Abyssinian

adj. of or pertaining to Abyssinia, of or pertaining to the inhabitants of Abyssinia, of or pertaining to the language of Abyssinia

n. native or resident of Abyssinia (Ethiopia); member of the Abyssinian Church (Ethiopian Church); breed of slender cat with long ears and short brown hair with grey spots

Abyssinian may refer to:Abyssinian, Habesha people and things from parts of Ethiopia and Eritrea, formerly known as AbyssiniaAbyssinian (cat), a cat breedAbyssinian, a Guinea pig breedThe Abyssinians, a Jamaican roots reggae group
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Noun
1. a small slender short-haired breed of African origin having brownish fur with a reddish undercoat
(synonym) Abyssinian cat
(hypernym) domestic cat, house cat, Felis domesticus, Felis catus

(n.)
A native of Abyssinia.
  

(n.)
A member of the Abyssinian Church.
  

(a.)
Of or pertaining to Abyssinia.
  

Ruddy Abyssinian
Photo: Pet Profiles - Isabelle Francais

Weight: 8-10 lbs.
Overview
Abyssinians are gentle, bold, playful, and extremely busy, always seeking to be part of household activities. They are freedom-loving and dislike close confinement or restraint. Although not lap cats, they are companionable, people-oriented, and sociable with other animals. Their voices, though rarely used, are bell-like and pleasant.
Appearance
The Abyssinian is a lithe, muscular cat of medium length. It has a rounded wedge-shaped head, expressive gold or green almond-shaped eyes, and large, moderately pointed ears. The Aby's most striking feature is its beautiful ticked tabby coat, which is medium in length and fine in texture. The characteristic tabby "M" typically appears on the forehead. Four colors are recognized by the major U.S. breed associations: ruddy (the darkest and most common of the colors), red (sorrel or cinnamon), blue, and fawn. European breed registries recognize additional colors.
Origins
No one knows where the first Abyssinian came from, but there are several theories. Some literature supports the theory that progenitors of today's Abys accompanied British troops returning from Abyssinia (modern Ethiopia) in the late 1800s. Other evidence suggests that the ancestors of the breed may actually have been natives of India imported to England by British merchants passing through Calcutta. An equally plausible theory holds that the Aby's ancestors were native British cats and that cat fanciers developed the breed by carefully mating indigenous ticked-coated cats.
Special Alerts
Breed-related health problems: patellar luxation; renal amyloidosis; retinal atrophy (a rare eye condition that ultimately leads to impaired vision).