The Abyssinian is a beautiful ancient breed of cat, a breed that has lived alongside humans for a long time. A beautiful, natural-looking cat ?? through the coat with wild color ?? with an active character. Over the years, more and more coat colors have been added through targeted breeding programs. What kind of cat is the Abyssinian actually, in which family situation does the cat fit best and what varieties are there all of this beautiful Abyssinian?
Abyssinian, the base
History
People do not know exactly, but the abyssinian is one of the oldest species. Pictures from ancient Egypt show the abyssinian. They were the original “domestic cats”, the so-called Libyan cat, with which the Abyssinian bears a lot of resemblance.
The name Abyssinian comes from the original place where the cat most likely found its base, namely Abyssinia. This is the old name for the empire we know today as the country of Ethiopia.
Breeding programs
In the 19th century, one of these cats was taken to England by a soldier and colonists followed who took these cats back with them. Although there are no more official breeding records, it is believed that cross-breeding of these cats in England resulted in the current Abyssinian.
The Abyssinian was first in the United States around 1900 and in the Scandinavian countries some fifty years later. It took a while before the Abyssinian became a popular cat in the Netherlands and they started their own breeding programs in the Netherlands.
Source: Tsapenkodg, Pixabay
Abyssinian inwardly and outwardly
The abyssinian is one of the many types of purebred cats and proportionally this cat is not one of the most popular. Some varieties are “in vogue” for a certain period, but the abyssinian is not really one of them either. It is a cat that you experience as beautiful and nice or nothing at all. Usually there is nothing in between.
Character
The cat has an active character and therefore requires quite a bit of attention. She is cheerful, affectionate and intelligent. Furthermore, it is also pre-eminently a cozy cuddly cat that is very loyal and that can be combined with other cats and even dogs. You shouldn’t leave this cat alone for too long, they can’t handle that very well. Working full-time and nothing or no one at home during the day is therefore not a good idea.
Appearance
The original and best known coat color of this short-haired cat is the so-called “wild color”, which is black or dark brown ticking on a nice warm brown background, better known as “tabby”. The nose of the cat is deep red in color and the soles of the feet are black. Some variations on this are the silver tones, chocolate, cinnamon color and blue. The coat is silky soft and has a double structure.
The body is muscular, flexible and has a sturdy build. The cat has slender legs with relatively small feet. The head is relatively broad and slightly wedge-shaped. The cat has beautiful almond-shaped eyes that are slightly slanted in the head. The color depends on the coat, golden yellow, green or amber. The cat has large ears that are set low on the head and slightly tapered. The weight of the cat can vary from 2.5 to 5 kilograms and the cat can live up to 15 years old.
Long haired
There is also a long-haired variety of the abyssinian and we call it somalia. Created spontaneously and not really a good one ?? abyssinians for breeding programs, they have been bred separately at some point. The characteristic features of this cat are also very similar to the abyssinian.
Source: Cognomine, Pixabay
Kittens and heredity
Although you will not get a full guarantee anywhere, after all, you are dealing with a living being, it is always good to buy a kitten from a recognized and serious breeder. With the Abyssinian it is perhaps even more important to do this seriously, because there are some hereditary problems in this cat.
The main one is a hereditary condition that can lead to blindness. A serious breeder will ensure that only kittens are born to parents who have been tested for this and are free of this hereditary disease. To find a good breeder, it is wise to consult the breed clubs.
Finally
The Abyssinian is a cat of its own, it is a beautiful streamlined cat with a mind of its own. A cat that needs quite a bit of attention, but is also a sweet affectionate cat. The cat is easy to maintain in terms of coat. Are you looking for a nice, lively cat with a characteristic head and accompanying character, then the abyssinian is a perfect cat.
