Among the most popular cat breeds, the Abyssinian is easy to care for, and a joy to have in your home. They’re affectionate cats and love both people and other animals.
Abyssinian At a glance
The Abyssinian’s fur carries bands of colour giving a richness and depth not seen in other breeds.
Weight range:
Male : medium: 3-5 kg.
Female: medium: 3-5 kg.
Eye colour:
Green, Gold
Expectations:
Life Expectancy: 9-13 yrs.
Social/Attention Needs: High
Tendency to Shed : Low
Coat:
Length: Short, Medium
Characteristics : Silky, Smooth
Colours: Ruddy, Red, Blue, Fawn, Cinnamon
Pattern : Ticking
Less Allergenic: No
Overall Grooming Needs: Low
Club recognition:
Cat Association Recognition:
CFA, ACFA , FIFe, TICA, CCA
Prevalence: Common
The Abyssinian is a medium-sized cat with a long body and nicely developed muscles. They are active cats that love to jump and play.
The Abyssinian is moderate looking in all aspects with smooth planes on the head. There is a gentle dip in the triangular head. Their rather large ears sit tilted forward on the head giving an alert look as if always paying attention to everything that is going on around. Eyes that look large in the face, show the alertness and intelligence inherent in the breed.
The coat on the Abyssinian is short and has tufts of hair in the ears. The colouring of the Abyssinian is very special. The majority of the fur has bands of colour on each individual hair with the coat looking darker along the spine line. The colour on the body softens and lightens under the neck and the underside of the cat and the insides of the legs.
Personality:
While an active cat, the Abyssinian is an easy cat to have in your home. They love people and other animals. They will play with their own toys for hours but also enjoy a good period of time of interactive play with their parents. They will talk to you in a soft, quiet voice. The Abyssinian is loving and affectionate, and loves to spend time with their parents. While the Abyssinian coat is easy to care for, the Abyssinian likes being combed or rubbed with a chamois cloth. They will reward you with a loving purr.
Living With:
Abyssinians are active cats and generally will keep their weight under control with exercise. They should have some high perches and cat trees available to them so they can jump and climb.
Abyssinians are social cats and like to have some company. This company can be provided by having another cat or pet around when human companions are not at home.
History:
While the Abyssinian cat is considered to be the breed that can trace their roots directly to the Nile Valley, they were actually developed in Great Britain. In the 1860s, a cat was brought to Britain by Lord Robert Napier following a military expedition to Abyssinia. This cat was named Zulu and was the foundation of the beautiful breed known today as the Abyssinian. The unique ticking pattern on the coat of the Abyssinian reminded people of the camouflage pattern on the coat of the wild rabbit. This characteristic was so delightful that Zulu was bred to random-bred cats that carried a similar look to their coat and the Abyssinian breed was created.
The breed itself was extremely popular and Abyssinian cats were soon being bred throughout Europe and in the United States and Canada. This popularity proved to be the salvation of the breed as the two world wars almost decimated the breed in Europe. New Abyssinians were imported and the breed continued. In the late 1960s, when the feline leukemia virus almost destroyed the breed once again in Britain, more Abyssinians were brought into Britain to reestablish the breed again.