Cyprus cat
A distinct landrace cat from Cyprus, now a recognized breed.
Last updated
The Cyprus cat is a distinct population of domestic cat found on the island of Cyprus.[1] Throughout Cyprus, from its mountain ranges to its coastal towns, one can find feral populations of this athletic, energetic cat type.[2]
Quick Facts
- Country
- foundation stock likely from Ancient Egypt
Facts from the source article.
Biology and range
Cyprus cats are somewhat thick-haired, ranging from short-haired to semi-longhaired.[2] They are an athletic and energetic variety.[2] It may be more associated with mountainous areas.[2] The World Cat Congress opinion states that Cyprus cats developed over time in mountainous inner Cyprus from various cat populations.[3]
They became large and bushy-haired to cope with hunting comparatively large prey like rats, big lizards and snakes in cool, wet mountain weather.[3] The thickness of the coat in purebred Aphrodite cats descended from this population still varies seasonally.[3] On the island of Cyprus, feral populations inhabit areas ranging from cooler mountainous regions to hotter low-lying coastal zones.[2] This cat has undergone local adaptation to various climates and seasonal shifts.[2]
What the specialist sources record
The cat skeleton pre-dates Egyptian depictions of cats by 4,000 years or more.[4] A January 2012 report by geneticist Leslie A. Lyons concluded that "Cyprus cats are a distinct population within the Mediterranean".[1] The report also stated that a "breed from Cyprus could be developed".[1] Research published in 2004 by J.-D. Vigne of MNHN and colleagues determined that Near Eastern wildcat bones found in a 9,500-year-old Cyprus grave represented the earliest known instance of a cat living closely with humans.[4]
At the Neolithic site of Shillourokambos, a team led by Jean Guilaine from EHESS Toulouse discovered the deliberately buried skeleton of an approximately 8-month-old cat, placed alongside human remains and ornamental objects.[4] A Byzantine legend recounts that in 328 AD, Empress Helena of Constantinople transported hundreds of cats from Egypt or Palestine to Cyprus to combat venomous snakes.[5]
References
- Wikipedia, "Cyprus cat" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Leslie A. Lyons, "Genetics of Cat Populations and Breeds: Implications for Breed Management for Health!", 2013; Leslie A. Lyons, "Genetics of Cat Populations and Breeds: Implications for Breed Management for Health!", 2013 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Cyprus cat" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Aphrodite Breed", TICA.org, 13 August 2018 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Cyprus cat" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "A Comparison Among the Member Organisations: Aphrodite's Giant Shorthair", WorldCatCongress.org, 2017 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Cyprus cat" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Oldest Known Pet Cat? 9,500-year-old Burial Found on Cyprus", National Geographic News, 2004; Vigne, "Early Taming of the Cat in Cyprus", Science, 9 April 2004, p. 259 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Cyprus cat" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Dubin, "The Rough Guide to Cyprus", Rough Guides Ltd, 2009, p. 135–136; Seferis, "Collected Poems", Princeton University Press, 1995 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Cyprus cat (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.
More in Cat Breeds
Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Cyprus cat (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced