The actual history of the Abyssinian cat is unknown. What is actually known is that this breed was first recorded in England in 1871. Twelve cats, most with one unknown parent were listed in the stud book between 1900-1905.

One story has it that the original cats were brought to England from Ethiopia (Abyssinia) by sailors in1868. Zulu, an Abyssinian owned by Mrs. Barrett-Lennard, was described in a book by Gordon Stables published in 1874. In it, he says that she was brought from Ethiopia. There is no other written record.

However, it is just as possible that the breed was developed in England from tabby cats as the Abyssinian is a tabby carrying the agouti gene. In the late 1800’s, cat shows in England exhibited domestic and wild cats, so it is possible that the tabby was crossed with an African or Asian wild cat.

Recent genetic studies show that the most probable origin is the coast of the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia. However, some zoologists point out the strong resemblance to the small African wild cat(F.caffra). This is a small ticked cat with the facial patterns of the Abyssinian.

The Abyssinian came to the United States around 1900, but was not widely bred until the 1930’s. In 1938 and 1939, most Abyssinians were lost in England due to the war and breeding slowed down.