Abyssinian: Cat Breed Profile, Characteristics & Care

The Abyssinian cat, nicknamed "Aby," is a medium-sized cat with a lean, muscular body and a short coat. Unlike many domesticated breeds, this cat is extremely active and playful; they love to climb tall pieces of furniture, tackle toys, and play interactive games with their family.

Friendly with children and other pets, the Abyssinian makes an excellent addition to an active family. It is recommended, however, to provide your Aby with a companion pet, whether it is another cat or even a dog—they're very social and can become bored or destructive if left alone for too long.

Learn more about the Abyssinian cat, including their history, care needs, and temperament.

Characteristics of the Abyssinian

The Abyssinian has a friendly and outgoing personality, so they love to play and hate being alone. While this medium-sized cat is very social, their adaptable temperament and playful nature allow them to find fun in tackling toys or racing up and down stairs (or scratching posts) all by themselves. Soon enough, though, an Aby will seek attention from their housemates, no matter the species.

Full-grown around a year of age, the Abyssinian will maintain a kitten-like quality well into adulthood despite their elegant, refined appearance. Abyssinians are known as “Aby-grabbys” because they like to grab things and knock them off counters. Also, these cats are known as the “clowns of the cat kingdom,” and are even referred to as “Aby-silly-an.” Their silly, playful nature helps them get along great with dogs.

History of the Abyssinian

According to lore, Abyssinians were once owned by the Egyptian pharaohs, but some people claim they were developed in Britain by selective breeding of silver and brown tabby cats.

Since their mysterious premiere at the Crystal Palace Cat Show in 1871, genetic testing has determined that Abyssinians likely developed somewhere along the Indian Ocean's coastal regions and parts of southeast Asia. A taxidermied cat with the Aby's ruddy color and ticked markings at the Leiden Zoological Museum in the Netherlands supports this theory; the stuffed cat is thought to have hailed from India.

Many believe Abyssinians were given their name because Zula, the cat displayed at the 1871 Crystal Palace Cat Show, was allegedly imported from Abyssinia (present-day Ethiopia). Variations in the coat color and markings are likely the result of Abys breeding with other domesticated cats.

American cat fanciers began to import Abyssinians in 1900 but didn't start breeding programs until the 1930s. During this time, many cats were exported from Britain to the United States, which was fortunate because the breed was nearly wiped out in Europe during World War II.

Since then, Abyssinian populations have grown rapidly, and they've become one of the most popular cat breeds in the world. The Cat Fanciers’ Association ranked the breed the 7th most popular breed for 2023.

In pop culture, an Abyssinian was featured in the 1978 Disney movie, The Cat from Outer Space.

Abyssinian Care

Despite their high exercise needs and energy levels, the Abyssinian can be a relatively low-maintenance cat.

Grooming

Because Abys have short coats and shed minimally, they don't need frequent grooming. Weekly combing and occasional baths can help remove dander, debris, and loose hair.

Like all cats, it's important to develop a regular oral health routine. Daily brushing is ideal, but even brushing once per week can help protect your cat from periodontal disease.

Check your Aby's ears weekly for dirt and debris, or signs of infection. You can clean dirt or waxy build-up with a soft, cotton cloth. Avoid cotton swabs, as they can damage the delicate inner ear structures.

Exercise

Abyssinians are active, playful cats that appreciate cat toys and interactive playtime. It's also a good idea to invest in a cat tree or wall-mounted shelves, so your cat has high places to climb and perch.

Abyssinians are also sure to enjoy running on a cat exercise wheel. They can let out their energy and get some much-needed exercise daily with this product, which they can use whenever they want to entertain themselves.

Common Health Problems

The Abyssinian is a generally healthy cat, but a few conditions are common in the breed. Be on the lookout for symptoms of:

• Periodontal disease: This is an infection of the tissues that hold the teeth in place.
• Patellar luxation: This is a hereditary tendency to experience dislocation of a kneecap.
• Progressive retinal atrophy: This is a degenerative eye disease that can lead to blindness.
• Hip dysplasia: This is an orthopedic condition that causes abnormal development of the hip joints.

If you're concerned about your cat's health, talk to your veterinarian about the steps you can take to ensure they live a long, happy, healthy life.

Appearance

The Abyssinian is a medium-sized cat with a lean, muscular build that is fully developed around one year of age. The ears are relatively large, giving the cat a wild appearance similar to a Savannah cat.

The Aby's short and rather dense coat can range in color from ruddy, red, and cinnamon to blue or fawn (females with fawn coloration are rare and expensive). Their large, almond-shaped eyes can be green or gold.

Diet and Nutrition

Your cat's dietary needs will depend largely on their age, sex, and activity levels. Consult the feeding guide from your favorite cat food brand, or talk to your veterinarian about how much to feed your Abyssinian. Overfeeding can lead to dangerous health conditions associated with obesity.

Abyssinian Overview

Abyssinian cats are very active and will generally thrive as indoor cats in larger homes as long as they have company and toys. They love to climb, so cat trees are appreciated by Abys (stairs and high surfaces are also fun to scale). Generally healthy and low maintenance, an Abyssinian is a relatively easy cat to care for throughout their 15-year lifespan.

Most importantly this breed craves attention and interaction with humans and fellow household pets. If you're extremely busy and away from the home often, you may want to consider giving your Aby a companion cat that also loves to play.

Pros of Abyssinians

• Friendly to children and other pets
• Playful with high energy levels
• Low-maintenance grooming
  

Cons of Abyssinians

• Needs exercise (playtime), which may be difficult for busy families
• Prefers to have a companion cat
• Sheds seasonally

Where to Adopt or Buy an Abyssinian

Abyssinians from breeders can cost anywhere from $900 to $2,800 on average.

If you choose to purchase an Abyssinian from a breeder, conduct research to ensure they're ethical and responsible. An ethical breeder will work hard to uphold the breed standards and produce healthy cats. Be on the lookout for red flags, like multiple cats on-site or unhealthy cats. Never allow a breeder to ship a cat to your home or charge your payment online.

It may be difficult to find a purebred Abyssinian at your local shelter, so try searching for rescue groups in your area. Pet search sites, like Petfinder.com, also make it easy to search for pets in your area and filter by breed.

More Cat Breeds and Further Research

If you’re interested in similar breeds, check out:

• Somali
• Burmese
• American Shorthair

Otherwise, check out all of our other cat breed profiles.

Name Suggestions for Abyssinians

When it comes to naming your Abyssinian, you want their name to be as unique and badass as they are. Here are some suggestions to help you generate ideas:

• Achira
• Amara
• Audra
• Blaze
• Bugatti
• Crystal
• Ekon
• Emi
• Makena
• Mia
• Nala
• Pierre
• Raghu
• Raza
• Regina
• Shona
• Simba
• Veronica
• Zahara
• Zenabu