A Hair Abnormality in Abyssinian Cats

    January 1989 in “ Journal of Small Animal Practice ”
    G.T Wilkinson, Kristensen Ts, G.T Wilkinson, Kristensen Ts
    Studysummary This study reports an abnormal onion-shaped swelling on the hair shafts of some Abyssinian cats, affecting the appearance of their coat, though skin and hair structures appear normal under the microscope. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.
    The document reported a hair abnormality in Abyssinian cats characterized by an onion-shaped swelling on the hair shaft of whiskers and guard hairs, typically at the tip but sometimes elsewhere along the shaft. This abnormality gave the guard hairs a rough, brittle, and lustreless appearance, although microscopic examination showed normal epidermis, dermis, hair follicles, and appendages. The condition was observed in two Abyssinian cats in Denmark and one in Australia.
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