Abyssinian Cats

Abyssinian

History:
There is some confusion on the history of the Abyssinian cat. Some are convinced that it was a breed that naturally occurred in Egypt and Ethiopia (and suspected in islands off the coast of Kenya and India), as for others, they are convinced they were selectively bred in England between an Egyptian and a Tabby cat. There is also the theory of being brought to England with a solider at the end of the Abyssinian war, that kitten’s name was Zula; but there is no solid evidence to be certain of that.

Physical Traits:

*Medium size with muscular physic, slender legs, a long tail and big ears

*Eyes are oval shape (Color:
*Ticked coat (lighter on bottom of hair that gradually grows darker vise versa)

(Colors)

*Cinnamon
*Tawny
*Blue
* Fawn
*Silver
*Ruddy
*Red
*Chocolate
*Lilac
*Tortoiseshell
*Cream




What does it take to keep one?
*There are a couple of genetic diseases that should be watched for;
-Gingivitis,
Lysosomo Storage Disease (a certain enzyme is stored and causes neurological dysfunctions the following below are symptoms, they usually start to show from 8 – 12 weeks of age by a certain constant twitch of the head)
-Ataxia (loss of order neurological sign of lacking muscle control),
-Dysmetria (lack control of movement),
-Macrophages (cells in tissue that are developed from certain white blood cells)
*Despite all of these, regular check ups are always good to make sure your little friend is healthy!

*Since these cats are short hair cats they don’t need much grooming but an occasional comb through would help with possible shedding for those who have allergies.

*They like to drink out of taps; a small water fountain is recommended.

*Price of adoption: $500 - $1,000

*These cats are extremely affectionate so be sure to have some time out of your day to say hello to your little companion.

Is this a good family cat?
Yes, these are extremely friendly cats, they are affectionate and (depending on how raised) are good with children. They stay friendly and very playful but are not the type of cat to sit in your lap.

Sources:

http://www.pictures-of-cats.org/abyssinian-cat.html
http://cat-chitchat.pictures-of-cats.org/2008/10/lysosomal-storage-disease-in-abyssinian.html
http://www.cats-central.com/cat-breeds/
http://www.catsinfo.com/abyssinian.html