Abyssinian cat breeders

A kitten from an Abyssinian cattery is a real stroke of luck, as this breed isn't very common in Russia, and there's always a waiting list for purebred Abyssinian offspring. Why? Once you see an Abyssinian cat, you can't take your eyes off her—she's a true miniature lioness, majestic and graceful. Her playful, playful nature is even more striking and captivating. But remember: if you have an Abyssinian cat in your home, forget about cuddling on the couch—it's best to stock up on toys.

How to buy a breeding kitten, what to look for when choosing a pet, and what characteristics the Abyssinian breed possesses—all the useful information in our article.

About the breed

Historical background

The Abyssinian breed is ancient. Around 2,000 years ago, its representatives inhabited Abyssinia, in what is now Ethiopia. These beautiful creatures with their regal bearing were considered sacred and were kept only by noble families and their relatives.

The first Abyssinian was brought to Europe by British captain Barrett-Leonard in 1868. The handsome Zulu was found during the expedition and became the founder of the breed. American breeders later fought for the continued existence of Abyssinian cats, as military conflicts in Europe led to the near-extinction of these exotic beauties.

The Abyssinian cats of that time were not similar to modern representatives of the breed: they had a different body shape, and their coloring could vary greatly.

External data

It's impossible to mistake the Abyssinian cat for any other. This medium-sized cat has a graceful yet muscular, elongated body, a small, wedge-shaped head with a muzzle that's neither pointed nor square, and long limbs and neck. Its ears are always perked up, as if listening for something.

The eyes are almond-shaped and come in two colors: green or amber. Each eyelid appears to be lined with black eyeliner, and the chin appears powdered—a truly natural makeup look.

The paws are neat and graceful. There are five toes on the front feet and four on the back feet.

The tail of Abyssinian cats is quite thick and long, tapering towards the end.

The coat of this breed of cat is their most distinctive feature. Because each hair is colored in several shades (2-3 ticking stripes), the Abyssinian's coat shimmers with a variety of colors.

Today, most clubs recognize four colors of the Abyssinian cat:

• Fawn. The base color is ivory, coffee, or cocoa with milk, with tricking in lilac-beige.
• Blue. The base coat color is blue-gray, with tricking consisting of beige and steel-blue.
• Sorrel. Coat color ranges from reddish-brown to copper-red.
• Wild. The most common. Reddish-brown patches alternate with orange and black.

Some clubs also recognize lilac and chocolate color variants.

Character

The Abyssinian cat's regal appearance belies its personality. Representatives of this breed don't act like royalty—they thrive on companionship and attention. An Abyssinian will happily chase its owner while cleaning, actively participate in typing, make every effort to open the door, and arrange its favorite items just the way it pleases, then settle down on top.

Abyssinian cats are easygoing, intelligent, and very loyal. They get along well with children and bring joy, love, and good humor to those they live with.

Important: representatives of this breed are very lonely, so if they are absent from home for long periods of time, the owner should provide company for their pet.

Care Features

Caring for an Abyssinian cat is not difficult:

• They need to be fed the same way as pedigree cats of other breeds.
• Once a week, the cat's coat needs to be groomed: brush it with a fine-toothed comb, and occasionally bathed during shedding season. To enhance the coat's beauty, breeders often run a silk cloth through it after brushing.
• To maintain optimal claw length, it is worth purchasing a scratching post.
• carry out deworming and don’t forget about the necessary vaccinations.

Abyssinian Cattery – How to Choose a Kitten

Buying a pedigree cat from someone, at a pet market, or through a newspaper ad is buying a pig in a poke. Don't expect to find a pedigree cat in an underground passageway with all the necessary paperwork. Even when buying a kitten from a certified breeder, you should pay attention to the following:

• A conscientious cattery owner will be happy to show you the conditions in which adults and kittens are kept, and will also show you all the documentation for the kitten you're interested in.
• Kittens are not sold until they are 12 weeks old, as weaning them earlier can have an impact on the animals' mental and even physical health.
• Babies aged 3-4 months should not be fearful and especially not aggressive; during this period they are mobile, active and willingly play with each other.
• A healthy kitten should be clean (ears and eyes should also be free of discharge), have a soft tummy (the opposite indicates worms), and the animal should not emit an unpleasant odor.
• The kitten's external characteristics should match the standard as much as possible.

Important: A purebred Abyssinian cat's coat should not have stripes on the paws, broken collars, excessively light or grayish undercoats, any hint of markings, or white hairs extending beyond the chin. Eyelids must be edged with black, and ticking should include a sufficient number of stripes.

• A kitten's passport must include two vaccination records, given at 9 and 11 weeks of age. Experts advise against purchasing an unvaccinated animal.

The best Abyssinian catteries in Moscow and the Moscow region

Astragalus

The cattery breeds Abyssinian cats of the modern American type. The primary goal of the breeding program is to maintain the animals' health, natural qualities, and character. The cattery is registered with the CFA, TICA, ICU, and FARUS felinological systems.

Head: Daria Lovchinovskaya

Contact information:

• Phone: +7 903 969 33 03
• e-mail: aby@gmail.com
• website: astragalus-aby.ru

AMBERBERRY

The cattery has been operating since 2009. Currently, they breed modern American-type Abyssinian cats in the sorrel and wild colors. AMBERBERY kittens are sired by the best representatives of the breed, and their pedigree can be traced back to the eighth generation. All the cats are intelligent, have excellent health, and have wonderful personalities.

Head: Yulia Kiseleva

Contact information:

• telephones: +7 965 164-84-34, +7 916 965-09-99
• Email: kittens@amberberry.ru
• Website: amberberry.ru

ORANGE MARMELAD

An Abyssinian cat breeder in Moscow that has been breeding since 2003. Two years ago, they also began breeding Norwegian Forest cats. The cattery's meticulous staff strives to maintain the purity and perfection of the breed. To date, three generations of Orange Marmelad Abyssinian cats have successfully competed in shows. The cattery is registered with CFA, TICA, FIFE, and WCF.

Head: Elena Valerievna Pozhidaeva

Contact information:

• telephones: +7 495 360 02 91, +7 903 166 93 67
• Website: www.orange-marmelad.ru

Savage*Ru

The cattery specializes in breeding Abyssinian cats in the sorrel and wild colors. All Savage*Ru cats meet external standards and are healthy and cheerful. The cattery is registered with the CFA and TICA systems.

Head: Tatyana Popova

Contact information:

• phone: 8-926-789-83-20
• e-mail: abykit@bk.ru
• Website: savageru.ru

Emmanuelle

The cattery specializes in breeding purebred Abyssinian cats. The founders are titled individuals of this breed, so all kittens have an excellent pedigree and a wonderful gene pool. Emmanuelle Cattery offers kittens for both breeding and family use.

Director: Yulia Prokhorenko

Contact information:

• telephones: +7 925 006 10 57, +7 926 152 55 62
• e-mail: elit-cat@mail.ru
• Website: elit-cat.com

Please note! The nursery has changed its address: ART complex in Pavshinskaya Poima (a couple of kilometers from the Moscow Ring Road along Novorizhskoe or Volokolamskoe Highway), Avangardnaya Street, Building 2, Block 1.

Read also:

• Chausie: cats and kittens
• Munchkin: cats and kittens
• How to start breeding cats