Aegean cats are very freedom-loving, love fresh air and free, unlimited spaces. If you keep such a cat in the house, then you need to provide it with freedom of movement and regular walks. However, despite the love of freedom, this breed quickly adapts to the lifestyle of its owner: it sleeps and wakes with him at the same time. Aegean cats are distinguished by their extreme intelligence and devotion to their owner. Thanks to their roots, Aegean cats are excellent hunters. Those individuals that live on the seashore become excellent fishermen.
Representatives of the Aegean breed stand out for their strength and endurance. They get along well with other animals and are very friendly with people around them. When interacting with children, Aegean cats show restraint and patience, never releasing their claws. They are very affectionate with strangers and can be the first to make contact, allowing themselves to be petted.
Aegean cat photo
Description of the breed
In appearance, this cat is indistinguishable from ten dozen outbred cats running around our streets: white cats with dark spots - bicolor and tricolor. Here you have strict white and black, and playful white and red (red), and sophisticated white and blue. Perhaps the most common is white with tabby patterns of various colors. But!
- There is always more white than color, the approximate proportions are 1 to 2 or 3 times!
- White is never yellowish or grayish, only white-white, like the first snow that fell on a frosty morning - two!
- A pure white cat, without spots at all - no longer an Aegean cat, but some other cat - three!
- The eye color of the Aegean cat is exclusively green with various shades and never falls into the color of the spots (that is, a cat with red spots should not have copper or yellow eyes) - four!
- Genetics have proven that the Aegean cat was formed in the course of natural formation (aboriginal breed) - five!
- And this aboriginal is one of the oldest representatives of domesticated cats - six!
- The Aegean cat is the national pride and heritage of Greece, because is the only “native” cat for this state - seven!
Not a bad track record! But this is not the end of the story about the Greek cat.
Purchasing a kitten
Many breeders consider breeding these animals unprofitable, so you can only buy an Aegean cat in its homeland in Greece or the Cyclades Islands.
The price of an Aegean cat varies from 10 to 20 five thousand rubles. The cost of a baby of this breed depends on appearance, gender and pedigree, and the final price is set only by the breeder.
Proud and independent, but at the same time affectionate and devoted, the Aegean cat will become a wonderful pet for any person and will bring only positive and bright emotions into the life of its owner.
Video
History of the origin of the breed
Since the Aegean Sea itself and its islands are a real treasure for historians studying the civilization of Ancient Greece, historians were the first to pay attention to the cat living freely on the islands of Cyclidas.
In the ancient Greek version, the Cyclidae archipelago sounds like “Tsikladis”, which gave rise to the modern myth about Aegean cats, as if they came from a mysterious island that is not on the maps of Greece - Tsikladis, in fact, the casket opens simply. There is no island of Cyclades, but there is a group of islands (archipelago) called the Cyclides, where the Aegean Greek cat was first “examined”. Or was it a cat?
Be that as it may, the islands are located at a sufficient distance from each other, and the cats living on these islands are all carbon copies: white with spots, green-eyed, compact in build, weighing from 2 to 4 kg (cats are slightly heavier than cats ), sharp-faced, amazingly hardy and with unusually mobile large ears.
Egean ears are a subject of special conversation. Since the sea is constantly roaring around, the cat’s already very sensitive ears, equipped with tactile hairs, have learned to rotate almost 90* around their axis. So the cat acquired an additional tool to “feel” air vibrations and accurately determine the source of the sound.
After “acquiring” such ears, combined with almost ideal body parameters, the cat became an unsurpassed hunter on the islands. Now neither mice nor rats could escape her long, curved claws. For this ability to “clear the entrusted territory” with the excitement of a special forces soldier, the Aegean cat was dubbed the “silent killer” and was greatly respected, luring them with various delicacies to fishermen’s houses.
Health
Genetically, Aegean cats have a fairly strong immune system. Most often, medical problems in these animals are associated with poor diet and lack of sufficient physical activity.
Since the cat often walks, it should be regularly treated for fleas and ticks, and anthelmintic therapy should be carried out. Particular attention should be paid to ensuring that the animal does not hunt birds or rodents within the city. They are carriers of various infectious diseases. In addition, rodents are often poisoned with toxic substances, which can be deadly to the hunter.
Origin of the name of the breed
The Aegean cat is not only an excellent swimmer, but also an excellent diver, capable of both snatching fish with its curved claws in shallow water and preventing larger prey from escaping in deep water.
But it’s one thing to hunt on your own, and quite another to receive food from the gentle, caring hands of the owner. And she will work on this food in the most honest way, and in the shortest possible time!
It was these features that a group of historians and archaeologists working on the islands drew attention to. And she not only paid attention, but even honored them with a short remark in her report. They read the report, assessed the work, and did not ignore the note about cats, transferring its data to the felinological community AFG (Association Felina Greece) in Athens.
Greek cat lovers were delighted with the “find” and in 1986 the first expedition for Aegean, then simply Cyclidian, cats arrived on the islands.
A year later, the work with the “island settlers” was completed and it was definitely established: these island cats are unique! This is truly a separate breed from those already known, which has been confirmed not only by breeders, but also by geneticists.
In 1990, AFG submitted an application to the WCF and received a positive decision to give the Greco-Cyclidian cat the status of a separate breed, assigning it the name Aegean cat.
Now it has become clear to everyone that this cat is a purely Greek beast!
The name “Aegean” refers not so much to the sea (islands) of its habitat, but rather to the glory and pride of ancient Hellas, because judging by the age of formation of the breed, somewhere in 302 BC.
And these are the only officially proven representatives of the cat family of the Pontic kingdom to date!
Features of the Aegean cat
For all its uniqueness, this breed is not particularly widespread in the world.
Firstly, her typical backyard appearance makes it difficult to develop a strict standard that breeders should follow when breeding her.
Secondly, the description of the breed is so similar to the description of an ordinary domestic cat that people do not want to pay money for what they can get for free by looking into the basement of an ordinary residential building.
In short, the breed is still considered experimental; breeders and breeders are painstakingly working with it to give it that unique image, in which at first glance one could recognize a cat of the Aegean breed and no other!
Giving unique features is not enough; it is also necessary to preserve the independent character of the Egeis and their enviable health.
Living in natural conditions, the ability to get food on its own (with its constant shortage) made the cat incredibly dexterous and patient.
If you have a beloved hamster or parrot living in your house, then it’s only a matter of time before the “silent killer” catches them. She knows how to wait.
Maintenance and care
Caring for Aegean cats is easy. To keep your pet active and healthy, you should carefully read the following recommendations from experienced breeders.
- Hygiene. You should brush your animal's fur weekly with a soft brush. If a cat leads an outdoor lifestyle, it needs to be bathed as soon as its fur becomes dirty. A special feature of this breed is its love for water procedures, so this activity will not cause your pet any discomfort. It is also necessary to monitor the health of the cat’s eyes and ears, wipe them with a damp cotton pad soaked in a special solution. Veterinarians also recommend brushing your pet's teeth with a special brush to prevent the formation of tartar.
- Nutrition. Aegean cats are not picky eaters and have an excellent appetite. Experienced breeders recommend that they include boiled fish and lean meat (beef, turkey, rabbit) in their diet. They also vitally need vegetables, cereals, and dairy products. It is strictly forbidden to give these animals fatty, sweet, spicy and salty foods. You can feed your mustachioed pet with ready-made food, preferably super-premium food.
- Walks. If the Aegean cat does not have free access to street festivities, it is worth teaching the cat to walk on a leash. These animals really need fresh air. In addition, they are smart, trust their owner and easily learn new things.
- Prevention of diseases. Don't forget to keep your pet up to date on his vaccinations and take him to the vet. Deworm and treat for fleas and ticks regularly. By nature, these cats have excellent health, and there are no genetic diseases due to their natural origin.
When choosing a kitten, carefully examine its eyes, ears, and mouth.
Don’t forget to purchase food bowls, scratching posts, a tray, a special play set, and a bed in advance. Make sure that the kitten does not have access to needles, pins, tinsel, foil and other small objects that can cause injury to the animal.
These adorable babies do not require any special conditions when raised, but they do need plenty of toys, space for active play, and fresh air. It is useful for kittens to give frozen raw beef, boiled sea fish, offal, egg yolks, fermented milk products, vegetables, sprouted wheat grains.
We suggest you read: Putting an IV on a cat at home
The Aegean cat is very freedom-loving and is not suitable for keeping in an apartment. She needs access to the outside; walking on a leash will not be enough. Since she is genetically accustomed to living on the street, she will be happier in a private home. Aegean cats accept large amounts of fish in their diet better than others. Otherwise, there are no special dietary recommendations. Aegeans can eat both ready-made food and natural products.
Caring for Aegean cats involves the same procedures as for other short-haired breeds - brushing, rare bathing (no more than 2-3 times a year), ear cleaning as needed. It is not recommended to trim the claws of cats that walk outside.
Aegean cats are quite easy to care for because... they are very picky in their care. Medium-length wool, devoid of undercoat, requires periodic combing (especially during the molting period) in order to avoid the appearance of tangles. A soft natural bristle brush or a wide-tooth comb is suitable for this. Ears and eyes must be treated with special cleaning solutions.
Aegean cats are not afraid of water, so the bathing process will not cause any trouble. The health of cats of this breed is very good, since due to their origin they are adapted to life in their natural environment. However, it is simply necessary to vaccinate and maintain the immunity of these cats in a timely manner. It is also necessary to give these cats long walks in the fresh air. Aegean cats live on average from 8 to 13 years.
Character of the breed
Just as a hidden mouse or a silvery fish waited for hours, or a fisherman’s boat went out to sea, the Aegean cat will wait for hours at the door for your return, without making a sound, turning into a motionless sculpture.
But when you appear, she will tell you all the news, and then beg to take a walk in the open area. And he may not return home for 3-4 days, however, without leaving the fenced area. After a walk, the cat will return to check if anything happened in his absence, eat a hearty meal and sleep peacefully.
The cat will get used to your daily routine almost instantly. It's time to sleep? - Let's lie down next to each other! Time for a snack? – And don’t forget about me! Do you want to play? - I am here! Hellas cats can play endlessly, and with any object that can be moved with a paw or picked up with a claw. Remember about the pencils that were lying on dad’s table and ended up in the kitten’s paws? - Exactly!
With all their mobility and even a certain bloodthirstiness, Greco-Cyclidian animals will never paw or bite a child, trying to quickly “sneak” somewhere if the baby is very persistently trying to unscrew the unique Aegean ears.
An adult shouldn’t do this - these green-eyed beasts can take care of themselves perfectly well!
They are very smart and stubborn. They are practically not amenable to training, but they agree to fulfill the conditions of living together under one roof. In particular, even if they are in a bad mood or during heat, these cats will never shit past the tray into your slippers.
If you manage to make friends, the cat will become your shadow, and if you are simply willing to offer her shelter and board, she will be quite content with that. A couple of fresh fish 2-3 times a week will make the cat not only happy, but also healthy.
Like all independent natures, the Aegean cat still really needs your love, affection and understanding!
