Abyssinian cats, known to experts as "rabbit cats," stand out from other Abyssinian cats in several ways. First and foremost, they have a distinctive appearance, behavior, and fur that resembles rabbit fur. Those considering adopting these cats would do well to familiarize themselves with the other characteristics and origins of this breed.
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Origin of the Abyssinian breed
Abyssinian cats are usually classified as a group of shorthaired breeds, all of which originated from African wild catThe Abyssinian breed's ancestors hailed from the lands of Abyssinia, which today are located in Ethiopia.
The most famous Abyssinian cat is considered to be a cat named Zula, who became the first official representative of this family.
I met him in 1868 in Europe, where it arrived thanks to the efforts of a member of a British military expedition. Information about the breed's characteristics first became publicly available in 1889, when it was presented by Harrison Weir.
However, this breed was officially included in the list of known cats only in 1904, since the long war led to the disappearance of the vast majority of Abyssinian cats in Europe.
A significant contribution to the restoration of this breed was made by American breeders and purebred representatives, who were sent to the United States even before the start of military operations.
The appearance of Abyssinian cats, and photos of them, may surprise anyone who has never seen one before. And it must be said that in this regard, they are very different from their relatives.
Among the distinctive features of cats of this breed it is worth highlighting graceful body Medium-sized, adorned with well-developed muscles. Abyssinians also have many other distinctive features:
- Abyssinian cats weigh on average 4-7.5 kg.
- These animals have long, slender legs that end in narrow pads.
- The shape of the pads is oval.
- A characteristic feature of Abyssinians is their wedge-shaped head.
- The ears are quite large and are set at a considerable distance from each other.
In addition to the above characteristics of Abyssinians, it's worth noting that they have short, fine, fairly dense fur that lies close to the body. Animals of this breed have fur. has a beautiful shine and begins to shimmer in the light.
One cannot help but mention the uniqueness of the fur of these cats, the hairs of which are decorated with ticking. This means that all the hairs are multi-colored, providing three different shades.
Upon closer examination, these animals exhibit a unique visual shimmering effect. It's also striking that their fur closely resembles rabbit fur. It's therefore not surprising that they are often referred to as "rabbit breed of cats".
Currently, felinologists have data on the presence of the following types of color of these cats:
- wild;
- silvery blue;
- faun;
- red (cinnamon or sorrel).
Abyssinian Cat Personality
These animals demonstrate tenderness and intelligence in all their behavior, which not everyone can perceive as ordinary, considering that their ancestors were wild animals.
Many owners appreciate the supreme sense of self-worth in these royal cats. Owners note Abyssinian friendliness, who demonstrate kindness to their owners, showing their love at every opportunity.
A person who brings an Abyssinian into the home gains a helper in any endeavor and a devoted companion for themselves and their family. These cats will demonstrate their friendliness anywhere and everywhere, offering their assistance. Just call their name and you'll hear a gentle "mrrr" or "meow."
Distinctive features of Abyssinians
When comparing Abyssinian cats with their African ancestors, the following differences can be identified:
Abyssinians do not like to be on your lap for long periods of time.- Large representatives of this breed will become a good friend for families with teenagers, rather than small children.
- When these cats vocalize, they make a not very loud sound, which is more like the ringing of a small bell.
Abyssinians do not like to be on your lap for long periods of time.Abyssinian cats' favorite pastime is climbing high objects, so if there is a refrigerator or other high objects in the house, they will definitely make a place to rest there.
Abyssinians are able to find common ground with dogs without much effort, however, during the introduction process they try to assert their authority. These cats easy to train, so they can learn behaviors that are more typical of dogs.
These pets can fetch slippers and other small items for their owners upon request. These sweet cats love to perform the "fetch" command. And the owner gets just as much pleasure as their pet when they retrieve any discarded item.
Abyssinian Cat Behavior
If you take maximum care of your cat, you will soon find it to be a devoted friend, and it will show you its love every day.
These cats become very attached to a person, so you shouldn't leave them alone for long periods of time. If that's not possible, you can get another member of this family.
What many people like about Abyssinians is that they try make a contribution Involved in any activity the owner is engaged in. Therefore, if a person, for example, is reading a fascinating book, the cat will try to settle comfortably next to them and observe their eye movements.
An Abyssinian cat won't pass by an owner writing something. In this case, she'll try to touch the pen with her paw to find out what the owner is doing so captivatingly.
When a person is working at a computer, their pet will try to get as close to the monitor as possible to see what's going on. The most inquisitive cats may even "help" their owner type something on the keyboard.
And while Abyssinians look like wild members of their family, they're not. Therefore, if you decide to bring this pet into your home, you won't be disappointed by the wallpaper or furniture being torn apart by the cat.
The owner won't be able to catch their pet swinging on the curtains. However, playfulness is in every animal's blood, regardless of age. Therefore, if you decide to adopt this African queen, make sure she has her own corner for rest and play.
Positive qualities of Abyssinians
To summarize the above, we can say that the Abyssinians embody the best qualities that cats possess:
- gracefulness;
- intelligence;
- cleanliness;
- good manners.
Abyssinian cats have repeatedly proven themselves to be excellent mothers. Therefore, if they are about to give birth to kittens, they will do so without assistance, and after the kittens are born, they will carry them to term.
Abyssinian Cat Health and Care
If you decide to bring an Abyssinian cat into your home, don't worry about the difficulty of caring for them. The only challenges you might encounter are deworming, which will require regular treatment, and vaccinations, which must be administered strictly according to schedule.
Given that these animals have a smooth, shiny coat, it will require maintenance, but even here, these cats won't cause any problems for their owners. To ensure that the Abyssinian's coat stays beautiful for a long time, it's enough to comb it No more than once a week. It is recommended to use a fine-toothed metal comb for this purpose.
When bathing your pet, it's recommended to use a sink or basin, adding fresh water occasionally. The cat itself doesn't exhibit any aversion to bathing, so any water treatment can be completed.
A scratching post would be a useful addition to any cat owner's arsenal, along with other cat grooming accessories. In addition, it is necessary to regularly trim the nails It's important to choose the right personal space, remembering that Abyssinians feel uncomfortable in confined spaces.
There won't be any major problems with the toilet, as these animals they understand everything quickly, so they can easily learn to relieve themselves in places designated for them.
You won't have to rack your brains when choosing food. These animals eat it with pleasure. dry and wet foodBut when buying food for your pet, you need to keep in mind that it must be balanced and of high quality.
Abyssinians are quite quick to recognize their calling: just one call of their name and they rush to their owner. During estrus, these animals show no signs of distress. Expectant cats typically give birth to 1-3 kittens, although in very rare cases, the number can reach 6.
If you choose to purchase these animals from a reputable breeder, they will be sure to inform you about any potentially dangerous diseases identified in previous generations. Abyssinian cats are particularly at risk for developing the following diseases:
- Psychogenic alopecia.
- Renal amyloidosis (considered a hereditary disease).
- Progressive retinal atrophy.
Prices for Abyssinian cats
The first thing to remember is that you can only buy an Abyssinian kitten when it's at least 2-3 months old. If you approach a reputable breeder, such a purchase will cost you approximately 10-12 thousand rubles.
But when you pay this price, don't expect to receive any confirmation that the kitten is a representative of this family.
For this reason, it is recommended to apply for the acquisition of Abyssinian cats to official nurseries, where you're sure to find the world's most expensive cats. By working with them, you can count on receiving all the necessary documents.
As a rule, the cost of Abyssinian kittens varies depending on where they are purchased:
- You will have to pay at least 15 thousand rubles for club kittens.
- If you want to buy kittens raised in a cattery, you will have to pay at least 20,000 rubles for them.
- The most expensive Abyssinians in the world can be purchased from breeders who ask from $500 to $1,000 for one kitten.
The cat is one of the most friendly and sweet Pets that many dream of. Today, there are many cat breeds, among which the Abyssinian stands out.
Although their distant ancestor is the African wild cat, these representatives of their family demonstrate the opposite of their ancestor.
They are very friendly, which you can see the moment you prove your love for them. Then, it's their turn to repay you, so be prepared for them to demonstrate maximum interest in the activities you undertake at every opportunity.
