Cat breed · Greece
Aegean cats (Greek: γάτα του Αιγαίου gáta tou Aigaíou) are a naturally occurring landrace of domestic cat originating from the Cycladic Islands of Greece and western Turkey. It is considered a natural cat; a landrace developed without human interference. Selective breeding to develop the Aegean cat into a formal breed began in the early 1990s by breeders in the fledgling Greek cat fancy, but the Aegean has yet to be recognised by any major fancier and breeder organisation. It is considered to be the only native Greek landrace variety of cat.
History: The Aegean cat, as its name suggests, originates from the Cycladic Islands in the Aegean Sea, where they occur as a natural landrace. Aegeans are considered one of the oldest domesticated cat breeds, cats having been introduced to the islands during the Bronze Age. They are common as feral cats in Greece and Turkey, where they are found amongst fishing ports asking for food offerings. In Greece, Aegean cats are considered a national treasure. Feral Aegean cats are notable predators of Aegean wall lizards in the Cyclades.
