Smart, active, and very much like the original wild cat when first domesticated, Abyssinians got their start along the coast of the Indian Ocean and moved westward to such acclaim one of the breed got third prize in the 1871 Crystal Palace cat show in London.
Pictured: Best of Breed GC, BW, NW GLENLEA’S ROLLS ROYCE OF PURSSYNIAN, Fawn Abyssinian Male
Photo: © Larry Johnson
Modern Abyssinians display the robust nature of a “natural” breed, who have easy care coats and intrepid dispositions. They show their oriental nature in their oval paws and ears, their leggy, muscular structure, and their bright, involved, personality.
They have a lovely “ticked” coat, which is when each hair is a light color with darker bands throughout its length. They can also have tabby-like facial markings, such as an “M” or the dark “mascara lines” leading from the outer corners of their eyes.
While always on the go, and on the verge of a some kind of scientific breakthrough, “Abys,” as their friends call them, thrive on the companionship and interaction of their people, and will go to great lengths to get it.
These are busy cats who always have a project or three needing supervision and direction. We need to know them well to appreciate their fine qualities, as they are shy with strangers. Once their heart is won, they are devoted cats who love petting and hugging.
Abys are practical and dignified while they quietly get their way. They are fond of other cats, but unless they can keep up, Abys won’t want the other cats to try to join in. The companionship of another Aby is probably the best way to ensure cat harmony and adequate exercise.
Aby mixes usually exhibit the wonderful structure, since that ticked coat needs a dominant mutant gene known as Ta, and the cat might be any kind of tabby coat combination. But if they have the long neck, long legs, distinctive ears, or other standout Aby qualities, it’s probably in there. See this online guide to “Is it an Aby?”
Abys have become wonderfully popular, but it’s important for an potential fan to give them lots of everything; room, heights, attention, things to do, and tolerance for high speeds. If we want an “extreme” cat experience, we get two Abys, and let the games begin.
My father rescued a tiny kitten who wandered into a doctor’s waiting room during a rainstorm. I warned Dad he looked Abyssinian and would need a lot of play time. Charlie turned out to be a little wild man, who climbed the Christmas tree and knocked his toys pell-mell from one end of the house to the other.
Yet he was so sweet and charming that the folks cheerfully put away many of the delicates for the duration.
In 2007, a four year old Abyssinian named Cinnamon was the first cat to have her genome mapped. It is a fitting tribute to this most scientifically-minded of all cat breeds.
Want an Abyssinian? Find an ethical breeder who cares about their cats, or explore Abyssinian Rescue. Use Petfinder.com to see if there’s one nearby, just waiting for a home.
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