Hailing from Abyssinia, which is now known as Ethiopia, this regal-looking breed is believed to have been imported into the ...

“Tortoiseshell cats are almost always female ... which originated in England and parts of Asia,” she adds. Abyssinian cats, by the way, are among the smartest cat breeds.

That’s because all cats produce varying amounts of a protein called Fel d1, including the Abyssinian. “This protein is what triggers reactions in susceptible people,” Dr MacMillan explains.