Your guide to finding and caring for an Abyssinian in Birmingham
Abyssinians suit Birmingham homes where someone is around to play with them. They're busy, curious climbers, so a Highland Park apartment with a window perch or an Avondale house with a tall cat tree gives them plenty to investigate. Birmingham's hot, humid summers make indoor life the comfortable choice for these cats anyway. If you're thinking about adopting an Abyssinian here, plan on daily wand-toy sessions and a second cat or a person who's home often, since most Abys dislike long days alone.
Find your forever Abyssinian
While we don't have enough cats near Birmingham, keep in mind that many rescues may offer transport.
M, 1 y., 213 miles
Abyssinian
M, 1 y., 213 miles
Abyssinian
M, 1 y., 213 miles
Abyssinian
M, 2 y., 122 miles
Abyssinian
F, 3 mo., 124 miles
Abyssinian
F, 3 mo., 124 miles
Abyssinian
F, 6 mo.-2 y., 139 miles
Domestic Short Hair, Abyssinian
F, 6 mo.-2 y., 157 miles
Abyssinian, Domestic Medium Hair
F, 6 mo.-2 y., 157 miles
Abyssinian, Domestic Short Hair
F, 4 mo., 157 miles
Domestic Short Hair, Abyssinian
The Abyssinian is a medium, lithe cat with a short, silky coat in which each hair carries several bands of color, giving it a glowing ticked look. Large cupped ears and almond eyes add a hint of wildcat. The breed was developed in Britain, and despite the name, genetic research points to ancestors from the Indian Ocean coast and Southeast Asia.
In a Birmingham home, the temperament matters more than the coat. Abys are curious, athletic and people-focused, and many follow their person from room to room rather than settling on a lap. The coat needs only occasional brushing, so most of your effort goes into play, climbing space and company. Cats of any breed vary, so spend time with the cat you're considering.
Having an Abyssinian in Birmingham
Abyssinians are lively, social climbers with an easy short coat and a few inherited health risks. In Birmingham, what matters most is indoor space to climb, daily play and company, plus a plan for summer heat and spring storms.
Abys are inquisitive and social, and many shadow their people around the house, though not always on a lap. Some are shy with strangers at first. In a Birmingham apartment, that closeness is a plus if you work from home or have another cat, while long weekdays alone can leave them restless. Personalities vary from cat to cat.
Plan on daily interactive play: wand toys, chase games and puzzle feeders. Tall cat trees and wall shelves let an Aby burn energy indoors, which suits Birmingham's hot, humid afternoons. A harness walk on a cool morning can add variety. Rotate toys often, since a smart, bored Abyssinian will invent its own mischief.
Abyssinians can inherit pyruvate kinase deficiency, progressive retinal atrophy, kidney amyloidosis and kneecap problems, and gum disease is common. DNA tests exist for some of these conditions. Flea prevention matters in Birmingham's humid climate. Watch for appetite changes, vision changes or limping, and have a veterinarian check teeth, eyes and kidneys.
Abyssinians do well in apartments and houses as long as there's vertical space. Whether you're in Southside's dense apartment blocks or a house elsewhere in the city, cat trees, window perches and wall shelves matter more than floor area. Keep them indoors, since coyotes have been sighted in Birmingham-area neighborhoods.
| 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* | $450 to $1,150 per year | $450 to $1,150 |
| Estimated yearly total (after year one) | $1,260 to $2,820 | |
Other costs are estimates and vary with size, age and health.
* Flea prevention, a dental cleaning allowance, litter, toys, scratchers and cat trees, and occasional brushing for a short coat.
Now that you know more, let’s find you a new best friend. These rescues and shelters below have cats available in and near Birmingham.
Birmingham has a large humane society and smaller foster-based rescues that place cats and kittens in homes across the area. Here are the rescues & shelters in the Birmingham area with cats available for adoption, worth asking whether an Abyssinian is coming in.
Yes, an Abyssinian can live happily in a Birmingham apartment if it has room to climb and someone to play with. Cat trees, window perches and wall shelves matter more than floor space. Because so many Birmingham residents rent, get pet permission in writing and ask about any pet deposit or monthly pet rent before you sign.
Mostly yes. Birmingham's mild winters and hot, humid summers suit an indoor Abyssinian as long as the home stays cool in July and August. The short, fine coat means the cat will seek warm spots in cold snaps. Spring storms upset some cats, so keep a carrier ready and give the cat a hiding spot.
Yes. No known Birmingham rule restricts Abyssinians or caps how many cats a household keeps. You'll need a city license once the cat is four months old, plus rabies vaccination by three months. Nuisance and sanitation rules apply to the home, and if you rent, your landlord's pet policy decides.
Not on fixed-route buses. MAX buses generally don't allow animals other than service animals, and Birmingham has no subway or rail. MAX On-Demand does let non-service pets ride in an airline-approved carrier, which works for a trip to the vet with an Abyssinian. A secure, well-ventilated carrier is a must either way.
Very little. An Abyssinian's short, close-lying coat needs only occasional brushing, and a quick weekly comb handles most shedding. Birmingham's humidity doesn't change that much. Plan on nail trims and tooth care too. Any professional grooming falls within the Other line of the cost table, at no more than about $50 a year.
Probably not. Alabama's outdoor-dining law lets restaurants opt in to welcoming dogs on patios, and it doesn't extend to cats. An Abyssinian is also usually happier at home than in a busy patio crowd, so save carrier outings for the vet and other necessary trips.
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.
Expect roughly $1,260 to $2,820 a year for an Abyssinian in Birmingham. That covers food at $25 to $50 a month, insurance at $30 to $60 a month, routine vet care of $150 to $350, and $450 to $1,150 for other costs such as litter, parasite prevention and dental care. Illness and emergencies are extra.
Looking for a different breed? Browse other cats available for adoption in Birmingham.
