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Abyssin |
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TranslationFrancis Vandersteen |
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OriginThe Abyssin, also known as the Bunny Cat or Aby1, is a breed of cat native to Asia. |
| This cat is characterized by a short-haired coat with a ticked tabby pattern. |
Standard |
| One hundred and twenty years after selection began, the breed is now well established and undeniably resembles the representations of the Egyptian cat through which Bastet was worshipped. |
A brief historical overview |
| The birthplace of the Abyssin is not in Abyssinia or Egypt, but in Southeast Asia, on the shores of the Indian Ocean. However, the race may well be African. The Abyssin may even be heir to the sacred cat of ancient Egypt. The first cat imported to Europe was "Zula", a magnificent male brought back from Abyssinia (now Ethiopia) in 1868 by a certain Field Marshal Sir Robert Napier, an English diplomat on a mission to Addis Ababa (capital of Abyssinia). For this reason, the breed was named Abyssin. As Zula came from Abyssinia, the new breed was named after the country from which it originated. Zula's ticking could have come from the African Wild Cat, or from the breeding of tabby cats in Great Britain. This breed was fixed and improved in England. Breeders perfected it by crossing it with the British Shorthair, working in particular to obtain a fine silhouette and improve the coat. The Abyssin was nicknamed the "Bunny Cat" because of its hare-like coat. After several years of cross-breeding, the Abyssin was first exhibited at London's Crystal Palace in 1871. In 1882, the breed was finally recognized outside Great Britain. Judging criteria were established in 1889. The breed almost became extinct at the beginning of the 20th century.v In 1909, the Abyssin arrived in the United States, but did not become popular there until the 1930s, after the breed was recognized by the CFA in 1917. The French only discovered the breed in 1927, when the FFF finally recognized it. The first club dedicated to the Abyssin was the Abyssin Cat Club. In France, a fortnightly brochure, "Aby Boom", reports on the varied activities of Abyssin breeders. On the European continent, breeding was curbed during the First World War, but has since taken off again. Abyssins are the fifth most popular breed in North America, and one of the ten most popular breeds in the United States. The breed continues to evolve, both in terms of coat and head morphology. |
General appearance |
| Alert and lively, neither skinny nor overweight. |
Behavior / characteristics |
| The Abyssin is often described as alert and lively, always on the move. However, it is said to be a gentle, affectionate companion with a very discreet meow. They are nonetheless full of life and athletic, even boisterous. However, these traits are entirely individual and depend on the history of each cat. |
Reproduction |
| The average litter of an Abyssin is 3 kittens, which is quite low compared to most other domestic cat breeds, whose litters are generally of five kittens. After birth, the kittens are bicolored, dark and light. Abyssins start to tick at six weeks of age. The color will be definitive after a year or a year and a half. |
Health |
| Abyssins are prone to certain genetic diseases such as PK DEF and PRA, as well as cat amyloidosis. This is a hereditary disease that results in the progressive deposition of an amyloid substance in the body, leading to irreversible kidney failure. This pathology has threatened the breed for many years, as there is unfortunately no screening test, and symptoms appear late (after the age of 5), making it difficult to examine bloodlines. However, cautious breeders who have had autopsies carried out on animals that have died of kidney failure or in suspicious conditions have enabled the disease to decline. |
Genetics |
| The Abyssin has a gene called Ta. The t stands for tabby and the a for Abyssin. This gene is specific to the Abyssin, but can also be found in the Somali and Singapura. The Somali is in fact a breed resulting from cross-breeding with Abyssins. As for the Singapura, although it has the same gene as the Abyssin, it cannot be said to have been bred with the latter. On Ta's chromosomal location, other breeds may have two other genes, the tb gene which gives the broad stripes called marbled tabby, or the T gene which gives narrow stripes called tabby tabby. So when an Abyssin mates with a marbled tabby, the result will be ticked coats, as Ta will be dominant over tb. But when an Abyssin mates with a tabby with ticking, the result is a bad Abyssin coat with stripes on a ticking background, as Ta is incompletely dominant over T. |
Head |
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Cranial region |
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Head |
In the shape of a softened triangle, the head has rounded contours without any straight lines, both from the front and in profile. The profile is a succession of gentle curves. The length of the head should be in proportion to the rest of the body. The head is carried proudly on an elegant neckline. | |
Skull |
Slightly rounded skull. | |
Facial region |
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Foreface |
The nose should not be too long. A slight bulge, if it does not break or curve too much, is not a fault. | |
Forehead |
Slightly rounded forehead, slight concave slope between forehead and nose, no break. | |
Nose |
The nose is encircled by a line in harmony with the base color. | |
Muzzle |
Both from the front and in profile, the muzzle has slightly rounded contours. Neither pointed nor pinched. | |
Lips |
Lips should also be pigmented with the same color. | |
Cheeks |
Jowls are permitted on adult males. | |
Eyes |
Bright and expressive, the eyes are large. Almond-shaped, their opening is neither oriental nor round. Permitted colors range from yellow to hazel to green in all shades, provided they are uniform. The eyes are highlighted with a "Cleopatra-style" line of make-up in the basic color of the dress, surrounded by an area of lighter coloring. Above each eye, a short vertical line, like a pencil line, cuts through this lighter zone. | |
Ears |
Large, alert and moderately pointed, the ears are cup-shaped with a well-flared base. Pointed forward, they are set as if the cat were "listening". Set moderately apart, so that the ears are neither parallel nor vertical, their lower attachment point should be fairly low, though less so than in "Oriental" cats. The hair on the ears is short and flat-lying, if possible with tipping. In the Somali, the inside of the ears is well furnished. The thumbprint typical of Agouti cats is desired on the outside of the ear. It is more noticeable in dark-colored cats than in light-colored ones. | |
Neck |
| Fairly long, graceful neck, slightly arched. |
Body |
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Generality |
Foreign in shape, the body is moderately long, supple and graceful, with well-developed muscles. Firm to the touch and elegant, never massive. | |
Back |
The back is slightly arched, as if the cat were ready to pounce. | |
Chest |
The ribcage is slightly rounded, not flat. | |
Tail |
| Fairly thick at the base, the tail is relatively long, yet in proportion to the body. It is relatively tapered in the Abyssin and plume-like in the Somali. |
Limbs |
| Proportionately slender in relation to the body, the legs are long, muscular and straight. | ||
Forequarters |
Hindquarters |
Feet |
| Small, oval and compact. Abyssins and Somalis appear to stand on tiptoe. The color of the pads must be in harmony with the base color. |
Coat |
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Coat and texture |
The Abyssin coat is resilient to the touch, shiny and fine. Although short, it must be long enough for each hair to show at least four alternating light and dark stripes, known as ticking. The coat lies close to the body and is longest on the spine, gradually shortening on the head, flanks and legs. Without being woolly, the undercoat contributes to the Abyssin's distinctive silky, elastic coat. The Somali's coat is medium-length, lying flat against the body. It is shorter on the shoulders and spine, gradually lengthening on the flanks. The ruff and breeches are well furnished. The undercoat must not be woolly. |
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Color and ticking |
Coat color is an essential quality of the Abyssin and Somali. On no account should it be dull, but on the contrary, it should be as contrasting as possible. To this end, the Abyssin and Somali coat seems to have a radiant quality that enhances the intensity of its color. Each hair must have at least four alternating light and dark stripes, called ticking, except on the belly, chest, neck, inside of legs and underside of tail, which are not ticked. Pigmentation in these areas should be even, however. Taken from the skin towards the tip, ticked hairs should start with a light stripe and end (distally) with a dark stripe. Since the Abyssin and Somali are tabby cats, their pasterns, chin and upper throat are lighter in color, more ivory than white. A darker stripe on the spine and tail accentuates the Abyssin's and Somali's wild look. Soles", i.e. darker coloration on the back of the legs, are appreciated. |
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Silver |
The pattern is the same as for non-silver cats, but the lighter color between the bands of the base color is replaced by the silkiest shade possible. Reddish shading, known as "rufism", although undesirable, should not be penalized too heavily, especially if located along the spine. | |
Size and weight |
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Height at withers |
Male height at withers: between 23 and 25 cm. Female height at withers: between 22 and 24 cm. |
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Weight |
Average adult male weight: between 3 and 4.5 kg. Average adult female weight: between 3 and 4.5 kg. |
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Color faults |
In non-silver : Cold, gray, sandy or dull tone. White color extending to throat. Undercoat of incorrect color (e.g. gray on a hare or sorrel). In silvers : Frank presence of rufism, yellowish undercoat instead of pure white.For all colors : One or two open collars, tabby markings elsewhere than on the head. Irregular eye color in adults.Ticking and pattern faults : Spots or unticked areas elsewhere than on throat, belly, inside of legs and underside of tail. Lack of uniformity in ticking. Fluffy or woolly coat. Round head, with marked stop or straight profile. Whip-like tail. |
Refusal of any title |
| White color extending beyond the throat (for non silver cats). White spot, closed collar or presence of more than two open collars, non-agouti cat. In verted ticking (distal part of coat light instead of dark) on body. Discolored pads. General faults and defects eliminatory in show. |
Authorized marriages |
| Abyssin x Abyssin Somali x Somali Abyssin x Somali |
English (United Kingdom)