Is an Abyssinian usually too active for a very quiet home?

Depends on what you call quiet. If you mean a home where nothing ever moves or makes a sound, then yeah - an Abyssinian will drive you nuts. They're wired to climb, explore, and demand interaction constantly. But here's the real question: are you sure you want a cat that just sleeps on the couch all day? Because an Aby will keep you on your toes, challenge you, and turn your quiet home into a living jungle gym. Maybe that's exactly what you need.