CAT
BREEDS A-Z
Abyssinian
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.
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