Abyssinian cat: character, care and diseases of Abyssinian cats
Abyssinian cat
There are many stories about the origins of Abyssinian cats - some more likely and some less.
Nevertheless, it is known that these cats, contrary to their name, do not come from Abissynia (present-day Ethiopia), but rather their ancestors lived in the areas of Southeast Asia and the shores of the Indian Ocean.
It is a very old breed and images of Abyssinian cats are said to have been seen in Egyptian paintings from the time of the pharaohs.
The greatest prosperity of the breed took place since 1935. when the breeding of Abyssinian cats began in the United States.
To this day, these cats are very popular there and are in the top ten of the most popular cat breeds in the USA.
In Poland, these cats, resembling small cougars or pumas, also have more and more followers.
- Abyssinian cat in nature
- Abyssinian cat appearance
- Abyssinian cat price
- Abyssinian cat care
- Abyssinian cat disease
- Dilated cardiomyopathy
- Hair shaft disorders in Abyssinian cats
- Blastomycosis
- Cryptococcosis
- Amyloidosis
- Pyruvate kinase (PK) deficiency
- Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA)
- Is it worth choosing an Abyssinian cat??
Abyssinian cat in nature
Abyssinian cat in nature Abyssinian cat is an exceptional cat.
Clever, funny, extremely physically fit, he is constantly on the move.
He climbs, jumps, runs and explores the terrain.
So, as you can guess, it is not a typical pet that lies on your lap all day, but needs a daily dose and may even insistently ask for stroking and scratching the tummy.
She loves to have fun and involve as many people as possible.
Human interaction is very important to him.
These cats, if left unattended, get bored very quickly.
Therefore, it is worth getting a cat's toys that support not only manual development, but also those that will allow the cat to "think " and keep it occupied for a long time.
They are cats that can be taught simple tricks as well as walking on a leash.
They love to watch birds, so if they are kept in the apartment, they will spend some time by the window, which should also be secured with a net.
Abyssinian cat appearance
Abyssinian cat appearance Abyssinian cat weight
The body weight of an adult individual varies between 2.5 and 5 kg.
Abyssinian cat breed description
Abyssinian cat is an elegant, slender and muscular, medium-sized cat.
It looks like a little cougar.
A wedge-shaped head with a convex forehead and a moderately marked fronto-nasal fracture.
The chin is well defined.
Almond-shaped eyes, large and set wide apart, surrounded by a dark rim.
The ears are large and wide at the base, set wide apart.
The torso is flexible and springy, and the limbs are delicate and slim.
Long tail, tapering towards the end.
Hair is short, close-fitting and pleasant to the touch.
Characteristic for the breed is the so-called. ticking - lighter and darker stripes alternating on the bristles, which creates an interesting pattern. The agouti gene is responsible for this type of color.
The coat is lighter around the lips and eyes.
The M mark on the forehead and the dark stripe on the back are also specific.
Abyssinian cat, color
Colors:
- wilderness,
- blue,
- redhead,
- fawn.
All colors are silver varieties - with a silvery-white undercoat.
Abyssinian cat price
For a kitten with a pedigree (and this is the only one you should buy) we will pay about 2500 - 3000 PLN.
Abyssinian cat care
Abyssinian cat care Due to the short hair of Abyssinian cats, grooming them is not too complicated and takes a minimum amount of time and effort.
Brush the cat with a comb once a week to get rid of dead hair and keep the coat smooth and shiny.
If we teach kittens to sit patiently while brushing their teeth, we will be able to do so regularly, which will reduce the risk of tartar and periodontal disease.
Abyssinian cat disease
Abyssinian cat disease Dilated cardiomyopathy
It is a heart disease involving the dilatation of the heart muscle - its walls become thinner, which causes the heart cavities to widen.
This leads to impaired systolic function (weakening of the force of contraction), damage to the valves and heart failure.
Predisposed to the disease are mainly male individuals.
DCM was found to be directly related to taurine deficiency in cats, so introducing it commonly into the nutrition of these animals significantly reduced the incidence of taurine.
DCM manifests itself:
- breathlessness,
- hypothermia,
- weakening.
Symptoms of pain and limb paresis may also appear as a result thromboembolism.
In order to diagnose, X-ray and, above all, echo of the heart should be performed.
Treatment is based on the use of cardiac drugs depending on the severity of the disease, as well as enriching the diet with taurine.
Hair shaft disorders in Abyssinian cats
It is a rare disease typical of the breed.
It concerns topcoat hair and mustache that are brittle, coarse and devoid of shine.
Blastomycosis
A rare fungal disease that develops after aspiration of Blastomyces dermatitis spores into the airways.
The disease process begins in the lung tissue and over time affects the lymph nodes, skin, eye and other organs.
The symptoms depend on the type of organ involved and can include:
- cough,
- fever,
- skin abscesses,
- glaucoma,
- lameness and others.
The diagnosis of the disease is based on breeding, cytological or dermatopathological examination.
Treatment includes the use of targeted antifungal therapy.
Cryptococcosis
A rare fungal disease, most often affecting young animals, caused by spores of the fungus Cryptococcus neoformans entering the body through the respiratory tract.
The most common symptoms are:
- sneezing,
- wheezing,
- discharge from the nose.
When the disease affects other organs, the following are observed:
- ulcerative skin nodules,
- enlargement of the lymph nodes,
- neurological changes,
- damage to the organ of vision.
In order to diagnose, you can use a cytological, dermopathological, breeding test, as well as an ELISA test or a PCR test.
Treatment consists of long-term antifungal therapy and surgical removal of nodular lesions.
Amyloidosis
It is a systemic syndrome that has a family character in Abyssinian cats.
During the course of the disease, insoluble amyloid is deposited in the tissues - mainly the kidneys and liver.
This leads to dysfunction of these organs and, consequently, their chronic failure.
They get sick most often young cats, up to 5 years of age.
Pyruvate kinase (PK) deficiency
It is a genetic disease that affects a large percentage of Abyssinian cats.
In breeding kennels, breeding cats are tested for defective genes so that they are not passed on to their offspring.
This condition consists of a deficiency of an enzyme (erythrocyte pyruvate kinase) which leads to an accelerated breakdown of red blood cells and the development of haemolytic anemia.
Erythrocytes lose their ability to maintain their proper shape, they have a lower capacity to transport oxygen and a shorter life time.
It manifests itself:
- pallor of the mucous membranes,
- jaundice,
- weakening,
- fever.
There is no specific treatment and the disease may partially resolve after the spleen is removed.
Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA)
PRA is an inherited disorder involving the degeneration of the structures of the eye's retina.
The first noticeable symptom is usually loss of vision after dark.
The pupil dilates and the blood vessels in the retina are atrophied, making it thin and piercing the reflective film through it, giving the impression of light.
You may lose your eyesight completely over time.
The disease is confirmed by an ophthalmic electroretinograph examination to check the receptors' response to light stimuli.
Is it worth choosing an Abyssinian cat??
Abyssinian cat disposition Abyssinian cats are unusual cats in many respects.
Their exotic and wild appearance is delightful, and their extraordinary, spontaneous nature will not allow us to get bored in their presence.
They are extremely active and curious, love to climb and can be kept in housing conditions, as long as we provide them with a high cat scratching post.
They like to be in the center of attention and become attached to the owner whom they can walk step by step until they fulfill their whims.
They also communicate well with other cats, but are aggressive and tend to dominate, so as long as they are allowed to be alpha, the herd will live in harmony.
Since these cats are extremely intelligent, the level of entertainment and fun that we need to provide them must also be of the highest level.
Puzzle toys with pop-up treats are recommended, or typically a dog retriever.
Abyssinians are very ubiquitous, so we keep small objects and all flowers out of their reach, and because they have a tendency to escape due to the curiosity of the world encoded in their subconsciousness, windows and balconies should be protected against them.
There are also cats that are very affectionate towards our guests, they like to show off to us, and they meow or make other sounds relatively rarely.
So if you are looking for a cheerful, energetic companion who you can keep up with at the same time, an Abyssinian cat will be a good choice.
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