INTERNAL disputes between members of the administration of the Cyprus Feline Society are delaying the recognition process of the Aphrodite cat. The Aphrodite is one of two distinct breeds to be identified by international judges as indigenous to Cyprus, the other being the St Helena.
Recently, an Aphrodite cat was entered by special invitation at the European Supreme Cat Show in Berlin, where it won second place, an unprecedented phenomenon in the cat world for a breed without full recognition. On account of its unusually pronounced beauty and size, the World Cat Federation has said it has “a certain interest” in the Aphrodite.
Due to this special interest the World Cat Federation has offered to speed up the recognition of the breed, and is making overtures to breeders on the island to help the process move more swiftly.
The Aphrodite is currently having its DNA mapped to ensure it is different from other breeds and make clear the specific ways in which this is so, commented Rita Sjekloca, registrar, founder and spokesperson of the Cyprus Feline Society.
“We are trying to finalise the differences between the breeds and it is not easy,” she said, adding that international recognition of a new breed ordinarily takes up to seven years.
An international cat judge, who requested anonymity, has however made it clear that such genetic testing is not necessary.
“Genetic testing is not at all standard in any way for breed recognition,” he said, adding, “The breed is stable, it has a certain look. It is not a question of if they’ll be recognised but when.”
A cat breeder who was instrumental in identifying and classifying the Aphrodite as a distinct breed, who asked not to be named, said they didn’t agree with the genetic classification process currently under way.
“Persons who are not internationally world recognised judges [should not] manage the standards, which is what is happening now.”
Currently, the Aphrodite is at the stage of “preliminary recognition”. In order to attain full international recognition, 20 specimens must be entered in the biannual shows of the WCF, and do so with a full pedigree for four generations. The current state of breeding on the island, according to the WCF, is that there is one serious breeder working with the Aphrodite, Teresa Litherland, and three others working with about 24 Aphrodite cats altogether.
“The restrictions placed on showing it by the Cyprus Feline Society is harming recognition of the Aphrodite.” said Litherland, the island’s main breeder of the cat, adding, “We created a huge amount of interest in Berlin but we shouldn’t be doing a breeding programme like this unless there is a clear understanding of where the kittens will go.”
Pedigree cats are subject to special conditions of sale; for example they may not be sold through pet shops or given to charity homing centres.
“This would mean the government will have to wait four to five years before they can say ‘We have a second national treasure beside the Moufflon,’” added the WCF international cat judge. He estimates full recognition is possible in three years.
Race to register the Cyprus cat
By Anna Hassapi
AFTER DECADES of mistreatment, abuse and the more-than occasional poisoning, the ubiquitous Cypriot cat has found itself at the centre of a tug-of-love between cat societies on either side of the divide.
The Cypriot Feline Society is fighting for the recognition of two separate breeds of Cypriot cats, but according to reports, groups from Turkey and the north are also trying to lay claim to the island’s feline legacy.
“There is a real danger that foreigners – and particularly groups from Turkey – will try to officially register a Cypriot breed of cat, outside Cyprus.
“This cat belongs to its country,” said Rania Razorenova, President of the Association of Cyprus Purebred Cats.
In co-operation with scientists from Davis University, California, the Cyprus Feline Society have identified two separate breeds of Cypriot cats, named St. Helena and Aphrodite. According to the society, the Cypriot cat evolved from the Van breed, originating from lake Van in Turkey.
The Aphrodite breed is larger than St Helena, strong, with slightly taller hind legs and silky coat. St Helena is smaller in size, with larger eyes but a smaller face.
Efforts to register these cats as a Cypriot pedigree started last year, but in the meantime cat breeders in the north, Turkey and even Germany have tried to lay claim to the breed.
Groups in Turkey have tried to cross the Cypriot cat with Turkish breeds and then register the offspring of the two breeds in the north, presenting it as the Cypriot cat.
To prevent any unpleasant surprises, the Cyprus Feline Society has taken DNA samples from the best Cypriot cats that took part in last weekend’s annual cat show at Governor’s Beach.
The DNA samples will be sent to laboratories at Davis University in California for analysis, as a first step to registering the Cypriot cat as a pedigree breed.
Meanwhile, officials in Cyprus including Environment Commissioner Charalambos Theopemptou, Green Party MP George Perdikes, the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce (KEBE) and even the Archbishop Chrysostomos II have expressed their support to the efforts of the Cyprus Feline Society.
“It goes without saying that as these breeds belong to the history and tradition of our country, the Church will support in any way the effort being made,” said Archimandrite Neofytos on behalf of the Archbishop.
“For KEVE, registration and copyrights do not concern only products and services, but also the animals and plants of our country,” said KEVE President Manthos Mavromatis.
