Felis catus
Aphrodite Giant
Featured photoaphrodite-giant.jpgThe Aphrodite Giant is a natural breed indigenous to the Troodos mountain region of Cyprus, where it has lived for centuries as a working farm and mountain cat. The breed is regarded as one of the oldest naturally occurring domestic cat populations in the Mediterranean, with archaeological evidence of cat domestication in Cyprus dating to 7500 BCE. WCF recognized the breed in 2017 under the name Aphrodite Giant; TICA accepted the breed for preliminary registration the same year. The standard describes a large, semi-longhaired cat with a strong working build and tufted ears.
Quick facts
- Origin country
- Cyprus
- Origin period
- Natural Cypriot mountain breed indigenous to the Troodos region; WCF recognition 2017
- Coat type
- Long
- Coat colors
- All colours and patterns recognized except chocolate, lilac, cinnamon, fawn, and colourpoint
- Size category
- Large
- Average lifespan
- 12-15 years
- Recognition
- TICA 2017
Origin
Cyprus has the earliest archaeological evidence of cat domestication in human history — a 9,500-year-old burial at Shillourokambos containing a cat alongside its human companion (dated to approximately 7500 BCE). Domestic cats have lived on the island continuously since. The Aphrodite Giant is a natural breed of the Troodos mountain region, where it developed notably greater size than the cats of the Cypriot coastal regions due to mountain-cat adaptation. The breed name references the Greek goddess Aphrodite, traditionally associated with Cyprus.
Recognition
The World Cat Federation recognized the Aphrodite Giant in 2017. TICA accepted the breed for preliminary registration the same year, placing it in the new-breed category. CFA, GCCF, and FIFe have not published Aphrodite Giant standards. The breed is shown primarily through WCF-affiliated bodies in Cyprus and Greece, and through TICA preliminary classes in Europe.
Standard
The WCF and TICA standards describe a large, well-muscled, semi-longhaired cat with a strong working-cat build, broad chest, and substantial bone. The head is moderately wedge-shaped with full cheeks and a strong muzzle. The ears are medium to large, often tufted. The coat is medium-long, semi-water-resistant, and lies close to the body. All colours and patterns are recognized except those signalling recent oriental outcrosses: chocolate, lilac, cinnamon, fawn, and colourpoint are excluded.
Sources & further reading (3)
- tica-standard — accessed 2026-04-30
- encyclopedia — accessed 2026-04-30
- registry-standard — accessed 2026-04-30
Frequently asked questions
How old is the Cyprus cat lineage?
Domestic cats have lived on Cyprus continuously since at least 7500 BCE, based on the 9,500-year-old Shillourokambos burial — the earliest archaeological evidence of cat domestication in human history. The Aphrodite Giant breed represents one branch of this long Cypriot domestication lineage, specifically the mountain cats of the Troodos region.
When was the Aphrodite Giant recognized?
WCF recognized the Aphrodite Giant in 2017. TICA accepted the breed for preliminary registration the same year. CFA, GCCF, and FIFe have not published Aphrodite Giant standards.
Why is the breed called Aphrodite Giant?
The breed name references Aphrodite, the Greek goddess traditionally associated with Cyprus — Aphrodite was said in Greek mythology to have emerged from the sea at Paphos on the island. 'Giant' references the breed's notably large size for a natural domestic cat, with adult males approaching 11 kilograms in some lines.
