Abyssinian Cat Breed Pictures,Characteristics, & Facts

The Abyssinian is thought to be one of the oldest cat breeds. As popular as the breed are they're not much for cudding. This confident cat is high energy, super active and carries a long, lean and athletic body. An Abyssinian will seek out and scale the highest spots around the house.

Breed: Abyssinian cat

Size: Medium, 8 to 16 lbs

Energy Level: 5/5

Talkative: 4/5

Coat: Short and thick with agouti or ticked bands.

Hypoallergenic: No

Seeking: Engaged, active and interactive humans.

Child Friendly: Not particularly.

Personality: Extremely active, curious and mischievous, has a fondness for showing off.

Abyssinian Looks

I've been told I m a stunner. Not that I'd know, since I m too busy exploring the world around me to fawn over my own looks. But people say I m gorgeous enough to be a model.

It might be my fur. I wear it short and sporty, but apparently it's fascinating to stare at. And oh, do people stare. And fawn, too.

I'm bombarded by unsolicited compliments all the time about my ticked fur.

I suspect it has something to do with each strand of my hair having alternating dark and light bands of color. The hues usually come in four distinct shades, namely beige rose with splashes of faun, blue beige with slate bands, red with dark brown bands as well as ruddy with bands of dark sepia or bright orange.

Looks cool when I move, I hear, if you're into that sort of thing.

But my most notable feature is probably my large, perky ears. Combined with my inquisitive, almond-shaped eyes, they give me the impression I'm attentively listening to every word you say. Even when I m not.

As for my body, I keep myself in tip-top shape and I've got a long, lean, muscular body to show for it. My athletic, graceful frame is most often compared to the regal look of the felines adoringly depicted in ancient Egyptian murals.

Ideal Human

In case you haven't figured it out by now - my energy levels can get crazy. And I need a human who can keep up with me - and bear with me, which means I'm mostly ideal for active, engaged fanciers who're well-versed in the antics of inquisitive, go-getter felines.

It also helps if you have a spacious home for me as well since small, confined, spaces don't really suit me. I'd prefer a place with plenty of running room and high places for me to climb.

Houses with enclosed gardens with room for me to exercise, hunt and explore the world around me are awesome as well but I must warn you that I'm good at escaping so make sure it's a firmly enclosed space.

Oh, and I get bored easily so it's important that you provide plenty for me to do, like stack our home with plenty of high spots for me to have vertical adventures on. Interactive games are a must for me as well. And if you plan to be out much -it's a good idea to get me company, say, another Aby, since I can get quite cantankerous when left alone with nothing to do and no one to play with.

How To Keep Abyssinian Happy And Healthy

My extreme activity levels may be intimidating, but that's as far as my high maintenance needs go. I am really quite easy to take care of, with no special dietary or grooming requirements apart from a regular, meticulous grooming to keep my coat looking luxurious.

There's just one thing you need to keep in mind - 'though I am a generally healthy cat, my breed is prone to tooth and gum problems, as well as amyloidosis, a type of kidney disease. So regular check-ups to the vet are a must on your schedule to keep me as hale and hearty as possible.