Abyssinian Cat

Abyssinian

The Abyssinian Cat is yet another domesticated creature that has a slightly confusing back-story. The breed gets its moniker from Abyssinia, an old place name for what is now Ethiopia. Only... there is no evidence that the cats actually came from Ethiopia.

It is more likely that the breed developed further north in Egypt, and before that came from ancestors in Southeast Asia. The cats strongly resemble the felines painted in Ancient Egyptian wall murals, and recent genetic studies show resemblances to cats around the Indian Ocean.

The ancient origins may never be fully understood, but the modern ones are a little bit more clear (with some exceptions of course). The Abyssinian breed as we know it today was first bred in the United Kingdom at the end of the 19th century. Some claim that the cat who started to whole line was a female named Zula who was imported in the 1860s. However, there is no concrete evidence that this story is true. What is factual is that all current pedigreed Abyssinians come from cats bred in the United Kingdom.

In the past 150 years or so, Abyssinians have become incredibly popular. This is thanks to their unusual coloration and their playful, intelligent nature. They are described as being incredibly curious and active, and many turn out to be excellent climbers around the house!

Abyssinians have what is called a "ticked" coat, which is found in only three breeds (the Somali and a the Singapura being the other two). Each hair actually has three or four distinct bands of color, with a very light band at the root and a darker band at the tip. Abyssinians are typically seen in various shades of brown and cream.

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Status : Domesticated
Location : Developed in the Untied Kingdom
Size : Length up to 2ft (60cm)

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Mammalia -- Order : Carnivora
Family : Felidae -- Genus : Felis -- Species : F. catus