I am relatively new to the whole cat thing – we brought Patrick home just over a year ago, and prior to this, I had little knowledge of cats and the vast array of breeds that exist in the world. The Instagram community has taught me a lot and exposed me to many breeds I didn’t know anything about. One of these was Abyssinians – I became fascinated by them and having read up on their character traits, we decided it would be a perfect match for our naughty, inquisitive Bengal cross.

Having lived with Norma for a few months now, I can certainly say she lives up to the character traits I was expecting – inquisitive, playful, intelligent and very naughty! As lots of people are always asking about her – I thought I would write about these traits and a bit more of the background of the Abyssinian.

Background

The Abyssinian is one of the oldest established cat breeds. Abyssinians are named after Abyssinia (modern day Ethiopia) however it is understood from DNA analysis that the breed originated near the coast of the Indian Ocean.  The Abyssinian cat was recognised by the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF) in 1929 and the Breed, as it is known today, was developed here in the UK.

Appearance

Abyssinians are medium sized cats – typically weighing between 6 and 10 pounds. They are slender, athletic and long legged with small oval dainty paws. It’s often said they look like they’re walking on tip-toes – Norma always makes me laugh with her little scuttle of a walk! They have relatively large ears and large almond shaped expressive eyes which can be a range of colours dependant on the coat colour.

They are often described as looking like wild cats – like something straight out of the jungle. This is due to the ‘ticked’ coat pattern which resembles that of wild cats (along with their distinct facial characteristics and body shape). The coat is relatively short and dense and is soft and silky to touch.

Norma is a ‘usual’ Abyssinian which is the most common colour (also referred to as ruddy). They are a warm reddish brown with black ticking (Norma has beautiful black ear flicks and a tail that looks like its been dipped in black ink!) Other colours are sorrel, blue and silver.

Due to their striking appearance, it is often recommended that they are kept as indoor cats – they are likely to be stolen by someone who wants a beautiful cat but isn’t willing to pay for it. Norma is so friendly with new people, I’m sure she’d be very easy to steal!

Personality

Abyssinians are known for living life to the fullest – with extroverted personalities and an inquisitive, playful nature. This is definitely true of Norma who wants to be centre of attention at all times and will play for hours on end (they say kittens need to sleep most of the time though this rule doesn’t seem to apply to Abys!) Their personalities is what is said to make them such a popular breed around the world. They are unusually intelligent and can learn new things quickly. They often have the desire for human companionship and are known to follow you from room to room. I frequently refer to Norma as a pest as I can never get rid of her – whether its brushing my hair, hoovering the house or cooking – she’s always by my side (or on my shoulder!)

They are said to need constant attention to prevent them from being depressed – play things are essential, however this can come in many forms – I have watched Norma play with a scrap of paper for hours (literally!) and they will always find things to keep them busy! They aren’t cats that do well alone if they are to be left whilst out to work etc. They usually require a companion (preferably one with as much energy as them!) Norma needs lots of affection from both us and Patrick and is very cuddly – she has a very loud purr which, if she really gets into it, makes her whiskers vibrate!

Another breed trait is the desire to always be as high as possible – Norma gave me many a shock when we first brought her home when I would notice her balancing on the top of the door frames or shelves – she seemed far too tiny to be able to get up so high but always managed! The Christmas tree was a mistake last year and following Norma’s ascent to the top – the tree was swiftly moved outside! Another favourite position is on top of the towel I wrap around my hair after a shower – at 6ft tall with additional height, I clearly am an interesting obstacle for Norma to scale!

They are said to be quiet cats who ‘chirrup’ to greet you – Norma has been working on this chirrup and now has it perfected! It’s adorable and she uses it often to get our attention. Norma also uses her meow quite a lot – she must be relatively vocal for an Aby, but she has Patrick to battle for attention with and he’s a vocal boy too!

Norma is everything I expected in an Abyssinian – a wonderful companion for both us and Patrick and a complete nuisance too! They are not a breed for someone who wants an aloof cat that needs little attention and are definitely a lot of work to look after. This said, they are totally worth it for what they give back!