Halyna Buslenko considered herself a dog person until she accidentally attended a cat show and saw an Abyssinian cat. Since then, she not only got an unusual Abyssinian cat but also became the owner of the Randevu Abyssinian Cattery. She regularly participates in Ukrainian and international cat shows. Her Abys, as they are affectionately called, have found their homes almost all over the world.

How it all started

“My Abyssinian story began over ten years ago, but I still remember that day. We were walking around the cat show and looking at the cats when I saw a female Abyssinian cat. It was sitting at the very end of the hall and proudly gazing down at everyone. It was like a slow-motion scene from a movie. It was love at first sight, at first touch. I spent two hours near the cat, asking the breeder countless questions. To be honest, I do not even remember the breeder, but I still remember the cat.

At first, I was excited about the idea of just having an Abyssinian cat at home. And when I received a cat as a gift, I became interested in breeding. I wanted to do everything right. I attended exhibitions, talked to breeders, and learned all the nuances of breeding. I was fascinated by this world, and I realized that I wanted to do it professionally. In 2015, I officially registered my cattery.

Breeding Abyssinians has its peculiarities. Firstly, the breed is considered quite commercial. To avoid turning Abyssinian breeding into, so to speak, mass production, when cats are sold for UAH 500 on OLX, many breeders either ‘close’ their animals to prevent them from breeding or impose certain restrictions when selling cats (for example, prohibiting cooperation with specific catteries). Therefore, I was looking for a cat to breed for quite a long time. The first one I found was in Kyiv. After that, I went to the Czech Republic, Poland, and Germany.

It is not enough to simply desire to breed Abyssinians. You need to participate in cat shows, to receive assessment and confirmation that your animal meets the breed standard and is fit for breeding.

There are four main international cat registries that organize cat shows. I am registered with two of them, but I mostly exhibit my Abys at the events of one. The career development of my cats is precisely in this organization. Yes, cats can have a career too

Almost all my cats born before the war have the highest titles in their respective registries. I brought trophies from different countries – the Czech Republic, Poland, France… In 2021, my male cat became the best Abyssinian cat in Ukraine and the best cat in Ukraine for the exhibition year. My female cat became the second-best Abyssinian cat and the third-best cat in Ukraine. This list could go on and on. I do not even have enough space at home for all the trophies, they are simply packed away in boxes”.

About the breed

“I started with one cat. In 2022, at the beginning of the invasion, I left Ukraine with twenty cats. Now we are already in Ukraine. I have eleven adult cats and four kittens at home. When I come home in the evening, I must spend some time with each of them, pet them, and interact with them all.

Abys are described as companions, friends, and family members. The Abyssinian is often called ‘a dog in a cat’s body’. They are very balanced, sociable, affectionate, active, and curious. They are attached to their owners rather than the place. They do not like being alone and can even become depressed if they are left alone for long periods. That is why, before selling kittens, I ask prospective owners how often they are away and how much time they spend at home. Abyssinians are not accessories; they are full-fledged family members.

Despite their exotic and luxurious appearance, Abyssinians are quite easy to care for and do not require much effort in maintenance. In fact, it is extremely easy to travel with them. During the cat shows, we have already visited fifteen countries. Planes, trains, buses, cars… The only mode of transport we have not tried with my cats is a ferry.”

If you are already interested in Abyssinians…

“Regardless of whether you are interested in the Abyssinian or another breed, I highly recommend attending cat shows. Cat shows are a bit different from dog shows. Cats do not perform commands or demonstrate movement. Instead, there is an enclosed ring where the judge brings the cat and provides a detailed description. Come to cat shows, choose your pets and friends! You cannot even imagine how much emotional support and positivity they bring!”

You can read more stories about our amazing people of NIBULON in the “Career” section.