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© 2010 Rourke Publishing LLC All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without permission in writing from the publisher. www.rourkepublishing.com PHOTO CREDITS: © Nataliya Kuznetsova: Title Page; © Margarita Ignatova: 3, 8; © Juniors Bildarchiv: 4; © Kirill Vorobyev: 9, 22; © Anna Utekhina: 11, 16; © Corbis Photos: 14; © Nicola Pedrozzi: 17; © Catherine Scott: 20; © Lynn Stone: all other photos Editor: Jeanne Sturm Cover and page design by Heather Botto
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Stone, Lynn M. Abyssinian cats / Lynn M. Stone. p. cm. -- (Eye to eye with cats) Includes index. ISBN 978-1-60694-339-7 1. Abyssinian cat--Juvenile literature. I. Title. SF449.A28S763 2010 636.8'26--dc22 2009005990 Printed in the USA CG/CG
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Abyssinian Cats
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The Abyssinian’s Looks
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Purebred Abyssinians
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The Cat for You?
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The History of Abyssinian Cats
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Abyssinian Cat Facts
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Glossary
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Index
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The Abyssinian is one high-energy kitty! Long, lean, and athletic, Abys love to leap onto tables, bookcases, shoulders, and – oops! – even drapes. Abys are also very curious cats, finding almost every little thing of some interest. Along with their curiosity and energy, Abys are full of affection. Many experts on cat behavior think Abys are the friendliest breed, or kind, of cat. The Abyssinian breed was named for Abyssinia (a North African country known today as Ethiopia) because some people believe this breed originally came from Abyssinia. The nickname for this breed is Aby.
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Except for hairless Sphynx cats, all cats have furry coats. Some cats, like the Persian, have very long hair. Abyssinian fur is thick, but quite short. The most unusual feature of Abyssinian fur is called ticking. Much of the Aby’s coat has tiny flecks, or ticks, of color. The special color pattern comes from several dark bands on each hair.
It’s not hard to imagine the wild ancestors in this Abyssinian’s lineage.
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All Abyssinians used to have reddishbrown coats. Today’s Abyssinians may be reddish-brown, chocolate, lilac, fawn, or other colors. They have white or creamcolored chins. Abyssinians have big, almond-shaped gold or green eyes with dark eye rings. They have long legs, small feet, and large ears.
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The Abyssinian’s large ears arch forward. In competition, judges look for a thumb print marking on the back of the ear.
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The Abyssinian cat is one of about 40 cat breeds recognized by the Cat Fanciers Association. Cats whose parents are both of the same breed are called purebreds. Purebred kittens typically grow up with the same kind of fur and body shape as their parents.
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Abyssinian kittens aren’t the only ones who are curious and playful. Adult Abys keep their kitten curiosity and playfulness throughout their lives.
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Most cats are not purebreds. Their parents may have been cats of different breeds. In most cases, though, neither parent was a purebred. People who raise purebred cats like the fact that they are predictable. In other words, purebred cats show certain features over and over again. For example, nearly all Abyssinians have the same body shape, ticking, and quiet, friendly manner. Abys and other purebred cats are expensive. For this reason, and for their safety, owners almost always keep them indoors. Abyssinian’s eyes are usually gold, copper, green, or hazel. A short vertical line, darker than the surrounding fur, appears above each eye.
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No one can guarantee a cat’s looks, personality, or household habits. But the looks and personalities of purebreds are easier to predict than those of non-purebreds. Abyssinians, for example, are likely to meow quietly and purr loudly. They are curious and friendly. They like other cats. They especially like their owners. They love attention and playtime. In fact, some Abys seem to demand attention!
After 12 weeks, an Abyssinian kitten is usually ready to join its new family.
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Abyssinians love to climb, bound, and run. If you choose an Aby, be sure you want to share your home with a fourfooted Olympic class athlete. Despite being popular with cat fanciers, Abys are not easy to breed. They may be difficult to find and expensive to buy.
Active and playful, an Abyssinian enjoys constant attention.
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The Abyssinian is an old breed. Exactly how, when, and where it first came about is unknown. An Englishman brought a cat named Zula to Great Britain from Abyssinia in 1868. Zula was probably similar to modern Abys. But whether Zula and her type were originally from Abyssinia is a mystery. Some believe that the breed began in Egypt or Southeast Asia. Others believe that British cat fanciers developed the Aby from British shorthairs and British bunny cats with ticked coats. Abyssinians, with their large ears and long bodies, look very much like the cats found in the art and tombs of ancient Egypt.
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In the 1930s, American cat fanciers began to import Abyssinians from Great Britain. Abys are now the fifth most popular breed in North America. Abyssinians get along well with children and other pets. Loyal and entertaining, they’ll never leave you bored.
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The beginnings of domestic, or tame, cats date back at least 8,000 years, when people began to raise the kittens of small wild cats. By 4,000 years ago, the Egyptians had totally tame, household cats. Most actual breeds of cats, however, are fewer than 150 years old. People created breeds by selecting parent cats that had certain qualities people liked and wanted to repeat. Two longhaired parents, for example, were likely to produce longhaired kittens. By carefully choosing cat parents, cat fanciers have managed to create cats with predictable qualities—breeds.
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Date of Origin – Unknown Place of Origin – England, and probably Ethiopia Overall Size – small to medium Weight – 9-17 pounds (4-7.5 kilograms) Coat – short Grooming – every few weeks Activity Level – very active Temperament – affectionate; may be demanding of attention Voice – quiet
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breed (BREED): a particular kind of domestic animal, such as an Abyssinian cat domestic (duh-MESS-tik): refers to tamed animals of homes and farms fanciers (FAN-see-erz): those who raise and work to improve purebred cats grooming (GROOM-ing): the act of brushing, combing, and cleaning personality (pur-suh-NAL-uh-tee): the qualities and behavior that make one person or animal different from others predictable (pre-DIKT-uh-bull): that which can be decided before it happens purebreds (PYOOR-bredz): animals with ancestors of the same breed Sphynx (SFINKS): a rare, nearly hairless breed of cat, originally from Canada temperament (TEM-pur-uh-muhnt): an animal’s nature or personality ticking (TIK-ing): a coat of fur having small flecks of color different from the main color 23
Abyssinia 4, 18 affection 4 breed(s) 4, 10, 18, 21 Cat Fanciers Association 10 eyes 8 fur 6, 10
Great Britain 20 habits 14 looks 14 personality(ies) 14 purebreds 10 Sphynx cats 6 ticking 6, 13
kids.cfa.org www.ticaeo.com www.nhm.org/cats
A former teacher and sports writer, Lynn Stone is a widely published children’s book author and nature photographer. He has photographed animals on all seven continents. The National Science Teachers Association chose one of his books, Box Turtles, as an Outstanding Science Trade Book for 2008. Stone, who grew up in Connecticut, lives in northern Illinois with his wife, golden retriever, two cats, and abundant fishing tackle.
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