History of the Abyssinian Cat Breed

by thedogman
An exact history of the Abyssinian is still really an open debate. However there are a few theories about the Abyssinian history.

One of the most popular theory is that the Abyssinian came from Egypt. It is well known the Egyptians thought highly of cats and they where a very important part of Egyptian life. Images that resemble Abyssinians have been found in Egyptian’s tombs. There is a report of a cat named “Zulu” brought back to England from Egypt in 1868 that closely resembles the Abyssinian breed. Abyssinia (which is today modern day Ethiopia ) has many rivers and streams that connect to the Nile, which would further explain the breeds attachment to Egypt. It would be very easy for this breed to travel up and down the Nile. References to Abyssinian maidens who owned this breed, where supposedly highly desirable marriage partners.

There is another theory that the breed originated in England. The theory is that the British started the breed by selective breeding. This would make sense if the breed brought to Britain from Egypt was not a true Abyssinian but, a similar breed. Did the British take this similar breed and create the Abyssinian breed? The British created the pedigreed cat registries and the earliest Abyssinian was registered in 1896. However many of these early Abyssinian had both parents listed as “unknown”.

Abyssinian first came to the United States in the early 1900’s. In Boston they show up in 1909 and where exhibited at a show. National Geographic pictured the breed in a 1938 issue of a magazine. The breed has been going strong ever since.

The breed has come a very long way since 1930. The breed is now one of 5 most popular, with the most popular color variety of ruddy, with red, or cinnamon a very close second. The blue an fawn are also accepted colors world over. The Governing Council of Cats registers the breed in 23 colors. They have become a very popular breed and have appeared on US Postal Stamps. One of the most known Abyssinians was the cat that starred in Walt Disney’s movie “The Cat from Outer Space”.

Abyssinian’s history might be hard to track but, the breed has become a favorite. Some of the reasons are they have a inquisitive personality, they are intelligent, Abyssinians retain kittenish behavior well into middle age, and basically they just bring joy to their owners.


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