The Abyssinian
History of the Abyissinian
Abyssinian, breed of shorthaired cat, one of the oldest breeds of domesticated
cats. The exact origin of the Abyssinian is unknown, although it is said
to be descended from the sacred cat of Egypt. Another theory is that English
soldiers returning from Ethiopia (formerly Abyssinia) in the 1800s brought
the Abyssinian with them. The Abyssinian is a lithe, graceful cat with
a short, ticked coat somewhat similar to the coat of a wild rabbit. It
comes in several different colors; the most common is ruddy—a warm brown
with a rich apricot belly and undercoat.
The Abyssinian is a gentle, affectionate cat
with boundless energy, and is reputed to form a strong bond with its favorite
person. The Abyssinian also comes in a semi-longhaired variety called the
Somali.
History
The Abyssinian is thought to be one of the oldest
breeds of cat. The first Aby exhibited in a show was in England in the
late 1800's. It was first mentioned historically in a book about cats published
in England in 1874. Abys were imported to North America in the early 1900s
and provided the foundation present day Abyssinian population in the USA.
During WWII many English Abys were lost, leaving the American lines as
the predominent throughout the world. Recent genetic tests seem to indicate
that the breed has it's orgins in India and was brought west along early
trade routes to Egypt and Abyssinia. This is how the breed came to be known
as Abyssinians.
