ABYSSINIAN CATS SAGA 4:

MEMPHIS (2010-        )

She's my current Aby. She's playful, funny, beautiful and affectionate.

I got her from a cattery in NJ, but she has a fatal disease. Her life expectancy was less than a year. But she'll have the BEST life she possibly can.

Now, it's been two and one-half years and she's fine. It appears the University of Pennsylvania vets were wrong. My vet is amazed!

A Movie.

A Photographic Essay:

Curious about the iPhone.

She's becoming a true friend.

ABYSSINIAN CATS SAGA 3:

BAXTER (1998-2010)

Baxter was judged the Best Aby in the Northeast! He was to go on to the Nationals in Nashville, but I wanted him to be with me. So, I went ahead and got him from the breeder in Perth-Amboy, NJ. EVERYONE loved him and vice versa!

A Photographic Essay:

Next, My Newest Addition: MEMPHIS.

ABYSSINIAN CATS SAGA 2:

LIZA (1970s)

Liza was my first Abyssinian cat. She was remarkable. She shall forever live in my fondest memories. My fate was sealed by Liza to have Abyssinian cats for the rest of my life.

She was the most perfect of cats. It was an eye-opener having a cat like Liza: that house cats could be so personable. I had had cats before, but never such a loving, smart, loyal and active cat. 

A Photographic Essay:

Liza and her rare, RED Aby daughter, Cranberry.

I sold her red daughter for $1,200 to the Mexican Ambassador!

Liza had two litters. Each litter was named after an occasion: Her first was 'Star Wars' with Han, Princess Leia, Yoda and Luke. Her second was 'Thanksgiving' with Pumpkin, Turkey and Cranberry.

I gave one of her sons to Nancy, my sister: 'Sam', formerly Han.

And Steve had Princess Leah as his faithful cat.

ABYSSINIAN CATS SAGA:

ABYS

I adore Abyssinian cats. They're beautiful, intelligent, playful and loyal. I've had five!

This is Memphis, my current adorable Aby girl:

Abyssinian's are the most unadulterated house cat. By that I mean, genetic alteration like in so many domesticated cats has not happened in the Aby. Their fur, you'll notice, is 'ticked' or banded with many colors on each hair. This is unique and only otherwise known in wild cats. There's a black stripe that starts on the forehead, runs down the back of the neck, continues down the back onto the tail and ends in a black point—on all of these cats. Their bottom of their feet is always black; Their chins are always white. Abys present a fantastic assortment of colors and shades giving them a wild appearance. Far and away the most popular coloring is called 'Ruddy.' 

Originating in Abyssinia, the English discovered them in the early 18th Century and brought them to England for breeding. Since then, they have become one of the most popular breeds of domesticated cats. 

They remain rare and expensive, however. 


They're thought to be descendents of the ancient Egyptian temple cats. The resemblance is remarkable. Stone carvings and pictorial depictations indicate their heritage. While traveling in Egypt, I noticed a statuette that reminded me of my Liza, my first Aby.

It was, of course, the Egyptian god Bast!

Of my five Abys, three have been the most remarkable: Liza, Baxter and Memphis.

Next, LIZA.