A wild looking cat, the Abyssinian is thought to be one of the oldest breeds in the world. Though paintings of them have been found in ancient Egyptian art, their exact origins are unclear. Some believe they came from Ethiopia (formerly called Abyssinia) and others believe they originated from areas near the coast of India. Whatever the origins, Abyssinians were imported to England where they were refined by breeders.

Abyssinians are average sized cats of a medium build, weighing about eight to ten pounds and living anywhere from thirteen to twenty years. Described as resembling a Puma or a Cougar, Abyssinians have medium length coats that are dense and have markings similar to a tabby cat. The coats can come in several colors, ruddy (burnt sienna), red, sorrel (burnt orange), blue (soft blue and apricot), and fawn (pinkish beige and oatmeal) with even ticking.

Abyssinians are described as very independent and intelligent. They are not considered lap cats and hate being confined, but Abyssinians are sociable creatures that will get along well with humans and other pets.

Though they purr when content, Abyssinians are not 'talkative cats' and have a soft purr. Abyssinians are high-energy cats and enjoy running and jumping to high places. They also enjoy playing with water and will entertain themselves with nothing more than a running faucet. This breed does tolerate human handling, but is probably not the best choice for children, due to their independent nature. Children may enjoy the activity level of the Abyssinian but will be disappointed when it does not want to play with them.

Abyssinians are generally healthy; however, they do have some genetic health concerns. They can develop patellar luxation, renal amyloidosis (a kidney disorder), and retinal atrophy. Some Abyssinian may also have sensitive stomachs making them more likely to vomit but this can be controlled through diet. They are also prone to gingivitis, but brushing their teeth can help prevent this.

There is a website that has great information on Abyssinians and most other breeds of cats. It has details that pertain to a cat breeds health, grooming, living conditions, best food choices and more, the website is called: Dog And Cat Facts, and can be found at this url:

http://www.dogandcatfacts.com

By Robert W. Benjamin

Copyright © 2007

You may publish this article in your ezine, newsletter, or on your web site as long as it is reprinted in its entirety and without modification except for formatting needs or grammar corrections.

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Robert W. Benjamin has been in the software business on the internet for over 5 years, and has been producing low-cost software for the past 25+ years. He first released products on the AMIGA and C64 computer systems in the late 1970's-80's.

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