Collection: Personalised Aegean Gifts

A Grecian domestic cat naturally occurring on their islands, the Aegean cat is not a formally recognised breed of cat. They are a social breed that enjoys the company of humans and enjoy water more than other cat breeds.

The breed originates in Greece, and until recently, no attempt to formally breed for its characteristics until the 1990s. Before that, this breed is one that had developed itself without human intervention on the Aegean islands, hence the name. They are known as a landrace animal, meaning that although domesticated, they are ideally suited to living in their specific area of the world. The exact history of this breed isn't clear. Cats have existed on the island of Cyprus for over 10,000 years, according to archaeological evidence, and Aegeans would have likely been welcomed for their mousing ability. They may also be related to Turkish breeds like the Angora; however, this is yet to be proven. In the 1990s, work began to solidify the breed as a purebred and have its distinctive features live on, however as of the time of writing this, no organisations have formally recognised the breed. Until then, the Aegean is a well-loved cat and considered a national treasure by some living in Greece. The Aegean is one of two breeds to have developed itself naturally on the Grecian islands.

Social and playful Aegeans need lots of entertainment to keep their minds and bodies active. They can enjoy independent play or play with their human companions. True to their Greek island roots, they are reasonably independent cats who don't fear water, and have even been seen fishing for themselves! Due to this in areas they aren't native to it's best that they aren't allowed to free roam outside as it could cause conflict with the natural wildlife, instead they should be provided an enclosed outdoor area. They are great cats for families and get on well with children as long as the children have been taught to respect the cats.