What is a polecat?
A polecat is not a cat, or a pole. It is a nocturnal European weasel.
“The Abyssinian population in Britain dropped dramatically during WWII, and breeders had to work hard afterward to rebuild the breed.”
Reference: Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA)
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.
How did World War II affect the British Shorthair?
The British Shorthair population dropped sharply during WWII, and breeders afterward crossed them with Persians and other breeds to rebuild their numbers.