Abyssinian | breed profile

Introduction

Although the Abyssinian is named after Abyssinia (now Ethiopia), the breed has origins in Southeast Asia and in the coastal regions of the Indian Ocean.

They’re one of the oldest breeds of cat and are said to be one of the most intelligent.

Appearance and Personality

Abyssinians are a medium cat, weighing around 3-5kg. They have a distinctive “ticked” or Agouti pattern where each hair is two or more colours. The colours are typically red, brown, blue fawn and silver.

Abyssinians are famously affectionate and friendly cats who like to spend time with their human families. They are also known for being very playful and active so having plenty of toys and cat trees is essential to keep their mind and body healthy. Because they enjoy companionship, they can become lonely if left for long periods of time. They may therefore be better suited to a household where someone is home to keep them company, or perhaps adopting two Abys could be a way to ensure they have suitable company if you are out a lot.

With short, dense fur Abyssinian’s don’t need a lot of grooming, but gentle, regular brushing helps to remove shedding fur as well as strengthens your bond with your cat. A grooming glove is a great option for your Abyssinian cat.

Common Health Concerns

The five most common reasons for an Abyssinian to visit the vet (excluding routine care visits) according to PetSure data in 2020 include skin conditions, diabetes, and respiratory problems such as upper respiratory tract infections.  Abyssinians are also known to have a hereditary eye problem called Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA). According to PetSure claims data across 2020*, the five most common reasons for an Abyssinian to visit the vet (excluding for routine visits like vaccinations) were:

Disclaimer: Reimbursement for these claims would be subject to limits, such as annual benefit limits or sub-limits, benefit percentage, applicable waiting periods and any applicable excess. Cover is subject to the policy terms and conditions. You should consider the relevant Product Disclosure Statement or policy wording available from the relevant provider.

For the same period (2020 Calendar year), the top five highest single vet treatments (or highest pet insurance claims) for from PetSure data were:

Disclaimer: Reimbursement for these claims would be subject to limits, such as annual benefit limits or sub-limits, benefit percentage, applicable waiting periods and any applicable excess. Cover is subject to the policy terms and conditions. You should consider the relevant Product Disclosure Statement or policy wording available from the relevant provider.

Most popular Abyssinian names

Most popular names:

1. Simba
2. Nala
3. Coco
4. Echo
5. Frankie
6. Loki
7. Abbie
8. Archie
9. Artemis
10. Candy

Most popular female names:

1. Nala
2. Abbie
3. Candy
4. Emily
5. Evie
6. Henry
7. Kitty
8. Lucy
9. Meow
10. Milly

Most popular male names:

1. Simba
2. Coco
3. Echo
4. Frankie
5. Loki
6. Archie
7. Artemis
8. Charlie
9. Dobby
10. Dog

Did you know?

The first Feline Genome DNA sequence ever published was that of Cinnamon, a four-year-old Abyssinian cat.

References

1. Bierach, J, 2007, St. Louis Public Radio, Scientists sequence DNA of Missouri cat, accessed on 16/02/2021, https://news.stlpublicradio.org/other/2007-11-29/scientists-sequence-dna-of-missouri-cat
2. Cattime.com, Abyssinian, accessed on 16/02/2021, available at: https://cattime.com/cat-breeds/abyssinian-cats#/slide/1