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Abyssinian CatsAbyssinian cats Note: if the slide show doesn't show in Internet Explorer make sure the Google slide show script can run by clicking on the ActiveX bar at the top of the screen. If is still doesn't show refresh the page and all should be OK. |
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| The Aby is in the top 5 most popular in the USA today
(2008). That may well change. I am not
absolutely sure of the percentage of visitors from the various
countries that visit this website. Alexa, a traffic information center,
indicates that about 50% are from the USA, 30% from the UK and the rest
from a variety of countries. Google Analytics tells me something
different, almost the opposite. To what does this cat breed owe her popularity? My theory is that Abyssinian cats are a well established natural breed of normal and balanced proportions. The looks and character are great too. Abyssinian cats are not extreme (like the Modern Siamese and the flat faced (Ultra) Persian or overtly exotic like the glamorous wildcat/domestic cat hybrids or look-alikes (Bengal and Toyger to name two). Anyway you can see the best photographs on the internet in this slide show. The slide show updates automatically as pictures are added to the album. They are nearly all by Helmi Flick, the best of all cat photographers and a generous person as well. She has graciously given permission for her photographs to be used as this site is for charity. It has been built to benefit the welfare of cats who are less fortunate than the vast majority of Abyssinian cats who would, because of their status, find good homes. The less fortunate average mixed breed cat is neither no worse a cat or (for me in any event) nor less beautiful. If you want to see where the money made from this site goes, click on this link. Just below I have summarized some of the most important areas of the CFA breed standard for this cat breed to allow a comparison with the wonderful cats in the slide show and Nikita the cat below. If you have photographs of Abyssinian Cats that you'd like to see added to this show, please contact me using the form on this page or upload them yourself on this page. |
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 Abyssinian cat - Nikita - photo ©Helmi Flick This is a short article about the appearance of the Aby with reference to the CFA breed Standard. I discuss features that I prefer to. It is not meant to be comprehensive. The Abyssinian should be of colorful appearance with a ticked coat. You can see this clearly ticked coat in the photograph immediately above of Nikita. The ruddy coat color is broken with flecks. Nikita's coat radiates a superbly warm color. I'm sure Helmi made sure the color was photographed to maximum effect. This breed should be lithe, hard and muscular. This hints at the cats athleticism and she should be an active and "eager" cat. The head should be a "modified wedge", a well used term in the cat fancy. It means what it says really; a triangular shaped (in three dimensions) head modified by the fact that it has to have rounded areas (that probably didn't help!). The standard mentions that the head should not have "flat planes" indicating a rounded and contoured lines. Her eyes should be almond shaped, large and brilliant and expressive. I love Nikita's eyes and to me they are exactly as the standard describes. Would you say that Nikita'a eyes are accentuated by a fine dark line surrounded by a light colored area? I would, and if you agree she meets the standard. Nikita looks in wonderful condition to me and she has to be as she needs to be "lithe and graceful....with well developed muscular strength without coarseness". It is important for an Abyssinian to demonstrate a well balanced body with the elements of the body in good proportion to one another. Nikita has small feet and slender legs. Her long tail tapers from the base to the end. She has a beautiful, fine soft and silky coat with a noticeable sheen in Helmi's photograph. The coat should be long enough for the hair to have 2-3 bands of ticking. When the hair is ticked it changes color over its length in bands much line a banded tail. Abyssinian cats to Pictures of cat breeds |