Wonderful breed with a few things to know before you commit to a Abyssinian

I've had my Abyssinian for 2 years and overall it's been an amazing experience. bonds closely with family. athletic and agile. The personality of this breed really is special — active, curious, playful.

That said, there are a few realities I wish someone had been more upfront about. very high energy was a real surprise. And not a lap cat took some adjustment. These aren't dealbreakers by any means, but they're worth knowing going in.

Health-wise, renal amyloidosis. We had one scare a couple years in that cost a few thousand dollars. Pet insurance is strongly recommended. But despite these things, I'd still give the breed 4 stars — the companionship and personality far outweigh the challenges.