Your guide to finding and caring for an Abyssinian in Minneapolis
Abyssinians fit Minneapolis apartment life well, as long as there's something tall to climb. Whittier, Loring Park and the other renter-heavy neighborhoods near downtown are full of apartments where an Aby does fine, since a cat tree by the window and a daily game with a wand toy matter more than square footage. They're busy, curious and attached to their people, so they like having someone around. Expect a cat that follows you from room to room.
Find your forever Abyssinian
While we don't have enough cats near Minneapolis, keep in mind that many rescues may offer transport.
F, 3 y., 352 miles
Abyssinian
F, 3 y., 352 miles
Abyssinian, Extra-Toes Cat / Hemingway Polydactyl
M, 3-7 y., 352 miles
Bengal, Abyssinian
M, 4 y., 352 miles
Abyssinian
F, 3 y., 352 miles
Abyssinian, Extra-Toes Cat / Hemingway Polydactyl
F, 3 y., 352 miles
Abyssinian
F, 10 y., 352 miles
Bengal, Abyssinian
F, 3-7 y., 352 miles
Bengal, Abyssinian
F, 10 y., 352 miles
Oriental Short Hair, Abyssinian
M, 15 y., 355 miles
Abyssinian
Abyssinians are medium-sized, lithe cats, usually 6 to 12 pounds, with a short, fine coat in which each hair carries several bands of color. That ticking gives the breed its warm, glowing look, along with large cupped ears and almond eyes. Despite the name, genetic research points to ancestors from the Indian Ocean coast and Southeast Asia, and the breed was developed in Britain.
Abys are busy, athletic and inquisitive. Many are affectionate without being lap cats, preferring to play, climb and supervise whatever you're doing. The coat is easy to care for, but the mind needs work, so an indoor Minneapolis Aby does best with puzzle feeders, tall perches and daily play. Homes where someone is around often, or where a second cat can keep company, tend to suit them. Cats vary, so each cat's own personality matters more than the breed description.
Having an Abyssinian in Minneapolis
Abyssinians pair high energy and constant curiosity with an easy short coat. For a Minneapolis household, the big questions are how much daily play and climbing space you can offer, whether someone is home often, and how comfortable you are with inherited health risks.
Abys are inquisitive, social and playful, often shadowing their people from room to room. Many are affectionate but not lap cats, and some are shy with strangers at first. In a Minneapolis apartment, that attachment works best with someone home regularly. Temperament varies from cat to cat, so spend time with the one you're considering.
Plan on daily interactive play: wand toys, chase and fetch games. Puzzle feeders and rotating toys give their minds work during long Minnesota winters indoors, and tall cat trees or wall shelves satisfy their urge to climb. A cat that gets too little activity may turn restless and invent its own mischief.
Abyssinians can inherit pyruvate kinase deficiency, progressive retinal atrophy and kidney amyloidosis, and gum disease and kneecap problems also appear. DNA tests exist for some of these conditions, and a veterinarian can talk through screening and dental care. Keep rabies vaccination current, since Minneapolis requires it for a cat license.
Vertical space matters more than floor space, so an Abyssinian can do well in a Minneapolis apartment or a house. Window perches, cat trees and wall shelves give it somewhere to climb and watch. Keeping it indoors or on a secure catio protects a curious explorer from traffic and coyotes.
| Expense | Typical cost | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Food | $25 to $50 per month | $300 to $600 |
| Pet insurance | $30 to $60 per month | $360 to $720 |
| Routine vet care | $150 to $350 per year | $150 to $350 |
| Other* | $480 to $1,180 per year | $480 to $1,180 |
| Estimated yearly total (after year one) | $1,290 to $2,850 | |
Other costs are estimates and vary with size, age and health.
* The $30 Minneapolis cat license for a spayed or neutered cat, flea prevention, a dental cleaning allowance, litter, toys, scratchers and cat trees, and occasional brushing.
Now that you know more, let’s find you a new best friend. These rescues and shelters below have cats available in and near Minneapolis.
Minneapolis has a city animal shelter and local rescue groups that find homes for cats, from Abyssinians to mixes. Here are the rescues & shelters in the Minneapolis area with cats available for adoption, worth asking whether an Abyssinian is coming in.
212 17th Avenue North, Minneapolis
Minneapolis
Minneapolis
Minneapolis
Minneapolis
Minneapolis
Yes, Minneapolis has no breed-specific rules that apply to Abyssinians. Every cat over four months old needs a city license, which requires a current rabies vaccination, and a one-year license costs $30 for a spayed or neutered cat. You can keep up to three cats without a multiple-animal permit.
Yes, Abyssinians do well in apartments because they care more about climbing space than floor space. Give yours a tall cat tree, a window perch and daily wand-toy play. Since many Minneapolis apartments are rentals, get your landlord's approval before adopting, and choose a freestanding tree rather than anything that attaches to walls.
Yes, as indoor cats. An Abyssinian's thin, close-lying coat has little insulation, so it should stay inside during Minneapolis cold snaps. Offer warm bedding and sunny perches, and play more often to use up energy. If you walk yours on a harness, keep outings short and wipe salt off its paws.
It can be, if you enjoy an interactive cat and are home fairly often. Abyssinians suit apartments and houses alike, and long Minnesota winters mean plenty of indoor time together. If your days are long, a second cat or lots of puzzle feeders and climbing space can help keep a busy Aby occupied.
Yes, but only in a carrier. Metro Transit buses and light rail allow pets in carriers, and pet dogs on leashes aren't permitted to board. Pick a sturdy, ventilated carrier and get your Abyssinian comfortable in it before trips to the vet. Check current fares with Metro Transit before you ride.
Very little. The short, close-lying coat needs only occasional brushing, a bit more during seasonal shedding, plus regular nail trims and tooth care. Dry indoor air in winter can leave skin flaky, so a humidifier may help. Grooming costs are small and fall within the Other line of the cost table.
Abyssinian is pronounced ab-ih-SIN-ee-un, with the stress on the third syllable, SIN. The name refers to Abyssinia, the historical name for Ethiopia. Many owners simply shorten it to Aby, pronounced AB-ee. You may also hear the breed's ticked coat colors called ruddy, cinnamon or sorrel, blue and fawn.
An Abyssinian is a medium-sized shorthaired cat breed known for its ticked coat, in which each hair has bands of color that create a warm, glowing look. It has large ears, almond-shaped eyes and a lean, muscular body. Developed in Britain in the 1800s, it is one of the oldest recognized breeds and is famous for being active and curious.
Yes, Abyssinian cats shed, but usually only lightly to moderately because of their short, close-lying coat. Shedding may increase seasonally. Combing or brushing a few times a month controls loose hair, and a damp cloth or chamois rubbed over the coat adds shine. Sudden heavy shedding or bald patches should be checked by a veterinarian.
Plan on roughly $1,290 to $2,850 a year for an Abyssinian in Minneapolis, counting food, insurance, routine vet care and other costs. Food runs $25 to $50 a month and insurance $30 to $60 a month. Routine vet care is $150 to $350 a year, and other costs run $480 to $1,180. Inherited conditions can add unplanned vet bills.
Expand your search to find Abyssinians available for adoption near Minneapolis.
Looking for a different breed? Browse other cats available for adoption in Minneapolis.
