The content of the article
The Aegean cat in its homeland is not considered to be elite and special, although it is a national pride, since only in Greece one can, under natural conditions, admire the true grace of an animal and observe its habits.
Brave fishermen and home defenders
The most ancient domesticated cat is definitely the Aegean. For hundreds of years, these half-wild little but brave animals live alongside people on the shores of the Aegean Sea. And since there mainly fishing is the main business, the cats also had to mainly eat seafood. To survive it was also necessary to catch a fish, which the animals successfully learned.
Accustomed pets carried their service at home. Fishermen went fishing in the open sea, and sometimes they were not at home for many days.The house remained at the mercy of small rodents and other pests. But only until such time as the Aegean representative appeared. All residents knew that it was they who perfectly hunt the destroyers of the harvest, killing them and, of course, eating.
A true Aegean cat belongs to rare guests outside the Greek state.
It is also possible to understand representatives of various communities:
- Outwardly, such cats do not differ much from the most ordinary courtyard representatives, therefore it is very difficult to bring this species to the necessary champion standards.
- Many cats, which appeared by unplanned crossing, are very similar to the Aegean.
However, breeders do not stop provingthat the distinctive important feature is in the unusual character and disposition of the animal, its behavior and habits, which were formed for hundreds of years in natural conditions, improving from generation to generation.
Unrecognized standards
The breeders themselves have created standard parameters that are strictly adhered to. And now, before acquiring an Aegean cat, it is necessary to know what a real Greek guest living in natural conditions looks like:
- Their size is medium or very small, the cat can weigh from 2 to 5 kg. Such dimensions have developed because for survival it was necessary to be hardy and bouncy, getting not rich food in scarce areas. Cats are larger than females.
- The head has a regular shape, close to triangular, sizes - medium.
- The ears are rather neat, high, set wide apart. At the very base they are wide and covered with horizontally growing hair. The tips are required to be rounded and slightly dodged along the rule to the eyes.
- Eyes. Slightly slanting and wide open, as if let down, thanks to which the look is given philosophical thoughtfulness and expressiveness. Their color range ranges from yellow to green.
- The nose must be proportional, taper from the nose to the "pad".
- The neck looks wide, medium length, but it is very flexible.
- The shoulders and chest are wide enough.
- The body is long. It is a mistake to assume that the cat is fat, but in fact he has a well-developed musculature.
- Paws are strong, proportional to the body. Large, but elegant brushes and parade. The claws are powerful, especially on the hind limbs, strongly curved.
- The tail should not contain kinks, but be only straight and long. It differs from other parts of the body with a rich woolen cover.
- Coat length is small, but it is very thick, although it does not have undercoat. This fact is explained by the fact that the hot climate of Greece did not force the animals to acquire additional body heat. The collar zone and the tail are the most fluffy places.
- Color has a rich palette. But still one condition should be preserved: the main color is only white, and, without any inclusions, wipes and other unacceptable defects. The second color, if it is bicolor, may turn out to be black or red, blue or red, cream or gray, etc.The same conditions are preserved if there is a pattern of spots. Most often, the Aegean may have stripes, but monotonous color, spots, and ticking are permissible.
Immediately reject kittens breeders if they were born:
- completely white;
- with noticeable defective tail creases;
- blindness;
- pathologies associated with hearing;
- with disturbed body proportions;
- weak, with undeveloped limbs.
Features of docile nature
The owners can boast of their Aegean pets indefinitely. It seems that these cats have absolutely no flaws. Indeed, you rarely find an animal with such a harmonious combination of mind, devotion and activity.
They almost can not be trained, yet the Aegean cats are accustomed to live in the wild and fight for their survival in difficult conditions. But this can also be counted among the pluses of the breed, since in those houses or on the house adjoining sites where rodents, lizards or birds were previously managed, they will soon disappear thanks to the natural hunting instincts of the Aegean. But for this reason you should not keep a small living creature in the house, otherwise it can suffer greatly.Since the Aegean cat is an excellent fisherman with claws specially adapted for catching, you should not keep an aquarium in the house.
Animals are devoted to the owner to fanaticism and try to accompany him constantly, managing to speak their own language. They love to be petted, but they do not particularly insist on it. They get used to new living conditions without any special worries, so they travel with their families with pleasure. By strangers are friendly, but if you try to offend them, they will show a wild temper.
The ancestors of the Aegeans spent most of their time in nature, and therefore their grandchildren prefer freedom of movement, for this reason it is better if the cat used to independence at the gene level lives in a private house. If you do not walk it, depression can begin.
Difficulties arise in that the egey can independently open doors and windows, construct a place to rest in any closet and jump onto the dining table in search of food. Maybe as a toy to take any item.
Proper care
Nutrition must be balanced, because if the diet is broken, bowel problems begin immediately. The main delicacy is fish, first of all live. The immune system and the normal state of the bones of the Greek pet depend on its presence.
Sharpen health and reduce life expectancy may lack walks. Due to the natural selection and hardening of the body, these cats have acquired an excellent healthy gene pool and have enviable health.
If you properly feed and go out with an animal for a walk, then it will live at least 16 years. Well-groomed Aegean cats, as a rule, are distinguished by enviable health. Experts assure that for this breed, in order to avoid diseases dangerous for it, it is important to follow first of all exactly the right diet.
Video: Aegean Cat
To send