Your guide to finding and caring for an Abyssinian in Seattle
Abyssinians take to Seattle's apartment neighborhoods as long as there's something tall to climb. In a Belltown tower or a Queen Anne walk-up, an Aby will claim the cat tree and the window ledge and watch the street for hours. Gray, wet afternoons suit them fine, since a wand toy covers the exercise. They like company, so a home with someone around often works best. Most do well as indoor cats here, with coyotes reported from Magnolia to West Seattle.
Find your forever Abyssinian
While we don't have enough cats near Seattle, keep in mind that many rescues may offer transport.
F, 9 y., 961 miles
Abyssinian, Domestic Short Hair
M, 5 y., 995 miles
Abyssinian
F, 2 y., 1558 miles
Abyssinian, Domestic Short Hair
F, 4 y., 1571 miles
Abyssinian
M, 2 y., 1708 miles
Abyssinian, American Shorthair
F, 8 y., 1726 miles
Abyssinian
F, 4 y., 1726 miles
Abyssinian
F, 4 y., 1726 miles
Abyssinian
F, 4 y., 1726 miles
Abyssinian
F, 3 y., 1726 miles
Abyssinian
The Abyssinian is a lean, medium-sized cat with a short ticked coat, where each hair carries several bands of color, plus large 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. Most adults weigh about 6 to 12 pounds.
Abys are curious, athletic and people-focused, though usually not lap cats. They'd rather follow you around, supervise whatever you're doing and play. In Seattle, that means a cat who needs climbing room in a rental, daily play on the days when the rain keeps everyone inside, and plenty of company. The short coat needs only occasional brushing.
Having an Abyssinian in Seattle
Abyssinians pair high energy and a strong attachment to people with an easy-care coat. In Seattle's mostly rental housing, what matters most is vertical space, daily play and company, along with awareness of inherited health risks.
Abys tend to be inquisitive, social and busy, often shadowing their people from room to room. Many show affection through play and attention rather than lap time, and some start out shy with visitors. That suits a Seattle household where someone is home often. Personalities vary, so spend time with a cat before deciding.
Plan on daily interactive play, such as wand toys, fetch and puzzle feeders, to use up an Aby's energy. Seattle's rainy stretches make indoor routines the norm anyway, so tall cat trees and wall shelves help. Some Abys learn to walk on a harness, but with coyotes in the city, short, supervised outings are safest.
Abys can inherit pyruvate kinase deficiency and progressive retinal atrophy, and kidney amyloidosis, kneecap luxation and gum disease also appear in the breed. DNA tests exist for the two main inherited conditions, and a veterinarian can check teeth, eyes, kneecaps and bloodwork after adoption. Regular dental care helps.
An Abyssinian does fine in a Seattle apartment or house if there's height to climb. Window perches, cat trees and wall shelves matter more than floor area, though a renter should confirm the lease allows wall mounting. Indoor living or a secure catio keeps this curious explorer safe.
| 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 Seattle license for an altered 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 Seattle.
Seattle's shelters and rescues care for cats of all ages, and the ones listed here show cats currently up for adoption. Here are the rescues & shelters in the Seattle area with cats available for adoption, worth asking whether an Abyssinian is coming in.
Yes, an Abyssinian can live happily in a Seattle apartment if it has plenty to climb and play with. Tall cat trees, window perches and wall shelves matter more than square footage, and daily wand-toy sessions burn off energy. Abys get bored and lonely easily, so they do best when someone is home often or a second cat keeps them company.
Yes, you can own an Abyssinian in Seattle. The city has no breed bans, and Washington law limits breed-based rules statewide. You'll need a city license and a current rabies vaccination, and renters should confirm their landlord's pet policy, since landlords may limit the number of pets. Keep the cat indoors or in a secure catio.
Yes, Seattle's mild, damp climate suits Abyssinians well, especially as indoor cats. Winter lows around 38°F are manageable with warm perches, and summer highs average only the mid-70s. The trade-off is long rainy stretches, so plan daily indoor play. On rare heat or smoky days, keep water out, shade windows and keep the cat inside.
Very little. An Abyssinian's short, close-lying coat needs a quick brush about once a week, and Seattle's rain changes little for an indoor cat. Nail trims and tooth brushing are the bigger jobs, since gum disease appears in the breed. Professional grooming is rarely needed, and any cost falls within the Other line of the cost table.
Yes, but only in a secure carrier. Sound Transit allows pets in small containers, and Metro buses take cats in a carrier at no fare. Sound Transit's leashed-pet pilot covers dogs, not cats. The King County Water Taxi requires an enclosed carrier, and Washington State Ferries asks that cats stay in a crate or carrier and out of the galleys.
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.
Abyssinian cats were developed in Britain, but their name comes from Abyssinia, now Ethiopia, because some of the first cats shown in England were imported from there in the 1860s and 1870s. Genetic research suggests the breed's ancestors actually came from the Indian Ocean coastal regions and Southeast Asia, mixed with European cats.
Plan on roughly $1,300 to $2,850 a year for an Abyssinian in Seattle, depending on food, insurance and how much goes to dental care and supplies. Food runs $25 to $50 a month, insurance $30 to $60, routine vet care $150 to $350 a year, and other costs $480 to $1,180 a year.
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