Our kittens are sold after they are 12 weeks of age. This is to ensure that they have been well weaned from their mother and are stable and well socialized. Reputable Abyssinian breeders do not sell their kittens too early as it can cause stress leading to health problems plus in extreme cases the kitten can develop emotional problems later in life such as sucking on blankets and not knowing how to appropriately socialize with other cats and pets. It is important for your Abyssinian kitten to have exposure to maternal antibodies and the rich mothers’ milk as long as possible. Also, when the kittens are with mom, she is training them how to interact with other cats and humans, and how to fit into a cat community.

Our Aby kittens get their final vaccine and second veterinary check for health at 12 weeks old. At this age they have been wormed, vet checked twice and have had a full set of kitten vaccines. Because we have taken all these steps we can be confident when we sell our kittens that they will be healthy both emotionally and physically, and we are able to stand behind our kittens absolutely with a full 100% guarantee. See RUDDICAT SALES CONTRACT for more info.

When they are 12 weeks old the kittens weigh approximately 2.5 pounds. Abyssinians are not like other domestic cats. They are slower maturing and they are quite a bit smaller. Adult females weigh approximately 5-6 1/2 pounds and adult males weigh about 7-8 1/2 pounds. If your Aby kitten is going to be air shipped to you we will keep it until it is 1 or 2 weeks past the date of his/her last vaccine. This is to ensure that the kitten is not undergoing the stress of shipping immediately after getting the last vaccine. See SHIPPING YOUR RUDDICAT KITTEN link for more info.

Welcoming your new kitten into your home requires some preparation. With the right equipment and some tips, you can make your cat's introduction to your home, family and other pets go smoothly. For the first day or two, keep your Abyssinian confined to one room with a litter box, food and water. Let your new kitten become comfortable in this room before introducing it to the rest of the house. If you have older pets, especially cats, you might want to keep the new Aby kitten in its own room for 3 or 4 days until the older pet gets used to the idea that there is a new resident. The older cat may prowl around the doorway and show signs of aggression.

During this period, spend extra time with your older pets to relieve any anxiety and minimize tension. Confine the older cat to his favorite part of the house while the new kitten is allowed brief journeys out to explore your home. When your new kitten seems comfortable, allow the animals to start viewing each other. Allow your pets to meet. Stay in the room while they get acquainted. Let them sniff out each other's space and one another. Make sure each pet has an easy escape route in case one or the other wants to leave. Some hissing or growling is to be expected. If one cat shows hostility toward another during the initial introductions, don't punish him; that action could backfire. Instead, start the whole process over again after separating the animals for another day or two. Respect each pet's territorial rights. If your older cat has claimed the living-room sofa as her favorite spot, allow her to keep that space as her own domain. Help your new Aby kitten find a different spot he/she can call her own. Establish separate but equal relationships with each pet to prevent jealousy. If you have a dog, keep him on a leash at first, and monitor him closely. In the beginning, don't let him chase or bother your new kitten. Your Abyssinian kitten has been raised with dogs so should not be uncomfortable or scared of the dog but if the dog does startle the kitten don't make your kitten remain in the same room with the dog. Give each cat a separate litter box; this will help them resist the temptation to find a private privy in an inappropriate place.

Show your children how to properly pick up the new Aby kitten and how to play with their new pet. Teach them that cats don't like to be teased or have their ears or tail pulled. Always supervise your children's interaction with your new kitten, especially when they have friends over to play.

Here's a list of items that will help your new Abyssinian kitten get off to a great start:

1. Bed or sleeping area. Place in a warm quiet spot
2. Water and food bowls. Each pet in your house should have his or her own food and water bowl. Choose bowls designed especially for cats - shallow, broad-based metal or ceramic bowls.
3. Toys. Avoid toys that have sharp edges or parts that your kitten might swallow.
4. Choose soft toys that bounce erratically (the more bounce, the better). Beware of yarn and toys with strings. Yarn or string is dangerous if ingested. Supervise all play with these toys.
5. Litter box and litter. We use silica type litter as it is so clean and odorless.
6. Cat carrier
7. Scratching post. Do not buy a “kitten-size” post as it will seldom be used if at all. Purchase a tall post that is very sturdy. An Aby wants to be able to stretch out to his or her full length when scratching and they will be hesitant to use anything that wobbles.
8. Iams Kitten Food. We recommend a high quality dry food ONLY as the diet for your Abyssinian. Abys can be prone to gingivitis and this will be more likely to affect your cat if you feed canned food. There are many additives and sometimes even sugar in canned cat food. It is not good for your Aby, not even as a treat. If you want to give your Aby some variety, table scraps can be given in moderation. A solid bone or a piece of muscle meat is a great treat, plus it aids in keeping your Abys’ teeth clean.

When you bring your new Ruddicat Abyssinian kitten home, at first he/she may miss the family. The kitten may wake up and meow during the night. Pick the kitten up and comfort it by speaking soothingly and stroking it gently. If this doesn't work, try putting a ticking clock with the kitten to remind the kitten of mom’s heartbeat and/or put a hot water bottle (100°to 102°F.) wrapped in a towel in the kitten bed. The kitten can then snuggle up to the bottle as it used to snuggle with its siblings. You can always bring the kitten into bed with you, but remember this will be where he/she will always want to sleep. This is fine, except Abys will not let you sleep in on a Saturday morning. They feel you should still be up at the regular time to entertain them. They will sit on your chest and stare at your face. They will gently put their paws on your closed eyelids. It can be very unnerving!

You have bought yourself an Abyssinian kitten and the old saying about ‘Curiosity kills the cat’ will be relevant to an Aby owner. These are very curious cats! It is part of their charm but can also be their peril. Please be careful, especially when your Abyssinian is a kitten. Make your home safe the same way you would if you had a 2 year old toddler living with you.

Follow these recommendations:

• Keep all medicines and household cleaning agents locked up.
• Keep stringy material away from your Abyssinian kitten, except under your supervision. Items like string, yarn, fishing line and thread attached to a needle can be lethal if swallowed.
• Make sure the fireplace is tightly screened.
• Secure unscreened windows. Cats may jump out of open windows. Cats often lean into screens as they nap, so secure the screens on all other windows. Contrary to popular belief, cats don't always land on their feet when they fall and can be badly injured.
• Check all appliances before closing the door. Double and triple check the dryer and washing machine before turning them on. Abys love to curl up in your clothes so you need to be careful. Double check the fridge and dishwasher before closing the door. Remember your Aby loves to be with you and will be right there helping you make that sandwich or load the dishwasher. They are small and quick so just make sure to take one last look before walking away.
• Immediately place opened tin or aluminum cans behind closed doors or in containers with secure lids. The edges of these cans are extremely sharp and can cut or sever your cat's tongue.