The Cat Fancier's Association classifies the Abyssinian as a part of the Championship Class. This breed is often smaller than other cat breeds, weighing in at only nine to sixteen pounds.

This breed is much older than many other cat breeds. Images from ancient Egypt show cats with a very similar appearance, to today's Abyssinian -- right down to the ticked appearance of their coats.

The first Abyssinians to arrive in England came from Ethiopia in the eighteen hundreds.

The Abyssinian has a graceful tail that is as long as the rest of its body. While Abyssinians can have coats in almost any shade ranging from red to lilac, they all are tabbies with a ticked appearance. This means that each individual hair has bands of dark and light color.

This cat breed has a wedge shaped face with eyes that are green, amber, or hazel colored. They have a low quite voice.

With its short sleek coat, the Abyssinian needs very little grooming. However, these cats often enjoy being brushed and receiving the extra attention, as long as you are gentle.

101 CATACLYSMS is a playful tribute to the cats around the world.

This collection features 101 images of magnificent felines; Hilander, the sphynx; in the sassiness of Puffy, the Persian ball of fluff; and in the playfulness of Yabba Dabba Doo, the British shorthair.

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101 Cataclysms: For the Love of Cats

A cat is a year old should be fed adult cat food. Since adult cats usually eat when they are hungry, you can simply keep his dish filled with dry food. However, if he overeats and begins to grow overweight, you will need to feed him twice a day instead.

If you want, you can complement your adult cat's diet with canned cat food. Be aware that canned cat food can be very rich, make sure you portion out his serving according to the label instructions.

If you feed your cat canned food, you should still offer dry food as well, since canned food should not be left out for your cat to eat all day.

I recommend you purchase your cat's cat food from your vet. Cat food found at the vet are specially formulated with all the vitamins and nutrients your cat needs to grow strong and healthy. My male cat used to suffer from urinary tract infections until I switched his cat food from a grocery brand to a premium brand.

When you shop for cat food, look for foods that have the protein source in the first few ingredients. You should also make sure the food is balanced. If your cat has health problems, such as hair balls or urinary tract infections, you should look for cat foods that help control these problems.

Although most cats prefer soft food, dry food can help them maintain better dental health. If your cat refuses to eat dry food, you may want to have your dentist to check his teeth every year or so to be sure they are not too covered in tartar.

What ever you do, avoid feeding your cat human food. Feeding your cat snacks and junk food such as chips, deli meat, or scraps from the table can cause serious health issues down the road. It's best to buy your feline friend cat treats for the time you want to reward him with something special.

Photographic Print
Cat nap
Allison Saurino

All cats are members of the family Felidea. Interestingly enough, the cat family split from the other mammals at least 40,000,000 years ago, making them one of the oldest mammalian families. All cats share certain characteristics that are unique to the cat family. Cats are pure carnivores. If you know cats at all, you know that they have powerful jaws, long, sharp teeth, and claws that draw back into their paws when not in use. Cats hear extremely well. Their eyes are adapted for vision in dim light for hunting just before dawn and just after dusk, the prime hunting periods. - From "The Encyclopedia Britannica".

Urinary tract infections are a common health problem in cats. This infection is particularly common in un-neutered male cats, although female cats can also develop this problem.

If your cat has suddenly stopped using his litter box, a urinary tract infection could be the culprit. If your cat's urine smells strong, you should suspect a urinary tract infection. These infections need to be treated by your veterinarian. Be sure to ask about cat foods that help alleviate the chance of an infection re-occurring.

Additional symptoms include:

• Urinates frequently or has problems urinating.
• Deviates from usual litter box habits.
• Leaves blood or blood-tinged urine in the litter box.
• Paces restlessly, cries, vomits, licks its genitals frequently, or rests on cool surfaces such as bathtubs or tile floors.

You can buy special cat litter that can you monitor your cat’s urinary tract health.