Every cat is different in some way from every other cat, so we should try and
avoid extreme generalisations. Having said that, Aby owners everywhere should
recognise the descriptions below in the main.
| Looks |
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The Aby is a regal cat, and knows his or her place (at the top of the
hierarchy - you are one down from that!). A well-bred cat will sit
upright, with their tail curling neatly around the base of their body, keeping
the toes warm. The cat should always be striking in appearance. For some
Abyssinian breeders, there is only one colour (known variously as usual
(UK), ruddy (USA) or tawny (Australia)) -
this was the only colour recognised for many years. Many more colours are
now accepted, depending upon the country and registration body concerned.
The Aby is a medium sized cat, of 'Foreign' type, but the type and colouration
of show cats can vary noticeably between countries. Photos of
Abyssinians can be found by using the Photos link to
the left. |
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Personality |
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The typical Aby is an alert and intelligent cat who loves the company of
people, but often finds the company of other cats less than ideal - they
can be quite jealous of your affections! In a multi-breed household they
are likely to claw their way to the top! They like being the centre of
attention, but are not overly loud, sometimes miaowing but rarely chatty. They
do have a special trilling miaow, often reserved for playtime. They have
the knack of leaving a tail draped down across the TV or monitor screen, and
most will retrieve paper balls or furry mice if you throw them in play.
The concept of sharing is not understood, however. |
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Intelligence |
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Smarter than the average cat, most figure out door handles pretty quickly, and
nearly all are expert in the art of theft (not necessarily silently,
however). Some Abys will sit and watch you intently performing tasks such
as operating a cupboard or door latch, then attempt to replicate the task when
they think you're not watching. Most Aby breeders have to replace
standard door handles with 'cat-proof' equivalents. |
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