Abyssinian Breed Information

Although the Abyssinian is an active cat with lots of energy, they are normally an easy breed to care for. They will happily entertain themselves with their toys but do enjoy interaction with humans too. Abyssinians love climbing high, so providing them with a cat tree will enable them to climb safely. You are more likely to find them playing rather than settling on your lap.

Abyssinians are usually friendly and get on well with other pets, but they will need time to adjust to a new household with other pets. You will often hear them chatting to you in a soft, quiet voice.

Possible health problems:

Some breeds may be more prone to certain genetic health issues, this doesn’t mean that all cats of that breed will develop these issues, it just means there is an increased chance. There are genetic tests available for some of these diseases. Research what diseases are common to the breed you are interested in and ask the breeder if their cats/kittens have been tested where applicable.

• Renal amylodosis – a rare disease caused by deposits of abnormal proteins in the kidneys, these proteins cannot be broken down and eventually lead to renal failure. There is no cure, but symptomatic treatment can slow down the progression of the disease. Selective breeding has made this disease much less prevalent in Abyssinians.
• Patella Luxation – a condition in which the patella (knee cap) moves out of its normal location, resulting in limping or difficulty walking on the back legs. May require surgery to correct the problem.
• Progressive retinal atrophy – a genetic eye problem which causes progressive blindness, genetic tests are available to check for the disease.
• Pyruvate kinase disease – is a rare disease in which the pyruvate kinase enzyme normally found in red blood cells is lacking, meaning the red blood cells die quicker, and fewer are in circulation causing anaemia. The anaemia is often mild and intermittent clinical signs may not be noticed until the cat is quite old.

Coat care:

With a coat which requires minimal grooming for maintenance, Abyssinians enjoy being brushed purely for interaction reasons.

Estimated cost over lifetime:

These costs are based on essential items such as:

• A bed, litter and tray
• Grooming items
• Food and bowl
• Preventive treatment such as flea, worming, vaccinations and neutering
• Toys
• Cat carrier
• Pet insurance

This does not include initial purchase cost, non essential items (such as holiday care) or potential veterinary treatment of which an excess needs to be paid before your pet may be covered by pet insurance.

Insure your Abyssinian Cat with PDSA:

1 in 3 pets need vet treatment each year and vet bills can come to hundreds of pounds. PDSA Pet Insurance can give you peace of mind when your pet is poorly, especially for breeds like Abyssinian Cats that are prone to certain conditions. PDSA Pet Insurance offers:

1. Dog and cat insurance policies from 8 weeks of age.
2. 24/7 veterinary advice online or over the phone with Petcall.
3. Manage your policy online with the PDSA Insure Hub.
4. Monthly payment at no extra cost.

By insuring your Abyssinian Cat with PDSA Pet Insurance you’ll also be helping to provide vet care to some of the UK’s neediest pets.

For more information on taking care of your cat please visit our kitten and cat section.

Rehoming from a reputable source:

Where you get a cat from can have a big effect on how healthy and happy it is for the rest of its life. Find out where our PDSA vet experts recommend you get your cat from.

Not sure if the Abyssinian is the right pet for you?