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The Abyssinian is a natural breed
of
domesticated cat
believed to originate from one Egyptian female kitten called Zula that was taken
from a port in Alexandria, Egypt, by a British soldier and brought to England where
the breed was developed by Zula being bred with an English tabby, and the
most 'Abyssinian' looking kitten of her litter being breed with its mother to
splice the Abby gene. It is believed all Abyssinians in
Europe, the Americas, and Australia are descended from Zula, but there has been
at least one and possibly as many as three Abyssinians introduced from Libya (or
less likely Egypt) into the existing Abyssinian gene pool in the USA. The Abyssinian
has become one of the most popular shorthair breed of cats in the USA. There are
said to be still wild Abyssinians in some parts of North Africa.
The Abyssinian has a distinctly ticked, tawny coat. The tail and paws may
show tabby markings, but the body must not. It has large almond-shaped green or
gold eyes with a fine dark line around them, and large ears. The coat is
generally a warm golden colour, but "Abbys" can also be blue, fawn, cinnamon and
red. There is also a Silver Abyssinian variant whose coat shows shades of white,
cream and grey.
Abyssinians are very active, friendly, curious and playful, but are usually
not "lap cats"; they are too preoccupied exploring and playing; they are "busy"
cats, and can get bored and depressed without daily activity and attention. Many
Abyssinians enjoy heights, and will explore their surroundings in three
dimensions, from the floor to their owner's shoulders to the top of the highest
furniture. They are highly intelligent, but probably the most independent of any
domestic breed. There is a long-haired version of the Abyssinian, called the Somali.
Famous Abyssinians
- Jake from
The Cat from Outer Space
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