He studied at the University of Berlin from 1835 to 1839, and then travelled to North America, returning in 1841 with a large natural history collection.
He was assistant and later director of the Berlin University Museum, taking over from Martin Lichtenstein. He died in Friedrichshagen. A number of birds are named after him, including Cabanis"s bunting Emberiza cabanisi, Cabanis"s spinetail Synallaxis cabanisi, Cabanis"s tanager Tangara cabanisi, Cabanis"s greenbul Phyllastrephus cabanisi, and Cabanis"s ground sparrow Melozone cabanisi.