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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.