| If you hang around Abyssinian cat breeders you will | | | | shelving and even jump several feet in the air. |
| be convinced that must have raised squirrels at some | | | | Did I mention toys? These cats need lots of toys. If |
| point in their lives. Abyssinian cat breeders and | | | | you don't provide playthings, your cat will use your |
| owners say that living with an Abyssinian is like living | | | | belongings to create his own toys. There goes your |
| with squirrels. | | | | necklace, earrings and grandmother's ring. |
| Abys have the wildcat look of felis lybica, the African | | | | Perhaps more than any other breed you must keep |
| wildcat ancestor of all domestic cats. You might think | | | | a close eye on your Abyssinian if you allow him to go |
| they bear some resemblance to a mountain lion, a | | | | outdoors. He is an escape artist. Plus he has to |
| mini-cougar. Unlike their wild cousin, they area very | | | | introduce himself to the neighbors. |
| sweet and affectionate animals that love to interact | | | | This breed's personality means that it needs a lot of |
| with their human families. Images in ancient Egypt | | | | attention and affection from its owner. An Abyssinian |
| show cats with a very similar appearance, right down | | | | is the wrong choice for anyone who spends most of |
| to the ticked appearance of their coats. In the early | | | | their time away from home at the office or traveling. |
| eighteen hundreds, the first Abyssinian cats arrived in | | | | This breed does enjoy playing and interacting with |
| England from Ethiopia on trader ships | | | | other cats. You could add another Abyssinian to the |
| The Abyssinian cat has a graceful tail that is as long | | | | fray, but an Aby really doesn't make a good latchkey |
| as the rest of its body. Although Abyssinians can | | | | kid. |
| have coats in several shades, including ruddy, red, | | | | It won't take long for you to teach your cat a few |
| blue and fawn, they all are tabbies with a ticked | | | | simple commands. He can learn to come to you when |
| appearance. This means that each individual hair has | | | | he is called, fetch and chase. This helps keep him trim |
| four to six bands of dark and light color. This cat | | | | too. It shouldn't be a chore to spend time playing and |
| breed has a wedge shaped face with eyes that are | | | | training this agile descendant of Ethiopian wildcats. |
| green, amber, or hazel colored. | | | | As a breed, Abyssinians are very healthy. The breed |
| It is no surprise that such a curious breed is also | | | | can be prone to kidney problems (feline renal |
| extremely active. While they will spend some loving | | | | amyloidosis), become anemic, have a tendency to |
| time in the lap, do not consider them a lap cat. You | | | | develop gingivitis, and develop a degenerative eye |
| should also put up your breakables, and rethink your | | | | disorder (progressive retinal atrophy) which can end |
| decorating. It may be time to add some cat furniture | | | | up in blindness. |
| decor for climbing. | | | | With its short sleek coat, the Abyssinian needs very |
| Owners spend a lot of time playing with these 'feline | | | | little grooming. However, they have been known to |
| squirrels'. Abyssinians can scale any fences, rail or wall | | | | love water and have fun in the bath -- with or |
| trim as they explore their surroundings. If you adopt | | | | without their human bather. |
| an Aby, you'll grow accustomed to seeing her cross | | | | |