An adorable part of Egyptian cat breeds, Abyssinians are a type of tabby cat distinguished by big ears and beautiful ticking color patterns. Thanks to their lovely personality and striking physical features, they rank among the top 5 most popular breeds.
But like other felines, Abys also exist in different colors – seven to be precise, which makes it somewhat difficult for kitty lovers to decide which one to go after.
To acquaint our such kitty-curious readers with Abyssinian cat colors with the comprehensive ins and outs, we have jotted down all about Abyssinian colors in detail below.
Let us jump into it!
Did You Know?
All Abyssinians are born with dark coat hair, which gradually turns lighter over time into the color group they belong to.
4 Standard Abyssinian Cat Colors
Four “standard” colors exist in Abyssinian cats that are called so because the Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA), the largest entity for pedigreed felines, recognizes only these colors as standard – namely, blue, fawn, ruddy, and sorrel. Nevertheless, note that despite different colors in different body areas, the eye color in each type remains the same: amber, green, yellow, pure, or intense color.
Blue
Blue is among the most popular colors in Abyssinian kitties. Though the coat color is not exactly blue, it is steel-gray in a deep enough color to trick our eyes by appearing blue. Another interpretation could be that they are of the warm beige color ticked with various blue shades. Moreover, the base, belly, and inside the legs are usually hued in pale cream color. Although not in all but most blue Abyssinian cats, a dark blue stripe is present along the spine, and their tails come in deep shades of blue. Similarly, the paw pads are blue-mauve with slate blue shades between the toes extending slightly beyond the paws.
Blue Abyssinian cats seem to be the pastel version of ruddy Abyssinians. Their attractive warm color makes it almost impossible for cat lovers not to cuddle them. Likewise, this exceptional coat hue makes the eyes especially beautiful regardless of their color.
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Fawn
Fawn is among the rarest coat colors found in Abyssinian cats, and that is why those who intend to buy fawn Abys usually have to undergo an intense search.
Abyssinians with fawn color are quite similar to those having sorrel coats: the former is somewhat like the pastel version of the latter. These kitties have a brown cocoa base that goes into the stomach and inside the legs. But since it is ticked with light brown or deep pink bands, they give off the appearance of an antique rose color. Likewise, the stripe on the back is cream-colored, and the tails are tipped with a deep pinkish buff. There exists a deep pink color between their toes, slightly extending up the back of the paws.
Ruddy
Ruddy is the most common color in Abyssinian cats and is, therefore, usually classified as the “original” color of Abys. Another common name for this color is tawny, while it is referred to as “usual” in the United Kingdom in particular.
Ruddy Aby cats look a lot like cougars. Their coat is rich with ruddy brown color, ticked with either black or brown hue, while the color closest to the skin is vibrant burnt orange. Similarly, the underbelly and the inside of the legs are also burnt orange. Moreover, they lack stripes, lines, or marks of any kind on their bodies.
Their noses are red, and the most common eye color ruddy Abys have is green. Similarly, the color of the feet, the back of the hind legs, and in between the toes is black.
Sorrel
The sorrel color in Abyssinian cats is also known as red and cinnamon. Often described as the diluted variation of the ruddy color, the sorrel Abys typically have a warm copper-red, apricot, or yellowish-brown base ticked with either red or brown colors while they lack black color because the gene causing it is recessive in them. Likewise, the underbelly and the inside of their legs are ticked with a chocolate brown hue and do not have any stripe or pattern. Their paws are pink, while the color between their toes is chocolate.
Only Abyssinians Have Sorrel Color!
In cats, the sorrel color can only be found in Abys. This color is very rare in felines and almost never found in other breeds.
3 Unique Abyssinian Cat Colors
Other than the standard colors, there are other colors though less common but well-known for their beauty and ability to create an impression on cat lovers’ minds. Though not recognized by the CFA, these colors are recognized by other cat associations such as The International Cat Association (TICA).
Chocolate
Chocolate Abys are classified as the intermediate between the sorrel and ruddy colors. This specific color gene came to Abyssinians in 1970 by crossing the breed with a chocolate-pointed Siamese.
Having a unique beauty of their own, chocolate Abyssinian kitties have a rich copper-brown base coat all over the body, which is ticked with chocolate brown. Their noses and paw pads are also dark brown.
Lilac
Lilac is an unusual pastel version of chocolate Abys and is among the rarest hues. However, the name “Lilac” is somewhat inaccurate as the ticking is light dove-gray. When combined with the pink or cream base color, the overall effect comes out to be lilac. The nose and paw pads, however, are mauve-colored.
Silver
Silver is described as the oldest and the first color in Abyssinians, though it is difficult to prove if the first Aby was silver. Silver Abys exist as a separate group containing four subtypes of colors. These subtypes have a common base color, i.e., white or silver, but different ticking, nose, and paws colors.
- Original Silver: These kitties are ticked with blue, black, cinnamon, or cream. Their paws and noses are black.
- Blue Silver: They are ticked with gray or blue, which makes the overall appearance deep blue. Their noses are pink, while their paw pads are blue.
- Fawn Silver: They are ticked with fawn while their noses and paw pads are chocolate.
- Red Silver: They are ticked with chocolate, while their noses and paw pads are pink.
Taking Care of Abyssinian Cat Coat
With almost no shedding at all, Abyssinians are among the ideal kitties to be kept at home. However, to make their variety of colors look fresh and eye-catching as always, the owners should follow the grooming steps below on a regular basis:
- Try combing the full coat every week. Brushes with metal teeth work best on them.
- Bathe your kitty frequently (every four to six weeks). Thanks to their instinct of loving water, bathing them is not a big deal.
- Keep in mind that Abys love bathing, not showering. Therefore, always go for dipping your furry friend in a bathtub but remember to change the water at least three times per bath.
- Ensure proper nutrition and exercise schedule for your Abyssinian for its coat to stay fit and perfect.