Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #655483 in Books
• Published on: 2003-06-30
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 128 pages

Synopsis
One in a series of authoritative cat breed books, this book will provide you with all the guidance and advice you will need for providing a healthy and happy lifestyle for this treasured breed. It includes points on behaviour, feeding and healthcare and is an essential book for every new owner.

From the Inside Flap
Although handsome ticked cats like our modern Abyssinian graced the temples of the Pharaohs three thousand years ago, today’s breed cannot lay claim to such romantic origins. The Aby, as the breed affectionately is known, proudly dates back to the early 1940s in the country we call the United Kingdom, where dedicated breeders set out to develop a cat that closely resembled the Egyptian temple cats. The favoured ticked coat pattern has long been associated with cats of Northern African genesis and has become this stunning pure-bred cat’s calling card. The Aby owner will welcome the advice of author Virginia N Tidwell regarding the proper care, behaviour, training and health of the breed. The author provides detailed chapters on the breed’s delightfully sweet character, breed standard as well as sensible discussions about purchasing, kitten care, general maintenance and health concerns. The author’s concise and insightful text is enhanced by the accompanying colour photography, both enlivening the chapters and illustrating vital points about the breed. In all, this book presents over 100 colour photographs and illustrations, including some never-before-seen scanning electron micrograph images produced exclusively for this series. As attractive as it is informative, this book also addresses the health concerns of every owner, including a special section about feline eye problems written by veterinary surgeon Lorraine Waters, plus reliable advice about safety in the home, selecting a vet, coat problems and effective parasite control. Helpful hints and important information are highlighted to provide easy access to everything the reader needs to know about life with an Abyssinian. This beautifully designed, completely modern volume dedicated to the Aby will be a treasured addition to every owner’s library, ensuring a happier, more rewarding co-existence between owner and his cherished Abyssinian Cat. Topics discussed include: History of the Abyssinian Cat; A portrait of the Abyssinian Cat; Purchasing an Abyssinian Cat; Providing a safe home for your Abyssinian Cat; Feeding your Abyssinian Cat; Grooming your Abyssinian Cat; Training and behaviour of your Abyssinian Cat; Breeding your Abyssinian Cat; Exhibiting your Abyssinian Cat; Health care of your Abyssinian Cat.

Excerpted from Abyssinian Cat (Pet Love S.) by Virginia N. Tidwell. Copyright © 2003. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
One of the fascinating attractions of the cat fancy is the mystery that surrounds the history and development of many of its breeds. No other pet hobby can quite compare with it in the romance and richness of its claims and stories. Certainly, the Abyssinian has its share of both mystery and contradictions in respect to its lineage. The breed also has more than a few skeletons in its cupboard that destroy the popular notion that it traces back to the time of the Pharaohs and that show that its lineage as a 'pure' breed goes no further back in time than the 1940s. However, putting aside occasional outcrosses to other breeds and its mixed genetic base, there is no doubt that the Abyssinian, or 'Aby', as it is known affectionately, is indeed one of the oldest of the domestic cat breeds. This said, we must not go overboard on the matter. 'Oldest' in acceptable breed terms means having existed since the later years of the 19th century - not from the time when cats graced the temples of Bubastis in the Nile delta nearly 3000 years ago. The reason that the lat 1800s are of importance is because, in 1871, Harrison Weir staged the world's first major cat show at the Crystal Palace in Sydenham, London. In so doing, he set in motion the cat fancy as an organised hobby, which would produce the wide range of breeds we see today.