History And Progress of the Abyssinian Cat

History of the Abyssinian Cat

As far back as four thousand years ago, Abyssinian cats were a very original breed of cat in ancient Egypt. Zula was the first Abyssinian cat that was brought to Europe by a British soldier. This was quite after Britain’s victory over Abyssinia in 1868 during the Abyssinian war.

Arrival of the Abyssinian Cat in the USA

Although the Aby was brought to the United States in the 1900s, it only became popular around the 1930s. All around the world today, cat breed registries, such as The International Cat Association and The Cat Fanciers Association, recognize the Abyssinian cat. It is among the top five most popular cat breeds of the world.

Abyssinian Cat

Appearance and Characteristics of the Abyssinian Cat

The main characteristic that makes the Abyssinian different is due to a single gene that is present in the Abyssinian cat, which gives their coat a translucent effect.  Their fur is a very fine texture rather than being of a soft quality which bears several dark bands over a lighter shade marking the coat evenly giving it a ticked coat pattern.

They are muscular cats with very long bodies and can weigh from around nine to about seventeen pounds.  The Abyssinian’s eyes are large and they sport dark rims round their eyes over a background of a light shade of hair. The Aby’s large ears are cupped with tufts of fur at the tips. The Aby possesses slender legs with small paws. They also have long tails that can measure up to its entire length.

Abyssinians Are Curious And Athletic Cats!

Abyssinian cats are extremely motivated and curious. It is a good idea to child proof your cupboards and cabinets if you want to keep your inquisitive Abyssinian cats out of your belongings. They require a lot of attention, and prefer to be shown off by being perched high on your shoulder than curled up in your lap.

This breed of cat is extremely athletic and is capable of soaring to heights of six feet in the air and can sprint at an exceedingly fast pace. Unlike most cats, they enjoy climbing up onto things, so you’ll need to keep any breakable items out of harms way.

Attention Seekers

abyssinian-kitten

Abyssinian cats require lots of attention and care, as when they become bored you can find them climbing things and snooping around the house. Always keep them occupied if you wish to avoid such instances. These cats can be extremely loving and gentle. They love to perch on the owner’s shoulder rather than lay still curled up on your lap. They are very talkative and vociferous. They do not take well to being caged, and prefer being left to roam and explore. They can live to about ten or twelve years of age.

Abyssinian Cat Colors

Abyssinians are a special type of tabby cat by their beautiful ticked coat that makes them so unique.  There are four colors of abyssinian breed wich recognized for championship by CFA: Ruddy, Red (Sorrel), Blue and Fawn.

Ruddy – this color of Abyssinian cat is most popular. Orange-brown, each hair ticked with two or three bands of either black or dark brown with a vibrant burnt orange color closest to the skin. Coat is warm brown ticked with black. Base color is deep orange. Tail tipped to black, paw pads are black, eyes are pure amber, green or gold, nose leather is brick red, outlined with black.

Red (Sorrel or Cinnamon) – warm copper red ticked with chocolate red-brown. Base color is deep apricot. Tail tipped with chocolate brown, nose leather and paw pads are rosy pink, eyes are pure amber, green or gold.

Blue – A warm soft blue-gray ticked with deeper blue. Base color is pale cream. Tail tipped with a deep shade of blue, paw pads are blue-grey, nose leather is dark pink, eyes are pure amber, green or gold.

Fawn – soft pinkish-cream color of coat, nose leather and paw pads are pink, eyes are pure amber, green or gold.

Abyssinian color types pictures

Ruddy AbySorrel abyssinian kittenCinnamon (red) abyAbyssinian blue kittenFawn and blue abyssinians

20 Responses to History And Progress of the Abyssinian Cat

  • I am interested in obtaining a Abyssinian kitten around the end of June. Can you help me with this? Thank you.
    regards,
    Robert Albergo, M.D.
    4132 Woodlands Pkwy
    Palm Harbor, Fl. 34685

  • It’s nice to hear someone else finally say Aby’s are talkative…both ours are talkative. Lot’s of chirping. Not much meowing. And he spends most of his time on my shoulders! I can’t imagine a more interactive breed or any other cat that looks you in the eye and engages you so clearly.

  • I think Abyssinian cats are the best cats in the world! Abyssinians have so cute eyes and ears! So wonderful orange color. Unfortunately I can’t find any abyssinian cat to buy in my town. So if I could find good abyssinian breeders with pretty abyssinian kittens I would be happy.

  • I adopted a cat from a coworker and she got him from the local animal shelter and I’m quite certain he’s an Abyssinian. So I have been doing some research on Abyssinians since I saw a show, “Cats 101” on Animal Planet and thought the Aby they showed on there looked a lot like my Julio! He has the ticked, silky coat (his fur feels like mink!). His color is sort of between Red and Fawn (cream yellow at base, flame orange at tips). He most definitely has an Aby personality-very active and curious. His favorite pastimes are playing in the sink or bathtub and getting up on the refrigerator and knocking all the magnets off. I wonder how such a rare treasure ended up a stray at the humane society?? Somebody somewhere must be VERY upset that their expensive purebred kitten ran away!

  • Hi ,

    i am interested in either a fawn or blue kitten of this breed , have been looking at the devon rex’s as well , however i think these cats have won my heart . If you know of a good breeder please help me so that i can make further enquiries.

    thank-you kindly.

  • hello;
    i saw your request that you are looking for cat to buy . i will say you are welcome i have some few cat remaining so if you are still interested in buying reply me as soon as possible
    thanks maria

  • I definitely love all cats, but Abyssinian cats are my favorite! Look, what the eyes, what the ears, nose, pure color! If you want to be happy, Abyssinian cat should be with you! Abys are for the luck, I’m sure!

  • I have a 7 mo old abyssinian, we got her as a kitten and named her Fiona. I have never had a cat as fun and loveable as she is, she is the most social cat that have ever seen.
    She will play with the kids non stop all day long and loves every minute of it, she is so much fun and she will go out of her way to make friends with any other cat, dog or person she meets. she lets me know when its bed time and she lets me know when it time to pet and love her, like right now as she is walking across the keypad giving me kisses and rubbing her head on mine. Aby’s in my opinion are a great family breed and very social.

  • I’m interested in purchasing an Abyssinian kitten for my mother in the Riverside, California area …. any suggestions
    This cat is not for show …only for a pet that will live a long and healthy life.

  • I have an abyssinian and he is a VERY active cat! He will jump up on the counters and steal food if theres any up there. We had accidently left a loaf of bread on the counter over night and came downstairs in the morning to a torn up bag and bread pieces EVERYWHERE!
    Its like having a bad dog that can get up on the counters. I would take precaution before getting a cat like this as they won’t be like any other cat you’ve had before!!!
    I love my aby to death however theres some days where I can’t wait for him to grow up and be a little more relaxed!!

  • Oh, Shoot! I see my cat, Biscuit here! All along, we believed Biscuit was a american short hair, but he actually belongs to Assysinian, now it all makes sense. Biscuit is orange and white with amber eyes, its eyes were greenish bit but, the color changed gradually, very vocal, extreamly curious, loves climbing to my husband’s shouders, extreamly picky with food and litter. Biscuit has a face somewhere between ameriacn short hair and assynian, ears and the tails are unlike the ones of a american short hair, more like assynian, body has swirl and stripes pattern but the character matches assynian!, very playful but doesn’t go along with my little girl’s play plan, sort of being carried away with its own curiousity. So, thank you very much meow-cats.com!

  • The so called *Cinnamon (red) Aby) is my old sorrel boy Ramses (used without my permission or that of Lovelynx Abyssinians), the boy you are showing as sorrel is in fact a Sex-linked Red kitten, which is due to the Gene O (only one copy needed for a Red male, 2 for a Red female – 1 in a female creates a torbie), not the sorrel gene, b1, which is recessive to both B – Black (creating the Usual/Ruddy/Tawny) and b which creates the Chocolate.

  • Abyssinians are some of the most fun cats you can have. My cat was 1/2 bread…still extremely athletic. This cat could jump over my head from a prone position. Amazing….and I’m 6 foot tall.

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