Abyssinian cats are possibly one of the wildest looking of the many breeds of domestic cat. Their distinctive markings and ticked coat give them a unique look, which is accompanied by a very unique personality. Abyssinian cats are very intelligent, outgoing, active and playful and are often as devoted to their human companions as we are to them. If you are after a lap cat that will lie quietly and be pampered at your will then the Abyssinian is probably not for you. On the other hand, if you are after a cat that wants to be with you all the time, investigates what you do and will do its best to participate, then you may have found what you are looking for. They love to play and will make a game out of anything, often returning a favourite toy to you time and time again for you to play ‘fetch’ with them. They particularly like high places and, being very athletic, are able to reach places you thought impossible, particularly if it’s where you have hidden something forbidden!

The Abyssinian breed is one of the oldest in Britain and an Abyssinian cat was exhibited at the Crystal Palace cat show in 1871. However, the true origins of the breed are a matter of debate. Many people would like to believe that the Abyssinian is a descendent of the cats of ancient Egypt, due to their striking resemblance to the images depicted in artefacts of the time, although there is no evidence for this. Possibly the first cat of Abyssinian type recorded in Britain was a cat called Zula, brought to the UK from Ethiopia (then Abyssinia) by Mrs Barrett-Lennard in 1868. At the time it was common for cats to come into the country from far off climbs on ships, where they provided an essential role in vermin control. It is thought that these imported cats were bred with domestic cats (named ‘bunny cats’ due to their ticked coat giving them the appearance of a wild rabbit) to give us the Abyssinian breed.

Unfortunately, like many breeds, the Abyssinian became close to extinction during the second world war and it was only due to the tremendous effort of a number of dedicated breeders that the Abyssinian survives today.

Much as we may like to think differently, it is unlikely that any of the ‘blood’ from the original cats brought here form Abyssinia survives in the cats of today. But whatever their origin, it cannot be disputed that the Abyssinian bares a striking resemblance to the African wild cat. Their distinctive look and personality is one that you will never forget.

An excellent record of the Abyssinian breed including many photographs and pedigrees of early Abyssinians can be found on Harry Bloks wonderful web site at http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/Harry_Blok/Homepage.htm. It includes photographs of an African wild cat brought from Abyssinia in 1834, which can be found on exhibition in the Leiden Natuur Historisch Museum in The Netherlands.

The defining feature of the Abyssinian cat is without doubt its coat, which is close lying and ticked (agouti), whereby alternate bands of colour are seen on individual hairs. Although essentially a ‘tabby’ pattern, the coat should be free from the stripes, bars and necklets seen in a regular tabby coat, although the facial ‘M’ markings should be clearly defined.

Abyssinians come in a variety of colours, some of which are more rare than others. The ‘traditional’ and first colour to be recognised for championship status by the GCCF is usual (also known as ruddy). In a usual Abyssinian the colour on each hair alternates rich golden brown and black, black being at the tip and golden brown at the base, with at least four bands of colour on each hair. The base coat is ruddy orange or apricot. The other championship colours are sorrel (lustrous copper ticked with chocolate and a bright apricot basecoat), blue (soft warm blue ticked with darker blue and a pinkish-mushroom basecoat) and fawn (warm fawn ticked with deeper fawn and a fawnish-cream basecoat). Also of championship status are the silver equivalents of the above colours. In silver cats the basecoat is silvery white and the hairs have a silver tone, apart from the ticking colour that remains the same. For example, a usual silver Abyssinian will have a silvery white basecoat and the colour on each hair will alternate clear silver and black.

Abyssinians also come in a number of non-championship colours, the most popular being chocolate (rich copper brown ticked with dark chocolate and a rich apricot basecoat) and lilac (warm pinkish dove-grey ticked with deeper dove-grey and a pinkish cream basecoat). Both of these colours currently have intermediate status and are well on their way to being considered for championship status by the GCCF. Other non-championship and rare colours are the sex-linked colours, red, cream, tortie and dilute tortie.

For a detailed description of the GCCF breed standard for the Abyssinian and some excellent photos, please go to the relevant page of the Abyssinian Cat Club web site here.