Abyssinian Cats

Body of Abyssinians

Abyssinians are middle-sized cats, slender and lithe, strong and muscular. They are of oriental type but not as extreme as the Siamese Cat. Slender legs with small oval paws. Characteristically it looks like the Abyssinians stand tip-toed.

Colors of Abyssinians

Adult Abyssinians don't reach their full potential in coloring or ticking until they are eighteen months of age, and a kitten who looks like a pale little nothing at a few weeks could become a vibrantly colored beauty at eighteen months.

There are four common colors of Abyssinians: Ruddy, Red, Blue and Cream. The Ruddy Abyssinian, like mine, has a soft, lustrous coat of ruddy brown. Each hair is ticked with shades of brown or black with a vibrant burnt orange color closest to the skin. The insides of the legs and the underbelly are of the same burnt orange color, unmarked; the more vibrant the color, the better. They may have no lines nor barring, and no white lockets anywhere on the body. The legs should be of a clear color without barring. The eyes are brilliant gold, although green or hazel are acceptable. Kitten's eyes are blue and don't change for several months. Usually the longer it takes for the eye color to come in, the more vibrant it will be. The nose leather is tile red, and the paw pads are black or brown. They may have a black line down the centre of the back, extending up and tipping the tail, which is long, wide at the base, and then tapered. The ears are tipped with black and are large and alert, listening for every sound. Because of this alertness they make very good watch cats, being very much aware of everything going on around them. My Abyssinian, Cara Belleza, is really guarding me against other cats. She hates other cats and doesn't allow them to approach the house closer than 30 ft. Sometimes I wonder if she is aware of that she is a cat and not a human being.

They closely resemble baby Pumas and because of their ticked coats they have been called Bunny Cats in Europe.

This page was last updated 31 Mars 1998.