A LITTLE BIT ABOUT FELINE HISTORY - AND Abyssinian's 

    "Some 10,000 years ago, somewhere in the Near East, at least five female wildcats of the sub species 'Felis Silvestris Lybica' made the delicate transition from forest to village.  From these five matriarchs all the world's 600 million domestic cats are descended." according to Dr. Stephen O'Brien, an expert on genetics of the cat family and co-author of the Science Report. 

      In their recently published and acclaimed study more than six years was spent collecting and analyzing DNA from all Old World (regional origin) species of wildcats, fancy pedigreed, domestic feral, and generic house cats.  From as far as Scotland , Israel , Namibia and Mongolia all feline DNA was meticulously collected, compared, and logged according to identical markers.

      The study determined that five subspecies comprised all lineages.  These branches were called; the European Wildcat, the Near Eastern Wildcat, Southern African Wildcat, Central Asian Wildcat, and the Chinese Desert Wildcat.

      Since wheat, rye and barley were known to have been domesticated over 10,000 years ago - it is assumed that wildcats made the transition from forest to village  attracted by rat and mouse infestations thriving in farmers crops.  Not only were the encroaching wildcats a welcomed aid to reducing vermin in the crops - but farmers could benefit from a feline guarding the premises as its own territory.   The alliance was inevitable.

      "Unlike other domestic animals, which were tamed by people, cats probably domesticated themselves.  Which could account for the haughty independence of their descendants." states Dr. Driscol - the other co-author of the Science Report.  "The cats were adapting themselves to a new environment so the push for domestication came from the cat side, not the human side." 

      In addition their study found that, "Until recently the cat was commonly believed to have been domesticated in ancient Egypt, where it was a cult animal.  But three years ago a group of French archaeologists led by Jean-Denis Vigne discovered the remains of an eight-month-old cat buried with its human owner at a Neolithic site in Cyprus .  The mediterranean island was settled by farmers from Turkey who brought their domesticated animals with them, presumably including cats, because there's no evidence of native wildcats in Cyprus .   The date far precedes Egyptian civilization."

     Together with new genetic evidence, the domestication of the cat must be reconsidered in a far reaching pre-Egyptian context... harkening further back to the beginnings of agriculture in the Near East villages of the Fertile Crescent, which then spread outward from the boundaries of the Mediterranean.  

      Eventually,  Egyptians undoubtedly revered domesticated cats as a measure of power and status.  Feline mummies were discovered with many entombed Egyptian Royals.  Abyssinians are thought to strongly resemble many paintings and sculptures of ancient Egyptian cats - which portray an elegant,  often ruddy, feline with a muscular body and a beautifully arched neck, large ears and almond shaped eyes.  

  "There is probably no breed anywhere more loyal than the Aby."

     One thing led to another... and eventually the first registered Abyssinians were exhibited in shows in England.  The breed was reportedly imported from the namesake country of Abyssinia.  In December 1871, at the Crystal Palace show, 3rd prize was taken by an Abyssinian Cat.  It was not until the late 1930s that several top quality Aby's were exported from Britain to form the foundation of today's American breeding programs."  (CFA)

    Beyond dispute is the distinctive ticking and colorful dorsal markings which have survived for many centuries, despite outcrosses to other breeds.   Aby's today still retain the jungle-ish face of 'Felis Silvestris Lybica'.  

The Aby's most coveted features resemble
a miniature Cougar or Mountain Lion!