Chantilly/Tiffany 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 beautiful Chantilly/Tiffany cat gets people thinking the cat is a semi-longhaired Burmese, but of course, it's not.

The way the Chantilly came about was that there were a pair of chocolate-colored cats but their origins were unknown. The first litter of Chantilly kittens was born in New York in 1969 and people were so taken up by the beautiful kittens that a breeding program was started.

The cat was first started as a foreign longhair and then it changed to Tiffany. In a British registry, a cat breed that was a cross between a Chinchilla Persian and a Burmese was named the Tiffanie and renamed Chantilly and referred to as the Chantilly/Tiffany.

The breed is recognized by most major cat registries.

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.

The Chantilly is a medium-sized cat that can weight between 4 to 6kg.

The cat has a fairly broad head with widely spaced ears of medium size. The eyes are oval-shaped and gold in color. The fur is semi-long and there is no undercoat. The tail is plumed.

Apart from the original chocolate brown of the cat, other colors of the coat can include fawn, cinnamon, black, lilac and blue, with the chocolate brown being the favorite color.

Temperament:

The Chantilly promises to be a devoted and loyal feline companion for you, much preferring the company of his human family than to being alone.

It gets on well with other pets in the house as well as with respectful, gentle children. He isn't a demanding cat and he tries to talk with his family by chirping. It’s a balanced cat, with a fair share of docility and energy, making the cat an ideal companion for single people, couples, families, and elderly people.

It’s a cat that is so devoted, it will follow his human family around the house.

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.

The Chantilly/Tiffany is a gentle and kind breed that is playful and easy-going. They are just your typical middle-of-the-road cats that are not too much or too little of anything.

The Tiffany is playful, docile, happy and content and he wants to be your friend and companion.

If you are looking for a breed of cat that is loyal to its human family, allow this cat into your home... you won't have any regrets.

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.

There is no health issue that the Tiffany is prone to. Like any cat, a healthy diet will keep the Tiffany healthy for years.

These cats are known to have delicate digestive systems so avoid foods with grain if possible. The Tiffany has full hair in their ears, and wax build-up can occur so the inside of his ears must be checked. Checking the ears once a week, as part of a regular routine that includes brushing, and tooth care, should be sufficient to keep the ear canals clear.

Other issues, which are not detrimental but should be kept in mind, are reports that the Tiffany has delicate digestion. This cat relies on a regular diet that doesn't chop and change often.

Because the Tiffany is a low-shedding cat, it is thought to be a popular breed with those people who are allergic to cat hair.

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.

Diet:

The Chantilly needs an excellet diet and exercise to ensure he doesn’t become to overweght. Remember that cats are carnivores, and this means they have nutritional requirements that can only be met with meat – they can never do well on a diet high in carbohydrates and will develop digestive problems. Your cat will also require clean, fresh water aroud thd clock to ensure his good health.

Ensure each cat you have has a litter box andencourae good litter box habits by cleaning th litter box every day. Keeping the litter box clean also alerts you anything unusual with your cat’s toilet habits.

Provide your cat with a scratching post and a climbing tree.

The cat doesn’t have an undercoat and is therefore easy to groom. With his semi-long hair, you can brush him once a week to keep the coat soft and shiny. The coat is also low shedding.

Check inside his ears and inside his mouth to ensure there is no redness and signs of infection.

Schedule regular vet visits for your cat for his cat vaccines and for when he is sick.

Spay or neuter your cat to prevent unwanted kittens. Spaying and neutering prevents uterine infections and certain cancers in the felines.