Description

The Abyssinian is a slender cat of medium size. Their wedge-shaped head and large, pointed ears create a recognisable profile. The Abyssinian’s eyes are almond shaped, and are often green, copper, or yellow. The legs are long, and the paws are small and elegant in appearance. The tail is also long and elegant, tapering from root to tip.

Origin: Southeast Asia, Ethiopia

Look

One of the most notable features of this cat breed is its coat. Most Abyssinian kittens are born with dark coats, which lighten as the kittens grow up. The dense, silky fur is usually darker on the legs, back, and tail; a pattern known as Agouti, which occurs due to the “Ta” gene. The Abyssinian is usually a beautiful red-brown colour, but there are many lighter and darker colour variants. Silver, lilac, and chocolate are less common and not all breed associations recognise them.

Health

Although Abyssinians are generally healthy cats, they are prone to certain health conditions.

• Early onset periodontal disease

• Hyperesthesia syndrome

• Patellar Luxation

• Progressive Retinal Atrophy

• Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency

• Renal Amyloidosis

At KittenGuru.com, we recommend that you buy your kitten from reputable breeders, who use genetic testing and good breeding practices to remove genetic conditions from their breeding lines. KittenGuru.com’s Health Guarantee certifies that all promoted kittens are in good health.

Temperament

The Abyssinian is vivacious, outgoing, and active. Abyssinians are highly intelligent and very curious, which makes them both charming and prone to getting into trouble! They are very affectionate, and may become attached to their human in a very dog-like way. Abyssinians love to be the centre of attention, and have a quiet but friendly nature.

Living with

If you want to get an Abyssinian, be prepared for a purring, playful pet. They are curious and clever, so you’ll need plenty of toys to entertain your Abyssinian. The astute Abyssinian can be trained to perform tricks, including ‘fetch’, though if you choose to teach your Abyssinian that last trick you might be pestered into playing! Your Abyssinian will probably be happiest in the company of humans or another cat, and may get lonely, bored, and destructive on his or her own. Although they love to play, run, and climb, Abyssinians are graceful and don’t tend to break things.