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Hill’s Brand Horizon

Abyssinian

cat Breed Profile

The Abyssinian is a medium-sized cat with a long body and nicely developed muscles. She is an active cat that loves to jump and play.

Attributes

Size

Weight

:, medium: 8-12 lbs.

medium: 8-12 lbs.

Coat

Length

Short, Medium Characteristics

Color

Ruddy, Red, Blue, Fawn, Cinnamon Pattern

Less Allergenic

No

Care

Longevity

9-13 yrs.

Needs

High Tendency to Shed

Traits

Grooming Needs

Low

Social Needs

High Tendency to Shed

Eye Color

Green, Gold

Club recognition

Associations

CFA, ACFA , FIFe, TICA, CCA

Prevalence

Common

The Abyssinian Cat Breed

The Abyssinian’s fur carries bands of color giving her a richness and depth not seen in other breeds.

About the Abyssinian

The Abyssinian is a medium-sized cat with a long body and nicely developed muscles. She is an active cat that loves to jump and play.

Abyssinian personality

While an active cat, the Abyssinian is an easy cat to have in your home. They love people and other animals. They will play with their own toys for hours but also enjoy a good period of time of interactive play with their parents. They will talk to you in a soft, quiet voice. The Abyssinian is loving and affectionate, and loves to spend time with her parent. While the Abyssinian coat is easy to care for, the Abyssinian likes being combed or rubbed with a chamois cloth. She will reward you with a loving purr.

What to expect

Abyssinians are active cats and generally will keep their weight under control with compensating exercise. They should have some high perches and cat trees available to them so they can jump and climb.

Abyssinians are social cats and like to have some company. This company can be provided by having another cat or pet around when human companions are not at home.

History of the Abyssinian

While the Abyssinian cat is considered to be the breed that can trace her roots directly to the Nile Valley, she was actually developed in Great Britain. In the 1860s, a cat was brought to Britain by Lord Robert Napier following a military expedition to Abyssinia. This cat was named Zulu and she was the foundation of the beautiful breed known today as the Abyssinian. The unique ticking pattern on the co,at of the Abyssinian reminded people of the camouflage pattern on the coat of the wild rabbit. This characteristic was so delightful that Zulu was bred to random-bred cats that carried a similar look to their coat and the Abyssinian breed was created.

The breed itself was extremely popular and Abyssinian cats were soon being bred throughout Europe and in the United States and Canada. This popularity proved to be the salvation of the breed as the two world wars almost decimated the breed in Europe. New Abyssinians were imported and the breed continued. In the late 1960s, when the feline leukemia virus almost destroyed the breed once again in Britain, more Abyssinians were brought into Britain to reestablish the breed again.

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