From the ArcaMax Publishing, Cats & Dogs Newsletter:
http://www.arcamax.com/news/catsanddogs/s-177156-215833
The Abyssinian is a natural breed of domesticated cat originating in
Egypt. As the story goes, an Egyptian female kitten, Zula, was taken
from a port in Alexandria, brought to England, and bred with an
English tabby. The most "Abyssinian" looking kitten of her litter was
bred with its mother to splice the Abby gene.
It's thought that all Abyssinians in Europe, the Americas, and
Australia are descended from Zula. With a distinctly ticked, tawny
coat, in what is generally a warm golden colour, the Abyssinian has
large almond-shaped eyes with a fine dark line around them, and large
ears. Abyssinians are active, friendly, curious and playful, and
usually not "lap cats" as they're too preoccupied. They're "busy"
cats, and can get bored without daily activity and attention.