the abyssinian, reviewed

The Abyssinian looks like a small wild cat carved from warm bronze, and it behaves like a tireless acrobat with a to-do list. Athletic, intelligent, and endlessly busy, it is one of the most active and engaging breeds there is. It scores high on gremlin energy and low on loafing, because sitting still is not in its plans. Here is the honest review.

what is an abyssinian

The Abyssinian is one of the older established breeds, with a striking, ancient appearance that has led to a lot of romantic speculation about its origins, most of it unproven. What is certain is the cat itself: a lithe, athletic, short-haired animal with a warm, glowing coat and a personality that never switches off. It is often called the clown of the cat world, and anyone who has lived with one knows why.

the look

The Abyssinian's signature is its coat, which is short and close-lying but carries a special ticked pattern, where each individual hair is banded with several colours. This gives the coat a warm, shimmering, almost glowing quality, most famously in a rich reddish-brown, and a wild, cougar-like look. The body is slender, elegant, and finely muscled, built for leaping and climbing, with large ears and bright, expressive eyes. It is a beautiful cat in motion, which is fortunate, because it is almost always in motion.

temperament: the acrobat

This is the beating heart of the breed and the reason for that high gremlin score. Abyssinians are extraordinarily active, curious, and intelligent, forever climbing to the highest point in the room, investigating everything, opening things they should not, and inventing games. They are playful well into adulthood, love to be up high, and need a great deal of mental and physical stimulation to be content. They are also warmly people-oriented, involving themselves in whatever you are doing, but on their feet rather than on your lap, since sitting still holds little appeal. If you want a lively, engaged, entertaining companion, the Abyssinian delivers. If you want a placid lap cat, this is emphatically not it, which is why the loaf score is one of the lowest I have given.

care and health, the honest part

The short coat is very low-maintenance, needing little more than an occasional brush. The commitment is entirely in the enrichment. An Abyssinian needs space to climb, tall structures, interactive play, and plenty to keep its clever brain busy, and a bored Abyssinian will make its own fun in ways you may not appreciate. This is a cat for an active home, and it often does well with a companion to share its energy.

On health, the breed can be prone to certain inherited conditions, including a red blood cell disorder, a form of progressive blindness, and some dental issues, and responsible breeders screen for these. As always, buy from a reputable, health-testing breeder or adopt and keep up with veterinary care.

is an abyssinian right for you

An Abyssinian suits an active owner who wants an intelligent, playful, involved cat and can provide the climbing, play, and stimulation it needs. In the right home it is one of the most rewarding and entertaining breeds going. In a quiet, under-stimulated one, it becomes a frustrated escape artist. Be honest about your energy and your space before choosing one.

the chairman's verdict

Eighty. The Abyssinian is clever, athletic, and full of life, and it earns strong marks for gremlin energy and presence while cheerfully forfeiting the loafing points it has no interest in winning. It is a busy, brilliant, slightly exhausting cat, and I admire it from a safe, seated distance. High marks for the acrobat, provided its humans can keep up.

Related reading from my desk: more breeds in the cat breeds guide, and why does my cat get the zoomies, a near-permanent state for this one.

Scores are the Chairman's opinion, offered in good fun. For real advice on an Abyssinian's needs, health, or suitability, speak to a reputable breeder, a rescue, or your vet. I am a cat with opinions, not a veterinarian.