The Abyssinian cat has a rich and colourful history whose origin is somewhat of a mystery. Originally thought to have come from Abyssinia (now Ethiopia), there is genetic evidence that the most convincing origin of the Abyssinian breed may actually be the Indian Ocean coast and parts of Southeast Asia. Despite this historically accepted version of the Abyssinian’s origin as a cat imported from the Middle East and then extensively bred with British domestic cats, other theories abound too. Because of the cat’s distinct ‘ticked’ coat made up of individually banded hairs, many British breeders believe the cat to have arisen from breeding a few tabby varieties with the native ‘bunny’ ticked cats.
There is also a theory that British troops and their wives took British cats as pets when they were stationed in India, and that breeding with Indian cats resulted in the common Abyssinian ancestor with its distinct unstriped coat. This theory is supported by the taxidermied exhibit of the earliest identifiable Abyssinian (1834-1836) in the Leiden Zoological Museum in Holland, which has been labelled as “Patrie, domestica India.”
In appearance, Abyssinians resemble ancient Egyptian cats, which portray an elegant feline and certainly gave rise to even more fanciful ideas about this cat’s origins! No matter its origins, the Abyssinian was crossbred extensively and popularised in England, from where it grew in global popularity and, when exploring its temperament, it’s not hard to understand why.
The curious companion
Abyssinian cats are extremely intelligent and very much a ‘people’s cat’. The muscular body, beautifully arched neck and back, long slender legs, almond-shaped eyes and large alert ears make them very appealing to cat lovers. But what makes them even more alluring is their companionable temperament. They like to be involved in what their people are doing, and they are very loyal as pets.
Intelligence must be rewarded
As intelligent, loyal feline friends, Abys cannot be left alone or expected to self-stimulate. They need dedicated exercise and near-constant enrichment from their humans. Interestingly, they love heights and thrive being as high up as possible, so if you think your Aby is missing, just look on top of the cupboards!
Abyssinians must be kept busy, so they need plenty of attention and involvement in whatever their owner is doing, as well as lots of cat toys to exercise his primal instincts. Highly adaptable cats, Abys will fit into any home where they are loved and doted on, but they do best with a companion who can match their level of activity.
Left to its own devices, the Aby may well dismantle the house in his search for something interesting to do.
| Breed | Abyssinian Cat |
|---|---|
| Country | Uncertain. Parts of Southeast Asia; highly bred in Britain. |
| Average Adult Height | 43 – 60 cm |
| Average Adult weight | 4.5 kg |
| Life Expectancy | 15 years |
| Exercise requirements | Plenty of toys and the freedom to explore. They thrive on attention and need to be exercised frequently (no less than three times a week). |
| Similar Breeds | One of a kind |
| Rescues in South Africa | No dedicated Aby rescue in South Africa |
