Fun Abyssinian Cat Facts For Kids

The oldest domesticated cat is the Abyssinian cat breed. It is found in the mummified tombs of Egypt. The cats found in these tombs are similar to the Abyssinian cats. They are domesticated short hair cats known for their ticked tabby coat, in which each hair is banded with different colors. They are also known as Abys and also as the clowns of the cat kingdom. They are known to have a dog-like nature when it comes to showing affection and interaction. They were said to originate in the region of Abyssinian, better known as Ethiopia or the Nile Valley. This cat was further developed in Great Britain. The Abyssinian cat is known for its lithe and graceful medium-sized body, almond-shaped eyes which can be gold or green in color, alert large and moderately pointed ears, and soft silky dense coat with a lustrous sheen in colors like ruddy, red, blue, fawn or silver.

Owing to their color, they are also known as blue Abyssinian cat, black Abyssinian cat, red Abyssinian cat, ruddy Abyssinian cat, fawn Abyssinian cat, gray Abyssinian cat, white Abyssinian cat, cream Abyssinian cat, silver Abyssinian cat and lilac Abyssinian cat. They have long tails with a thick base that tapers towards the end.  These cats are known to suffer from separation anxiety if left alone for a long period and can act aggressively. They are natural athletes with an inquiring mind who love to play when you are involved with them rather than be on their own. After you've read about the long-haired Abyssinian cat, you may also look at Somali cat facts and Siamese facts. 
 

What type of animal is an Abyssinian cat?

The Abyssinian cat breed was initially found in parts of southeast Asia. It is one of the oldest cat breeds and the Abyssinian cat origin is said to also be found along the coast of the Indian ocean. It is an active member who isn't a lap cat or needy but they have an affectionate and a loving personality.

What class of animal does an Abyssinian cat belong to?

The Abyssinian cat belongs to the mammal class of animals. They give birth to offspring like other mammals.

How many Abyssinian cats are there in the world?

The exact number of Abyssinian cats would be hard to find as the cat population is spread in the UK, the United States, and other western countries. The Abyssinian cat breed is a popular breed throughout the world.

Where does an Abyssinian cat live?

The Abyssinian cat is a popular breed in the world and can be found in an urban setting like an apartment or a home with a small yard.  The cat is comfortable in a rural set up too.

What is an Abyssinian's habitat?

Owing to the Abyssinian cat size, they can live comfortably in a small apartment or a large house. An Abyssinian cat personality is that of an intelligent and a friendly being. Because of this, they are able to gel nicely with children. This feline breed comprises active, agile cats who love to climb and do acrobatic activities.

Who do Abyssinian cats live with?

Abyssinian cats can live with other animals. Abys can keep themselves entertained but love it when someone else is playing with them. Abys are affectionate, loving, and have the trait of a loyal pet.

How long does an Abyssinian cat live?

The Abyssinian cat lifespan is around 9-15 years. With the right quantity and quality of food and regular exercise and playtime, the cat is known to live a long and healthy life. Abys are agile creatures and must not be overfed as they become overweight.

How do they reproduce?

For reproduction to take place, both the male and female cats should be of the right age and adequate size. The female must be going through her heat cycle. Cats are reflex ovulators which means that they ovulate once they are bred. The male will mount the female from behind, and the entire process will take 5-25 minutes. Thereafter, the gestation period will last for 60-70 days, and the female will give birth to kittens. The litter size of Abyssinian is around 5-6 kittens.

What is their conservation status?

The conservation status of the Abyssinian cat is listed as Least Concern as it is a domesticated breed that is much loved around the world. The cat is mostly bred for domestication.

What do Abyssinian cats look like?

The Abyssinian cat is the most regal-looking domestic cat in the world. They have a slender body, fine bones, moderately wedge-shaped head, large pointed ears that are cupped at the base, almond-shaped eyes with green, hazel, gold, or gold color depending on the coat. Their graceful body has proportionate long legs with small oval paws and tapering long tails, which appeals to cat lovers. Abyssinians are famous for their ticked tabby coat pattern, which is found in bands of color like ruddy, red, blue, fawn, and silver. They are agile, active, and playful creatures who love to follow their owners.

How cute are they?

They are cute and beautiful. Abyssinians are medium-sized fine-boned creatures with brilliant colors for eyes and coats. They have been our companions for ages now as they are our ancestors in mummified tombs of Egypt. Abyssinians are loving, loyal, and playful creatures who are complete goofballs and love it when you shower them with your affection and attention.

How do they communicate?

They will talk to you in a quiet, soft voice. Whenever you give them attention, they will reward you with a loving purr. Abyssinian cats are known to purr around dinner time. Abyssinians love to interact with people and have soft-chirrup-like voices.

How big is an Abyssinian cat?

The Abyssinian cat is a medium-sized cat with a fine bone structure and a muscular lithe body. It is one of the smaller breeds and looks smaller and almost symmetrical from any angle. Their size range is 12-16 in.

How fast can an Abyssinian cat run?

On average, the Abyssinian cat can run up to 30 mph. Abyssinians are playful, active creatures who will climb on anything if they get their paws on it.

How much does an Abyssinian cat ​weigh

The Abyssinian cat weighs 6-10 lb. This feline breed is known for their acrobatic body and lithe figure.

What are their male and female names of the species?

The male cat is called tom or tomcat, and the female cat is called a queen. They certainly look like queens and kings of their kingdom.

What would you call a baby Abyssinian cat?

The baby Abyssinian cat is called a kitten or a kitty.

What do they eat?

They are known to eat meat and veggies. Care must be taken to feed them a balanced diet of fat-free meat and veggies twice a day. They must not be overfed as they have the tendency to put on weight which is not good for their overall health and activity.

Are they rare?

Abyssinians are not rare. The Abyssinian is a popular breed of cat in many countries. Since it is a no-fuss animal that is loving and loyal to its owners, it is known to be agile, affectionate, and almost dog-like, maybe even attention-seeking. At the same time, Abyssinians are not cuddly or lap cats, as they like to be left by themselves, and you can do your work along with them.

Would they make a good pet?

The Abyssinian cat is an ideal pet with friendly characteristics. It can add love and happiness to any family it belongs to. The cat is considered the clown of the cat kingdom because it will keep you entertained with its antics and agility but it is certainly very intelligent. They love to play on their own as much as they love to play in your company. Their short coat requires only occasional grooming.

Did you know...

Somali cats have the same genetic stock as the Abyssinian cats, but they have longer hair coats. The Ocicats came about by accidentally cross-breeding the Abyssinians and Siamese cats.

These cats are prone to gingivitis, pyruvate kinase deficiency, and more serious periodontitis issues, and care must be taken for these from an early age.

They were known to perform in cat shows during the 19th century.

Recent genetic studies have indicated that the cat may have originated in the coastal region of northeast India or southeast Asia.

They are known as Aby-grabby because they grab things that interest them.

They enjoy running a feline agility course and learning new tricks to impress you.

They want their litter boxes to be absolutely clean. They are very particular about bathroom hygiene, and a dirty box may cause them to start using other parts of the house for their business.  

Getting your own Abyssinian cat

The Abyssinian tabby cat can be bought at any recognized pet vendor or maybe even adopted from the right sources; the Abyssinian cat price varies as per the source from where you adopt this species. It’s better to adopt rather than buy. The Abyssinian cat cost for purchase ranges from $500-$1200 and the Abyssinian cat prices for adoption ranges between $75-$150. Make sure you get all the paperwork and registration done before bringing your little one home. They are not known to be cuddly or a pet who will spend time on your laps, but they are affectionate, friendly, and loyal and love to interact with humans. They are very friendly with children and other pets. They do suffer from separation anxiety if left alone for a long period or if you do not give your Abyssinian mix cat enough time and attention. They will love to follow you and observe as you go about your tasks. But they do love it when you play with them for some time. The Abyssinian cat long hair requires regular grooming as this is one of those cat breeds that has a heavy coat.

Are Abyssinian cats talkative?

They are expressive and love to interact with their owners in a soft, quiet voice. They also show their needs or satisfaction by purring. They are known as attention seekers like dogs. As much as they love to play alone by themselves, they love to play with you too. They have a lot of energy that needs to be used in playing and interacting, otherwise they may get aggressive or snarky.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other mammals including fennec fox, or peccary facts.

You can even occupy yourself at home by drawing one on our Abyssinian Cat coloring pages.