Aegean cat
Encyclopedia
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.
in the Aegean Sea
, where they occur naturally. Since it is one of the newest cat breeds, it is believed that it could be among the rarest; however, they seem to be ubiquitous throughout Greece. They are much liked for their character and intelligence. In rural areas, they are often seen as the best method of pest control, because they are very capable predators.
Cat
The cat , also known as the domestic cat or housecat to distinguish it from other felids and felines, is a small, usually furry, domesticated, carnivorous mammal that is valued by humans for its companionship and for its ability to hunt vermin and household pests...
originating from the Cycladic Islands
Cyclades
The Cyclades is a Greek island group in the Aegean Sea, south-east of the mainland of Greece; and a former administrative prefecture of Greece. They are one of the island groups which constitute the Aegean archipelago. The name refers to the islands around the sacred island of Delos...
of Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. Development of this breed started in the early 1990s by breeders in the fledgling Greek Cat Fancy
Cat Fancy
Cat Fancy is the name of a popular North American monthly magazine dedicated to cats, owners of cats, and breeders of cats published by BowTie Inc.-The magazine:...
. It is considered to be the only native
Indigenous (ecology)
In biogeography, a species is defined as native to a given region or ecosystem if its presence in that region is the result of only natural processes, with no human intervention. Every natural organism has its own natural range of distribution in which it is regarded as native...
Greek breed of cat.
Origins
The Aegean Cat originates from the Cycladic IslandsCyclades
The Cyclades is a Greek island group in the Aegean Sea, south-east of the mainland of Greece; and a former administrative prefecture of Greece. They are one of the island groups which constitute the Aegean archipelago. The name refers to the islands around the sacred island of Delos...
in the Aegean Sea
Aegean Sea
The Aegean Sea[p] is an elongated embayment of the Mediterranean Sea located between the southern Balkan and Anatolian peninsulas, i.e., between the mainlands of Greece and Turkey. In the north, it is connected to the Marmara Sea and Black Sea by the Dardanelles and Bosporus...
, where they occur naturally. Since it is one of the newest cat breeds, it is believed that it could be among the rarest; however, they seem to be ubiquitous throughout Greece. They are much liked for their character and intelligence. In rural areas, they are often seen as the best method of pest control, because they are very capable predators.