Breed guides · Cats

Cat breeds in the UAE

A guide to each cat breed, written for indoor life in this climate: how they cope with the heat, whether they mind a long working day, what their plan costs a month, and the health problems each breed is commonly seen for.

GroomingAny

Weekly brushDaily grooming

SheddingAny

Almost noneConstant

VocalAny

Barely a miaowTalks back

PlayAny

Happy on a cushionUp the curtains

CompanyAny

Likes their spaceYour shadow

HeatAny

StrugglesCopes well

Choose a breed above and these fill in with its scores, then the grid reorders to the breeds closest to it.

All breeds

Abyssinian

Active homes with climbing space, puzzles and plenty of play.

Commonly seen for

Failing eyesight (PRA) and a slipping kneecap (PL) while young, then a kidney protein disorder (amyloidosis).

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Arabian Mau

Anyone ready to adopt locally and give a streetwise cat time to settle.

Commonly seen for

Teeth first, then weight, bladder and skin.

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Bengal

Active homes with time for real play every day, and somewhere high to climb.

Commonly seen for

Heart disease (HCM) and failing eyesight (PRA), then teeth.

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Birman

Families and first-time pet parents who want a gentle, easy cat.

Commonly seen for

Heart disease (HCM) first, then teeth and kidneys.

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British Longhair

A calm home with time to comb a long coat several times a week.

Commonly seen for

Heart disease (HCM), weight gain, and a coat that mats.

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British Shorthair

Anyone who wants a calm cat beside them, not on them.

Commonly seen for

Heart disease (HCM), weight gain, and teeth.

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Burmese

Someone home a lot who wants a cat on their lap and in everything they do.

Commonly seen for

Diabetes, so keep them lean, then teeth and heart.

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Chartreux

Calm homes, people who live alone, and anyone who likes a quiet cat.

Commonly seen for

A slipping kneecap (PL), then bladder problems and teeth.

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Cornish Rex

Playful households who want a forever-kitten in the middle of everything.

Commonly seen for

A slipping kneecap (PL) and sensitive skin while young, then heart disease (HCM).

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Devon Rex

Busy, sociable homes where someone is usually around.

Commonly seen for

An inherited muscle weakness (myopathy), a slipping kneecap (PL) and heart disease (HCM).

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Domestic Longhair

Anyone happy to brush a long coat a few times a week.

Commonly seen for

Teeth, weight and bladder while young, then kidneys and thyroid later on.

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Domestic Shorthair

Almost anyone, once you've met the cat in front of you.

Commonly seen for

Teeth and weight while young, then kidneys and thyroid later on.

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Egyptian Mau

Someone who wants a loyal, athletic cat, and can give them height and play.

Commonly seen for

Few breed problems; teeth and urate bladder crystals first, then heart disease (HCM).

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Exotic Shorthair

Anyone who loves the Persian face but not the daily comb.

Commonly seen for

Kidney cysts (PKD), eyes and breathing from the flat face, and teeth.

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Himalayan

A quiet, predictable home, and someone happy to comb every day.

Commonly seen for

Kidney cysts (PKD), eyes and breathing from the flat face, and teeth.

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Maine Coon

Families with room for a very big cat, a sturdy climbing tree and regular brushing.

Commonly seen for

Heart disease (HCM) and hip dysplasia, both from a young age.

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Munchkin

A home with ramps and low perches, and a vet who watches joints and spine. Longhaired ones need more grooming.

Commonly seen for

Spine and chest shape (lordosis, pectus excavatum) and a slipping kneecap (PL).

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Norwegian Forest Cat

Anyone who respects a cat with their own plans, and can give them height to climb.

Commonly seen for

Heart disease (HCM) first, then teeth and weight.

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Oriental Shorthair

A home that's rarely empty, ready for constant conversation and company.

Commonly seen for

Teeth, asthma and failing eyesight (PRA) while young, then kidneys, thyroid and heart.

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Persian

A calm home, and someone ready for a daily comb and face wipe.

Commonly seen for

Kidney cysts (PKD), eyes and breathing from the flat face, and teeth.

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Ragamuffin

Families with children, and a home where someone is usually in.

Commonly seen for

Heart disease (HCM), teeth and weight.

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Ragdoll

Someone home a lot, who wants a big, gentle cat to follow them about.

Commonly seen for

Heart disease (HCM) first, then teeth and weight.

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Russian Blue

A calm, settled home with a steady routine.

Commonly seen for

Weight, teeth and heart disease (HCM), then kidneys, thyroid and blood sugar.

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Savannah

Experienced pet parents with space, height and time for daily play. Check permits for early generations.

Commonly seen for

Heart disease (HCM) first, then failing eyesight (PRA) and teeth.

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Scottish Fold

A quiet home and a pet parent ready for joint care from day one. Longhaired ones need more grooming.

Commonly seen for

Painful joint disease from the folding gene (osteochondrodysplasia), then heart disease (HCM) and kidney cysts (PKD).

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Siamese

Someone home a lot who enjoys a cat with plenty to say.

Commonly seen for

Teeth at every age, asthma and failing eyesight (PRA) while young, then kidneys, thyroid and heart.

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Siberian

Families who want a playful, dog-like cat, and a comb a few times a week.

Commonly seen for

Heart disease (HCM), then kidneys, teeth and weight.

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Sphynx

A home that's rarely empty, with time for weekly baths and a cat glued to your side.

Commonly seen for

Heart disease (HCM) and oily, infection-prone skin, then teeth.

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Turkish Angora

Lively homes that want a cat involved in everything, and height to climb.

Commonly seen for

Deafness in white, blue-eyed cats, a slipping kneecap (PL) while young, then heart disease (HCM).

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Turkish Van

Active homes with space, sturdy places to climb and plenty of play.

Commonly seen for

Teeth, deafness in white cats with blue or odd eyes, then heart disease (HCM).

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Common questions

The ones you type with a cat on the keyboard.

Which cats cope best with the UAE heat?

Indoors, with the air conditioning on, most cats are comfortable here. Flat-faced breeds such as the Persian and the Exotic Shorthair are the most sensitive to heat and humidity, so they are happiest kept well away from it. The Arabian Mau, the Gulf's own breed, is better built for the heat than almost any other.

Should my cat live indoors in Dubai?

Indoors is safer. Outside, a cat can pick up a disease, get into fights, eat something poisonous, be hit by a car or get lost. An indoor cat needs height, somewhere to hide and a few games every day, so shelves and a climbing tree earn their place in a flat.

Which cats are happy alone during a working day?

Some breeds want company far more than others. The GCCF says the Siamese is not ideal for someone out at work all day, and the Burmese and the Sphynx dislike being left alone too. The Turkish Angora copes better: the CFA calls the breed independent enough to stay home while their people are at work. Whatever the breed, play with them when you get home.

Which cats are best if someone is allergic?

No breed is allergy-free. The main allergen is made in the skin of every cat, so even the hairless Sphynx can still cause a reaction. Some cats may make less of it than others. See a doctor first, then spend real time with the breed before you commit.

Which cat breeds need the least grooming?

Shorthaired breeds such as the Siamese and the Egyptian Mau largely look after their own coats. The Persian needs combing every day. Hairless does not mean easy, either: the Sphynx needs regular baths. The Grooming bar on each card shows where a breed sits.

What is the Arabian Mau?

It is the Gulf's own breed, named from the free-roaming cats of the Arabian Peninsula and recognised by the World Cat Federation in 2008. Many cats here have the look without the papers, and their care is the same.