Abyssinian cat

Abyssinian Cat
Abyssinian
Country of origin
Egypt
Breed standards (external links)
CFA(*)  ACFA  TICA(*)  CCA  ACF(*)  FIFe(*)

The Abyssinian is a natural breed of domesticated cat believed to originate from one Egyptian female kitten called Zula that was taken from a port in Alexandria, Egypt, by a British soldier and brought to England. The breed was developed when Zula was bred with an English tabby, and the most 'Abyssinian' looking kitten of her litter bred with its mother to splice the Abby gene. It is believed all Abyssinians in Europe, the Americas, and Australia are descended from Zula, but there has been at least one and possibly as many as three Abyssinians introduced from Libya (or less likely Egypt) into the existing Abyssinian gene pool in the USA. The Abyssinian has become one of the most popular shorthair breed of cats in the USA. There are said to still be wild Abyssinians in some parts of North Africa.

Blue Colored Abyssinian

The Abyssinian has a distinctly ticked, tawny coat. The tail and paws may show tabby markings, but the body must not. It has large almond-shaped green or gold eyes with a fine dark line around them, and large ears. The coat is generally a warm golden colour, but "Abys" can also be blue, fawn, cinnamon and red. There is also a Silver Abyssinian variant whose coat shows shades of white, cream and grey.

Abyssinians are very active, friendly, curious and playful, and almost dog-like, but are usually not "lap cats", being too preoccupied with exploring and playing as they would in their natural habitat. However, "abys" will also usually adopt one person in the household and become their best friend, often times becoming a lap cat as they are extremely affectionate animals. They are "busy" cats, and can get bored and depressed without daily activity and attention. Many Abyssinians enjoy heights, and will explore their surroundings in three dimensions, from the floor to their owner's shoulders to the top of the highest furniture. They are highly intelligent, and very independent. There is a long haired version of the Abyssinian, called the Somali.

Famous Abyssinians

• Zula "The First Abyssinian"
• Punkin, an Abyssinian cat belonging to radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh

See also

• Abyssinia

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Abyssinian (cat)

• AACE Breed Standards
• Abyssinian Breeders International (ABI)
• Abyssinian Cat Association
• Abyssinian Cat Club
• Abyssinian Cat Club of America
• Abyssinian Cat Lovers Forum
• Abyssinians.org
• CFA Breed Description page
• FBRL Breed Page: Abyssinian
• Norman Auspitz; The Abyssinian; Cat Fanciers' Almanac, March 2001