Hey Cat lovers and welcome back to another article Abyssinian cats also referred to as Abby’s are a fascinating breed to say the least their average size slender cats that are known for their similarities to Wildcats. These beloved cats tend to make excellent companions as they have a beautiful appearance and interactive personality but there is much more to Abyssinian cats than just what meets the eye now let’s discuss 10 interesting and unique facts about Abyssinian cats .
- They have a Disputed History
- Abyssinian cats are Highly Intelligent
- Abyssinian cats have a Ticked Coat
- They are the Only Feline Breed with Decoded DNA
- Abyssinian cats Almost went Extinct
- Abyssinian cats are Highly Documented
- Abyssinian Cats are Very
- They are Prone to Several Diseases
- They are Among the Most Popular cat Breeds
Facts About Abyssinian Cats
They have a Disputed History
Abyssinian cats are thought to be one of the oldest known breeds however there are conflicting stories about where they came from it’s generally believed that Abyssinian cats are descended from Ethiopia in fact Ethiopia used to be known as abyssinia .However there are also rumors that Abyssinian cats actually came from Egypt and some of them were beloved pets of the ancient Egyptian pharaohs in some ancient Egyptian artworks cats resembling abyssinians make appearances.
Leading some to believe that it is Egypt that they descended from not Ethiopia another theory suggests that Abyssinian cats are actually from areas along the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia .These theories posit that Abyssinian cats are related to other cat breeds that lived in those areas and there is some genetic science to add credibility to this however right now we can’t definitively say where Abyssinian cats actually came from perhaps as our technology advances we’ll be able to make more conclusive statements one day .We do know however that Abyssinian cats didn’t make their way to the United States until the 20th century with the first Abyssinian cats being bred in the U.S in 1935.
Abyssinian cats are Highly Intelligent
Abyssinian cats are known for their intelligent nature they are quite inquisitive animals that love to explore additionally. They are well known for their trainable qualities Abyssinian cats tend to respond well to training and have been known to be able to learn various tricks .Some Abyssinian cats can also be leash trained and others have gone on to be able to complete agility courses cats are notoriously difficult to train as they generally are aren’t interested in it but the Abyssinian seems to be an exception because of their trainability and also their General temperament .
Abyssinian cats are often said to be dog-like this is because they tend to be very affectionate and love attention their intelligence and trainability makes abyssinians very engaging and interactive pets. As such many Abyssinian owners recommend buying interactive toys to keep your absidian engaged and mentally stimulated throughout the day .
Abyssinian cats have a Ticked Coat
Abyssinians are often recognized for their wild looking appearance as in they tend to look quite similar to Wild or Jungle Cats .Most of the resemblance comes from their coat abyssinians have an exotic look primarily due to their ticked coat that resembles a wild cat or Panther a ticked coat means that there are alternating bands of color each hair is lighter at the base and darker at its tip this mimics the natural coats of wildcats.
Abyssinian coats tend to become lighter with age meaning the difference in the color of the base of the hair to the tip will become less noticeable over time .Coupled with their lean bodies and large ears it’s no surprise that abyssinians are so often compared to their wild relatives abyssinians typically come in six different colors reddish brown blue lilac Fawn chocolate and cinnamon .
They are the Only Feline Breed with Decoded DNA
Abyssinian cats are currently the only breed of cat to have a fully decoded genome scientists were able to sequence the Genome of an Abyssinian cat named Cinnamon in 2007. They did the research in hopes of better understanding 250 different diseases that affect cats and humans by analyzing the DNA sequences of cinnamon they were able to better understand.
How the diseases interact with the body and how different genes contribute to the development of different diseases scientists were able to discover several different disease genes further research of which may contribute to preventing and curing different diseases in the future researching Cinnamon’s genome is not only helpful to cat medicine but to human medicine as well the 250 diseases studied are hereditary diseases many of which are also found in humans .
Understanding the genetic basis of these diseases will help scientists potentially cured them in both cats and humans so Cinnamon’s contribution to the medical field cannot be understated the research done on Cinnamon also helps scientists learn more about cat domestication .Researchers can use Cinnamon’s genome to track back her lineage and potentially discover the truth about not only the Abyssinian cat’s origin but the origin of other domesticated cats as well .
Abyssinian cats Almost went Extinct
There have actually been two times in modern history where the number of recorded domesticated Abyssinian cats plummeted one case happened in the United States while the other happened in Great Britain .
Abyssinian cats in the United States almost went extinct around the time of World War II due to food shortages it’s said that only a dozen cats were still around by the time the war ended the Abyssinian wasn’t the only species of a domesticated cat. whose numbers dwindled during World War II the British Shorthair also suffered a loss of numbers however after the war ended Abyssinian numbers were able to rebound following the efforts of cat breeders working with imported cats in the 1960s .
Abyssinian cats were once again in danger in Great Britain a feline leukemia virus circulated throughout cat populations and significantly brought down the number of abyssinians in the area luckily a vaccine was produced and distributed .
Abyssinian cats are Highly Documented
Although their history is unclear there is a lot of documentation on these cats the first documented Abyssinian cat was named Zula in 1876. She was recorded in Dr William Gordon stable’s book cats their points and characteristics with Curiosities of cat life and a chapter on feline ailments the book suggests that Zula was picked up in Ethiopia by a British soldier in 1868.
Perhaps lending Credence to the theory that abyssinians originated in Ethiopia also in Britain an Abyssinian cat placed third in the Crystal Palace cat show in London as far back as 1871. Abyssinians were labeled as an official cat breed in 1880 2 in the modern day Abyssinian cats have made even more appearances in the media for example two Abyssinian cats named rumpler and Amber appeared in the 1978 Disney movie the cat from outer space .
Abyssinian Cats are Very
Energetic most cats are known for their slow-moving unbothered demeanors however this couldn’t be further from the truth when it comes to Abyssinian cats .We’ve discussed how Abyssinian cats are natural born entertainers and are fond of acrobatic tricks so you might have been able to assume that they are quite energetic creatures and in this case that assumption is correct because Abyssinian cats are quite active cats .
They love running around and playing so Abyssinian cats need to live an active lifestyle to be healthy and happy and Abyssinian cat’s abundant energy influences all part of its life including its social life Ramos Indians are known to be quite extroverted and engaging. They love spending time with people especially their owners sometimes other cats and even dogs interestingly some Abyssinian cats are known to choose the company of dogs over other cats simply because of the more energetic nature of our canine friends.
This also contributes to their reputation of being dog-like cats Abyssinian cats also love attention because they are so extroverted and social they will spend lots of time with their owners. They are very affectionate and loving if your Abyssinian cat is left alone for too long it may become easily bored or Lonely with this in mind you should consider investing in interactive toys puzzles or even a friend for your Abyssinian to engage with when you are not home .
They are Prone to Several Diseases
Overall Abyssinian cats tend to be healthy and active in fact they are known for living more than 15 years however there are several different diseases that Abyssinian cats are particularly at risk for any Abyssinian owner needs to be aware of these to take preventative measures and catch them early on .
If they develop Abyssinian cats are more at risk for gingivitis than other breeds of cats so tooth care is especially important make sure that you are always taking good care of your episodes teeth and regularly going for checkups at the veterinarian .They are also prone to developing retinal atrophy which affects eyesight and patellar luxation which affects the knees addisonions are more susceptible to kidney problems than some other breeds of cats to elaborate .
They are vulnerable to pyruvate kidney deficiency and enzyme deficiency that can lead to the quick breakdown of red blood cells in turn this can lead to anemia with all of this in mind it’s important to be aware of the health issues that this breed is predisposed to so that you can be prepared and well informed as you should with any pet talk to your veterinarian about how to best take care of your furry friend .
They are Among the Most Popular cat Breeds
According to the Kat Vance ears Association the Abyssinian cat is one of the most popular cat breeds in the world in the 2021 top breeds ranking the Abyssinian cat ranked seventh impressive right. The Abyssinian has ranked seventh in the past as well so it’s a consistent competitor it really is no surprise why this breed is so popular considering how unique both its appearance and personality are to get a better picture of its rank the Abyssinian cat ranked just below the British short hair and just above the American Shorthair .
In case you’re unfamiliar those breeds are also very well known and loved among the cat Community you can expect Abyssinian cats to continue to rank high on the most popular breed lists as they continue to win the hearts of people across .The globe as you’ve learned by now abyssinians are unique cats all around these felines have a fascinating appearance a mysterious past and unique personalities.
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They tend to make great pets for active playful people as they are quite extroverted and engaging abyssinians are also very fun animals to be around and they love to be affectionate all in all it’s no surprise that abyssinians are one of the most popular breeds of cats in the world.
