Your guide to finding and caring for an Abyssinian in Columbia
An Abyssinian fits well in a place like Elmwood Park, where older bungalows and Queen Anne houses leave room for a cat tree by every window. Abys are climbers and busy investigators, so they'll want shelves, perches and a daily play session more than a big floor plan. They like company, which suits people who work from home or share the house with another cat. Keep an Aby indoors, with a catio or a dawn harness walk as the outdoor options once Columbia's summer heat sets in.
Find your forever Abyssinian
While we don't have enough cats near Columbia, keep in mind that many rescues may offer transport.
F, 4 mo., 184 miles
Domestic Short Hair, Abyssinian
M, 3 mo., 184 miles
Abyssinian
F, 6 mo.-2 y., 185 miles
Abyssinian, Domestic Medium Hair
F, 6 mo.-2 y., 185 miles
Abyssinian, Domestic Short Hair
M, 1 y., 231 miles
Abyssinian
F, 0-6 mo., 285 miles
Abyssinian
M, 3 mo., 403 miles
Abyssinian
F, 5 y., 426 miles
Domestic Medium Hair, Abyssinian
F, 6 mo.-2 y., 250 miles
Domestic Short Hair, Abyssinian
F, 6 mo.-2 y., 251 miles
Abyssinian, Domestic Short Hair
The Abyssinian is a medium, lithe cat with a short, ticked coat in which each hair carries several bands of color, plus large cupped ears and almond eyes in gold, green, hazel or copper. The name points to Abyssinia, now Ethiopia, but genetic research suggests ancestors from the Indian Ocean coast and Southeast Asia, and the breed was developed in Britain. Most weigh 6 to 12 pounds.
Abys are busy, inquisitive and attached to their people, though many aren't lap cats. In Columbia, that means planning for indoor enrichment: climbing space, puzzle feeders and interactive play, ideally with someone home often or a second cat for company. The short coat needs little more than occasional brushing. Cats vary, so spend time with the cat in front of you rather than assuming the breed description fits.
Having an Abyssinian in Columbia
Abyssinians pair high energy and a drive to climb with an easy short coat and a strong attachment to their people. In Columbia homes, vertical space, daily play and a plan for hot summers matter most, along with awareness of a few inherited health risks.
Abys are inquisitive and social, and often shadow their people from room to room. Many are affectionate without being lap cats, and some start out shy with strangers. They usually enjoy other cats and playful children. Temperament varies from cat to cat, so spend time with the cat before deciding whether the match feels right.
Plan on daily interactive play with wand toys, fetch and chase games, plus puzzle feeders and tall perches. Most Abys are best kept indoors in Columbia, where hot, humid summer afternoons limit outdoor time; a harness walk at dawn or a secure catio can add variety. A bored Aby often invents its own mischief.
Abyssinians can inherit pyruvate kinase deficiency, progressive retinal atrophy and kidney amyloidosis, and gum disease and kneecap problems also appear. A veterinarian can check the eyes, kneecaps and teeth, and run DNA tests for the inherited conditions. Yearly checkups and tooth care help catch problems early, and flea prevention is worth keeping up through Columbia's long warm season.
Abys do well in apartments or houses as long as there's vertical space. Cat trees, window perches and wall shelves matter more than square footage. In a Columbia rental, sturdy freestanding cat trees work better than anything that needs drilling. Homes where someone is around often, or where a second cat lives, suit them best.
| 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* | $455 to $1,155 per year | $455 to $1,155 |
| Estimated yearly total (after year one) | $1,265 to $2,825 | |
Other costs are estimates and vary with size, age and health.
* The $5 Columbia license for a sterilized cat, litter, flea prevention, a dental cleaning allowance, 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 currently have Abyssinians available.
Columbia's shelters and rescues care for cats of all kinds, and the ones listed below show their current pets right here. Here are the rescues & shelters in the Columbia area where you can find Abyssinians and other cats available for adoption.
Yes, Abyssinians handle Columbia summers well as indoor cats, but they need cooling. Highs reach the 90s on about 80 days a year and nights hover near 70°F, so keep the home air-conditioned, offer water in several spots and save any harness walks for dawn. Plan for storm-related power outages with a cool spot, water and a carrier ready.
Yes, an Abyssinian can live happily in a Columbia apartment if it has things to climb and daily play. Cat trees, window perches and puzzle feeders matter more than floor space. Because Abys are active and social, a second cat or someone home often helps. Read your lease for pet fees and limits before you sign.
Yes, with limits: COMET buses allow non-service animals that weigh 30 pounds or less and ride in a carrier. Abyssinians typically weigh 6 to 12 pounds, so one fits easily. Use a secure, well-ventilated carrier that closes fully, since a curious cat can be startled by noise. Columbia has buses only, with no subway or rail.
Yes. Cats in the City of Columbia must be licensed each year with proof of rabies vaccination, and a license for a sterilized cat costs only a few dollars, far less than for an unaltered one. South Carolina also requires a rabies tag on a collar or harness. Keeping an Aby indoors and microchipped is the best protection.
It can be, if you're home a fair amount and enjoy playing with a cat. Abyssinians are active and social, so they suit Columbia homes with room to climb and someone around for daily play. Long workdays alone or no space for cat trees make for a harder match. Summer cooling matters too, since the heat keeps this cat indoors.
Very little: an Abyssinian's short, close-lying coat usually needs only occasional brushing, perhaps weekly when shedding picks up. Columbia's humidity doesn't change that routine much, but dental care and flea prevention deserve attention through the long warm season. Professional grooming is rarely needed, and brushing costs are small and fall within the Other line on this page.
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.
We have 1 rescue with Abyssinians available: ARC Animal Rescue Carolina, Inc.. You can see every rescue with Abyssinians available in the list above these questions, or scroll to the top to see the Abyssinians near Columbia.
Expect about $1,265 to $2,825 a year for an Abyssinian in Columbia. Food runs $25 to $50 a month and insurance $30 to $60 a month, while routine vet care is $150 to $350 a year. Other costs, including litter, flea prevention, dental care, supplies and the city license, add roughly $455 to $1,155 a year. Illness and emergencies cost extra.
Expand your search to find Abyssinians available for adoption near Columbia.
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