The word is derived from the Abyssinian Ethiopian language, which is the country of origin of this breed of cat. Initial purification Abyssinian cat race is conducted in English.
The Abyssinian cat is a shorthair cat (short haired) most popular in USA (United States).
Purebred cat Abyssinian cat is one of the oldest races ever known. The appearance of these cats resemble paintings and sculptures dating back to ancient Egypt. Muscular body, neck and shoulders arch beautiful, large ears and eyes with almond shape resembles.
Abyssinian cat of medium size, slender and graceful with short fur. Legs long and slender. Triangular head with corners slightly rounded head. One characteristic is the Abyssinian coat color pattern speckled blurred / transparent. This color pattern is often called Ticked Agouti.
Abyssinian cats have a highly intelligent race. This cat is happy to be around people, always wanted to know what was done the owner, active, playful, and friendly cat. Most likely no cats are more loyal to their owners in addition to the Abyssinian.
Abyssinian cats also easily trained to do something.
Today the Abyssinian cat still has a shape similar to Felis lybica, African wild cat which is the ancestor of the domestic cat.
In the days of ancient Egypt, the cat race is considered a sacred cat. Nation of the ancient Egyptian cat ban trading this race, even set up a special temple to worship. Aby cat mummies are found in the tombs of ancient Egyptian nation. When the Romans controlled Egypt, the Abyssinian cat race was brought to England to protect wheat fields from mice.
The first cat show in England following the year 1871, and these cats are imported from Ethiopia after being arrested at the end of the Abyssinian war.
Around the 1900s Abyssinian cat was first imported to North America, but then the quality is not so good. New in 1930 Abyssinian cat imported good quality.
Aby Abyssinian cat or earliest identified is in the Zoological Museum of Leiden (the Netherlands). The museum is located in the Netherlands is written that cat Aby purchased circa 1834-1937 of wild cats merchants in India.
Breed Standard (SOP = Standard Of Points)
Almost all associations / federations / international organizations have a standard (breed standard or SOP = Standard Of Points) this cat. For further explanation about the standard of Abyssinian cat, let us show the CFA Breed Standard.
GENERAL
the overall impression of the ideal Abyssinian would be a colorful cat with a distinctly ticked coat, medium in size and regal in appearance. The Abyssinian is lithe, hard and muscular, showing eager activity and a lively interest in all surroundings. Well balanced temperamentally and physically with all elements of the cat in proportion.
HEAD
a modified, slightly rounded wedge without flat planes; the brow, cheek, and profile lines all showing a gentle contour. A slight rise from the bridge of the nose to the forehead, which should be of good size, with width between the ears and flowing into the arched neck without a break.
MUZZLE
not sharply pointed or square. The chin should be neither receding nor protruding. Allowance should be made for jowls in adult males.
EARS
alert, large, and moderately pointed; broad, and cupped at base and set as though listening. Hair on ears very short and close lying, preferably tipped with black or dark brown on a ruddy Abyssinian, chocolate-brown on a red Abyssinian, slate blue on the blue Abyssinian, or light cocoa brown on a fawn Abyssinian.
EYES
almond shaped, large, brilliant, and expressive. Neither round nor oriental. Eyes accentuated by fine dark line, encircled by light colored area.
BODY
medium long, lithe and graceful, but showing well developed muscular strength without coarseness. Abyssinian conformation strikes a medium between the extremes of the cobby and the svelte lengthy type. Proportion and general balance more to be desired than mere size.
LEGS and FEET
proportionately slim, fine boned. The Abyssinian stands well off the ground giving the impression of being on tip toe. Paws small, oval, and compact. Toes: five in front and four behind.
TAIL
thick at base, fairly long and tapering.
COAT
soft, silky, fine in texture, but dense and resilient to the touch with a lustrous sheen. Medium in length but long enough to accommodate two or three dark bands of ticking.
PENALIZE
off-color pads. Long narrow head, short round head. Barring on legs, dark broken necklace markings, rings on tail. Coldness or grey tones in the coat. White undercoat on blue or fawn Abyssinians.
DISQUALIFY
white locket, or white anywhere other than nostril, chin, and upper throat area. Kinked or abnormal tail. Dark unbroken necklace. Grey undercoat close to the skin extending throughout a major portion of the body. Any black hair on red Abyssinian. Incorrect number of toes. Any color other than the four accepted colors.
ABYSSINIAN COLORS
Coat color
warm and glowing. Ticking: distinct and even, with dark colored bands contrasting with lighter colored bands on the hair shafts. Undercoat color clear and bright to the skin. Deeper color shades desired, however intensity of ticking not to be sacrificed for depth of color. Darker shading along spine allowed if fully ticked. Preference given to cats UNMARKED on the undersides, chest, and legs; tail without rings. Facial Markings: dark lines extending from eyes and brows, cheekbone shading, dots and shading on whisker pads are all desirable enhancements. Eyes accentuated by fine dark line, encircled by light colored area. Eye color: gold or green, the more richness and depth of color the better.
RUDDY
coat ruddy brown (burnt-sienna), ticked with various shades of darker brown or black; the extreme outer tip to be the darkest, with orange-brown undercoat. Tail tipped with black. The underside and inside of legs to be a tint to harmonize with the main color. Nose leather: tile red. Paw pads: black or brown, with black between toes, extending slightly beyond the paws.
RED (cinnamon gene)
coat rich, warm glowing red, ticked with chocolate-brown, the extreme outer tip to be dark, with red undercoat. Tail tipped with chocolate-brown. The underside and inside of legs to be a tint to harmonize with the main color. Nose leather: rosy pink. Paw pads: pink, with chocolate-brown between toes, extending slightly beyond the paws.
BLUE
coat warm beige, ticked with various shades of slate blue, the extreme outer tip to be the darkest, with blush beige undercoat. Tail tipped with slate blue. The underside and inside of legs to be a tint to harmonize with the main color. Nose leather: old rose. Paw pads: mauve, with slate blue between toes, extending slightly beyond the paws.
FAWN
coat warm rose-beige, ticked with light cocoa brown, the extreme outer tip to be the darkest, with blush beige undercoat. Tail tipped with light cocoa brown. The underside and inside of legs to be a tint to harmonize with the main color. Nose leather: salmon. Paw pads: pink with light cocoa brown between the toes, extending slightly beyond the paws.
POINT SCORE
HEAD (25)
Muzzle = 6
Skull = 6
Ears = 7
Eye Shape = 6
BODY (30)
Torso = 15
Legs and Feet = 10
Tail = 5
COAT (10)
Texture = 10
COLOR (35)
Color = 15
Ticking = 15
Eye Color = 5
The following information is for reference purposes only and not an official part of the CFA Show Standard.
Abyssinian Color Class Numbers
Ruddy = 0380 0381
Red = 0382 0383
Blue = 0384 0385
Fawn = 0386 0387
AOV = None None
Abyssinian allowable outcross breeds: = none.
