Aegean
Greece's only native breed, from the Cyclades, and one of the few cats that fishes. Bicolour and semi longhaired, and a natural breed rather than a made one.
Photo by Nickmariostories, CC BY-SA 4.0
Overview
The Aegean is Greece's only native breed, developed from the cats of the Cyclades rather than invented in a cattery, and it is one of the few breeds that is essentially a landrace given a standard.
It is always bicolour, semi longhaired, and built like a working cat. The island cats it comes from lived around fishing harbours, and the breed's reputation for liking water and taking an interest in fish comes directly from that.
Temperament
Sociable, adaptable and talkative. Aegeans were selected by circumstance rather than by breeders, which tends to produce a cat that copes.
They are good with people and generally good with other cats, and they are active without being frantic. The vocal habit is moderate, more conversational than demanding.
Care and grooming
A weekly comb through the semi long coat, more during the spring moult. There is no undercoat to speak of, so it does not mat easily.
As a landrace breed with a broad gene pool it carries no well documented breed specific disorder, which is genuinely worth something on a shelf full of engineered cats. Routine care is routine.
Living and exercise
Happy indoors with enough to do, and noticeably happier with access to a safe outdoor run. This is a cat that came from a life outside.
They take to water more readily than most cats, which is charming until it is a bathroom sink. Nine to twelve years is the usual span.
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