Personality:
- People-oriented, loyal, and intelligent.
- Affectionate and very active.
- Retains the feral look of felis lybica, ancestor of all domestic cats.
- Many can be trained to walk on leashes and to retrieve.
- Stands well off the ground, giving the impression of being on tip toe.
History:
Cats exhibited at a show in England in the late 1800′s were reported to have been imported from Ethiopia (formerly Abyssinia). Geneticists believe the breed actually originated in parts of Southeast Asia and were imported to England by Far East traders. Breed was refined in England and imported to North America in early 1900′s. Recognized by all breed associations for championship status.
Body Type:
- Medium-sized, lithe, well-proportioned, and muscular.
- Head is a slightly-rounded wedge with large pointed ears.
- Large, almond-shaped eyes.
Coat:
- Coat is short, soft, and silky.
- Colors include red, ruddy, blue, and fawn.
- Each hair should be long enough to accommodate two or three dark bands of ticking.
Health and Wellness:
- Medial patella luxation.
- Neonatal isoerythrolysis.
- Red cell osmotic fragility.
- Pyruvate kinase deficiency.
- Mucopolysaccaridosis.
- Renal amyloidosis.
- Myasthenia gravis.
What you should know:
- These active cats love to ride on shoulders and peer down at you from high places.
