Nicknamed the ‘Aby’, Abyssinians are extremely social felines and are known for their playful and affectionate personalities. Unlike any other cat, Abyssinians bear a striking resemblance to the felines depicted in ancient Egyptian murals, which is another reason as to why they’re one of the most popular breeds in America. Keep reading below to learn the history, temperament, appearance, coat care, health concerns, and other interesting facts about the graceful Abyssinian.
Abyssinian History
Known to be one of the oldest recorded cat breeds in the world, Abyssinians date all the way back to ancient Egypt more than 4,000 years ago. In fact, mummified cats that feature similar traits to today’s Abyssinians have been discovered in ancient Egyptian tombs. In 1868, after the Abyssinian war, a British soldier returned home with a kitten named Zula who is now believed to be the ancestor of all modern Abyssinians. First to reach America in the early 1900s, Abys quickly gained popularity and became one of the most popular breeds in the country by the 1930s. Today, this affectionate breed ranks among the top 5 most popular breeds in the United States.
Temperament
Chatty, curious, social, and loving, the Abyssinian makes for an affectionate feline companion for families, other pets, and active households. While Abys may enjoy some occasional alone time, they are happiest when in the company of others and tend to get destructive when left alone for too long. With a reputation for keeping a ‘kitten-like’ attitude for most of their life, Abyssinians aren’t known to be lap cats as they’d rather play with their toys, participate in games, learn tricks, and gain praise upon understanding new aspects of their training.
Appearance & Coat Care
Abys have soft and silky medium-length coats that often come in red, blue, silver, fawn, and ruddy cinnamon colors. With long and graceful bodies, this breed tends to develop strong muscular strength which assists their active lifestyles. They have large almond-shaped eyes that tend to be green or gold and tall pointed ears that always seem to be on alert. Usually displaying a thick long tail and slim legs, Abyssinians are indeed a sight to behold. Additionally, they fortunately don’t require much grooming.
Health Concerns
Considered to be generally healthy cats, a few unique conditions are commonly found in the Aby breed. Be sure to regularly brush their teeth as periodontal disease is observed in Abyssinians more than other cats, if left unchecked then their teeth can fall out over time. They also are prone to joint issues as they age, such as hip dysplasia and patellar luxation. Finally, some Abys are known to have degenerative eye disease that can lead to blindness if left unchecked. It’s important to take your Abyssinian in for an annual checkup to prevent the onset of any of these health concerns.
Abyssinian Facts
- Hosting silly personalities, Abys are known as the clowns of the cat world.
- Walt Disney was a big fan of Abyssinians and even made a movie about them called ‘The Cat from Outer Space’.
- As they have a habit of grabbing things off the counter, some people have nicknamed their Abyssinian ‘Aby-Grabby’.
- Abyssinians are hypothesized to be a mix of the Burmese, Siamese, and Russian Blue cat breeds.
Dietary Requirements of Abyssinian Cats
Abyssinians love to eat and, if left to their own devices, may consume to the point of obesity. To manage your furry friend’s food intake, measure their food and feed your Aby twice a day. For an optimum diet, be sure to sprinkle a scoop of Dr. Bill’s Feline Ultimate Fitness & Health on their food every day. Feline Fitness & Health is a delicious, concentrated nutritional powder, scientifically formulated to provide a balanced blend of 50-nutrients that support optimum fitness and health in growing, physically mature, and senior cats. Designed to promote a strong, lean body, a healthy immune system, a balanced digestive tract, flexible joints, plus healthy eye, heart and brain function. Feline Fitness & Health is safe for growing and adult Abyssinian cats of all ages.
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