Abyssinian Cat Behavior, Facts and Health Care Problem

The Abyssinian is a cat for any person that wants a loving and affectionate cat. This breed of cat is not your typical stand-offish cat. You will quickly find that the Abyssinian love your company and want to be a part of your family.

Appearance
The Cat Fancier's Association classifies the Abyssinian as a part of the Championship Class, along with thirty-six other cat breeds. This breed is often smaller than many other cat breeds, weighing in at only nine to sixteen pounds.

This breed of cat is very striking and once you see an Abyssinian, you will recognize their looks immediately. Their tabby-patterned coat comes in all sorts of colors ranging from orange to silver. The “ticked” pattern is what sets these cats apart from other breeds. They often sport stripes of both light and dark colors. In addition, this breed also has a wedge-shaped face and wide-set ears. You will find these cats with hazel, green or even amber colored eyes.

History
Another aspect that sets these cats apart from other breeds is that they enjoy a long history. These cats actually arrived in England from Ethiopia in the 1800s and from there, the breed became quite popular all over the world. You might be interested to know that the Ancient Egyptians actually had cats that looked very similar to today’s domesticated Abyssinian.

Abyssinian cat Behavior and Characteristics
You may wonder about the personalities of these gorgeous cats. The Abyssinians are by nature very curious and enjoy exploring the world around them. They like to be right in the middle of everything going on around them and it is very typical for an Abyssinian to attempt to “help” you with things around the house, whether you are changing the sheets on the bed, or digging in the garden.

In addition, you should remember that because these cats are naturally curious, you will need to provide them with plenty of toys and activities. A bored cat will lead to destructive behavior in the long run, so make sure you make your cat’s life interesting and fun. Provide ample toys, scratching posts and love.

If you are trying to decide whether or not the Abyssinian is the right cat for you, there are a couple of things to consider. For one, if you are away from your home for long period of times, then this cat may not be the right one for you. If you do choose this cat, then consider getting two. As the saying goes, two heads are better than one when it comes to cats.

This breed of cat is also highly intelligent, so you should take the time to teach your cat a few simple tricks. This will not be difficult because your cat is smart and learns readily. It is not uncommon to see the Abyssinian cat learn how to fetch balls or other toys and to come when called.

Abyssinian cat Health Problems and Grooming
Although most Abyssinians are not big eaters like some other cat breeds, you may still want to be sure your cat doesn't overeat. If he starts to become too fat, you may want to talk to your veterinarian about feeding him a weight management cat food, instead.

Although urinary tract infections are not as common in this breed as they are in some other breeds, you may want to talk to your veterinarian about feeding a diet that helps prevent infections if you have an altered male cat. When you take the time to make sure that your cat is healthy from the beginning, you can prevent health problems in the future.

You should know that these cats are prone to hereditary eye disease called retinal atrophy. While this eye problem is more common in dogs than it is in cats, you will find that this breed often suffers from this. Talk to your vet for more information.

Your Abyssinian has a gorgeous short, sleek coat that will require minimal grooming. It is, however, always a good idea to brush your cat on a regular basis. Your cat will love the added attention and will look forward to these sessions.

The Abyssinian is a beautiful cat breed that will provide you many years of love and enjoyment. If you are looking for a sweet, good-natured cat, then this is a breed you should consider.

         

More Cat Breed Articles: