Your guide to finding and caring for an Abyssinian in Honolulu
An Abyssinian suits a Honolulu apartment well, as long as there's plenty to climb. In a Mōʻiliʻili or Makiki building, a cat tree beside a window gives this athletic cat a lookout over the street, and an evening session with a wand toy burns off the rest of the day's energy. Abys like company, so they do best with someone home often or a second cat. Keep the lanai door latched, because a curious climber will test it.
Find your forever Abyssinian
While we don't have enough cats near Honolulu, keep in mind that many rescues may offer transport.
F, 1 y., 2397 miles
Tabby, Abyssinian
F, 3-7 y., 2401 miles
Tabby, Abyssinian
F, 9 y., 2553 miles
Abyssinian, Domestic Short Hair
M, 3-7 y., 2574 miles
Abyssinian, Tabby
M, 5 y., 2628 miles
Abyssinian
F, 4 y., 3703 miles
Abyssinian
F, 6 mo., 3748 miles
Tabby, Abyssinian
M, 2 y., 3968 miles
Abyssinian, American Shorthair
F, 6 mo., 4032 miles
Abyssinian
F, 2 y., 4066 miles
Abyssinian, Domestic Short Hair
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 alert ears and almond eyes add a wildcat air. 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.
Abys are busy, curious and athletic, climbing to high perches and investigating everything. Many are affectionate and people-focused without being lap cats. The coat sheds lightly and is easy to keep up, but these cats need daily play, vertical space and company. They can inherit conditions such as pyruvate kinase deficiency and retinal degeneration, and personalities vary from cat to cat.
Having an Abyssinian in Honolulu
Abyssinians pair high energy and climbing skill with a low-maintenance short coat. In Honolulu, that means vertical space, daily play and indoor safety matter more than square footage, and a few inherited conditions deserve a veterinarian's attention.
Abyssinians are inquisitive and social, often shadowing their people from room to room, though many prefer playing beside you to settling in a lap. Some are shy with strangers at first. In a busy Honolulu condo, they usually enjoy a second cat or someone home often. Personalities vary, so spend time with the cat before deciding.
Plan on daily interactive play, such as wand toys and chase games, plus puzzle feeders and rotating toys. Tall cat trees and window perches satisfy their urge to climb. A harness-trained Aby can enjoy supervised outings, but Oʻahu pavement gets hot, so keep them to early morning or after sunset.
Abyssinians can inherit pyruvate kinase deficiency, a cause of anemia, and progressive retinal atrophy, which leads to vision loss; DNA tests exist for both. Kidney amyloidosis, kneecap luxation and gum disease also appear in the breed. A veterinarian can check teeth, eyes and kidney health at wellness visits, and regular dental care helps.
Abyssinians do fine in the condos and apartments common in Honolulu as long as they have vertical space. Cat trees, wall shelves and window perches matter more than floor area. Keep screens and lanai doors secure, since a curious climber will test them, or offer a secure catio for fresh air.
| 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.
* Litter, flea and parasite prevention, a yearly dental cleaning allowance, toys, scratchers and cat trees, and occasional brushing for the 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 Honolulu.
Oʻahu's shelters and foster-based rescues care for cats of every kind, and the listings below keep changing. Here are the rescues & shelters in the Honolulu area with cats available for adoption, worth asking whether an Abyssinian is coming in.
Yes, you can adopt an Abyssinian in Honolulu, and the city's cat rules don't depend on breed. Every cat needs a registered microchip, and outdoor pet cats must be sterilized. Since Abys are curious climbers, indoor living is the safer plan. Save a search on this page to hear when an Abyssinian is listed.
Yes, an Abyssinian can live happily in a Honolulu apartment if it has plenty to climb and play with. Cat trees, wall shelves and window perches matter more than floor area. Secure lanai doors and window screens, since this curious climber will test them, and plan daily wand-toy play so a small unit doesn't leave it restless.
An Abyssinian is a good fit for Honolulu if you're home often, enjoy daily play and keep the cat indoors. The short coat handles warm weather easily. It's a weaker match for people away long hours, because Abys are social and can get restless alone, and a second cat sometimes helps. Meeting the cat first shows how its personality fits your routine.
Yes, a short-coated Abyssinian handles Honolulu summers well indoors. Highs sit near 88°F with lows around 75°F, so humidity matters more than extreme heat. Use fans or air conditioning, keep water in several spots, and avoid sunny perches in the afternoon. Never leave a cat in a parked car, and keep harness walks to early morning or after sunset.
Yes, but only in a small closed carrier. TheBus allows animals in a small enclosed container on your lap or under the seat, and Skyline asks for a cage or carrier that fits under the seat or on your lap. Choose a carrier your Abyssinian can lie down in, and practice at home first so the ride stays calm.
Very little. The short, close-lying coat needs only a weekly brush to lift loose hair, since shedding is low to moderate, and Honolulu's year-round warmth means no seasonal coat changes to manage. Add regular nail trims and teeth brushing, which supports the breed's gum health. Brushing supplies fall within the yearly Other costs, so routine professional grooming isn't needed.
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 Honolulu. Food runs $25 to $50 a month and insurance $30 to $60, which adds up to $55 to $110 monthly. Routine vet care is $150 to $350 a year, and other costs such as litter, parasite prevention, dental care and supplies run $450 to $1,150.
Looking for a different breed? Browse other cats available for adoption in Honolulu.
