence for hundreds of years.

Despite recovering from a double hip replacement, Mueller made her presentation to the federation at its meeting in Germany and the cat’s criteria was established.

“People in the UAE think they are just street cats but they are unique desert cats,” she said. “The white cat has all the genes for the coloured cats which is very unusual. Usually, a white cat will only breed white cats.”

The other characteristics of the breed include its oval eyes, large ears and round head. “The black and white cats of the breed are also very talkative. Very quickly they are your best friend.”

Mueller, who provides safe harbour for 52 of the cats in her home, hopes the recognition will encourage proper breeding and sale of the cat and prevent its demise as part of cat culls.

“We’re organising for breeders to be registered, for awareness and education and courses,” she said. “Hopefully, it will avoid having cats imported which are the real problem as they often end up on the street. People should be encouraged to buy this cat as it is suited for the climate.” — zoe@khaleejtimes.