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Breed-related disease: Cyprus cats

John K. Rosembert

The Cyprus Cat also is known as “Aphrodite’s Giant” is an ancient breed of landrace cats that are said to be inhabiting the island of Cyprus for at least 4000 years.

The Cyprus cats are not recognized as a formal breed by itself, but a descendant of the ancient Egyptian cats. They developed in the mountainous regions of Cyprus. Considered to be one of the largest cat breeds, because of their massive size which enabled them to hunt large prey.

Due to their physical appearance, kittens are big-boned right from the beginning. Their head is in a triangular shape, with long straight muzzle and nose, strong chin and teeth. They have very long back legs, which helps them in climbing steep slopes, their eyes are olive-shaped and all colors are allowed. Their ears are medium to large, wide at the base and slightly rounded at the top head. The tail of Cyprus cats is medium to long, and they also have soft cotton semi-long hair.

It is not usually an independent cat that likes to be alone for any amount of time. However, some people have noted that their Cyprus cats are independent and like to have solo time on occasion. They also vary in terms of handling.

Some like to be picked up, petted, and make for good lap cats, while others detest it. This does not mean that they are not affectionate, but they don’t always like to be handled.

What is certain about the Cyprus cat is that it is a very active and playful cat breed. They love to run around, jump up to new heights, play with cat toys, and they are known for being explorative hunters as well. Either way, they usually want a lot of attention and interaction.

The Cyprus cat is known for being quite a healthy and hardy cat. They are fairly rare, and not too much research has been done into their genetics. However, since they have been around for over 4,000 years, it is assumed that they are hardy and resilient. They may develop normal feline health conditions, such as minor heart diseases, periodontal disease, and kidney disease in cats, but nothing breed specific.

https://www.catbreedselector.com/cyprus-cat.asp

https://www.cat-breeds.com/cyprus-cat/

Photo credit:  https://kittywise.com/cyprus-cat/