petplanet.co.uk
6,691

products in
stock now

94%

shipped within 2 working
days.
Read More...

Click Here
Home
Pet
Insurance
Breed
Profiles
Pet
Forum
Pet
Health
Pet
Classifieds
Pet
News
Fun
Stuff
Pet
Rescue
Pet
Travel
Pet
Shop
Log On
Introduction  |  Dog Breeds  |  Cat Breeds  |  Small Animal Breeds  |  Select A Breed
Free delivery on orders over £29

Hackersafe Digi-Sign Secure Site


Online Pet Shop
 
  My Favourites
  My Previous Purchases
 
  Featured Promotions
  Featured Dog Promotions
  Featured Cat Promotions
  Top Rated Products
  November Offers
  Christmas Pet Gifts
  Pet Meds
  Prescription A-Z
  Dog Products
      Puppy Care
      Dog Food
      Dog Treats and Chews
      Dog Collars and Leads
      Anti Bark Collars
      Dog Beds
      Dog Bowls & Feeders
      Dog Cages
      Dog Kennels
      Dog Carriers
      Dog Travel Accessories
      Dog Grooming
      Dog Hygiene Products
      Dog Harnesses
      Dog Clothing
      Dog Toys
      Dog Training Aids
      Dog Health
      Dog ID Tags
      Dog Safety
      Byofresh / Byotrol
      Dog Flaps
      Dog Home Hygiene
      Luxury Boutique
      Pet Gates & Pens
  Cat Products
      Kitten Care
      Cat Food
      Cat Bowls & Feeders
      Cat Beds
      Cat Litter Trays And Accessories
      Cat Litter
      Cat Activity Centres
      Cat Carriers & Travel
      Cat Toys
      Cat Collars & Harnesses
      Cat Health
      Cat Flaps
      Cat Gift Ideas
      Cat Grooming
      Cat Hygiene
      Cat Bling
      Catnip and Catnip Toys
  Fish Supplies
      Fish Tanks
      Fish Tank Supplies
      Fish Tank Maintenance
      Fish Tank Accessories
      Fish Food
      Garden Ponds
  Rabbit Supplies
  Hamster Products
  Guinea Pig Products
  Other Small Furries
  New Pet Products
  Clearance: 50% OFF!
  Free Gifts
  Seasonal Pet Products
 
  Pet Insurance

This site requires flash player 6

Breed Profiles
Cat Breeds

<Back to Cat Breeds

Below are the details of your chosen breed.

Abyssinian Profile

Abyssinian

General
Names Abys, Bunny cat
Breed Classification The Abyssinian is often considered to be the cat that the Ancient Egyptians worshipped, as it looks similar to mummified cats that have been discovered. It certainly comes from the right area, as the earliest Abyssinian type cats were imported from Abyssinia (now Ethiopia), although these first specimens may have looked a little different from the attractively ticked and regal looking cat that we now see. There is no question that the Abyssinian resembles the African wildcat ancestor of the domestic cat however.
Lifespan 9 - 15 years
Average Litter Size The Abyssinian is not a prolific breeder, and generally will have only three or four kittens in a litter. The Abyssinian kitten is born with a dark coat that gradually lightens as it grows. It may take a long time for the final coat colour to be established. The ticking is not present at birth, and develops over the first few weeks of life.
General Physical Description Abyssinians are medium-sized cats. They are very elegant, regal-looking cats with strong, lithe bodies and long, slender legs. Their paws are small and oval. They have round, wedge-shaped heads with distinctive tuffed tips to the ears which are large and pointed and set wide apart. Their eyes are large and almond-shaped and they have short, close-lying coats with at least double ticking. Their tails are fairly long, broad at the base and tapering to a point.
Weight Height Range
Feeding
Ailments Although most Abyssinians are healthy cats there are a few hereditary diseases which are known to appear in the breed. Progressive retinal atrophy has been reported, and may be detected from a few months of age in some cases. Cats with symptoms of PRA should not normally be used for breeding. Neurological storage disease has been reported in this breed and renal amyloidosis, a form of kidney disease, has also been seen. There is also some speculation as to whether the Abyssinian is prone to developing psychogenic alopecia, a stress related disorder which leads to hair loss through overgrooming.
Other
Show Characteristics Physically the Abyssinian should have a medium build of foreign type without cobbiness. It is firm, lithe and muscular, and high set on long, slender legs with oval paws. The neck is arched and elegant and the tail long and tapered from a broad base. The head is a moderate wedge shape with wide set tufted ears and a definite chin. There should be a gentle rounding towards the brow in profile, and the nose and chin should form a straight vertical line. The eyes are wide set, large, almond shaped and bright, and either amber, hazel or green with a lively expression. The coat should be fine, short and lying close to the body, with two, or preferably three, bands of colour on each hair. The darker hair colour should extend up the back of the hind legs, be solid at the tail tip and be present as a line around the eyes. There should not be barring on the legs, chest or tail, and no unbroken band of colour around the neck. White should only be present around the lips and lower jaw; too much white in this area, or white elsewhere on the body is a fault.
Country Of Origin Abyssinia
Characteristics
Energy High
Compatibility With Other Cats Medium
Compatibility With Other Animals High
Suitability For Children Medium
Character & Temperament The Abyssinian is intelligent and curious, but this is tempered with a cautious streak. It is extremely loyal, and will become very attached to its family; in fact it will pine if deprived of their company. The male will generally tolerate other cats well, but the female may be a little prickly and prefer to be the only cat in the family. Both sexes can form strong attachments to dogs. The worst thing that you can do to an Abyssinian is deprive it of human company, and it is important that it lives in a household where people are usually at home. It also hates being confined, and needs plenty of space. It is a good climber, and will appreciate a garden full of trees and high places. This cat is not much of a talker, but will still let its owner know exactly what it wants.It is playful and inquisitive but also sensible and will not rush into situations recklessly. After a game it will be happiest sat on its owners lap being stroked and petted.
Noisiness Low
Placidity
Playfulness As An Adult
Grooming
Grooming & Upkeep The Abyssinian's coat is relatively easy to care for. Brush and comb through the coat occasionally and then polish with a damp chamois leather to bring out the shine. When moulting, use a rubber grooming mitt to remove the dead hairs from the coat.
Coat Length Short
Colour Usual or Ruddy is the best-known and most common coat colour in Abyssinians. Also seen is sorrel, blue and fawn. Silver Abyssinians are a separate group which includes black silver, blue silver, fawn silver and sorrel silver. Not so common colours are tortoiseshell, red, cream, chocolate and lilac.t>t>t>t>
History And Uses The history of the Abyssinian cat is a little obscure, although it is fairly certain that the wife of an English Army officer, a Mrs Captain Barrett-Leonard, brought the original specimen back to Britain from Abyssinia in 1868. Other members of the army may have also brought these cats back from what is now known as Ethiopia around this time. It is known that the first mention in a book was in 1874, the breed was recognised in Britain in 1882 and the breed was shown at the Crystal Palace in 1883. The first Abyssinians to arrive in North America were probably exported in the early 1900's. It is also possible that very similar cats were brought to Britain from Southeast Asian and the Indian Ocean coast, and genetic studies may indicate that the modern Abyssinian is closely related to cats that are found in these areas. The early Abyssinians were crossed with British Shorthairs, and later with oriental breeds. In America the Abyssinian tends to have a more rounded and shorter head shape, and efforts are being made in Britain to prevent further lengthening of the face so that there is not too much of a foreign appearance. Long haired Abyssinian kittens have been found in litters for many years, and since the 1970's they have been developed as a separate breed, the Somali. Since 1957 the Red or Sorrel colouration has been recognised as a breed, and the Blue Abyssinian was recognised in 1975. Other colours have since been developed, and more are being recognised.
Shedding Little
Suffers From Allergies
Tendency to Cause Allergies
Bookmark and Share

Breed results: A-Z
Abyssinian
American Wirehair
Angora
Asian
Balinese
Bengal
Birman
Bombay
British Shorthair
Burmese
Burmilla
Cornish Rex
Devon Rex
Egyptian Mau
Exotic Shorthair
Japanese Bobtail
Korat
LaPerm
Maine Coon
Manx
Mixed Breed
Norwegian Forest
Ocicat
Oriental Shorthair
Persian Longhair
Ragdoll
Russian Blue
Scottish Fold
Siamese
Singapura
Snowshoe
Somali
Sphynx
Tiffanie
Tonkinese
Turkish Van

Subscribe to receive special offers

Or Log on here
Special Offer
We now accept PayPal payments Acceptance Mark
Featured
Pet Meds Brands
Frontline
Frontline
Drontal
Drontal
Panacur
Panacur
Click here for more pet meds brands ...
The UK’s favourite online pet shop
Great customer service, honest product reviews, guaranteed best prices ... no wonder we are the UK's #1 for Pet Supplies!
Hitwise
Pet Shop Dog Breeds Cat Breeds Small Animal Breeds Pet Sites Dogs Cats Store Offers Affiliates Pet Supplies Ecological Pet Food
Copyright PetPlanet.co.uk Ltd. 2009