The blue cats of Malta

Abstract

Academic literature yields very little information that makes reference to the Maltese cats. The Notarial archives, usually a source of rich information, in that they describe livestock that are part of a transaction, yield no information on cats, most probably, because cats were not held to represent a significant capital. Furthermore, the available literature usually makes single line references to the Maltese cat. Nonetheless, in days gone by, Malta did have a breed of unique cats described as being of a curious dark griseous (grey/blue) colour and which were highly esteemed and sought after in Sicily, and Italy.2 The Maltese Blue cats were also known locally as il-Qattus Irmiedi. The aim of this article is to present aspects associated with the breed known as the Maltese Blue cat.