The Abyssinian cat is a captivating breed, admired for its striking ticked coat, regal appearance, and active, engaging personality. This breed standard outlines the ideal characteristics of an Abyssinian, covering everything from head shape and body structure to coat texture, color, and markings. Understanding these breed standards is crucial for breeders, enthusiasts, and potential owners to appreciate and preserve the unique qualities of the Abyssinian.
General Impression
The overall impression of an ideal Abyssinian is that of a colorful, medium-sized cat with a distinctly ticked coat and a regal bearing. Abyssinians are known for being lithe, muscular, and exuding an eagerness to explore their surroundings. They possess a well-balanced temperament and physique, with all elements of the cat in proportion, contributing to their graceful and athletic build.
Head
The Abyssinian’s head is a modified, slightly rounded wedge, free from flat planes. The brow, cheeks, and profile lines all exhibit a gentle contour. There is a slight rise from the bridge of the nose to the forehead, which should be of a good size, with ample width between the ears. This shape flows seamlessly into an arched neck without any abrupt breaks.
Muzzle
The muzzle is neither sharply pointed nor square. The chin should be neither receding nor protruding, and some allowance is made for jowls in adult males, reflecting their mature physique.
Ears
Ears are a prominent feature, described as alert, large, and moderately pointed. They are broad and cupped at the base, set in a way that the outer line of the ear follows the outer line of the modified wedge shape without interruption, maintaining the breed’s characteristic contours.
Eyes
Abyssinian eyes are almond-shaped, large, brilliant, and expressive, avoiding both overly round and distinctly oriental shapes. They are accentuated by a fine, dark line and encircled by a lighter colored area, adding to their captivating allure.
Body
The body is medium in length, lithe, and graceful, yet it clearly shows well-developed muscular strength without any hint of coarseness. The Abyssinian’s conformation strikes a balance between the extremes of a cobby (stocky) and a svelte (slender) type. Proportion and overall balance are highly valued over mere size.
Legs and Feet
The legs are proportionately slim with fine bones. The Abyssinian stands tall, appearing to be on its tiptoes, which contributes to its elegant stance. Paws are small, oval, and compact. There are five toes on the front paws and four on the hind paws.
Tail
The tail is thick at the base, fairly long, and tapers to a point, complementing the overall sleek and balanced physique of the cat.
Coat
The coat is characterized by its soft, silky texture and fine quality, yet it is dense and resilient to the touch, possessing a lustrous sheen. The coat is medium in length, sufficient to accommodate the distinct bands of ticking that are a hallmark of the breed.
Coat Color and Ticking
The ideal Abyssinian coat color is warm and glowing. Ticking should be distinct and even, featuring dark bands (matching the tail tip color) that contrast with the undercoat-colored bands on the hair shafts. The undercoat should be clear and bright right down to the skin. Deeper color shades are desired, but the intensity of the ticking should not be sacrificed for color depth. Darker shading along the spine is permissible if it is fully ticked. Preference is given to cats that are unmarked on their undersides, chest, and legs, with a tail free of rings.
Facial Markings
Desirable facial markings include dark lines extending from the eyes and brows, subtle cheekbone shading, and dots or shading on the whisker pads. These features enhance the expressive nature of the Abyssinian’s face. The eyes are further accentuated by a fine dark line and are encircled by a lighter colored area.
Eye Color
Eye color can range from gold to green, with richer and deeper hues being more desirable.
Accepted Colors and Their Characteristics
The Abyssinian breed is recognized in four distinct color variations, each with specific characteristics:
Ruddy
- Coat Color: Ruddy brown (burnt-sienna), ticked with black. The extreme outer tip of the hair is the darkest, with an orange-brown undercoat.
- Tail and Ears: Tipped with black.
- Underside and Legs: A tint that harmonizes with the main coat color.
- Nose Leather: Tile red.
- Paw Pads: Black or brown, with black between the toes extending slightly beyond the paws.
Cinnamon
- Coat Color: Rich, warm glowing red, ticked with chocolate-brown. The extreme outer tip is the darkest, with a red-orange undercoat.
- Tail and Ears: Tipped with chocolate-brown.
- Underside and Legs: A tint that harmonizes with the main coat color.
- Nose Leather: Rosy pink.
- Paw Pads: Pink, with chocolate-brown between the toes extending slightly beyond the paws.
Blue
- Coat Color: Warm beige, ticked with slate blue. The extreme outer tip is the darkest, with a blush beige undercoat.
- Tail and Ears: Tipped with slate blue.
- Underside and Legs: A tint that harmonizes with the main coat color.
- Nose Leather: Old rose.
- Paw Pads: Mauve, with slate blue between the toes extending slightly beyond the paws.
Fawn
- Coat Color: Warm rose-beige, ticked with light cocoa brown. The extreme outer tip is the darkest, with a blush beige undercoat.
- Tail and Ears: Tipped with light cocoa brown.
- Underside and Legs: A tint that harmonizes with the main coat color.
- Nose Leather: Salmon.
- Paw pads: Pink, with light cocoa brown between the toes extending slightly beyond the paws.
Penalties and Disqualifications
Certain faults are penalized, while others lead to disqualification from show standards.
Penalize
- Off-color pads.
- Long narrow head or short round head.
- Barring on legs, dark broken necklace markings, or rings on the tail.
- Coldness or grey tones in the coat.
- White undercoat on blue or fawn Abyssinians.
- Ears set too high or too low, disrupting the smooth lines of the modified wedge.
Disqualify
- White locket or any white beyond the nostril, chin, and upper throat area.
- Kinked or abnormal tail.
- Dark unbroken necklace marking.
- Grey undercoat close to the skin extending throughout a major portion of the body.
- Any black hair on a cinnamon Abyssinian.
- Incorrect number of toes.
- Any color other than the four accepted colors.
Color Class Numbers (For Reference Only)
These numbers are for reference and not part of the official CFA Show Standard.
- Ruddy: 0380, 0381
- Cinnamon: 0382, 0383
- Blue: 0384, 0385
- Fawn: 0386, 0387
- AOV (Any Other Variety): None
The Abyssinian breed standard ensures the preservation of this unique and beautiful cat breed, guiding breeders and judges in identifying and celebrating the quintessential Abyssinian.
