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Abyssinian
A lithe, ticked-coat cat with an alert, playful nature — one of the oldest-looking breeds.
How to spot it
A slender, fine-boned but muscular cat 3–5 kg with large ears, expressive almond eyes and a distinctive "ticked" tabby coat — each hair banded with colour — that gives a warm, glowing, wild-rabbit look, usually in ruddy brown.
Personality
Busy, curious and playful — an "Aby" climbs to the highest shelf, investigates everything and stays kitten-like for years. Affectionate and people-oriented, but not a still lap cat; it wants to be involved.
Grooming & coat care
The short ticked coat is very easy: a weekly brush keeps it gleaming and it sheds little.
Health & lifespan
Often 12–15 years. Watch for an inherited blindness (PRA), pyruvate kinase deficiency (anaemia) and dental disease; DNA tests exist for the first two, so buy from a breeder who screens.
Living with one in India
The short coat and active nature suit warm Indian homes well, provided the cat gets height to climb and plenty of play. It is an indoor, interactive cat rather than one to leave to its own devices.
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