Aegean cat

Aegean
A juvenile male Aegean house cat.
Origin	Greece
Notes
Occurs naturally throughout Greece, originates from the Cycladic islands
Domestic cat (Felis catus)

The Aegean cat (Greek: γάτα του Αιγαίου) is a naturally occurring landrace of domestic cat originating from the Cycladic Islands of Greece. Development of the Aegean cat as a formal breed began in the early 1990s by breeders in the fledgling Greek cat fancy, but the variety has yet to be recognized by any major fancier and breeder organization. It is considered to be the only native Greek variety of cat.

History

The Aegean cat, as its name suggests, originates from the Cycladic Islands in the Aegean Sea, where they occur as a natural landrace.^[1] Aegeans are considered one of the oldest domesticated cat breeds.^[1] They are common as feral cats in Greece, where they are found amongst fishing ports begging for food.^[1] In Greece, Aegean cats are considered a national treasure.^[1]

Aegeans as pets

Although the Aegean has only very recently begun to be bred systematically, it has been domesticated for many centuries and thus has become adapted very well to humans. It is a social pet that tolerates living in an apartment rather well. It is intelligent, active, lively and also communicative, not hesitating to draw a person's attention.

A 7-month old domesticated Aegean kitten may reach the size and physical condition of its full-grown mainland European counterparts.

Aegean characteristics

Aegean cats are a medium-sized, muscular, semi-longhaired cat.^[1] The coat is bicolor or tricolor; one of the colors is always white, without signs of yellowing and takes up between 1/3 to 2/3 of the body.^[1] Other colors can be black, red, blue, cream, with or without tabby striping.^[1] The paws are medium in size and have a round shape.^[1] The ears have a wide base and rounded tips and are covered by hair. The eyes have an almond shape and their color can be any shade of green.^[1]

Aegean cats are noted for their affinity for water and fishing.^[1] Because of the way they developed, Aegean cats are free from most feline genetic diseases.^[1]

References

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Aegean". Cats 101. Animal Planet. Retrieved April 7, 2013.

External links

Short profile of the Aegean cat (Greek language)
Cat Breeds with Pictures Directory: Aegean Cat Breed

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This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Monday, March 07, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.