Somali

Fun, bubbly, affectionate, clever, confident and very attractive. Sounds like the perfect party guest? Of course it does, and I am talking about the Somali cat. They are not only delightful guests but also live-in companions, as they love to help with the housework!

It appears that longhairs had been appearing in Abyssinian litters for many years and from the 1960s onward several dedicated breeders in Australia, the USA and England worked to attain full recognition and acceptance of the semi-longhaired cousin of the Abyssinian. The Somali is now accepted in registries worldwide. Breed Standards (the description of the ideal breed specimen) closely resemble the Abyssinian’s aside from the coat length.


Somali Appearance and Colours
The Somali has an elegant, athletic build that is medium in size. Males tend to weigh in at 4 - 5 kg, females slightly smaller. The face retains the tabby markings of the 'M' on the forehead, however the rest of the cat should be free of tabby markings. The ears are large and pricked forwards and the expression is alert and curious. Eyes can be green or amber, the richer colour the better.

In Australia Somalis are commonly available in the four eumelanistic colours of Tawny (called ruddy in the USA, usual in the UK), Cinnamon (also called sorrel), Blue and Fawn The above four colours are also possible in a silver version, called respectively Black Silver, Cinnamon Silver, Blue Silver and Fawn Silver. In silver colours, a particular gene inhibits the base coat colour, leaving the ticking on a white undercoat. Each colour has its own special appeal. In some states chocolate and chocolate silver are being bred.


Somali Coat
The coat of the Somali really attracts attention the ticking gives a wild appearance that is very unusual for a longer haired cat. Each hair has bands of contrasting colour. The Somali coat is longest in the breeches, and the lovely ruff. A real feature of the Somali is the tail, which has earned them the name the Feline Fox. The beautiful coat is very easy to care for, due to the silky texture that does not have a tendency to matt. A weekly comb is all that is needed to keep the Somali looking and feeling good, and the cats enjoy this.