Slim, graceful, Mini Puma - so this amazing cat is called. In one version of the history of the origin of this animal - modern Abyssinian seems to be a direct descendant of the ancient cats that still lived in ancient Abyssinia, which is now called Ethiopia.
History
The ancestors of the Abyssinian cats are thought to be the ancient cats that inhabited the territory of Abyssinia (Ethiopia) about 2000 years ago. These animals were considered sacred, so only pharaohs could own them.
The first cats of this breed were sent to America in 1907. During the war in Europe, this breed disappeared almost completely, and was recreated thanks to the American breeders only a few years after the war.
Breed description
The Abyssinian cat is a medium-sized animal with a well-developed musculature. The weight of representatives of this breed varies from 4 to 7.5 kilograms.
These cats have an enviable grace: they are thin, but have strong muscles, which are evident under the hair. Their neck and long, wiry legs are the most developed, ending in small, neat paws with narrow, oval pads.
The head is wedge-shaped, and the ears are broad, large, and spaced far apart.
The shape of the eyes is almond-shaped and the size is large. The color can be green or amber, around the eyes must be a dark rim.
The tail is long, narrowing to the tip, by the way, the tip is usually much darker than the main color of the coat.
The color of Abyssinian cats has eight variations. The main colors are wild, blue, fawn (beige) and sorrel (red). Originally only wild color was recognized, and others became standard only after serious insistence of breeders. Nowadays show cats may have any of eight colors. Ticking is characteristic for all variations, which means that each coat has stripes. Ticking can be double or triple.
Character
Abyssinian cats have an intelligent and gentle nature. These cats have a royal sense of dignity, but also treat their owners very affectionately and with love. They are very loyal friends and helpers in any matter.
Representatives of this breed are very intelligent, quickly catching and remembering the rules of the house and very easy to learn. Despite their high activity level, with proper education your cat wonโt jump on curtains or sharpen their claws on the furniture. Abyssinian cats, despite their wild appearance, have a very balanced temperament - these animals are very neat, they appreciate cleanliness and attention.
In addition, these cats are human-oriented, so they can get bored if they are left alone for a long time. In this regard, it is good to have another animal in the house for company.
Features of maintenance and care
Abyssinian cats do not give special problems to the owners. The main thing that the owner must do is to monitor the health of the pet, to vaccinate it in time and to carry out deworming.
Smooth coat of cats of this breed does not need a thorough care. It is enough to comb the cat once a week with a brush with fine teeth. Many Abyssinian cats like water, so problems with bathing arise very rarely.
It is desirable to clip the claws of the cat before bathing. In addition, it is necessary to buy a scratching post to protect the wallpaper and furniture from sharp claws.
Representatives of this breed are very intelligent, so it will not be difficult for the owner to accustom the cat to the toilet.
The best option for feeding the Abyssinian cat will be a ready-made dry food, containing all the vitamins, minerals and trace elements necessary for the full growth and development of the pet.