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Abyssinian cat

Abyssinian Cats for Adoption in New Orleans, LA

Your guide to finding and caring for an Abyssinian in NOLA

An Abyssinian suits a New Orleans shotgun double well, because climbing space matters more than square footage. In Mid-City or Bywater, a tall cat tree by a front window gives this curious cat a view of the street, the porch and the neighbors' comings and goings. Abys are busy and social, so they do best with someone home often or a second cat. The short coat copes with the long, muggy summers once the air conditioning is on.

173 Abyssinians available in New Orleans and nationwide

Find your forever Abyssinian

While we don't have enough cats near New Orleans, keep in mind that many rescues may offer transport.

Abyssinians Available for Adoption Near New Orleans

About the Abyssinian breed

The Abyssinian is a medium, lithe cat, usually 6 to 12 pounds, with a short ticked coat in which each hair carries several bands of color. Large cupped ears and almond eyes give it an alert, wildcat look. 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, curious and athletic, and many are affectionate without being lap cats. They like to follow their people around, climb to the highest perch and investigate everything. That suits indoor life with window perches, daily interactive play and company. Inherited conditions such as pyruvate kinase deficiency and retinal degeneration are worth knowing about, and each cat's personality varies.

Weight
6–12 lbs
Height
8–10 in
Lifespan
9–15 yrs
Temperament
Active, Curious, Playful, Social
Shedding
Low to Moderate

Owning an Abyssinian in New Orleans

Having an Abyssinian in NOLA

Expect a high-energy, climbing, people-oriented cat with a low-maintenance coat. In New Orleans, the main questions are how much play and company the household can offer, how well the home stays cool, and whether the breed's inherited health risks fit your plans.

Temperament

Abyssinians tend to be inquisitive, playful and social, shadowing their people through the house rather than settling in a lap. Some are shy with strangers at first. They often enjoy other cats and considerate kids. In a busy NOLA household with plenty of foot traffic, expect a helper at every task. Personalities vary from cat to cat.

Exercise Needs

Plan on daily interactive play, with wand toys, chase games and puzzle feeders, split into a few short sessions. Tall cat trees and shelves let an Aby burn energy indoors, which also keeps it away from the coyotes reported around the city. A harness-trained cat can take supervised outings, but indoor play is the staple.

Health Considerations

Abyssinians can inherit pyruvate kinase deficiency, progressive retinal atrophy and kidney amyloidosis, and gum disease and kneecap problems also show up. DNA tests exist for some of these. Schedule a veterinary exam soon after adoption, brush teeth if the cat allows, and discuss testing with the vet. Year-round flea prevention suits New Orleans' warm, humid climate.

Living Space

A New Orleans apartment, shotgun double or raised cottage all work if there's vertical space: a tall cat tree, window perches or wall shelves. Keeping an Aby indoors is safest, given traffic, coyotes and summer heat. A secure catio or harness outings can add fresh air. Cats with long days alone do better with a feline companion.

What it costs to own an Abyssinian in New Orleans

ExpenseTypical costPer 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*$460 to $1,160 per year$460 to $1,160
Estimated yearly total (after year one)$1,270 to $2,830

Other costs are estimates and vary with size, age and health.

* The $10 City cat license for a spayed or neutered cat, litter, flea prevention, a dental cleaning allowance, toys, scratchers and cat trees, and occasional brushing for a short coat.

Abyssinian cat

Adopt an Abyssinian in New Orleans.

Now that you know more, let’s find you a new best friend. These rescues and shelters below have cats available in and near New Orleans.

Rescues and Shelters in or near New Orleans

New Orleans has a mix of shelters and volunteer rescues that care for cats and kittens awaiting adoption. Here are the rescues & shelters in the NOLA area with cats available for adoption, worth asking whether an Abyssinian is coming in.

Frequently Asked Questions

Often yes, if the household can give daily play and company. Abys are active, social climbers that do well in indoor homes with tall perches, from a Garden District apartment to a shotgun double. NOLA's heat and storms make a cool, calm home and a hurricane plan important. If your days away are long, consider a second cat.

Yes. New Orleans has no known breed-specific rules for cats, so an Abyssinian is treated like any other cat. Expect an annual City license tag through a veterinarian with proof of rabies vaccination, which Louisiana requires after three months of age. Landlords set their own pet terms, so review your lease before bringing a cat home.

Yes. An Abyssinian does well in an apartment when it has vertical space, since cat trees, window perches and wall shelves matter more than floor area. In a small condo or a shotgun double, rotate toys and schedule play sessions. A busy climber can be noisy for downstairs neighbors, so choose sturdy, stable furniture.

Mostly yes, as long as the cat lives indoors with air conditioning. The short, close-lying coat handles warmth better than a thick coat, but summers are hot and humid with many 90-degree days, while winters are mild. Hurricane season from June to November means a carrier, vaccination records and a registered microchip should be ready.

Yes, but only in a carrier. RTA buses and streetcars allow pets in small containers, and the carrier must fit on your lap. Most Abyssinians, at roughly 6 to 12 pounds, fit a standard lap-sized carrier. New Orleans has streetcars rather than a subway, so keep the cat zipped in for the whole ride.

Very little. The short, close-lying coat needs a quick weekly brush at most, with a bit more during heavier shedding. Humidity doesn't make this coat harder to manage, and professional grooming is rarely needed, so grooming adds little to the Other line in the cost table. Dental care and nail trims matter more.

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 $1,270 to $2,830 a year for an Abyssinian in New Orleans, covering food, insurance, routine vet care, and other costs such as litter, dental care and flea prevention. That is about $106 to $236 a month. Emergency care for illness or injury is separate, and insurance can help soften that.

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