Aegean cat: description of the breed, character and care

The Cyclades islands are a Greek archipelago located in the southern Aegean. The Mediterranean climate is favorable for growing vineyards and olives, for cattle breeding and fishing. Very often on the coast you can see a large number of cats sitting, waiting for the return of the fishermen and their share of the catch. Animals are not afraid of water and can, if necessary, independently catch fish in shallow water. These are the so-called Aegean cats.

Aegean cat - the oldest domesticated breed of wild cats. Now in Greece they can be found not only in the Cyclades, but also everywhere.

Greeks consider these animals their national treasure. Greek breeders began to breed Aegean cats as a separate breed relatively recently - in the 90s of the XX century, and at the moment this breed has not yet been officially recognized.

For the Aegean cat, the following exterior features are characteristic:

• medium-sized body, flexible and well muscled;
• the chest is wide, the abdomen is taut;
• the head is not very large, but wide, has a triangular shape, slightly elongated forward;
• eyes are beautiful almond-shaped, more often amber-yellow, but can also have a green color;
• medium-sized nose, straight;
• the ears are not very large, taper from the base to the tips, the auricles are abundantly covered with hairs;
• the neck is strong and strong;
• legs well developed and elongated, oval-shaped paws, claws long and tenacious;
• tail is straight, long, with a tapering tip;
• the coat is soft and silky, has an average length, without undercoat, tightly fitting to the body;
• an adult animal weighs 4-5 kilograms, cats always look larger and more solid.

You can find a different description of the color of these cats. The main condition is the white color of the coat, which should occupy 2/3 of the total area of ​​the coat. Ideally, it is bright and clear, like white snow. On it there may be spots of the same color, the so-called two-color (or bicolor) and spots of two different colors - a three-color color (tricolor). The shades of the spots themselves are allowed different: black, blue, gray, cream, red.

Outside of native Greece, Aegean cats are not very popular. Many breeders and those wishing to have a kitten believe that these cats have normal, especially unattractive, external data. The cost of a kitten varies from 10 to 35 thousand rubles, depending on gender, appearance and pedigree.

Wherein Be sure to read the reviews about the seller and do not forget to take into account the additional costs of transporting the future pet.

Caring for Aegean cats is easy. In order for your pet to be active and healthy, you should carefully read the following recommendations from experienced breeders.

• Hygiene. Every week, comb the animal’s hair with a soft brush. If the cat leads a street lifestyle, it needs to be bathed as the coat becomes soiled. The peculiarity of this breed is the love of water procedures, so this lesson 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 moist cotton pad soaked in a special solution. Veterinarians also recommend brushing your animal’s teeth to prevent tartar formation.
• Food. Aegean cats are picky about food and have a great appetite. Experienced breeders recommend necessarily include boiled fish and lean meat (beef, turkey, rabbit meat) in their diet. They also need vegetables, cereals, dairy products. It is strictly forbidden to give these animals fatty, sweet, spicy and salty. You can feed the mustachioed pet with ready-made feeds, preferably in a super-premium class.
• Walks. If the Aegean cat does not have free access to street festivities, it is worthwhile to train a cat or cat to walk on a leash. These animals really need fresh air. In addition, they are smart, trust the owner and easily learn everything new.
• Disease Prevention Do not forget to give your pet routine vaccinations and show them to the veterinarian. Regularly deworm and treat against fleas and ticks. 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, mouth.

Do not forget to pre-purchase food bowls, claws, tray, special game complex, stove bench. Make sure that the kitten does not have access to needles, pins, tinsel, foil and other small objects that could cause injury to the animal.

When growing, these charming kids do not need special conditions, but they need a large number of toys, space for active games and fresh air. It is useful for kittens to give frozen raw beef, boiled sea fish, offal, egg yolks, dairy products, vegetables, and sprouted wheat grains. The kitten should always have access to fresh purified water. After three months, you can transfer to food high-quality prepared feed. Hygiene for babies is recommended the same as for adult animals.

For Aegean kittens whose ancestors have Greek roots, it’s easy to pick up the spectacular names of ancient Greek deities and heroes or the names of geographical objects. As possible options, pay attention to the following names suitable for the baby.

Options for kitty girls:

• Agria
• Astray
• Athena;
• Frond;
• Hera
• Gaia
• Dassia
• Ithaca
• Lacca
• Lissa
• Maritsa;
• Ned;
• Nika;
• Rhea;
• Selena.

Options for cat boys:

• Adonis;
• Ardas
• Helios;
• Hermes;
• Hephaestus;
• Dionysus;
• Zeus;
• Marshmallows;
• Kasos
• Perseus;
• Rhodes;
• Theseus;
• Uranus;
• Aegeus;
• Eros.

Aegean cats are charming, intelligent and friendly creatures. They will never let others get bored and sad. It is unlikely that there will be more hardy, unpretentious and loyal to the owner of the animals. This beautiful breed of cats has long earned the recognition of its rightful status.

About the features of the Aegean cat breed, see below.