Abyssinian CatsAby, Ticked, British Tick, Rabbit Cat, Hare Cat, Bunny Cat

Common Name(s)     Abyssinian Cat, Aby, Ticked, British Tick, Rabbit Cat, Hare Cat, Bunny Cat

Background     Abyssinians are believed to have originated from Ethiopia. They are thought to have been brought from Ethiopia (then Abyssinia) and bred with English species.

Description     The Abyssinian is most well known for its "ticked" coat. It has various, bands of color on each of its hairs, which are short and lie close to the cat's body. The ticked coat resembles a rabbit's coat, hence the nicknames "Rabbit Cat", "Hare Cat", and "Bunny Cat".
Abyssinians come in many different color combinations, but the most prevalent are tawny (usual), cinnamon (sorrel), blue, fawn, and silver. Tawny is a golden brown, ticked with black. Cinnamon is copper ticked with chocolate. Blue is a tawny dilute with pale underparts and blue-gray ticking. Fawn is a dark cream with copper ticking. Silver is another dilute of tawny, with a warm base coat that fades to white. Rare colors include lilac and chocolate.
The Abyssinian is a medium build cat with a long, slender, muscular body. Its weight ranges from 9 to 16 pounds. It has a wedge-shaped head, almond-shaped eyes, large ears, and a long tail. It also has small, compact paws that make it appear as if it is walking on tiptoe. An Abyssinian's lifespan is about 12 years. Few mutations occur in this species.

Care and Feeding     Abyssinians can benefit from having something they can chew, such as raw chicken necks, in their diet. While they are still growing, they can also benefit from a vitamin supplement.

Housing Your Cat     Abyssinians are active cats, and need room to exercise. It is optimal to provide an enclosed yard for them.

Maintenance     Abyssinians are low-maintenance cats, but can benefit from being brushed weekly. If a shiny coat is desired, rub the coat with a chamois cloth.

Social Behaviors     Abyssinians enjoy being around people and get along with other pets. They are good cats for families.

Activities     This species enjoys playing and exercising inside and outside. They need toys and a scratching post when inside so that they do not turn their extra energy into destructive behavior.

Breeding/Reproduction     These cats are weaned between 12 and 16 weeks.

Common Health Problems     Abyssinians are more susceptible to mild gingivitis than other cat breeds. Gingivitis is an inflammation of the gums and is characterized by a red line of gum tissue on the border against the teeth. It can cause the gums to bleed, and produce larger red areas in more severe cases.
There is no cure for gingivitis in cats. Antibiotics, ant-inflammatory, and immune-suppressive drugs and removal of tarter from the teeth are often used to treat this condition. To prevent gingivitis, owners can feed their cats food intended to prevent dental problems and regularly brush their cats' teeth.

Availability     Abyssinians can be purchased from breeders. Some breeders can be found on the internet. Prices range from $350 for a pet to $900 for a show cat.

Glossary Terms     Ticked Coat: A type of fur coat characteristic of wild rabbits, which is comprised of hair strands with bands of various color.
    Chamois Cloth: A soft, pliant leather cloth made from lamb and sheep skin. Chamois cloth is often used to retain the shine on a cat's coat.

References Burke's Backyard: With Don Burke, Abyssinian Cats, CTC Productions, Copyright 2001
Provet: http://www.provet.co.uk/
ThinkQuest: http://library.thinkquest.org/C0126246/species/species.htm
Desmond Morris, Cat Breeds of the World, Viking Penguin, 1999

Author: Ruth Bratcher