Abyssinian Cats Maintenance And Care
Abyssinian cats are great. Although this breed is considered rare, more and more people want to have a “solar cat,” as Abyssinians in Egypt are called. And herein lies the danger: you can’t buy an Abyssin based on the charm of its exotic appearance.
It is not uncommon that young, thoroughbred animals are simply returned to the cattery. They did not cope. Why is that? No, they are not aggressive. They get along with children of all ages and with other pets. They are beautiful, smart, affectionate, and playful cats. But if you like an Aby cat, its character and behavior should be studied in advance so that there will be no surprises and disappointments. At kennels, there is one thing they say: Abyssinians are ideal.
Table Of Contents
· A Mysterious Breed: The Origin of Abyssinian Cats
· Solar Cats: Abyssinian Appearance
· Four Basic Colors of Abyssinian Cats
· Ruddy
· Red
· Blue
· Fawn
· Abyssinian Cat: Seven Character Traits
· Inquisitive
· Playful, Active
· Social
· Talkative
· Tender
· Trainable
· Tethered to People
· Is it Difficult to Keep an Abyssinian Cat?
· Does the Abyssinian Breed Carry Hereditary Diseases?
· Deficit of Pyruvate Kinase
· Progressive Retinal Atrophy
· Kidney Amyloidosis
· Feedback from Abyssinian Cat Owners
· Let’s Sum Up: Who is the Abyssinian Right For?
A Mysterious Breed: The Origin of Abyssinian Cats
According to the origin of Abyssinian cats, there are beautiful legends of their genetic relation to wild steppe African cats. And the most favorite theory of fans is that the famous cats of the Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt are the ancestors of modern Abyssinians. The external resemblance to the animals depicted on the frescoes is really there.
Fact: Abyssinian cats’ genotype indicates the lack of affinity with African cats of Tunisia and Egypt.
When people find out that the Abyssinians were bred and registered in the U.K., they experience a real shock. We all know these ticklish British cats. What do graceful and exotic Abyssinian cats have to do with it?
Abyssinia, aka Ethiopia, is an ancient African state. The country’s territory has become a transshipment point for Europeans on their way to India and China. The coastal lands were conquered, including by the British. It was from there that Captain Barrett-Lenard brought to his homeland an unusual cat in 1874. His name was Zula, and he is registered in the breeding book under the resounding name ‘Abyssinian cat’. Unfortunately, there is no information about his descendants or other imported animals.
The Abyssinian breed was registered in England in 1896, and by 1905, there were already 12 producers in the breeding books, and their origin is unknown. In 1907, a couple of Abyssinians traveled to America.
For a long time, the American and English branches of the breed developed in parallel. Still, after the Second World War, there were practically no Abyssinians in Europe. The breed was restored at the expense of American animals.
The American Abyssinians possessed refined, slender forms, traditional amongst the breed nowadays. And they inherited large, widely set ears from oriental cats, previously involved in the breeding of Abyssinians.
Abyssinian cats were not always short-haired. A long-haired modification was recognized as a separate breed — Somali. The crossing of Abyssinian and Somali cats stopped only in the 1980s.
Solar Cats: Abyssinian Appearance
Flexible, muscular cats of the Abyssinian breed embody talent and grace. They have long, thin paws and a tail. The wedge-shaped head is decorated with disproportionately large ears and slanted almond-shaped eyes. Abyssinians’ size is similar to most domestic cats, from 2.5–3 kg (females) to 4.5 kg (males).
The main feature of the breed is their smooth, shiny, short hair. Each hair varies in color — alternating light and dark areas. This feature is called “ticking.” Abyssinians do not have stripes or sockets. There should be no white areas on the body. Only a white chin is allowed, but it is also considered a disadvantage.
Four Basic Colors of Abyssinian Cats
Ruddy
Until 1963, it was the only recognized color of Abyssinian cats. It remains the most common now because of its dominant gene. Orange-brown hair shimmers in the sun, and the dark line along the ridge can be black or dark brown.
Red
In 1963, the red color was adopted. Bright apricot color is combined with dark areas of chocolate color. The coloring of sorrel is unacceptable in the presence of black hair.
Blue
In 1984, the blue Abyssinian was officially registered. It has a warm pink and beige undercoat on the abdomen and on the inside of paws, tints of gray and blue wool color.
Fawn
This color is rare, as two recessive genes must meet. This is a lightened version of the color of the sorrel. The beige-pink color, thanks to ticking, looks very unusual.
Abyssinian Cat: Seven Character Traits
Apart from their exotic appearance, Abyssinians have unique habits. In many ways, their behavior is similar to a wild animal’s, as if cats were not domesticated thousands of years ago. Abyssinians have pronounced hunting instincts. They are incredibly active cats. The breed has the following character traits:
Inquisitive
Abyssinians need to stick their noses everywhere. Even if every spot in the apartment was inspected, the cat will find a new secluded place to sleep. Or she will try to catch a jet of water with her paw. He may watch how the laundry is spinning in the washing machine. In a word, he will not miss anything. New toys and objects invariably arouse the Abyssinians’ interest.
Morally prepare yourself because the pet will want to climb tables, cabinets, and in general, everywhere.
Playful, Active
Even if you have read a hundred times that Abyssinians are energetic, you will not understand how much until you have your own. They have a jet engine under their tail. Like a drop of mercury, the Abyssinian is always on the move and cannot sit in one place, unless he is asleep.
The Abyssinian breed among cats is like a husky among dogs, ready to run and play around the clock. These cats are natural acrobats. They can cleverly jump high and do a flip in the air.
Social
Abyssinians can become bored easily, so they need communication and attention. Wherever the owner of the house is, they will always be nearby. These cats will meet you from work, meowing joyfully. Often, Abyssinians prefer to sleep with people in their arms, burrowing under the blanket.
Talkative
Abyssinian cats make many sounds. They can shriek both at 6 am and during the day. They sing songs, whether it’s asking for food or just from boredom. The siren may also turn on if they don’t like something, for example, if you lock them in a carrier during a car trip.
Tender
Abyssinian cats purr loudly and willingly. They look for their own caresses, waking their heads and wiping their feet. They lie and chew on their hands, trample on their knees with their feet, and willingly let themselves be stroked.
Trainable
Abyssinians love to play and are very smart — these qualities make them the most trained cats globally. They can chase a toy repeatedly, learn to paw, sit, and perform other tricks — it all depends on the owner’s imagination.
Tethered to People
A common stereotype: dogs love the owner, and cats love their home. But in the case of Abyssinians, this does not apply. They feel a sincere attachment to their master. The only problem is that the cat can choose one “favorite” person from the family. These cats do not tolerate separation and are very bored when the owner is away.
Is it Difficult to Keep an Abyssinian Cat?
Abyssinians practically shed little to no hair — they have no undercoat. For the same reason, the Abyssinians are real frogs, who look for heat from the battery, under the blanket, on their hands. If it is cold in the apartment, they will need special clothes.
But the main peculiarities of the Abyssinian cat’s content are connected with their stormy temperament. They are not inclined to obesity, and with proper feeding, they keep a slender figure even after sterilization. But the risk of injury is extremely high.
The owners must hide all small objects, wires, and other dangers from the curious Abyssinian. While playing or hunting, cats may swallow various foreign bodies — elastic bands, balls, threads, headphones.
Sturdy nets must be installed on the windows; ordinary mosquito nets will not save the cat from falling. In this case, it is unacceptable to open the windows for vertical ventilation; otherwise, the cat may get stuck.
Abyssinian cats are prone to sharp movements. Scared by a joke or a serious accident, impressionable owners may experience a heart attack. These cats can jump from place to place or vertically upwards. Fractures in kittens of this breed are not uncommon.
You shouldn’t leave Abyssinians in the kitchen with a hot stove on, and you shouldn’t leave breakable objects like glass vases on the tables.
You should pay a lot of attention to these cats — not only with caresses but also with active games. They can hunt for a toy mouse or a red laser dot to reach real dyspnea, and after sitting for a few minutes with their tongue sticking out, start running after it again.
If you haven’t yet figured out what kind of energy bomb it is, imagine your kitten having fun like this:
- Hanging on the curtains
- Hunting for the rag you wash the floor with
- Catching a toothbrush while you brush your teeth
- Throwing yourself on your feet in an ambush
- Stealing cotton swabs
- Chewing on the wires
- Hiding in the duvet or underneath the sheet
- Eating flowers and digging the ground
And this is just a small list of all kinds of leprosy. An Abyssinian kitten will require a lot of your time and patience. In any case, life will not be boring. If you can walk with the kitten outside, the amount of destruction in the house will be reduced.
Does the Abyssinian Breed Carry Hereditary Diseases?
Harmoniously stacked cats without extreme appearance features can live a long life without any serious problems. Unfortunately, the breed’s growing popularity played a cruel joke on it: Abyssinians started to breed outside the clubs without a selection of successful pairs and genetic tests. As a result, serious hereditary diseases circulate in the Abyssinian breed of cats.
Deficit of Pyruvate Kinase
With a lack of enzymes, pyruvate kinase greatly reduces the life span of red blood cells. As a result, red blood cells die faster than bone marrow can produce them, and anemia will develop in the cat.
Although there may be crises with a sharp fall of red blood cells, the disease is usually sluggish. There is no treatment except maintenance therapy (vitamins, iron, stimulation of erythropoiesis, blood transfusion).
The disease is transmitted by the recessive type. Carrier cats are not sick, but if you cross two of these animals, every fourth kitten (25%) will be sick because he will receive two defective genes, one from each parent.
According to statistics, every two Abyssinian cats out of 10 are carriers of the pyruvate kinase deficiency.
Progressive Retinal Atrophy
Genetically caused damage to the retina is already evident in 2-month-old kittens. However, owners may not notice eye problems in a kitten up to about 1.5 years old. Then the cat starts to go blind. Complete loss of vision occurs within 2–3 years; there is no treatment.
The disease is inherited similarly to PC-dependent anemia — carriers of the defective gene do not get sick but pass it on to their offspring. Homozygotes by this recessive gene, which show blindness, are rare, but it does not make it easier for such pet owners.
Kidney Amyloidosis
Another curse of the Abyssinian breed is inherited by the recessive type. The defective gene causes the formation of the “wrong” protein, amyloid. Amyloid accumulates in internal organs. Its deposition into the kidneys disrupts their work, and young cats rapidly develop renal failure. The average life expectancy of Abyssinians with this gene is 4–7 years; there is no treatment.
When buying an Abyssinian kitten, you have every right to clarify whether its parents have passed genetic tests for pyruvate kinase deficiency and retinal atrophy. The study allows you to identify not only sick cats but also carriers. The producers should also be examined for viral leukemia, immunodeficiency, and coronavirus of cats.
You can examine your own pet for these diseases without leaving home: laboratories in the U.S. and Europe offer to pay for the analysis online and send them biomaterial by mail (cotton bud, which is several times intensively conducted on the inside of the cheek of a cat).
Feedback from Abyssinian Cat Owners
Raj — wild color, a real beauty. He is very willful, and I cannot disable him from climbing tables. At the cottage he catches birds and mice; he has also accustomed himself to walks on a harness. The breed is not for everyone, although the beauty is indescribable.
I still regret that I sterilized West when she turned six months old. Her kittens would have been a beautiful sorrel! Whatever I do, she is always there, controlling and participating in the process. She licks my face; she comes to bed. Abyssinians are amazing, the best breed in the world.
For me, a cat of Abyssinian breed is an ideal cat of beauty. They are graceful and smart. It’s a good buy for your money — and there are purebred kittens that are not cheap! Our Tase is already 3 years old, and I’m jealous of my husband — she chose him as her favorite owner, even though I feed and clean the tray. Running around photographing her every day is still a delight!
Let’s Sum Up: Who is the Abyssinian Right For?
The main negative feedback about Abyssinian cats is related to their incredible energy. Activity and curiosity lead to frank hooliganism. Some say with a sigh that cats are “too much in their lives.” But it is not necessary to initially take such an energetic, playful, attention-seeking breed. It is like buying a sports car and complaining that it drives too fast.
Abyssinian cats are not suitable for those who:
- Are absent from home for a long time
- Appreciate silence, calmness, and independence
- Are not ready to be financially responsible (repair, maintenance, and treatment of an Abyssinian can be expensive)
Suppose you have assessed the degree of responsibility and are ready to take it upon yourself. In that case, you will not trade the Abyssinian breed of cat for any other. These are truly great animals, genuinely loving their owners. If you have a sunny cat or a cat at home, share your character traits or unusual habits in the comments!
