Abyssinian | Cat Breed Information & Facts – Pictures

The Abyssinian is a very special cat. It is an animal of great intelligence and exceptional physical condition, which likes to climb, jump, run and generally stay active. He has the spirit of adventurer and explorer, without a doubt.

All cats share behavioral characteristics capable of fascinating feline lovers, however, the Abyssinian cat distils great elegance and harmony and one of its most important characteristics is its friendly and playful nature, in fact it is said that this cat always retains its kitten character and although it matures psychologically and physiologically, it constantly requires attention and affection and always shows an insatiable curiosity.

The Abyssinian cat is an extremely intelligent, balanced, calm animal that will harmoniously join the family and become its full-fledged part. He belongs to one of the most popular cat breeds.

[foogallery id=”44263″]

The Abyssinian breed is an elegant medium sized cat with a strong and graceful body. Well-developed muscles and long legs allow animals to jump a distance of 6 times their own length.

Males are larger than females, but sexual demorphism is not as pronounced as in other breeds. Abyssinians have a chiseled figure, a harmonious physique, they move with incredible grace, reminiscent of miniature cougars.

The height at the withers in males is about 30-32 cm, females are more miniature: 26-28 cm.

The weight of adult Abyssinian cats varies from 4 to 7.5 kg, the figure of 5-6 kg can be considered the golden mean.

Its head is triangular and we see two ears with a wide base and open upwards. The curious aspect of the Abyssinian cat is generally golden, green, cooper or hazelnut. The tail is long and bushy. The coat of the Abyssinian cat is soft to the touch and shiny and has a fine medium / long coat.

The entire coat follows a pattern called ticking, dark colors interspersed with lighter bands, and can vary in a gamma of brown, chocolate and tan colors.

Weight: Females 3 – 5 kg / Males 4 – 6 kg

• Head: The head is wedge-shaped, of medium proportions, soft in outline, a slight notch is desirable at the transition to the muzzle. Seen from the front, the muzzle is rounded and inscribed in a parabola with its top downwards. Strong chin, medium length nose. In profile without stop, but not straight either, the forehead is slightly convex. Graceful collar.
• Body: The body is muscular, of medium size, strong, supple, dense, of medium length.
• The ears are large, set wide and upright and wide at the base. The tips are rounded, with a “thumbprint”, tassels on the ears are desirable.
• Eyes: The eyes are large, bright, expressive, almond-shaped. Well set apart, slightly oblique (external corners of the eyes higher than the internal ones). Color – pure, clear, juicy amber-yellow or green, with a flicker of eyelids.
• Limbs: The limbs are muscular, long and slender. The legs are narrow and oval. Coat: The coat is short, fine and close to the body. Double or triple ticking. Dark tips of the bristles are preferred. The tail is rather long, pointed, thick at the base.
• Color: The entire coat follows a pattern called tic-tac, dark colors interspersed with lighter bands and can vary in a range of brown, chocolate and tan colors.

Age	Female	Male
1 month	300-600g	400-800 g
2 months	550-980g	950-1500 g
3 months	1-1.8kg	1,4-2,6 kg
4 months	1.5-2.7kg	1,8-3,7 kg
5 months	1.9-3 kg	2-4 kg
6 months	2-3.6kg	2,5-4,5 kg
8 months	2.3-4kg	2,9-5 kg
10 months	2.5-4.3kg	3,4-6 kg
1 year	3.1-4.8kg	3,6-7 kg

The breed is known to suffer from the following diseases:

• Gingivitis – inflammation of the gums in a cat;
• Kidney amyloidosis (kidney disorder caused by a mutation in the amyloid AA protein gene);
• Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) – This condition has been seen in the breed in the past, but fortunately now, through responsible breeding, the condition is not as common in Abyssinians these days.
• With this condition, the cat’s eyes look completely normal, but watch out for indirect signs, such as avoiding dark spaces and stairs.
• Pyruvate kinase (PC) deficiency – an inherited condition that causes anemia;
• Sensitive skin (feline hyperesthesia).

• The Abyssinian cat does not require much grooming, so to keep the coat in excellent condition, it should be brushed once a week to remove dead hair.
• Like other breeds, they tend to shed the most in the spring and then again in the fall when the occasional brushing and bathing is most needed.
• Be sure to monitor the condition of the claws, for this, buy a scratching post or, if necessary, cut the claws every 10-14 days.
• Have your cat vaccinated and dewormed (clean the body of worms).
• Abyssinians can develop periodontal disease, so brush their teeth at home with homemade veterinary toothpaste and schedule regular veterinary cleanings.

• Abyssinian Kittens are quite expensive. The price of a 2-3-month-old baby starts at $ 180-250. But this does not guarantee an impeccable pedigree of an individual. In nurseries, however, kittens can be bought for about $ 550.
• The owners often worry about how long their pet will live. Breaking up with him is prematurely painful for those who love cats. The Abyssinian cat lives on average 15 years or more.
• The breed is dominated by the male sex. There are three males per female. Breeders cannot yet explain the reason for such amazing statistics.
• The nicknames of the owners often choose unusual ones for the Abyssinian Cat with great imagination. This is due to fashion trends and the desire to show off an exotic pet, in which everything matches his breed. However, the name can be either simple or sweet. It all depends on the taste of the breeder and his personal preference. The most important thing is to make friends with the four-legged inhabitant of your home. Then you will understand each other without naming the cat’s name.

Abyssinians are considered one of the oldest of all domestic cat breeds.

The origin of the Abyssinian cat breed is a topic that is sure to cause many “cat fights” among all feline organizations, simply because there are so many theories out there and none of them has been proved.

However, most are inclined to believe that Abyssinian cat breeds originated in the ancient lands of Abyssinia, which is now modern Epopia, hence their name Abyssinian.

But there are also several reports and studies that show that early members of the breed may have lived along the Indian Ocean coast and in several parts of Southeast Asia. And there are even others who say that Abyssinians were first bred in the United States as far back as 1935.

Today, the Abyssinian cat is one of the most popular purebred cats – it is among the top five registered by the Cat Fanciers Association.