Abyssinians are intelligent and elegant animals, which become a pet dream of many lovers of cats at home. This breed has been already known in the world since the second half of the nineteenth century, however, in Russia they have appeared quite recently. Read more about these Abyssinian cats and their history in our article.
Brief information about the breed
Breed name: Abyssinian cat
Country of origin: Ethiopia
Weight: 4-6 kg
Coat: Short and soft, lying close to the body
Life expectancy: 13-15 years
Key facts
- The majesty and grace of the Abyssinian is perfectly combined with a friendly and active character;
- Physically well-developed, they are tireless and fearless explorers, excellent jumpers, and lovers of climbing high;
- They are very active and need space and periodic walks in the open air;
- They love their owner’s affection. Lack of attention from the owner can cause stress and health problems;
- Despite their exotic appearance, Abi does not require complex specific care; they are obedient and clean.
Characteristics of the Abyssinian cat
Abyssinians are medium cats in body build but muscular and agile cats nonetheless. Sexual dimorphism in this breed is practically absent: Fortunately, males are almost of the same size as females.
They have a lively temperament, from childhood and in adulthood, they are active and curious. They love to explore their territory, climb to heights, and “control” everything that happens around them. As to their owners, they are gentle and like expressing their affection, they like to focus on them and expect the same from them. Abi are real members of the families and will attempt to take part in all incidences that are bound to happen, unlike real life where some persons love to stand and watch incidences happen.
One of the key characteristics of this breed is robust health. The only exceptions are some genetically inherited pathologies that are detected by tests at an early age. Abyssinians are also unpretentious in care but require a lot of attention from the owner and are not suitable for keeping by very busy people.
History of the origin of Abi
To date, there is a debate in regards to which country is the home of Abyssinian cats. This breed first arrived in Great Britain in 1868. At the time when the Anglo-Abyssinian War was raging (Abyssinia is now Ethiopia) ships were bringing cats similar to those depicted in the picture to the British officers.
Genetic tests conducted by scientists have shown that the Abi’s “relatives” are the Egyptian Mau, with which they are often compared, as well as the Libyan steppe cat.
The modern history of Abyssinians began in Great Britain. In 1871, they first participated in the London cat show, taking 3rd place out of 170. The pet with an unusual, “wild” appearance won the general sympathy and interest of the public. By 1882, the first exhibition standard of the breed was formed. At this time, Abyssinians spread to the United States. After the Second World War, the American population saved the breed from extinction, since during the war years the number of Abyssins in Europe catastrophically decreased.
By the 1900s, the Abyssinian’s appearance had begun to change: for example, the striped pattern on the paws and the tufts on the ears disappeared. This was the result of crossing the pets with cats from Southeast Asia, as well as British Shorthairs.
The infusion of “Asian” blood influenced the modern breed standard: Abyssinians became thinner, lighter, and longer-legged than their ancestors from the African continent. Today, the Abyssinian breed is widespread and recognized by all leading world technological organizations.
Appearance standards
Abyssinians refer to cats that have medium body size and muscular and agile body structure. They have little sexual dimorphism, unlike other breeds: about 4-6 kg is the average weight of both male and female sheep.
Head
Wedge-shaped, medium in length, rounded, with smooth features. The transition from the bridge of the nose to the forehead is slightly raised.
Ears
Large, widely spaced, with rounded tips. Most of the time they are in an “alert” position.
Eyes
Large, almond-shaped, set wide apart. The look is attentive and focused. The color of the iris is green or yellow. Around the eyes, there is a dark outline on a light background.
Frame
Dense, with a strong muscular corset, of medium length, proportional to the size of the limbs.
Paws
Tall and thin with relatively small but highly developed bones and muscles.The oval, small, pad feet.
Tail
Medium length, bulky near the origin and gradually narrowing towards a rounded end.
Coat
The Abyssinian has a short, silky, close-lying coat that shines and tends to feel slightly harsh in texture. It is the only breed whose hair can have up to 4 ticking zones.
Main color options:
- Rudy (wild, or black-brown);
- Sorel (reddish brown to copper);
- Fawn (sandy-cream);
- Blue (silver-blue).
Possible disadvantages:
- Mismatch of paw pad color with coat color;
- Rings or stripes on the tail and paws;
- Dull coat, white undercoat in blue and fawn colors.
Disqualifying features:
- White spots on any part of the body (allowed on the nose, chin, and in the “bib” area);
- Grey undercoat, black hairs in Abyssinians of the sorel color;
- Mismatch in the number of toes on the paws;
- Kinks and curvatures of the tail.
Character and habits of the breed
Despite their “wild” exotic appearance, Abyssinian cats are truly domestic pets. They need the attention of their owner and are ready to accompany him everywhere and help in all his affairs. Abyssinians are also friendly to members of the owner’s family, including children: due to their natural activity, they love to play with kids. But if the child’s behavior becomes annoying, the cat will try to leave or hide at a height – aggression is not at all typical of this breed.
However, affection for the owner and friendliness do not prevent these pets from showing independence of character. They have a sense of self-worth and will not tolerate bad treatment.
The innate activity of Abyssinian cats does not go away even in adulthood. They love to walk around their territory and look for something interesting on it. In addition, Abyssinians are excellent jumpers and climbers, so owners should equip special stands with beds at a height at home.
They are very careful in their behavior and follow the rules dictated by the owner. Teaching a kitten to use a litter box is not a problem, and they only sharpen their claws where allowed. Their intelligence is high which means that you can train these pets to do so many things as per commands given by you.
Possible Health Problems in Abyssinian Cats
Abyssinians are naturally robust. If they are well taken care of and fed well they can live longer than any other domesticated animal that has 15 years lifespan. However, in rare cases, they develop certain genetically inherited diseases:
- Retinopathy of the retina – can lead to complete loss of vision by about 5 years of age;
- Renal amyloidosis is a serious kidney disease that most often affects individuals over 7 years of age, but sometimes occurs in kittens;
- Pyruvate kinase deficiency, causing anemia (a blood disorder);
- Psychogenic alopecia is localized hair loss (most often in the spine and hips), caused by prolonged stress or depression;
- Hip dysplasia – most often manifests itself in kittens (its signs are lameness and abnormal gait).
All these diseases (except psychogenic alopecia, which occurs due to improper care) can be diagnosed in kittens at an early age using special medical tests. So, when choosing a kitten from breeders, always ask for and carefully check all the necessary medical documents.
Nutritional Features
Cats do not need special nutrition and eat both industrial feed and natural food with appetite. If the owner selects natural food, then the main component of the diet of the Abi should be lean meat. The menu should also contain meat by-products, fish, fermented milk products, cereals, vegetables and fruits, and vitamin-mineral supplements. To achieve a correct and complete diet based on natural products it is necessary to turn to a veterinarian..
In addition, when feeding natural food, you should carefully select all products, which must be fresh and high-quality. You also need to do something with the cat food – something from the table isn’t suitable for cats.
This is especially so if you don’t have time to prepare fresh meals for your cat and shop for groceries every day, then you are better off going for ready-made cat foods. It is easier to store and dose, it also doesn’t need cooking or any other supplements as it has all the components it needs.
Another excellent temptation for feeding an Abyssinian cat will be highly recommended feeders for cats namely; Feline Facts Frenzy. They contain only natural high-quality additives and include all that is needed for your pet’s organism to stay healthy and energized constantly.
Maintenance and care
Abyssinian cats can be cared for without a lot of effort. It is sufficient to perform standard sanitary actions that any cat needs on a daily or weekly basis at the latest.
Grooming and bathing
The length and texture of the Abyssinian’s coat do not demand constant grooming – the cat’s coat can be groomed with a soft brush each week for cat breeds with short hair. When shedding, you can Brush more often and It is advisable to bathe the pet but not more frequently than twice a year. They are very sensitive and almost do not have the Fear of water if you have to bath them from a young age they will love swimming.
Claws
They must be cut as they grow – generally every 2-3 weeks with sharp specific scissors or guillotine pliers.
Teeth
Abyssinian cats have rather sensitive teeth and mouths and should have their teeth cleaned at least 3-4 times a week; otherwise, gingivitis may occur. It is important only to use special brushes and toothpaste for animals when cleaning teeth.
Ears
It is also necessary to keep the ears of the abi clean, but do not clean them too often: otherwise, only more ear secretion will form. For this purpose, you can use cotton swabs or tampons with hygienic lotion.
Eyes
Such pets rarely have problems with their eyes. It is enough to help clean their kittens and adult cats from discharge with cotton pads. If you see signs of eye inflammation (lacrimation, redness, suppuration, prolapse of the third eyelid), you should contact a veterinarian.
Toilet
The litter tray for Abi should correspond to its size. It is better to use the filler that the kitten was trained to by the breeders.
How to choose a kitten
It is best to take an Abyssinian kitten into your home when it is 3 months old. At this age, it will be easier for you to accustom the kitten to a new home, since it will already be weaned off its mother’s milk and will eat ready-made food, use a litter box, and will also become psychologically strong enough.
To choose a completely healthy purebred Abyssinian, it is recommended:
- Contact only reputable, proven breeders or well-known nurseries. When buying a kitten “from hands” from unknown people, you risk getting a pet of an impure breed or with health problems.
- Be sure to check the pedigree documents for information that the animal’s parents are not close relatives.
- Review the medical records and make sure there are no genetic pathologies. The breeder should also provide evidence of the first vaccination.
Assess the baby’s appearance by studying the breed standard – does it correspond to all the features described in it? Healthy kittens are always active, with shiny and well-groomed fur, clean eyes and ears, and correct gait without limping.
The Abyssinian cat, with its stateliness, elegance, and exotic appearance, will become a real decoration of your home, and for loving and caring owners – a devoted friend for many years.
