Breed History
The Abyssinian is one of the oldest known
breeds of cats, in some instances dating back 2,600 years resembling the
image of an ancient Egyptian cat in their appearance. There is still
conflicting evidence to this day as to the exact origin. They were
thought to be revered so much that they were actually entombed with
their Egyptian owners as far back as 1,600 years. However, some say, the
earliest is thought to be a registered pedigreed Abyssinian cat that
came from Abyssinia, now Ethiopia. There are other documents that tell
of when England's CFA was burned in World War II all records were lost.
So, they had to start with the Feral Cats they could capture and
document them as an Abyssinian to start a new to this day. In recent
genetic studies, the most convincing origin of the Abyssinian breed is
the coast of the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia, according to CFA.
Also, according to CFA, the earliest identifiable Aby is a taxi dermal
exhibit still residing in the Leiden Zoological Museum in Holland.
Although the Abyssinian as a breed was refined in England, its
introduction to that country and others may have been the result of
colonists and merchants stopping in Calcutta, the major port for the
Indian Ocean. The first Abyssinians to be imported to North America from
England arrived in the early 1900s, but it was not until the late 1930s
that several top quality Abys were exported from Britain to form the
foundation of today's American breeding programs.
No doubt, they
are an elegant feline with a muscular body, a beautiful arched neck with
large ears and almond shaped eyes, still resembling the ancient
Egyptian cat of 2,600 years ago. The overall impression of the
Abyssinian adult cat would be of medium size that is regal and muscular
in appearance. They are eager to engage in activity, intelligent,
loving, even tempered and attentive to their surroundings.
Colors
and Coats Types Available - There are several Abyssinian Colors, all
with a rich warm and glowing ticked appearance in Ruddy, Red, Fawn,
Blue, Cream, Silver, and Lilac.
Only the Ruddy, Red, Fawn and
Blue colors are recognized by CFA, AACE, ACFA or CFF however, Silver is
now recognized by TICA and Cream and Lilac are accepted by ACA. Ruddy is
the most popular color.
Grooming and Care - The Abyssinian is a
short haired cat and requires very little grooming. Their coat is soft,
silky, fine in texture, but dense and resilient to the touch with a
lustrous sheen. Though the Abyssinian is a short haired cat, its' hair
is medium in length, long enough to accommodate two or three dark bands
of ticking. Brushing their coats with a brush suited for short haired
cats is accepted by the Abyssinian. They love attention and enjoy the
human interaction. For show cats, the grooming will vary from bathing
and brushing the coat depending on how often they are in a show.
Best
Suitable Environment - The best suitable home environment for the
Abyssinian cat is an active one. They adapt well with other animals and
are perfect for children.
Personality Traits - The Abyssinian cat
is intelligent, very people oriented wanting to know what you are doing
and wants to help. They are one of the most intelligent breeds of cats
and none more loyal. They are a great companion and are good at training
you what to do. Abyssinian cats are retrievers and climbers. The
Abyssinian owner needs to allow time to play with this incredible animal
on a daily basis.
Once you own an Abyssinian cat or ever spend
time with one, you will be captivated by them, amused and amazed. And if
you do own an Abyssinian, you will never want any other breed as a
companion. They capture your heart and you will be in love.
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