AbyssinianCharacteristics, history, behaviour and care

The first known Abyssinian, “Zula”, was brought to England from Abyssinia (today's Ethiopia) in 1868. This is where the breed's name comes from. In 1871 an Abyssinian appeared at the Crystal Palace show in London, and by 1889 the breed already had a standard.

Genetic studies show, however, that the breed does not come from Africa: its roots are in Southeast Asia and Europe. The museum in Leiden, in the Netherlands, has a stuffed cat bought around 1834–1836, labelled “domestica India”.

After the Second World War and an epidemic of feline leukaemia, the breed almost disappeared from Britain. It was saved with cats brought from the Netherlands, North America, Scandinavia, Australia and New Zealand.

How the breed developed

• 1868 – the cat “Zula” arrives in England from Abyssinia.
• 1889 – the first breed standard.
• 1907 – the first Abyssinian arrives in the USA.
• 1929 – recognised by the GCCF in Britain.
• 1949 – FIFe recognises it among the first breeds when it is founded.
• 2007 – an Abyssinian named Cinnamon becomes the first cat with a fully published genome.

• Active families who spend a lot of time at home. It wants to take part in everything you do.
• People with time to play every day. It is not a lap cat.
• Homes with several cats. Wikipedia says it does well in company, being very sociable.
• Less suited to anyone who wants a quiet cat. It jumps, climbs and opens cupboards.

The FIFe profile describes it as a medium-sized cat, elegant, slender but muscular, with long, slim legs. Wikipedia gives an average weight of 4.5 kg, between 3.6 and 5.4 kg.

General appearance

The head is wedge-shaped, with gentle contours. The ears are large and set wide apart, and the eyes are almond-shaped. The tail is long and tapers towards the tip, and the paws are small and oval.

Each hair has a light base and 3–4 bands of colour, darker towards the tip. Along the spine, on the tail and on the back of the hind legs the coat is darker. The original colour is reddish brown with black bands (ruddy); there are also sorrel (cinnamon), blue, fawn and the silver variants. Kittens are born with a dark coat, which lightens over a few months.

Related breeds and how to tell them apart

The Somali is the semi-longhaired version of the Abyssinian and shares the same FIFe standard. Other breeds also have a ticked coat, for example the Singapura, but it is much smaller.

FIFe says its personality is as striking as its looks: intelligent, curious and full of ideas. It helps with everything you do and loves creative games, but also long cuddles. It opens doors and cupboards, and jumps and climbs on all the furniture.

Wikipedia says it is very sociable and can demand a lot of attention. It is not a lap cat: it is always on the move, exploring or playing. This is why it is sometimes called “the clown of the cat kingdom”. It makes short, chirping sounds, different from an ordinary meow.

Socialisation

It gets on well with other animals, but it likes to be dominant. It is very attached to “its person”.

A kitten gets used to new people, noises and other animals most easily in its first months of life.

Habits at home

Like all cats, it sleeps a lot: usually 12–16 hours a day. It is most active early in the morning and in the evening, but partly adapts to the family's routine.

Cats instinctively bury their droppings, so it quickly learns to use a litter tray. It scratches rough surfaces to shed the old outer layer of its claws, so it needs a scratching post or board.

It is one of the most active breeds. It needs daily play, high places to climb and toys that keep its mind busy.

Tips for a balanced life

• Give it shelves and tall cat trees.
• Secure your cupboards: it learns to open them.
• Leave it company if you are away a lot: another active cat helps.

Coat care

The short, close-lying coat is easy to look after. Brushing once a week is enough, especially during moulting.

Common health problems

Wikipedia lists several diseases seen more often in this breed. Progressive retinal atrophy gradually leads to blindness; in Abyssinians two mutations that cause it are known (the CRX and CEP290 genes). The breed is among the most affected by pyruvate kinase deficiency, a disease of the red blood cells. Renal amyloidosis, a kidney disease, has also been observed, and studies in Australia and the USA found feline infectious peritonitis more often.

Recommended genetic tests

For pyruvate kinase deficiency (the PKLR gene) and for the forms of retinal atrophy (the CRX and CEP290 genes) the mutations are known, so the parents can be genetically tested. In Sweden, retinal degeneration in Abyssinians fell from 45% to under 4% by 2008, thanks to careful choice of parents.

Is it hypoallergenic?

Cat allergy is caused mainly by the Fel d 1 protein, found in saliva and skin glands; it is behind the allergy in 90% of people who are allergic to cats. Kittens, females and neutered males produce less of it, but still enough to trigger symptoms. No breed is completely hypoallergenic.

Other care

• A check-up at the vet once a year.
• Vaccinations and parasite treatment on the schedule set by the vet.
• Trim the claws if they do not wear down on their own.
• Clean its teeth or give it food that helps keep them clean.

The cat is a carnivore: it needs animal protein. Unlike a dog, it must get vitamin A, arachidonic acid and taurine from its food. Water is very important, because cats usually drink little; several water bowls around the house encourage it to drink.

Tips for a healthy diet

The table gives a starting estimate, calculated with the formula from the Merck Veterinary Manual for a healthy adult cat. The last column shows what this means in dry food with 3,500–4,000 kcal per kilogram. If you also feed wet food, reduce the dry portion.

• Adjust the portion to its weight: neutered cats put on weight easily.
• Weigh it monthly; the ribs should be easy to feel under your fingers.
• Kittens need more calories: Merck recommends 2.5 times the resting energy requirement.

Dangerous foods and substances

Some common household items are dangerous for cats:

• Lilies (and daylilies): they can destroy a cat's kidneys. Even the pollen or the water in the vase is dangerous.
• Paracetamol: extremely toxic to cats, which lack the enzyme that breaks it down. Never give it human medicines.
• Flea spot-ons and collars for dogs containing permethrin: the concentration meant for dogs is dangerous for cats.
• Foods: chocolate, coffee, alcohol, onions, garlic, grapes and raisins.

Maturity

Females usually reach sexual maturity at 5–10 months, and males at 5–7 months. The age varies from breed to breed.

Mating and pregnancy

Pregnancy in cats lasts 64–67 days, 65 on average. A first litter usually has fewer kittens than later ones. Only healthy cats that match the breed standard are used for breeding.

Blood type

Cats have blood type A, B or AB. Type A is the most common: in a study from England, 87.1% of non-pedigree cats and 54.6% of pedigree cats had type A. This matters for breeding: if the mother is type B and the kittens are type A, the antibodies in her first milk (colostrum) can destroy their red blood cells. The condition is called neonatal isoerythrolysis. That is why breeders test the blood type of both parents.

We found no published data on how common type B is in this breed; the test is done before mating anyway.

Caring for the kittens

Kittens are weaned at 6–7 weeks. They are ready to go to their new home at about 12 weeks, when they can be separated from their mother.

Neutering

Neutering used to be done at 6–9 months, but it is more and more often done before puberty, at around 3–6 months. It prevents unwanted kittens, urine marking in males and the loud “calling” of females in heat. A 2024 study found that neutered cats live one year longer on average. After the operation, the metabolism slows down and appetite increases, so the portion has to be reduced.

How to choose a kitten

• Ask for the pedigree from a recognised cat association (for example, a FIFe member).
• The kitten leaves its mother at about 12 weeks.
• Ask for the results of the parents' genetic tests for pyruvate kinase deficiency and retinal atrophy.
• Look at the mother and at the place where the kittens are raised: it should be clean, with kittens used to people.
• Ask about vaccinations, parasite treatment and the blood type of the parents.

• The first cat with a sequenced genome. In 2007 the complete genome of an Abyssinian named Cinnamon was published.
• A misleading name. Although it is named after Abyssinia, genetic studies trace its roots to Southeast Asia and Europe.
• The “clown” of cats. It loves playing with people so much that it is called “the clown of the cat kingdom”.
• Dark kittens. Kittens are born with a dark coat, which lightens over a few months.

A likeness to the cats of ancient Egypt

The FIFe profile notes that the Abyssinian looks like the cats of ancient Egypt, even though the breed's roots are not African. The slender body and the coat without stripes recall Egyptian cat statuettes.

How much does an Abyssinian weigh?

4.5 kg on average, usually between 3.6 and 5.4 kg. Females are lighter.

Is it a quiet cat?

No. It is very active and curious: it jumps, climbs and plays a lot. It does not stay in your arms for long.

How long does an Abyssinian live?

French Wikipedia gives 13–16 years.

Does it get on with other cats?

Yes, it is sociable, but it likes to be dominant.

What diseases does the breed have?

Most often progressive retinal atrophy and pyruvate kinase deficiency; there are genetic tests for both in the parents.