As with many animals, these cats are all individual and having an Abyssinian is not an absolute for a certain characteristic or character trait. So much depends on the individual, the home environment it was raised in and how long it was kept with its mother.
However, the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF)state that an Abyssinian cats is: “vocally a quiet cat with a lovely ‘chirrup’ by way of greeting. It is a delightful human companion, is very intelligent. However, there is no ‘definite’ about an Abyssinian. Some just love home and humans, many following their humans from room to room, whilst others are sensitive and independent animals and love spending time outdoors if a safe environment is available.”
Table of contents
Looks
The overall appearance of the Abyssinian is of a ‘wild’ or ‘jungle’ cat.
The GCCF describe Abyssinians as having:
‘a lithe and muscular body of medium to large built with a tail of sufficient length to balance the body and of itself should be broad at its base and tapering. The head shape of the Abyssinian is a medium wedge with slightly rounded contours. The Abyssinian coat is short, fine but not soft, dense in texture with a resilient feel to it and lying close to the body with a lovely gloss.’
Essentially, a medium sized, short haired, lean and athletic cat – they can come in a few colorations.
Health
Purebred cats have been shown in general to have a lower median longevity than crossbred cats. In one study that looked at 10 cat breeds, Abyssinian have the second shortest median lifespan; with a median age of death of 10 years old.
This study stated:
The substantial longevity deficit identified for purebred cats in this study warrants further investigation to better understand and manage the mechanisms involved. It may be that purebred cats express more recessive disorders because of greater homozygosity for deleterious genes (inbreeding depression).
In general, pedigree breeds use a much smaller gene pool for breeding than domestic cats. Therefore they have a higher risk of developing inherited disorders. Thankfully, some issues have been tackled by breeders trying to improve the breed’s health. For example Amyloidosis used to be present in the breed but selective breeding has made it much less prevalent. The same has been achieved with an eye problem called progressive retinal atrophy, which causes progressive blindness. Similar to retinitis pigmentosa in humans, PRA is characterised by the degeneration of both retinas. This causes progressive vision loss culminating in blindness. PRA in Abyssinians has been identified in many countries, however it is now very uncommon.
Abyssinian cats can suffer from an inherited disease called pyruvate kinase deficiency that can cause anaemia, the deficiency of healthy red blood cells. A reliable test is available for this disease. As a potential prospective owner, it is important to ask breeders if their cats have been tested and are clear.
Patellar luxation, when the kneecaps slide out of place, appears to be seen more commonly in Abyssinian than in other breeds. And this breed may also be predisposed to hip dysplasia.
Conclusion
As with any animal, it is important to fully inform yourself before choosing a certain breed to ensure it is right for your family, all cats are individual but certain breeds do have certain characteristics and needs. In terms of health conditions, ensuring you have a reputable breeder is important. And of course as with any pet you should always ensure you are financially prepared for if your pet gets sick. Overall, Abyssinian cats can be beautiful, bold and active cats which can make a great addition to your family in the right circumstances.
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