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Abyssinian Breed
Considered to be one of the oldest cat breeds, Abyssinians (Abys) are tremendously devoted felines. Their distinctive almond-shaped eyes resemble the elegance of the cat statues found in ancient Egyptian tombs. Easy to groom, they are easy to care for and make a great addition to a family. Find out more about this breed and if the Abyssinian is right for you and your family.
- Temperament: Intelligent, Energetic, Affectionate
- Coat Length: Shorthair
- Size: Abyssinians are a medium-sized cat, surprisingly heavy considering the slim appearance of their body structure.
Females tend to be somewhat smaller in stature and finer boned.
Adult females: 6-9 pounds
Adult males: 7-12 pounds - Colors: Abyssinians are recognized in two divisions: traditional and silver. Traditional division colors include ruddy, cinnamon, chocolate, and a diluted blue, fawn and lilac. The silver division colors include black-silver, cinnamon-silver, chocolate-silver, and a diluted blue-silver, fawn-silver, and lilac-silver.
- Life Expectancy: 14 - 17+ years. Many have been known to live well into their 20’s.
Personality
The first thing you notice when you meet an Abyssinian cat is its unusual appearance. A wild feline appearance framed by royal grace. But then attention is directed to the light in the cat's eyes. What could be hidden behind them?
An Abyssinian cat is capable of changing a person’s life fundamentally. After some time of cohabitation, you cannot even imagine how you lived without this creature. Someone might say that a cat that looks like a wild beast should have no less than an “animal” character. But this is not the Abyssinian cat. Representatives of this breed have a peculiar sense of tact. These cats surprisingly, subtly, feel the mood of the owner and members of the whole family.
These animals like to walk in nature, climb trees, and do not mind playing with water. And nothing changes with age.
The definition of “calm” is also not the definition of the character of an Abyssinian cat.They are active, they cannot sit in one place for a long time. The curiosity of this cat can be envied! She needs to be everywhere. Always monitoring all family members, people entering the house, as well as other pets. The Abyssinian cat is very active and loves to play. It doesn’t matter with whom: with itself, with his owner, children, with other cats and dogs. Active and lively, they can even learn some tricks.
This is a very social cat that needs constant contact with the owner and becomes depressed if they are not paid enough attention.
Our advice for owners is to store valuable and fragile items in places where your pet cannot reach them.
It seems that Abyssinian cats defy gravity and there is no place in the house where they can not climb.They like to climb to a high point and from there observe the owner.
They live in three dimensions because they like to use vertical space. For these cats there is no concept of a fear of heights. They will carefully climb the bookcases and shelves in your kitchen, but if something falls and there is a loud noise, then they themselves will be scared and hide.
According to the observations of their owners, these cats are calmer than other cats, but if they play too much, they can cause damage.
It is advisable to provide them with access to secluded places with high heights where their large claws will not damage your furniture.
They are smart, elegant and understand what is possible and what is not They like to be petted, and they play and get along well with other animals in the house.
History
The origin of the royal Abyssinian beauties for a long time was linked by similarities with Egyptian cats, whose images have come to us in the form of numerous sculptures, drawings in ancient Egyptian frescoes and other works of art. Indeed, it is not difficult to trace a certain similarity - graceful lines, slender long limbs, slanting "Egyptian" eyes, large ears on a neat, wedge-shaped head.
There is also a theory that Ethiopia is the birthplace of the Abyssinian cat. One theory is that the ancestor of modern Abyssinians, a cat named Zula, came to the UK in 1874 from Abyssinia - present day Ethiopia. The owners of Zula were a certain captain named Barret-Lenard and his wife, who registered the cat in the pedigree book of breeding racehorses as the "Abyssinian cat", although the breed did not yet officially exist at that time.
There are no documents that would indicate that Zula had offspring or that his offspring were used in breeding this breed. So it is quite possible that the current Abyssinians owe this mysterious cat only their spectacular and memorable name.
Modern DNA studies conducted by the University of Davis negate the beautiful Egyptian legend and theory, as well as the theory of the taming of wild African cats. In fact, the genotype of Abyssinian cats is very far from the genotype of African cats native to Tunisia and Egypt, as well as the Middle East and Asia. Therefore, a reliable version of the origin of Abyssinian cats does not exist. It is covered in secrets, which to this day gives rise to much speculation.
Care
The short, fine coat of the Abyssinian is easily cared for with weekly combing to remove dead hair and distribute skin oils. A bath when the cat is shedding will help to remove excess hair more quickly.
Check the ears weekly. If they look dirty, wipe them out with a cotton ball or soft damp cloth moistened with a 50-50 mixture of cider vinegar and warm water. Avoid using cotton swabs, which can damage the interior of the ear.
Keep the litter box spotlessly clean. These cats are very particular about bathroom hygiene, and a dirty box may cause them to start using other places in the house instead.
