Aegean
Meoww!!
The Aegean cat is independent in character, but also friendly and not only towards other cats (it is accustomed to living together naturally in small groups). It has a strong personality, is smart, obedient and easily develops excellent relationships with people.
In 5 Words
- Independent
- Friendly
- Strong
- Smart
- Obedient
Snapshot
Size: Medium
Weight: 4 5 – 5 kg
Origin: Greece
Life Span: 15 years
Colour: Fawn, Red, Blue, Grey
Litter Size: Medium
Characteristics
Learn About the Agean
The Aegean cat originated from the Cycladic Islands in the Aegean Sea, as its name suggests. They are considered to be one of the oldest domesticated cat breeds. Aegeans can be seen in Greece as feral cats where they usually are found begging for food among fishing ports. In Greece, these cats are considered a natural treasure.
The Aegean appears to be the only native Greek cat breed. They must have lived with the ancient Greeks dating back to a thousand years ago. The Cycladic Islands is a group of about 200 islands within the Aegean Sea. It is said that these cats have landed to mainland Greece through ancient Greek fishermen who would pass by the islands on a regular basis. People began domesticating them several centuries ago and gained popularity all over Greece, mostly used as a vermin exterminator.
During the early 1990s, the first Cat fancy Club was established. Efforts began to materialize with regards to breeding Aegean cats. Nowadays, this breed is being recognized by numerous large cat clubs all over the world. Even though Aegeans are still a bit rare outside Greece, they are gradually becoming quite famous in North America and Europe.
Aegean cats have an athletic body and are medium sized. Their heads are broad and their tail and body are long. Their eyes are generally shaped oriental while their ears are wide. The ears are covered with hair and have rounded tips and a wide base. The color of their eyes is green for the majority of Aegeans. The coat can either be bicolor or tricolor. White is always one of its colors covering up to 2/3 of the body. The other color can be cream, blue, red or black. The paws are rounded and medium sized.
Even though they were systematically bred just recently, they have quickly adapted to the environment. This is because they have been domesticating this type of cat for centuries and they have well adapted alongside humans. It can live in an apartment as it is a social pet. It is active, lively, intelligent and communicative too. It will not hesitate to try to communicate with you. Oftentimes, they’ll try to catch your attention.
Aegean cats like fishing, and water unlike other types of cats. Because they were developed well, these cats are free from feline genetic diseases most of the time.
Aegean cats are active and intelligent. But they can often be difficult to train, with owners unable to teach them to perform a single trick. They are serious hunters and this characteristic can be seen when they solve problems and hunt their prey. They hunt by ambush and can patiently wait for hours for the right time to strike. They usually hunt mice but if there aren’t any, they will stalk imaginary mice and even target their owner’s toes. They can play hunt for hours owing to their great stamina.
Aegean cats are highly affectionate and loyal. They will bond with a one person, consider him or her special, and follow that person around. They like cuddling but they are not too demanding. They are also vocal. They like “long talks” with their owners.
They can get along with other cats and well-mannered dogs. They are best alongside older children. Younger children are not advised to be owners of this breed because toddlers may give rough handling. Most are friendly towards strangers. If you have small animals in your home, you may think twice about owning an Aegean cat. There are natural born hunters and killers. They might target your other pets such as fish, birds, pet rodents, lizards and small snakes. These cats love to go outside. However, remember that the outdoors is not always safe. If you want to train your cat, secure it with a harness and leash. They actually enjoy water, and spend time playing and splashing in it.
Aegean cats have an average life span of about fifteen years. They are a very hardy breed but can still be susceptible to common feline ailments. However, only the usual ones affect them. As they were relatively isolated from other domesticated cats, they have not become affected by genetic problems observed in other breeds.
Aegean cats need little or no grooming. Their coats don’t need to be brushed often since they like to polish their fur, as most cats do. Diet should be well balanced and consists of fish every now and then. These cats are particularly attracted to fish. They really love fish as it was naturally the main food for them. There were wild cats which developed close friendship with fishermen and they would wait for the fisherman to go back for freshly caught fish. Because of their islandic origin, Aegean cats are not afraid of the water. They should be allowed a huge space to play and run. They may not enjoy the city life because of possible small areas. This breed of cat is best taken care of in a place where it can run freely.
