The Aegean cat is a naturally occurring breed of cat originating from the Cycladic Islands of Greece . Development of this breed started in the early 1990s by breeders in the fledgling Greek Cat Fancy . It is considered to be the only native Greek breed of cat.

It is placed as a breed in the Semi-longhaired, light European/Continental type.

Aegean Cat Origins

Aegean is a natural breed of cats. It is the only feline breed native to Greece. It is said to have originated from Greek Cycladic Islands located in the Aegean Sea. Formal development was initiated in the last decade of twentieth century by Cat Fancy breeders of Greece. As such it is one of the newer cat breeds and often mistakenly thought by some to be somewhat rare, even as the Aegean Cat itself is widespread throughout Greece.

Aegean Cat Characteristics

The coat of an Aegean Cat is semi-longhaired, without down hair, with a moderate ruff and a rich tail. The Aegean Cat's coat provides good protection during the harsh winter weather and sheds out short for the summer. 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. Other colors can be black, red, blue, cream, with or without stripes. The Aegean Cat is a medium-size breed, with a sturdy and muscular build, without signs of obesity. The body is long, with strong, medium-size feet and round-shaped paws. The tail is moderately long, straight, without kinks. The head is medium-size, wide but not round. The ears have a wide base and rounded tips and are covered by hairs. The eyes have an oriental shape and their color can be any shade of green.

Temperament of the Aegean Cat

The Aegean Cat is intelligent and is very capable predators. Due to this they are mostly used as pest controllers in the rural areas. Aegean Cats as pets share a very good relationship with humans. They are very social and communicate well with others. Due to their lively nature they can easily draw the attention of others.