Other Name
The Aby, as he’s nicknamed, is unlike any other cat. Smart, silly, and impressively athletic, he stays in constant motion—jumping, climbing, and exploring. In other words, this is no lap cat. He also has a unique ticked coat, giving him the appearance of a wildcat. The Abyssinian belongs to the ticked or agouti breed, both terms used for the cat's type of fur. Its distinctive feature is its silky, multicolored coat, which is a combination of several colors on each hair shaft. Each strand of hair has dark colored bands, contrasting with the light colored bands, and ending with a dark tip. This gives the cat its ticking appearance, and makes it stunning to look at.
The Abyssinian has many romantic tales about his origins, but he’s not from Ethiopia, formerly known as Abyssinia. His ancestors likely lived along the coast of the Indian Ocean, as well as parts of Southeast Asia. Breeds that probably figured in his background: Burmese, Siamese, and Russian Blues. Abyssinians were first bred in the United States in 1935. Today, the Aby is one of the most popular pedigreed cats—he’s up there in the top five—registered by the Cat Fanciers Association.
