Abyssinian Coat Colors

Abyssinians are a special type of tabby cat; they are distinguished from all other tabbies by their beautiful ticked, resilient coats. All tabbies, in fact, have this ticked or agouti background in their coats (whereby each individual hair shaft is banded with different colors); however, superimposed on this ticked background is a particular dark pattern such as mackerel, spotted, or blotched. Through more than 85 years of selective breeding, these dark patterns have been nearly eliminated from the Abyssinian breed, and this is what makes them so unique. Although other tabbies are bred in different colors, Abyssinians are bred and recognized for championship by CFA only in the ruddy and red varieties, and more recently the color blue was recognized in 1984 and fawn in 1989).

Adult Abyssinians don't reach their full potential in coloring or ticking until they around a year and a half old. A kitten who looks pale and washed out when its first baby coat comes in after birth could become a vibrantly colored beauty when its color reaches its maturity.

Eszencia Sea Sprite

Ruddy, Tawny or Usual

The four most common colors of Abyssinians are; Ruddy, Red, Blue and Cream. The Ruddy Abyssinians, (our little guys and gals), are a soft, rich coat of ruddy brown. Each hair is ticked with shades of brown or black with a vibrant burnt orange color closest to the skin. The insides of the legs and the underbelly are of the same burnt orange color, unmarked; the more vibrant the color, the better. They may have no stripes, lines or barring, and no white marks anywhere on the body. The legs should be of a clear color without barring. Eyes are generally rich golden, but hazel or green are also acceptable. Like all cats, kittens eyes are blue at birth and start changing at a few months of age. It is theorized that the longer it take the eyes to chage to their full color, the richer in color they will be. The nose is tile red, and the paw pads are brown or black. It is not unusual for an aby to have a black line down the centre of the back which extends up to the tip of the tail. The tail itself is long, wide at the base, and then tapered to the tip. Large, expressive ears are tipped with black. Abys are very alert, active and nothing in their domain gets past their notice or curiosity.

The impression an aby gives is that of a small cougar, lithe yet muscular and strong with exceptional balance.

Coat
Warm brown ticked with black. Base colour deep orange. Stomach and inside of legs deep orange to deep apricot to harmonise with the base colour. Any shading along the spine should be of a matching shade. Tip of tail and soles of hind feet are black.

Nose Leather
Brick red, outlined with black.

Paw Pads
Black.

Eyes
Amber, green or yellow; pure, intense colour.

Comments
Withhold challenge for white locket, white extending onto the neck or above the nostrils, unbroken necklace, grey or light undercoat, lack of ticking, bars on the fore legs, marks on the stomach, Siamese type, round head, whip tail.

Faults
Ghost marking on legs, stomach and chest; too much marking on face; absence of outline around eyes; small or pointed ears; round eyes; unclear eye colour; cobby appearance; too deep a nose break.

Rudy Abyssinian Cat
Eszencia Dylan

Red (CFA), Sorrel, or Cinnamon

A dilution of the ruddy, being a warm sorrel red ticked with chocolate brown. Tail tipped with chocolate brown. Preference given to deeper shades of sorrel and good even ticking. Paw pads: Pink with chocolate brown between toes, extending slightly beyond paws. Eye color: Gold, copper, green or hazel, the more richness and depth of color the better. Nose leather: Rosy pink.

Coat
Copper red with chocolate red-brown ticking. Base colour deep apricot. Stomach and inside of legs deep apricot to harmonise with the base colour. Any shading along the spine should be of a matching shade. Tip of tail and soles of hind feet are red-brown.

Nose Leather
Pink, outlined with brick red.

Paw Pads
Pink.

Eyes
Amber, green or yellow; pure, intense colour.

Red Abyssinian
Eszencia Double Trouble

Blue

A warm soft blue-gray ticked with deeper blue. Base hair and undersides of the body, chest, and inside of the legs to be a pale cream color. Spine shading to be a darker shade of body color. Tail tipped with a deep shade of blue. Preference to be given to good even ticking. Paw pads: Blue-mauve with a deep shade of blue between the toes extending slightly beyond paws. Eye color: Gold, copper, green or hazel, the more richness and depth of color the better. Nose leather: Dark pink.

Coat
Description as for Ruddy Abyssinian but body colour is a warm blue-grey ticked with dark steel blue-grey. Base colour pale cream or beige.

Nose Leather
Blue-grey or brick red outlined with blue-grey.

Paw Pads
Blue-grey.

Eyes
Amber, green or yellow; pure, intense colour.

Fawn

A warm pinkish buff with powdered effect ticked with a deeper shade of pinkish buff. Base hair, undersides of the body, chest and inside legs to be a pale oatmeal. Spine shading to be a darker shade of body color. Tail tipped with a deep shade of pinkish buff. Preference to be given to good even ticking. Paw pads: Pink-mauve with a deep pinkish buff between the toes extending slightly beyond paws. Eye color: Gold, copper, green or hazel, the more richness and depth of color the better. Nose leather: Pink-mauve.

Coat
Description as for Ruddy Abyssinian but body colour is dull beige ticked with deep warm cream. Base colour pale cream.

Nose Leather
Pink, or pink outlined with old rose.

Paw Pads
Pink.

Eyes
Amber, green or yellow; pure, intense colour.