Abyssinian cat | Facts & Information

Colors: Blue, Chocolate, Cream, Reddish, Brown

Origin

Although no one knows when and where the Abyssinian first appeared, the most widely circulated story claims that the breed we know today would be the direct descendant of the sacred cats revered by the ancient Egyptians 4,000 years ago. Indeed, the Abyssinians are very similar to the Cats depicted in the murals and sculptures of the time, but there is no direct evidence that these felines are directly related to those felines revered by the Egyptians.

At one point it was issued the statement that the Abyssinian closely resembles the African wild cat. Nothing truer. But the descent from this has not yet been confirmed. The Abyssinian Zula was transported from Abyssinia (now Ethiopia) to England at the end of the Abyssinian War in 1868, according to Dr. Gordon Staples ' 1874 book Cats – their Points, but the hypothesis that this cat originated in that region is still debatable.

Some believe that the Abyssinian was recreated in England from existing British breeds. Others believe that modern-day Abyssinians are descended from a variety of cats found in Southeast Asia. The latest research points to the Indian Ocean coast between Singapore and Ceylon as the homeland of the Abyssinian and attests that it is one of the oldest cat breeds and probably the closest to the wild cat of all purebred breeds in the world.

The first Abyssinians were imported to North America from England in the early 1900s, but the cats that were to become the founders of the breed we know today did not make their appearance until the late 1930s. The Abyssinian has gained its popularity slowly so that today it is the third most popular breed of short-haired cat, according to the Cat Fanciers Association.

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Appearance Abyssinian Cat

Abyssinian is a supple, graceful cat with an imperial outfit, with a conical head, large, sharp ears and attentive to the slightest noise and some almond-shaped eyes, large, green or golden and expressive. The free edges of the eyelids are adorned by a dark ring, accentuating the eyes.

According to one story, women in Ancient Egypt shaped their eyes like these cats. The body of the Abyssinian is elongated, strong and muscular, and the slender limbs have fine bones. Paws are small and round. The tail is long and conical, ending with a rounded tip of dark color.

Another feature that distinguishes it from other breeds of cats is the pattern of the tarred or agouti coat, characterized by alternating bands of color along the length of the hair shaft. Each hair is decorated with light-colored bands that contrast with the dark-colored bands. The lighter or background color is found near the skin, so each hair ends with a dark tip. This pattern gives the coat, overall, a characteristic tarred appearance.

The hair is of medium length, long enough to comprise 2-3 bands. Four colors are generally accepted: rabbit (ruddy), sorrel (madder), blue and beige. The last selected colors are lilac and cicolatiu. White is allowed only around the lips and on the cheeks. Abyssinian Rabbit is by far the most commonly found.

Silver is also recognized by some associations, but it is a controversial color. While some breeders believe that the gene responsible for the silver effect does not induce hereditary infirmities, others believe that it can affect rabbit color. However, in Europe, silver and many other colors are accepted. The adult Abyssinian canter weighs around 2.5-4 kg, the American variety being more supple (2.5-3 kg), and the European one more robust (3-4 kg).

Behavior Abyssinian Cat

Abyssinians do not address people who want decorative cats or those who want cats that are content to just be held in their arms. Courageous, curious and sociable, Abyssinians give a new meaning to the word "active".

Abyssinians do all kinds of funny things to cheer you up, earning their reputation as clowns of the feline Kingdom. Abyssinians are perfect athletes with skillful paws and very curious so that no closed room or closet is no longer unexplored.

Attention, their overflowing curiosity can get them into trouble. They are very "busy" cats, becoming bored and depressed if they are bored or not given attention. Also, the Abyssinian is a good climber, liking to watch the surroundings from a height.

It cannot be said that Abyssinian is not affectionate. They are tender and loyal and are happiest when they are involved in all aspects of your life. Abyssinian will become your friend, confidant and devoted companion who will love you unconditionally.

She will always be near you to support you when you are demoralized or to rejoice when you are happy. He will always be there to share the meal with you.

Abyssinians are extremely sociable, creating strong bonds with their family members. In their absence, they find it difficult to accommodate themselves by having difficulty living away from them, even if the separation lasts only a few days. Males are said to be more tolerant of other pets compared to females, but that's only because the male is more independent while the female is more possessive.

They easily adapt to cohabitation with dogs, some specimens making true friendships with them. Don't be surprised if you wake up one day that your Abyssinian has reluctantly given up your comfortable bed to join her canine friend in his couch. Abyssinian loves wide, open spaces and dormitories with numerous members in which she will never be bored and will always be in the center of attention. As long as the Abyssinian has access to a backyard, he'll be the happiest animal on the planet.

Features Abyssinian Cat

Abyssinian fur is easy to care for; a meticulous brushing once or twice a week to remove dead hair and shortening of claws every 3-4 weeks will keep your red-haired buddy in maximum shape.

Abyssinians are gourmet but not greedy cats that tend to consume more food compared to cats of other breeds. This is due to the fact that they are extremely active felines and therefore high in calories. As long as they stay active, this habit will not predispose them to obesity.

On the contrary, in situations where they get bored and become comfortable, this high consumption of food can become a real problem. For the reasons mentioned, the recommended diets for this type of cats are those rich in protein and fiber and low in fat.

From many varieties of the Abyssinian race, we can list some that are more important and more widespread, namely: Blue Abyssinian, beige Abyssinian, to which can be added chocolate, yellow, golden, agutty, etc.

Abyssinian Cat Diseases

Abyssinians are generally robust and healthy cats, but are prone to gingivitis. If untreated, it can progress to a more severe periodontitis inducing tissue damage, bone and even tooth loss. Untreated, dental disease can damage the overall health of the cat.

With regular dental brushing, regular check-ups and professional scaling, this problem can be minimized. Amyloidosis, a condition thought to be hereditary and affecting the kidneys, as well as deficiency in pyruvate kinase, which induces anemia have also been reported in some Abyssinian lineages.

Likewise, in some lines the predisposition for dislocations and progressive retinal atrophy was reported.

Males, as with any other breed of cats, are not safe from feline urological syndrome (formation of pebbles in the kidney or bladder), which is why attention should be paid to nutrition and the occurrence of possible difficulty urinating. The Ideal is that after the age of 6-8 years, even if you have a healthy specimen, to make a routine check and some investigations (ultrasound, X-ray, blood and urine tests) to detect early any sensitivities and to try to remedy them through a proper diet or with the help of an appropriate treatment.

The average life expectancy of Abyssinians is 12-15 years.