Abyssinian breed guide

Friendly and affectionate, the Abyssinian may settle in a lap for a moment but its activity level keeps it from staying there. CFA calls it an excellent choice for families with children, who can engage it with toys and hunting games.

It does not like long stretches alone, so CFA suggests quieter homes consider two.

Problem-solving and curiosity drive the breed: CFA says it leaves no inch of its surroundings unexplored. It likes high places, so offer perches to survey from.

Not particularly talkative, it gets its wishes across with little noise. Well-socialized Abyssinians may even enjoy outings on a harness.

Grooming is minimal: combing or brushing a few times a month controls shedding. A gentle rub with a chamois cloth on a dry coat smooths it and adds sheen.

Baths are not needed unless the cat is being shown.

Genetic testing lets breeders remove carriers of an inherited disease that once caused anemia. Some breeders also teach tooth brushing to prevent dental problems such as gingivitis.

The name points to Ethiopia, once called Abyssinia, only because the first Abyssinians shown in England were imports from there. CFA says genetic research puts the breed's origin on the coasts of the Indian Ocean and in Southeast Asia, not in ancient Egypt.

A cat named Zula was the first Abyssinian at a show, at the Crystal Palace in 1871. CFA registered the breed in 1906 as one of its original breeds.