Abyssinian cat

The Abyssinian /æbɪˈsɪniən/ is a breed of domestic short-haired cat with a distinctive 'ticked' tabby coat, in which individual hairs are banded with different colors. The breed is named for Abyssinia (now called Ethiopia), where it is believed to have originated. The Abyssinian /æbɪˈsɪniən/ is a breed of domestic short-haired cat with a distinctive 'ticked' tabby coat, in which individual hairs are banded with different colors. The breed is named for Abyssinia (now called Ethiopia), where it is believed to have originated. The Abyssinian cat as it is known today was bred in Great Britain. It is alleged that British soldiers deployed to North Africa in the nineteenth century returned home with kittens purchased from local traders.