European Burmese vs Aegean - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

Thought to be the only native Greek variety of cat, the attractive Aegean cats hails from Greece – more specifically the Cycladic Islands of Greece.

Formal breeding of the cat started in the 1990s but the cat isn’t recognized by any of the top cat breeding organizations. These cats are believed to be one of the oldest domesticated cat breeds, and in Greece are considered a national treasure.

The European Burmese was developed in the 1960s when they were imported to England by British breeders.

They were then crossed with red-point Siamese as well as British Shorthairs to expand the gene pool and number of coat colors.

In 1994, the cat was recognized by the Cat Fanciers Association and later by the Canadian Cat Association as well as the Cat Fanciers Federation and others as well.

Aegean cats are a nice athletic, medium-sized cat with fairly longish hair and weighing in the region of 4.5 – 5 kg and standing in height at between 21 and 25,4cm.

The cat sheds during the spring and summer, but if they are essentially indoor cats they will shed all year.

The coat can be made up of two or three colors with white always as one of the main colors and taking up more space on the coat than other colors. Other colors in all their different patterns can be grey, orange or black.

The tail of the cat is long and bushy the ears are quite large and wide at the base and are then gently rounded at the top. The head is broad, the eyes are almond-shaped and can be anything from green to blue or yellow.

Temperament:

These cats are strange in that they quite enjoy being around water, fascinated by the movements below the water’s surface. They’re also social cats, love being around their human family and also around children in the home.

If you have a hobby such as fishing you can take this breed of cat with. In fact, they love the outdoors and if you go out hiking or fishing, they’ll be there, climbing and exploring with you. These attractive cats are known to make awesome family pets, having been domesticated for centuries. Full of energy, they are also quite vocal.

Your beautiful European Burmese cat is a small to medium-sized cat and both males and females will weigh between 3 and 5kg.

The cat’s coat is short and glossy and it comes in a number of different colors such as white, brown, cream, blue, red and tortoisehell.The cat has large, expressive eyes that are a yellow or amber shade.

Your European Burmese has a silky short coat and the coat will also only need to be brushed once a week to keep it in tip-top condition.

Temperament:

The European Burmese is a very affectionate, loyal ad intelligent cat, loving the companionhip they share with their human family.

They’re a great pet for families as they’re active and playful. They are also a cat breed that likes to bond with one particular family member more than others.

They’re also inclined to be lap cats, grabbing each opportunity to be stroked and petted. They will also be quite willing to become friends with other pets in the home and don’t like to be left alone for a long time.

They like having other pets around to keep them company and can become withdrawn if constantly left on their own.

The Aegean is friendly, loving and social and he will get on well with children and animals in the home.

He is intelligent and will try to talk to you, even if it's to invite you to go swimming with him, as he is an unusual cat with his love of water.

Bringing such a cat into your home and heart will promise to bring you years of wonderful companionship.

Your European Burmese has a sweet disposition and it is a loving, companionable cat. They enjoy the company of their human owners as well as other pets.

They can be quite vocal too and they don’t like being left alone. If you work all day, it will be a good idea to have another pet as a companion for the European Burmese.

The European Burmese loves to play and is a fun-loving, active, social cat. While they love their human family, they may not make the greatest pet for an inactive, single person as these cats actually seek out companionship.

A person unable to involve themselves with this cat, may well find it becoming depressed. These are cats that require a lot of interaction and attention, craving the attention of their human families.

Because this cat hasn’t had selective breeding, they are free from most feline genetic diseases. It is therefore considered a fairly healthy cat with few genetic health issues.

If you look after your Aegean cat well, he can live to be up to 10 – 12 years of age.

The European Burmese is a fairly healthy cat and is unlikely to cost you a lot in terms of vets fees.

Just like with other cats, some of the common cat illnesses include developing diabetes mellitus. There have been some of these cats that ave been known to suffer from Feline Orofacial Pain Syndrome (FOPS).

It is a disease related to the teeth. Teeth problems are a common ailment with cats. With this particular problem, there is an unusual amount of pain when the cat's adult teeth begin to emerge. Your cat will be displaying a lot of licking and chewing motions. The symptoms do however go away once the adult teeth come in.

The cat will in all likelihood need to see the vet for pain medication and other treatments such as a potassium supplement.

Know where your local vet is:

Once you bring a kitten into your home, or any pet for that matter, get to know where your closest vet is. This is so you know where to go if your pet becomes ill, he requires his first vaccines or there is a medical emergency where he needs to see someone immediately.

Diet:

When you buy food for your cat, try and buy high-quality food. Speak to your vet if you aren’t sure how to feed your cat. Cats require taurine, which is an essential amino acid needed for healthy hearts. Always make sure your cat has fresh, cool water at all times.

Grooming:

Every cat, whether short- or long-haired will require some combing and brushing to get rid of those loose hairs. The Aegean cat is a moderate shedder. Not only that, if you start with this grooming when your cat is a kitten, he will look forward to it and it will strengthen the bond between you.

Fleas and ticks:

Both fleas and ticks can be found on cats, and controlling these kinds of parasites requires speaking to your vet for something that can get rid of them. The vet will recommend products, and a flea and tick collar can also be useful but they will need to be renewed quite frequently.

Vaccines:

Your Aegean kitten will need vaccinations to protect him from life-threatening diseases such as Feline Leukaemia Virus, Feline Infectious Enteritis and Cat flu. The first vaccines will be required at 8 weeks of age.

Sometimes it may be necessary to also have your pet vaccinated against rabies, depending on where you live. Throughout your cat’s life, to maintain his immunity, regular booster shots will be required.

Because the European Burmese is a very affectionate, loyal cat, and because they thrive on the companionship of their human family, you owe it to him to provide him with consistent companionship. They are friendly cats and will be amicable to visitors to the home too.

Scratching is a natural behavior of pets so instead of becoming angry with your cat when he scratches on your furniture, provide him with a scratching post.

You can also learn how to carefully clip your cat's nails, otherwise a professional cat groomer can do it for you.

It’s not always easy keeping a cat indoors and that is why neutering or spaying becomes important to avoid unwanted kittens. It makes your European Burmese a more balanced cat and it has a host of health benefits too.

It can’t be stressed enough how important good food is for the health of people and animals. The European Burmese needs top quality food high in proteins and meat to remain healthy.

If you feed your cat human food or food high in carbs, expect to spend a lot on vet fees.

Make sure your pet enjoys his food but that it is also nutritious and in the right portions to avoid obesity.

Kittens will eat 4 bowls of food a day and then progress to 2 bowls of food after the cat turns one year of age.