Information about Abyssinian Cat

The Abyssinian, often called the “Aby”, is active, curious and highly-spirited cat. It is a popular breed of domesticated shorthair cat with a unique ticked coat. Although there are a number of stories about its origin, however the actual origin is unknown.

The Abyssinian cat has a graceful, medium-sized, brawny but slim body. Its short, silky and close lying coat with ticked coloration makes it a distinctive cat. Its head is broad and rather wedge-shaped with almond-shaped eyes. Its eye colors can be gold, hazel, green or copper. The ears of Aby are somewhat pointed, relatively large, and very alert. Its legs are slender, with a fine bone structure. Its paws are small and oval in shape. The tail of Abyssinian is long and fairly tapering at the end.

Apart from ruddy, sorrel and blue colors, Abyssinian cats are also available in rare coat colors, such as Red, Tortoiseshell, Lilac, Chocolate, and Cream.

When Abyssinian cat is viewed in profile, its nose and chin mostly form a straight vertical line. An m-shaped marking, also known as “frown lines”, can be seen in the fur on its forehead (above its eyes). These frown lines can be tinted tawny, sorrel (red, silver cinnamon), blue fawn or red.

Abyssinian cats are extremely intelligent, playful and inquisitive cats. They enjoy their human companions, and like to be involved in everyday family life. However, they are generally not ‘lap cats’. These cats also love to play a game of fetch with their owners. They do not talk much and have a quiet, appealing voice.

Although Abyssinians are active and lively cats, however they have a few genetic defects. They are susceptible to Gingivitis and tooth decay. This problem can be minimized by training the cat to regular tooth brushing, applications of fluoride, and periodic professional teeth checkups. These cats are also prone to Amyloidosis, which is a renal disease considered to be hereditary.