Abyssinian Cat Breed Description

Active: The Abyssinian is a highly active cat that will demand your attention and affection. They will happily play the day away with new and interesting games or toys and when they are not playing, they are most likely showing off their athletic ability by climbing to great heights.

Size: Abyssinian cats are medium in size and weigh from 6 - 10 pounds.

Characteristics: The Abyssinian is muscular and athletic and yet, graceful and beautiful. They have modified wedge-shaped heads and perched atop their heads are large ears that are arched forward. Abyssinians also have intriguing and expressive almond-shaped eyes that are quite lovely. And, their long, thick tail will wave hello to you as a greeting!

Temperament: The ancient Abyssinian has been loved for centuries, and with good reason. They are loving, intelligent, playful, active, curious and affectionate. They love to use their muscles to show off by climbing and leaping to great heights. They are known for loving height and will be happy to show you just how much they do. They use their high intelligence to easily learn games. And, they absolutely love toys so be sure to have a wide variety on hand to keep them entertained and happy. And, you will not be able to miss your Abyssinian at dinnertime as they make themselves well known. They will voice their opinion about what is for dinner and stay close by your side the whole time! They are wonderful, loving and affectionate cats but lap cats, they are not. While they may not curl up in your lap, you will have no doubt they love you and you will be head over heels in love as well.

Care: Abyssinians are easy to groom. Their coat simply needs to be combed once per week to keep it looking lovely and shiny. The rest is simply normal maintenance. Trim their nails and clean their ears as needed to ensure they look their absolute best and don't forget to brush their teeth to prevent periodontal disease.

Coat: The coat of the Abyssinian is short-haired and absolutely gorgeous. Their coat is soft and silky and looks gives them a wild look because of their ticking pattern called Agouti. Their coat comes in ruddy, red, blue and fawn. And in some countries an additional color, silver, is accepted.

Origin: The exact country of origin and the beginnings of the Abyssinian have been lost in time. The breed is one of the oldest in existence today and there are many debates over their exact origins. Some say that the Abyssinian is from Ethiopia, which is formerly Abyssinia, and that British soldiers brought home an Absyssinian cat named Zula from their travels to Abyssinia in 1868.

Zula is even mentioned in Gordon Staples 1874 book, Cats: Their Points and Characteristics, with Curiosities of Cat Life. Though, whether or not Zula was indeed Abyssinian cannot be verified. Some say that they are direct descendents of the sacred cat of Ancient Egypt that were worshipped at the time. But, while all of these stories are interesting and amusing, the verifiable history of the Abyssinian begins in Great Britain. Abyssinians were shown in a cat show at the London's Crystal Palace in 1871 and were then The breed grew in popularity and 2 Abyssinians made their way to the United States in the early 1900s.

But, the Abyssinians we know today in America started with cats imported in the 1930s when breeders made a concerted effort to start a breeding program. The breed rapidly grew in popularity, is accepted by all major associations, and is one of the most adored cat breeds today.