Abyssinian Guinea Pig: The Guinea Pig With Blooming Hair

What image springs to mind when you think of a Guinea Pig? The small, classic, short-furred creature— the American Shorthair Guinea Pig. But this isn't the case for all breeds, more specifically for this post, the Abyssinian Guinea Pig.

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Related:
American Shorthair Guinea Pig: The Oldest Breed Of Guinea Pigs

The Abyssinian Guinea Pig

If you’ve always considered having a Guinea Pig as a Pet but yearn for a slightly rarer-looking one, the Abyssinian Guinea Pig might just be the Cavy for you. Contrary to their name, they do not hail from Abyssinia (currently known as Ethiopia, Africa), it is known that Guinea Pigs in general originated from South America.

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The first appearance of Abyssinian Guinea Pigs are still shrouded in mystery, but speculated to possibly be as far back as 1200 to 1500 AD, Europe. It was during that time where breeding of exotic looking Guinea Pigs took place, quickly gaining popularity. The name Abyssinian added a luxurious, sell-able touch to this Guinea Pig breed's appearance. Today, they are also fondly nicknamed, Abby for short.

Abyssinian Guinea Pig Appearance

The look of an Abyssinian cavy is unmistakable, for has a coat like no other Cavy breeds. Quite unlike the American Short Hair Guinea Pig of course, as the Abyssinian has a distinct coat of long fur.

Coat — Made up of tufts and “whirls” or fur throughout their bodies, also known as rosettes. The only areas that are not covered by rosettes are their faces, and tummies. Their long coats are coarse, further aiding in maintaining the shape of the rosettes.

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Colour — There is a wide range of possible coat colouration for an Abyssinian Guinea Pig. Such colours branch down from these categories:

Solid, Agouti, Brindle, Dalmation, Dutch, Roan, and Tortoiseshell.

Solid colours include: White, Orange, Brown, Black.
Agouti base colours include: Chocolate, Beige, Lilac.

Brindle, Dalmation, Dutch, Roan and Tortiseshell usually refers to patterned coloration of the Cavy’s coat, and could consist a mixture of different colours.

Fun Fact      One might think of these rosettes as a messy outlook for this particular Cavy, but in actual fact— if you were lucky enough to own an Abyssinian cavy with symmetrical rosettes sitting on both right and left shoulders, each side of the hips, and two or four on its back, your Cavy might actually be a perfect show-standard!

How To Groom An Abyssinian Guinea Pig

Though the Abyssinian Cavy sports long fur which does indeed require care, it is not difficult or much more work as compared to a Guinea Pig with Short hair. Spare just a little more time brushing them gently with a soft bristled brush to avoid tangles, and bath them only if necessary. A monthly bath along with a Guinea Pig-friendly shampoo keeps their coat clean and healthy. Towel-dry thoroughly after.

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Unlike other small animals like Rabbits, Hamsters or Chinchillas, Guinea Pigs do not require sand baths or pet-friendly disinfectant powder to keep clean. In fact, sand bath powder is known to cause serious respiratory problems for Guinea Pigs.

Guinea Pig Quick Care Tips

Housing — A good and comfy home for American Shorthair or any guinea pig would be soft and quality bedding. Some owners opt for fleece towels or even hay, just ensure cleanliness at all times. Avoid Pine and Cedar wood bedding as it may lead up to respiratory issues. Straw is also not advisable for absorbency purposes.

Ensure the living space/cage is of an appropriate size, large enough for your active Cavy to run and roam about. To prevent them from eating soiled hay, clean their living space regularly and provide fresh food and water!

Feeding — Good quality Hay is an absolute staple in a Guinea Pig's diet. Introduce a plate of hay for food with food pellets mixed in. Guinea Pigs require a ton of Fiber and Vitamin C, inclusion of fresh vegetables and occasional fruits treats are healthy. Recommendations for good quality Hay types are Timothy Hay, to encourage healthy teeth and a good digestive system.

Related: 

What Can My Guinea Pig Eat?: Guinea Pig Safe Greens and Fruits

Abyssinian Guinea Pig Personality

The Abyssinian Guinea Pig is notorious for their playful and mischievous nature amongst all Cavy breeds, yet endowed with intelligence that allows training to be a breeze. Simple commands such as approaching when called upon by name and returning to their home proves to be no feat, according to owners.

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Since they are also more active due to their playful nature, it is important to allow your Abyssinian some exploring time out of their cages every day. Abyssinian Guinea Pigs make great starter pets and have an average lifespan of 5 to 7 years with proper care. While they are friendly and sociable, precaution has to be taken still when handling them and introducing them to other house pets

Adopt An Abyssinian Guinea Pig

We would have never imagined a rather exotic pet could be abandoned by anyone, but alas, we were proven wrong when we saw a beautiful all white Abyssinian Guinea Pig up for adoption at an Animal Shelter. We can’t stress enough on the importance of Pet ownership really, if you have decided on a pet you want, ensure your commitment is firm as well. Always seek for available options instead at local Animal Shelters before purchasing one.

You might also be interested in:

Guinea Pig Life Hacks: Eight Useful Tips For Every Cavy Owner

Is Your Guinea Pig Is Sick?: Behavioural And Physical Signs To Look Out For!

  

Guinea Pig Group Of Singapore: All About Guinea Pigs Including Top Five Tips!

Guinea Pigs Of Instagram: Top Stars Of The Cavy Empire!

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Disclaimer

This article was written with informational purposes, as you know, we’d love to share our collective research and experiences as fellow Pet owners and lovers. It is not meant to alternate in any way as advice or diagnosis of Professionals.

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Did You Spot An Abyssinian Cat In Our Streets?

Did You Spot An Abyssinian Cat In Our Streets?

Like the SingapuraCat and the Bombay Cat, many of these amazing Cat breeds have all been passed by or not even given a second look. Little did we know, these some of our local community Cats are actually well recognised Cat breeds in the world, and the Abyssinian Cat breed is another example of stray that has a rich history and wonderful personality we may not have realised.

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The Abyssinian Cat

Though the origins of the first Abyssinian Cats are still shrouded in mystery, the name of this breed is derived from the first Abyssinian to ever be exhibited at the Crystal Palace Cat Show in England, 1871. The name of this Cat is Zula, and is thought to have been imported from Abyssinia (now known as Ethiopia), North Africa. Zula was also reported to be the first Abyssinian Cat captured during the late Abyssinian War and took 3^rd place in the Crystal Palace Show. Reports of the show was published in 1872, ad rumours of the Abyssinian Cat being Cats of Pharaohs were spread.

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Some rumours also described how the appearance of the Abyssinian Cat was achieved from cross-breeding the British Silver and Browns. While Cat fanciers from America imported some Abyssinians to America during the 1900s, serious breeding programs only began in 1930s, with more Cats being imported from Britain itself. This was thought to be a good things, because only about a dozen Abyssinian Cats survived the World War II in England! The modern Abyssinian Cats we see today were most likely bred from Britain Abyssinians.

Zula

What Does An Abyssinian Cat Look Like?

With similar trademark coats like our local pride the Singapura Cat, Abyssinians have tickled hairs and a slender, slim and fine-boned frame. The only difference here is that an Abyssinian Cat is medium sized. They have large and alert pointed ears with almond shaped eyes that are either Gold, Copper, Green or even Hazel, depending on their coat colours. Not forgetting their tapering long tails.

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Their tickled coat should be even throughout, besides the fact that their spine, tail and back of hind legs are usually noticeably darker in shade. Standard shade is referred to as Usual or Ruddy, this shad entails a dark reddish brown and black tickling patterns. Another shade is the Sorret, Cinnamon or Red, which is a lighter copper base with chocolate tickling.

Fun Fact      All Abyssinian Cats are born with dark colours, these coats lighten as the kitten matures, usually in a few months!

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Grooming Requirements Of An Abyssinian Cat

The short, silky coat of an Abyssinian Cat does not require massive maintenance, but they do still require the usual combing to help them rid loose hairs and baths to keep their coats shiny and clean. Trim their nails once they’re long, which would be every 2 weeks or so.

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Clean out their ears with a Vet approved cleanser and cotton balls. Additionally, practice good dental hygiene by brushing their teeth with a Pet tooth brush and Vet-approved toothpaste. If you are unsure of how to perform these tasks, approach your trust Veterinarian or Groomer for advice and demonstrations! ☺

Personality Of An Abyssinian

Also known as the clowns of the Cat Kingdom, Abyssinians are extremely inquisitive and active, and they love their owners. They often get so attached to their owners and won’t stand being neglected or have no activity to entertain themselves. So if you are looking for a calm and still kitty for your home, an Abyssinian may not be the best choice.

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Instead, if you are looking for a cleverly entertaining and loving furry companion, you can expect an Abyssinian to provide hours and hours or play time and even be able to teach them a trick or two, their intelligence make them excellent learners!

Owning An Abyssinian Cat In Singapore

Before obtaining a Pet, be sure to research and prepare for the commitments and responsibilities you have to face when you are looking after the Pet. A lot of times, animals are often left neglected and poorly looked after, leading to abandonment cases when they fall ill or Pets running away. Especially with Cats, it is crucial to understand your feline’s needs while keeping them safe indoors.

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Keep your Cats happy and safe indoors by meshing up your doors and windows, providing brain stimulating toys, and high spots for them to watch their surroundings, climbing posts and a good diet. These are pointers which may differ accordingly to the Cats’ personalities of course. With lots of patience, care and love, an average Abyssinian Cat lifespan is 9 to 15 years or more!

Adopt, Don’t Shop

Specific breeds are great, but we could say the same for all other crossbreeds and rescued strays. Before you head off to purchase a Pet, always keep an eye out for adoption drives or check out local shelters and groups for more options. You could always count on finding your next sweet kitty and providing a forever home for a rescued furry pal ☺

Disclaimer

This article was written with informational purposes, as you know, we’d love to share our collective research and experiences as fellow Pet owners and lovers. It is not meant to alternate in any way as advice or diagnosis of Professionals. If you do wish to use any of our published information, you are welcome to contact us!