What is a polecat?
A polecat is not a cat, or a pole. It is a nocturnal European weasel.
“Despite its name, genetic research suggests the Abyssinian's ancestors most likely came from coastal regions around the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia rather than Ethiopia.”
Reference: Lipinski et al., Genomics (2008), UC Davis
More facts about cats.
More cat facts
What is a ticked coat?
Abyssinians have a "ticked" coat, which means each individual hair has several bands of color. That gives the coat a warm, glowing shimmer instead of stripes or spots.
What colors do Labrador Retrievers come in?
The AKC recognizes only three Labrador Retriever colors: black, yellow, and chocolate. "Fox red" Labs are technically a dark shade of yellow, and "silver" Labs aren't accepted under the breed standard.