The Abyssinian is a colorful cat with a distinctive ticked coat that is medium in size and regal in appearance; lithe, hard, and muscular, with eager activity and lively interest in their surroundings. They are frequently temperamentally and physically balanced.
Personality
Abyssinians are not for people who want a cat who likes to be picked up and cuddled. Abyssinians tend to struggle for freedom when they feel restrained because they are often courageous, curious, and high-spirited. That’s not to say Abyssinians are cold or unfriendly; on the contrary, they’re typically affectionate, devoted, and loving companions. While lap cats are not typically found, they may prefer to sit next to you rather than on you. They will, however, follow you from room to room to keep an eye on what you are doing.
While Abyssinians will happily entertain themselves, they are most content when they are an active member of the household. They are especially involved at mealtime. Abyssinians are known as the clowns of the cat kingdom because they regularly perform antics for your and their amusement. They may perch on shoulders, crawl under covers, and sit beside you purring madly before racing off to bat imaginary butterflies and leap over tall bookcases.
No closed room or cupboard is safe from their agile paws and inquisitive minds. They have a quieter voice. They purr with zeal, however, especially around dinner time. If you will be gone all day, you should consider providing a cat companion to keep your Abyssinians entertained; otherwise, she will become bored and may act out. An Abyssinian may not be the cat for you if you work all day and have a busy social life at night.
History
The Abyssinian is undeniably one of the oldest breeds known, but no one knows when or where they originated. Some believe the Abyssinians were named after their ancestors who came from Abyssinia (now Ethiopia). Others believe the breed originated on the Indian Ocean’s coast and in parts of Southeast Asia; recent genetic studies suggest that today’s Abyssinian descended from a type of cat found in those areas.
The most well-known legend holds that today’s Abyssinians are descended from the sacred cats worshiped as physical manifestations of the gods in ancient Egyptian temples and palaces 4,000 to 6,000 years ago. The Abyssinians resemble the cats depicted in Egyptian murals and sculptures, but so does the African wildcat (Felis silvestris lybica), the species known to have been mummified by the ancient Egyptians and the species from which feline experts believe all domestic cats descended. Abyssinians are well-known for their vivacious personalities.
At the end of the Abyssinian War in 1868, a cat named Zula was transported from Abyssinia to England, but whether Zula was an Abyssinian is debatable. Zula’s illustration depicts a cat with very small ears and a head shape that is not typical of an Abyssinian. Because there is no written evidence connecting Zula to today’s breed, some believe the original lines died out and the Abyssinian was created by the British from existing British Bunny cats with Abyssinian-like ticking.
Without a doubt, the British promoted and refined the breed until World War II decimated it, forcing the UK to restart from scratch. In the early 1900s, two Abyssinians arrived in America from England. However, it was the Abyssinians who established today’s North Africa. The American breed was imported from Britain in the 1930s. Since then, the breed has grown in popularity due to its beauty and acrobatic antics. The Abyssinian is now one of the most popular shorthair breeds.
Physical Attributes
BODY
Medium length, lithe, and elegant. They have well-developed muscular strength and frequently strike a balance between a stocky and svelte body type.
HEAD
Wedge with a modified, slightly rounded shape and no flat planes; brow, cheek, and profile lines usually have a gentle contour. They have a slight rise from the bridge of their nose to the top of their head, with width between their ears and flowing into their arched neck. Their muzzle is not sharply pointed or square, and their chin does not recede or protrude.
EARS
Alert, large, and moderately pointed; broad and cupped at base, positioned as if listening. Their ear hair is usually very short and close to the skin.
EYES
They have almond-shaped eyes that are large, brilliant, and expressive. Neither round nor oriental in shape. Their eyes are accentuated by a fine dark line that is surrounded by a light colored area. Their eyes can be gold or green, and they often have a beautiful richness and depth of color.
PAWS & LEGS
Their legs and feet are proportionately slim and fine boned, giving the impression that they are on tiptoe. They have small, oval, and compact paws. Then place five toes in front of you and four behind you.
According to genetic studies, today’s Abyssinian is descended from a type of cat found in those areas.
TAIL
Thick at the base, long and tapering.
COAT
Soft, silky, fine in texture, dense and resilient to the touch with a lustrous sheen; medium in length but long enough to accommodate two or three dark ticking bands.
COLOR
Red (cinnamon gene; also known as sorrel), blue, and fawn Silver has been accepted as a fifth color in England, Australia, and New Zealand.
Disclaimer
While the characteristics listed here are common for this breed, cats are individuals with unique personalities and appearances. For more information on a specific pet, please contact the adoption organization.
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