Abyssinians truly bond with 
and are devoted to, their human families. 

ABY TRAITS: The "Aby look" is likened to that of a tiny Mountain Lion, or Wild Jungle Cat.  Their expressive and highly animated faces are centered around large, deep soulful eyes.  Their glance is intelligent, mischievous, and demanding yet affectionate and sensitive.  Abyssinians embody strong alpha spirits.

 Although Abyssinians are known as a "naturally occurring breed".  "Today, no breeding Abyssinians in this country are of purely indigenous "naturally occurring" descent.  It is an obvious point that humans have played a major role in the genetic make up of modern Aby's.  However a study of early photographs of Aby's brought to England in the early 1800's shows that breeders do attempt to keep the previously naturally occurring traits strong in the breed.    

·         Aby’s will always be interested in whatever you are doing and want to go wherever you go, often from the vantage point of your shoulder... 
or leading the way!!

·         Your Aby kitten will gleefully keep you well entertained by ‘helping’ as you tend to chores around the house.  Try not to get in their way...  xx0x0xx

·         Aby’s are seldom without toys since the world IS their toy box! Toss in a few hand wound pipe cleaner 'springs' and you will certainly be their Toy Wizard! [Safer than strings or yarn.] 

·         Aby’s are remarkable inventors of their own games - and are absolutely stellar at teaching you their rules for these games... when you pay attention!   Teenage Aby's may expect to play fetch in the wee early hours once they've dragged your napping self out of a restful coma.

·         Aby's tend to be easily trained and have an almost "doglike" devotion to their people.  Our Aby's understand NO and generally leave whatever the "no-no" is alone when told.  That doesn't mean they don't do it when you aren't looking, they are also very persistent. 

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STANDARDS: The following information is for reference purposes,
taken from CFA’s Abyssinian Breed Standards.

GENERAL:  The overall impression of the ideal Abyssinian is that of a colorful cat with a distinctly ticked coat, medium in size and regal and sleek in appearance.  The Abyssinian is lithe, hard and muscular, showing eager activity and a lively interest in all surroundings.  Well balanced temperamentally and physically - with all elements of the cat in proportion.  The tail is thick at base, fairly long and tapering.

 
COAT TICKING:   Warm and glowing, distinct and even, with dark colored bands contrasting with lighter colored bands on the hair shafts.  Undercoat color 'clear' and bright to the skin.  Deeper color shades desired, however intensity of ticking not to be sacrificed for depth of color.  Darker shading along spine allowed if fully ticked.   Preference given to cats that are unmarked on the undersides, chest, and legs, and tail without rings. 

BODY: Medium long, lithe and graceful, showing well-developed muscular strength. Abyssinian conformation strikes a medium between the extremes of the cobby (buff kitties!) and the svelte (scrawny kitties!) lengthy type.   Proportion and general balance more to be desired than mere size.  Adult male Abyssinians weight between 7-9 pounds while adult females often will range between 4-6 pounds. 

MUZZLE: Not sharply pointed or square.  The chin should be neither receding nor protruding.  Allowance should be made for jowls in adult males. 

EYES: Almond shaped, large, brilliant, and expressive.  Eyes accentuated by fine dark line (“eyeliner”), encircled by light colored area.  Accepted eye colors are gold, green, and hazel. 

EARS: Alert, large, and moderately pointed; broad, and cupped at base and set as though listening.  Hair on ears very short and close lying, preferably tipped with black or dark brown on a ruddy Abyssinian, chocolate-brown on a red Abyssinian, slate blue on the blue Abyssinian, or light cocoa brown on a fawn Abyssinian.

RECOGNIZED COLORS:

RUDDY (Considered the “Usual” Aby):   Coat is ruddy brown (burnt-sienna), ticked with various shades of darker brown or black; the extreme outer tip to be the darkest, with orange-brown undercoat.  Tail tipped with black.  The underside and inside of legs to be a tint to harmonize with the main color.  Nose leather: tile red.  Paw pads: black or brown, with black between toes, extending slightly beyond the paws. 

FAWN: Coat is warm rose-beige, ticked with light cocoa brown, the extreme outer tip to be the darkest, with blush beige undercoat.  Tail tipped with light cocoa brown.  The underside and inside of legs to be a tint to harmonize with the main color.  Nose leather: salmon.  Paw pads: pink with light cocoa brown between the toes, extending slightly beyond the paws.

RED (Sorrel):  Coat is rich, warm glowing red, ticked with chocolate-brown, the extreme outer tip to be dark, with red undercoat.  Tail tipped with chocolate-brown.  The underside and inside of legs to be a tint to harmonize with the main color. Nose leather: rosy pink.  Paw pads: pink, with chocolate brown between toes, extending slightly beyond the paws. 

BLUE: Coat is a warm beige, ticked with various shades of slate blue, the extreme outer tip to be the darkest, with blush beige undercoat.  Tail tipped with slate blue.  The underside and inside of legs to be a tint to harmonize with the main color.  Nose leather: old rose.  Paw pads: mauve, with slate blue between toes, extending slightly beyond the paws. 

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BRINGING YOUR KITTEN HOME:

Kittens normally leave their litter mates anywhere from 9 to 12 weeks and will arrive in your care with a complete health check and initial vaccinations.  Our kittens are hand raised 'underfoot' and in our laps, on our sofa, our beds and pretty much anywhere they're safe to roam.  They have learned rudimentary social manners and household etiquette.  So, your kitten will have the best possible foundation to cope with their new surroundings and relationships.  Your Aby kitten will already be adept at using a litter box and will be eating dry and moist kitten food, without digestive upset.   However, following a few simple guidelines will assist your kitten with the transition.

LITTER BOX:

It is a good idea to have on hand the same "Cats Pride" scoopable - flushable litter that the kittens are already accustomed too.  This will help insure that your kitten makes a smooth adjustment to their new home, so you both enjoy continued litter box success.  We don't have 'accidents' in our home, and we want you to have the same experience when your kitten arrives.

If you want to change to a different litter, its no problem of course - but, we suggest using their usual  scoopable litter first, until your baby is well established in your home.  Then slowly add the litter of your choice while reducing the content of the scoopable litter. 

FOOD and TREATS:

 Abyssinians are unrepentant food thieves.  They will be thrilled to stalk and kill just about any food you have in your hand, on your kitchen counter, or your plate.  Nature 'tells them' that they should eat whatever the leader of the family is eating!  Of course you are the boss, and it's probably best if you aren’t tempted to hand over your whole dinner to the tiny insistent kitten standing on your fork!  Especially if you don't want a beggar for life.  (Reduce begging significantly by feeding your kitten before you eat.)

 However, we are believers that cats can easily be taught dinnertime etiquette, and develop a  healthy and robust digestive system by gradually being introduced to small bits of human food that they're naturally attracted too.  (Please note that human food should never replace a regular diet of good quality cat food - dry and wet.) 

Simply begin with miniscule ‘tastes’ - cooked meats, eggs, cooked vegetables, rice, yogurt, cream cheese, and other "simple" foods.  WARNING some foods  may be terribly disruptive (or even TOXIC and DEADLY) to your kitten; onions, garlic, raw sugars, salt, snack items like chocolate, highly processed foods or any food high in zinc.  Their taste buds are absolutely thrilled to nibble new taste sensations, and kittens certainly lack the initiative to “just say NO”.

TIP:  Good to have on hand during their first few weeks home is 'Kitten Replacement Milk' (KRM) - or - Good Start Infant Formula. The kittens are accustomed to diet supplementation with these formulas - and considering their incredible growth spurts in the first 12 months - we strongly encourage maintaining a formula supplement during their first year.

And of course as already mentioned - plenty of their established high-nutrient kitty foods.   We use a mix of Science Diet  and Nutro Max dry kibble-- supplemented by Fancy Feast and Friskies Shredded meats, as well as Science Diet Liver & Chicken Entrée Kitten.   We'll be happy to give you our recipe for " kitten-stew" that they're all pretty fond of.

Because diarrhea can quickly become life threatening in tiny kittens - you will be glad to avoid digestive trauma by sticking to their initial  food habits for awhile.  However, before long you'll both settle comfortably and safely into your own food routines. If diarrhea is observed at any time please contact your veterinarian immediately!

It's always a good idea to offer a vitamin tab as a morning treat!  They think they're getting something extra special - and you're sneaking a great supplement into their diet!

 

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ALTERNATE TRANSPORTATION: *ABYADIKT’s LESS-STRESS DELIVERY”
                                                     offers personal delivery of your kitten to your location.   

·         Charges will be based on travel costs for AbyAdikt to hand deliver the kitten to any specified destination.  In lieu of flight costs, mileage charge of $.30 per mile and layover costs will apply.  

·         This service is gladly rendered... but is necessarily dependent on weather, weekend availability, and timely arrangements prior to expected delivery.

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IN ADDITION: If you arrive to pick up your precious little kitten with your own cat-carrier in hand… all the better!  If not, (or if your kitten must fly) a minimal Airline Approved cat carrier will cost $30.00.  Airlines require a Veterinarian’s Health Certificate, which is $35.00.  Some states and other Countries also require incoming animals to be immunized against rabies before traveling, and would therefore be an additional cost when necessary.

 

Do not expect to travel in a vehicle with an unsecured kitten.
A kitten will squirm out of your loving arms before long and explore the vehicle - ending up snuggly entrenched under a seat or up inside the dash!  They are also likely to crawl dangerously underfoot, impeding use of the brake or gas pedals.  

Avoid these dangerous scenarios.
Bring an appropriate carrier.

Last but not least....

DISCIPLINE:   Our kittens have most likely had a few brief encounters and a surprise splash from the  'discipline squirt bottle' ( together with humans hissing accompanied by a verbal "NO!")  which instantly halts  forbidden scratching, and climbing.   This is by far the most immediate, effective and least aggressive reinforcement - accommodating any distance and environment.   Kittens soon learn to respond as well to a human "hiss" as they do to a well aimed jet of water.  A beloved owner's hands and body should never be involved in discipline or violence in any way, or your cat will learn fear and distrust - rather than discipline or manners. 

Do yourself a favor - always refrain from spanking or shaking your pets!  

Denali

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