Читать книгу 77 Things to Know Before Getting a Cat - Susan Ewing M. - Страница 13

The Abyssinian is an elegant, muscular cat that many people feel looks a bit like the African wildcat that is the common ancestor of domestic cats. It is believed that the breed originated along the Indian Ocean, in parts of Southeast Asia. The breed was refined in England, resulting in an elegant, intelligent companion.

Abyssinians are social, inquisitive, and constantly moving; they jump, climb, and explore. If you want a cat who can learn some tricks, the Abyssinian is the cat for you. If you’d like a silent cat, however, keep looking; the Abyssinian is not shy about voicing his opinion.

Abyssinian

SOMALI

If everything about the Abyssinian sounds ideal, but you’d prefer a longhaired cat, consider the Somali, a longhaired breed that is the result of a recessive gene in the Abyssinian.

Abyssinians weigh between 6 and 10 pounds (2.7–4.5 kg) and have a life span of between nine and fifteen years. They are often seen in a distinctive reddish color with darker ticking, but they also come in chocolate, cinnamon, blue, lilac, fawn, and a silver version of them all.

Abyssinians are healthy cats but they can develop a hereditary condition known as pyruvate kinase (PK) deficiency. This is caused by a recessive gene, and DNA testing can determine whether a cat is normal, a carrier, or affected by PK deficiency. A responsible breeder should test her cats before breeding.