Van Kedisi vs Aegean - Breed Comparison | PetzLover

Thought to be the only native Greek variety of cat, the attractive Aegean cats hails from Greece – more specifically the Cycladic Islands of Greece.

Formal breeding of the cat started in the 1990s but the cat isn’t recognized by any of the top cat breeding organizations. These cats are believed to be one of the oldest domesticated cat breeds, and in Greece are considered a national treasure.

The Van Kedisi cat or Cat of Van as it is also known is a domestic cat that hails from the Lake Van region of Turkey.

There are historians who agree that the domestic cat originated in Egypt. The actual cat was developed in the United Kingdom from a host of cat types from Turkey. During the late 1990s the Van Cat became an informal municipal symbol of the city.

Aegean cats are a nice athletic, medium-sized cat with fairly longish hair and weighing in the region of 4.5 – 5 kg and standing in height at between 21 and 25,4cm.

The cat sheds during the spring and summer, but if they are essentially indoor cats they will shed all year.

The coat can be made up of two or three colors with white always as one of the main colors and taking up more space on the coat than other colors. Other colors in all their different patterns can be grey, orange or black.

The tail of the cat is long and bushy the ears are quite large and wide at the base and are then gently rounded at the top. The head is broad, the eyes are almond-shaped and can be anything from green to blue or yellow.

Temperament:

These cats are strange in that they quite enjoy being around water, fascinated by the movements below the water’s surface. They’re also social cats, love being around their human family and also around children in the home.

If you have a hobby such as fishing you can take this breed of cat with. In fact, they love the outdoors and if you go out hiking or fishing, they’ll be there, climbing and exploring with you. These attractive cats are known to make awesome family pets, having been domesticated for centuries. Full of energy, they are also quite vocal.

The Van Kedisi cat is a large feline with a soft, silky white coat, which he often sheds in the Summer. There is usually color on the head and tail – a yellow apricot color. The coat is descibed as seni-long.

He can reach up to 10kg in weight. The cats are lean and long-legged and they also like to swim. The eyes are almond-shaped eyes and are often odd-colored. One eye might be green and the other blue.

Temperament:

Van Kedisi cats have a strong wild side to them, but in spite of this they love getting attention from their human owners. In fact, they demand it or else they can become disgruntled. It's the kind of cat that can adapt to new environments and he is intelligent enough to be able to be trained.

The Aegean is friendly, loving and social and he will get on well with children and animals in the home.

He is intelligent and will try to talk to you, even if it's to invite you to go swimming with him, as he is an unusual cat with his love of water.

Bringing such a cat into your home and heart will promise to bring you years of wonderful companionship.

Van Kedisi cats are intelligent and friendly and they make excellent companions.

They are lively cats and love playing games with their humans. They will need stimulation from interactive toys. He also loves to leap up onto high perches and watch things from his elevated position.

If you have decided to have a Van Kedisi in your home, expect things to joyful and entertaining as this cat likes to build a strong bone with his human owners.

Because this cat hasn’t had selective breeding, they are free from most feline genetic diseases. It is therefore considered a fairly healthy cat with few genetic health issues.

If you look after your Aegean cat well, he can live to be up to 10 – 12 years of age.

A healthy meat diet for your cat is like a ticket to good health. Cats are carnivores and they rely on you to supply them with food high in protein.

Cats battle to absorb protein derived from plants. Learn to check your food labels to ensure the food contains animal meat. Meat from chicken and tuna is good.

Regular visits to the vet when you suspect that your cat is ill will give you the chance to catch any diseases in their early stages.

Know where your local vet is:

Once you bring a kitten into your home, or any pet for that matter, get to know where your closest vet is. This is so you know where to go if your pet becomes ill, he requires his first vaccines or there is a medical emergency where he needs to see someone immediately.

Diet:

When you buy food for your cat, try and buy high-quality food. Speak to your vet if you aren’t sure how to feed your cat. Cats require taurine, which is an essential amino acid needed for healthy hearts. Always make sure your cat has fresh, cool water at all times.

Grooming:

Every cat, whether short- or long-haired will require some combing and brushing to get rid of those loose hairs. The Aegean cat is a moderate shedder. Not only that, if you start with this grooming when your cat is a kitten, he will look forward to it and it will strengthen the bond between you.

Fleas and ticks:

Both fleas and ticks can be found on cats, and controlling these kinds of parasites requires speaking to your vet for something that can get rid of them. The vet will recommend products, and a flea and tick collar can also be useful but they will need to be renewed quite frequently.

Vaccines:

Your Aegean kitten will need vaccinations to protect him from life-threatening diseases such as Feline Leukaemia Virus, Feline Infectious Enteritis and Cat flu. The first vaccines will be required at 8 weeks of age.

Sometimes it may be necessary to also have your pet vaccinated against rabies, depending on where you live. Throughout your cat’s life, to maintain his immunity, regular booster shots will be required.

Brush your Van Kedisi each week because the semi longhair can become matted and tangled if not brushed each week.

The Van Kedisi will need to be vaccinated. As a kitten he will need to be vaccinated against deadly cat diseases. While at the vet he will also be dewormed.

As your cat matures, you will need to make sure that he is free from parasites. Ticks, fleas, and heartworm can cause havoc with your pet and the vet can advise you on a treatment plan.

Have your cat neutered or spayed as not only will it prevent unwanted kittens, but the procedure can have health benefits for your cat too. It can eliminate the possibility of your cat getting some of the many cancers there are. Spaying and neutering also has a positive impact on your cat’s personality.

These are big, strong cats and the temptation will be to overfeed him. They enjoy their food and can easily put on weight. Obesity can bring about many different diseases in your cat.

It is up to you as a responsible cat owner to ensure your ca doesn’t put on a lot of weight but rather maintains a healthy weight.  You should also make sure that your feline friend gets regular exercise through playing, walking, and even swimming. These cats enjoy a swim, particularly when it is with their human owners.

Provide your cat with attention and play with him every day. They are playful, intelligent cats and it boosts his morale to have his favorite human playing with him.

Allow opportunities for scratching and climbing. The Van Kedisi loves to climb and scratch – two natural behaviors of cats. Supply him with a scratching post and a climbing tree to get the exercise he needs.

Provide your cat with a litter box, water and food bowls and a nice, soft bed.