Abyssinian Cats Information

Whilst the Abyssinian cats look like cats shown in Egyptian art, and has a coat like the African Wild Cat, there is no evidence to support the idea they're direct decendants of the cats of the Pharoahs (but don't tell your abyssinian that :-))

Abyssinian cats have lithe, muscular and strong bodies. They are very active cats, and their coat is easy to groom, being short. They prefer no to be confined, but I have known abyssinians who adapted to apartment life.

These are some characteristics of abyssinian cats:

• they like a lot of attention
• they also like exploring
• are affectionate and highly intelligent
• good with children
• generally strong and healthy
• very easy to groom
• capable of obedience

 Abyssinian cats have quite an interesting coat. The natural abyssinian coat has the the following coloring...

Each hair has 2 -3 bands of black or dark brown on a ruddy brown background, which gives it a kind of flecked look (called ticking). The ticking doesn't show until they are 2 months old. There are no bars or other markings, though there can be a darker area over the spine. The belly and the inside of the legs is lighter. Nose leather should be brick red and outlined in black, and the paw pads should be black. The body should not have any white markings, though some cats have cream fur around the chin and lips, and light areas around the eyes. The eyes are also rimmed in black with black or brown markings on the forehead. If the tail is barred, it should have abrown or black tip.

Abyssinian cats have lithe, muscular and strong bodies. They are very active cats, and their coat is easy to groom, being short.<p><p>
There are also two other types of naturally occuring abyssinian cats - red and blue.

The Red Abyssinian is like the standard abyssinian, except the color is a rich copper red, with each hair ticked 2 -3 times by a darker color. The belly and inside the legs should be a deep apricot. The tail tip is dark brown. The nose leather and pads are pink, and the eyes are green, yellow or hazel.

Blue abyssinians also occur naturally. The body color is a warm blue grey, and the base color is cream. The tips and edges of the ears are a slate blue, the nose leather dark pink, and the spine, tail tip and back of the hind legs is a dark steel blue.

Outcrossings to other breeds is producing more variety - lilac, chocolate, silver, tortie, red and cream.