The Abyssinian

The history of a fascinating breed

The Abyssinian is considered one of the oldest and most distinctive cat breeds. Its exact origins are still not completely known. The name Abyssinian refers to Abyssinia, present-day Ethiopia, although the breed as we know it today was largely developed in Great Britain.

Cats resembling the modern Abyssinian can be seen in ancient Egyptian art and illustrations. This has often led to a connection between the Abyssinian and the cats of Ancient Egypt. However, a direct descent from ancient Egyptian cats has never been scientifically proven.

During the second half of the 19th century, cats from the region of Abyssinia were brought to Great Britain. There, cat enthusiasts began selectively breeding them, gradually developing the modern Abyssinian breed.

One of the breed's most distinctive features is its unique ticked coat. Each individual hair contains several bands of colour, giving the coat its warm, vibrant and almost shimmering appearance.

From Great Britain, the Abyssinian spread throughout Europe and later to other parts of the world. Today, it is a much-loved breed among cat enthusiasts worldwide.

A special cat with a special personality

The Abyssinian is an elegant, intelligent and active cat with a distinctive personality. The breed is known for its beautiful ticking, expressive eyes and lively character.

Abyssinians are curious, playful and strongly interested in their people. They like to be involved in everything that happens around the home. They are cats that want to explore, play and be part of everyday family life.

Personality

An Abyssinian remains active and playful well into adulthood. At the same time, they can be very affectionate and are capable of forming a strong bond with their owner.

They are intelligent and curious cats that enjoy having things to do. Playing, climbing, running and exploring are important parts of their lives. After being active, an Abyssinian will also happily relax close to its people.

Abyssinians are social cats and enjoy interaction, so attention and companionship are important. Many also appreciate having a suitable feline companion.

Appearance and the unique ticking

The Abyssinian has a slim, muscular body and an elegant, natural appearance. One of the most distinctive features of the breed is its characteristic ticked coat.

With ticking, each individual hair has several alternating bands of colour. This creates the warm, vibrant and unusual appearance that is so characteristic of the Abyssinian.

The eyes are another distinctive feature. Eye colour can range from green and gold to amber and hazel.

Colours

Abyssinians are found in several beautiful colours. At LA BAROQUE, we work with three colours:

Ruddy

The classic ruddy Abyssinian has a warm reddish-brown base colour with darker ticking. This gives the coat a rich and expressive appearance.

Sorrel

Sorrel is a warm reddish-cinnamon colour. The ticking is a deeper reddish-brown, giving the coat a particularly warm and sunny appearance.

Blue

Blue is the dilute version of ruddy. The warm base colour is replaced by a soft blue-grey shade, combined with darker blue-grey ticking.

Each colour has its own unique beauty, while the characteristic ticking remains one of the defining features of the Abyssinian.

Care

The Abyssinian's short, fine and smooth coat is relatively easy to maintain. Regular gentle brushing helps remove loose hair and keeps the coat in good condition.

As with any cat, Abyssinians need good nutrition, appropriate veterinary care and a safe, stimulating environment. They are an active breed, so opportunities to play, climb and explore are particularly important.

The development of an Abyssinian kitten

An Abyssinian kitten changes considerably during its first months of life. At birth, the characteristic ticking is barely visible. As the kitten grows, the colour and ticking gradually become more pronounced.

The proportions of the body and the expression of the face also develop over time. During the first months, a kitten's appearance can change noticeably before gradually developing the elegant look of an adult Abyssinian.

This gradual transformation is one of the things that makes raising Abyssinian kittens so fascinating.

Is an Abyssinian right for you?

An Abyssinian is not the right cat for everyone. If you are looking for an extremely quiet cat that prefers to spend most of its time independently, another breed may be a better choice.

For people who enjoy an intelligent, active, social and involved companion, however, the Abyssinian can be a wonderful match.

An Abyssinian likes to know what is happening, participate in everyday life and spend time with its people.

Abyssinians at LA BAROQUE

At LA BAROQUE, my love for the Abyssinian is at the heart of everything I do. With more than 20 years of experience, I place great importance on health, character and beauty.

My aim is to raise Abyssinians that are not only beautiful and true to the breed, but also have a good temperament and receive care and attention from the very beginning of their lives.