The Name Abyssinian: Abyssinia is the old name of Ethiopia (a country in the Horn of Africa). Recent genetic studies have suggested that the Abyssinian cat probably originated in Southeast Asia, and not Africa.

Anatomy: Abyssinians have short, shiny hair. The coat is ticked (this means that each hair has bands of color). The coat color can be red, ruddy, blue (beige with specks of blue/black), or fawn.

This regal cat has a long, arched neck, slim legs and a long, tapering tail. The eyes are almond-shaped and are green, gold or hazel in color. The ears are large, alert, and set widely apart The muscular body is long and lithe.