Furry Diary

Aegean

Felis catus

Also called Aegean Cat, Greek island cat

Rare breedShort profile

From Cycladic islands of Greece in the Aegean Sea, with related cats along the western coast of Turkey12

At a glance the quick version

Weight, male4 to 4.5 kg3
Weight, female3.2 to 4 kg3
Lifespan13 to 15 years3
Sizemedium

CatTime gives about 9-10 lb for males and 7-9 lb for females.

Clever and quick to learn
Sociable and chatty with its people
Unusually relaxed around water
13

Coat and looks how to spot one

semi-longhair

A medium-sized, muscular cat with a moderate, natural build that is neither stocky nor slender. Its semi-long coat is lighter and less full than a Turkish Angora's, and most cats show a generous amount of white.12

Coloursbicolour with whitetricolour with whitewhite with blackwhite with grey or blue132

Personality what they are like

Bright, lively and talkative, the Aegean enjoys human company and settles well into family life, including in flats. It is curious and playful and can even be taught simple tricks.13

Daily activity how busy a day looks

Moderate to high. It likes daily play plus puzzles or games that keep its mind busy.3

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Low maintenance. Brushing a couple of times a week is enough, a little more during seasonal shedding.3

Home where they are happiest

Adapts well to indoor and apartment living when given climbing spots and toys. Keep aquariums covered, as it is a keen little fisher.13

Company who they like around

Very people-friendly and enjoys interaction every day; it does best with company rather than long stretches alone.31

The story where it all began

Cats are thought to have arrived on the Cyclades in the Bronze Age, and over thousands of years a hardy island type formed around harbours and fishing villages. Living close to fishermen made these cats friendly toward people and at ease near water. Greek breeders began shaping the Aegean as a breed in the early 1990s.132

Fun facts for the dinner table

  1. 1

    It is Greece's only native cat breed and is sometimes called a national treasure.1

  2. 2

    Aegean cats are known for liking water and will happily try to catch fish, so they are often seen around fishing harbours.1

  3. 3

    On the islands they are skilled hunters of the local Aegean wall lizard.1

Recognised by the official bits

Major registries
A natural landrace that is not recognised as a standardised breed by any major cat registry; the Greek cat fancy has been developing it since the early 1990s1

The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you

A typical home-care rhythm for a Aegean. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.

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Where this comes from

Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.

  1. Aegean cat - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.orgused for origin, recognition, coat, temperament, history, fun facts
  2. Cat Breeds A - Messybeast messybeast.comused for body type, coat, development history
  3. Aegean Cat Breed Information - CatTime cattime.comused for weight, lifespan, care, activity

Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.