Somali Cat Breed

History

Despite what their name suggests, this cat breed was not developed in Somalia, but the United States. The name Somali was chosen due to the breed's ancestors, the Abyssinian. Somalia borders Abyssinia, which is modern day Ethiopia.

The history of this semi-long haired cat breed is cloudy, but it is believed breeding began in the early 1960s by an Abyssinian breeder. Abyssinians have always been used for outcrossing for Somalis to preserve a healthy gene pool.

One of the first Somali breeders, Evelyn Mague founded the Somali Cat Club of America. This club worked to grant the breed championship status by the CFA, which they got in 1979. The breeder was later accepted in Europe.

Appearance

The Somali’s head forms a medium wedge with moderate contours. Their nose has a small break, and their chin is firm. Their forehead should be high with good width between their ears. Their ears are set wide apart but not low.

Their almond-shaped eyes are set well apart and expressive. There is a dark shade to emphasise their eyes. Paler spectacles also circle it, and short dark lines appear at both sides of their eye, while the inner lines are perpendicular and the outer ones point towards their ear.

Somalis have hazel, amber or green eyes. The deeper and richer, the better. Their medium-sized body is firm, agile and well-muscled. Their long legs have oval paws, and they have plumed tails, giving them a fox-like appearance.

Somalis come in a fantastic variety of colours, including the most common, red, ruddy, fawn, and blue. Most Somali cats will be in the ruddy or orange/red colour range. Well-defined ticking is vital to the Somalis. There should be at least three bands of the ticking colour on each of their hair, giving it six contrasting colour sections from base to tip.

The ticking is frequently slow to develop in Somali kittens, but there should be some indication of ticking on their shoulders at twelve weeks. Their ear tips, facial markings, tufts, heels, toe tufts, top and tip of tail are of the same colour as the ticking.

Most Somalis have semi-longhaired coats that are soft and delicate. It should be dense but lying flat along their spine. Semi-long all over, except on their shoulders, where a shorter length is allowed. Some Somalis are short-haired, with a medium-length coat that is smooth, dense and fine but close lying. Their coat will be equally uniform in length with no ruff, toe tufts, brush or breeches.

Personality

Somalis are loyal, loving, and natural clowns, yet highly intelligent and very interactive with their human companions and environment. They love to “talk” to you and help you with whatever task you are doing. No place ever goes unexplored or undiscovered to this cat, yet rarely do they knock anything off a shelf.

Somalis are fantastic feline companions who are genuinely interested in everything around them and what everyone is doing. They love a good view of their surroundings and are amused by whatever moves outside.

Because of their high energy and curiosity levels, Somalis seldom visit your lap, so if you’re looking for a relaxed lap-cat this may not be the breed for you. They enjoy outdoor exercise to burn their excess energy. If you are keeping them as an indoor cat, make sure that there are plenty of toys and scratching posts available as well as regular interactive play.

Impressively, Somalis can make a toy out of anything small and light enough to bat around like ping-pong balls, twist ties, and pieces of paper. They are outstanding climbers and explorers who

show a strong curiosity in their surroundings. This cat breed is known to be agile and athletic, and they can be found climbing up a cat tree or being active on the exercise wheel. Amused by whatever moves outside, installing a bird feeder visible through a window is a must.

Trainability

This cat breed is a brilliant cat who can learn tricks well and enjoys performing and being the centre of attention. They are smart enough to figure out how to open doors and cabinets, and some have even been known to turn on faucets.

Challenge their bright minds and keep them focused by teaching them commands, games and tricks. Give them many puzzle toys and other interactive toys that will reward them with kibbles or treats when they learn how to operate them.

Somalis are smart enough to stay away from toddlers and smaller children, but school-age children are an excellent match for the Somali’s high energy and playfulness. These good-natured and welcoming cats can get strongly dedicated to their human companion. And when a Somali is properly socialised and trained during their kittenhood, they will grow into a well-rounded and well-mannered feline companion.

Coat & Care

Their medium-length coat requires a moderate amount of grooming. Comb their coat once or twice a week using a stainless-steel comb to eliminate dead hair, remove tangles, and distribute skin oils. During the spring, when the Somali cat is shedding their winter coat, you may need to comb them daily.

A bath is beneficial when the Somali is shedding because this will help eliminate excess hair more rapidly. When grooming, pay extra attention to their full, bushy tail that can easily get dirt and litter stuck in it.

Teach your Somali to get used to being combed or brushed at an early stage. You can start training them by using a very soft brush that doesn’t pull their coat or cause damage to their delicate skin. After brushing or combing, give your Somali a reward for behaving well. Once they are used to the regular coat care, you can use a more effective brush or comb appropriate for their age.

Although daily toothbrushing is the best for keeping your cat’s teeth and gums healthy, weekly brushing is adequate. Trim their nails twice a month or when needed. For their almond-shaped eyes, wipe the corners with a clean, soft, damp cloth to eliminate any eye discharge.

Make sure to check their ears regularly. If their ears are dirty, wipe them out with a cotton ball moistened with vet-approved ear cleaner. You can ask for your vet’s advice on how to effectively clean your Somali’s ears. If there is a foul odour, it is best to contact your vet for proper treatment.

Their litter boxes should always be clean as they can be picky about their toilet hygiene. If it is left dirty, litter particles can get stuck to their coat and cause matting and tangling.

Health

Somalis are generally healthy cats but they can experience some health conditions linked to the Abyssinian breed. For this reason, it is essential to only find a Somali cat from a registered and trusted cat breeder who runs DNA health checks on their cats and kittens. This test can check for the presence of some genetic conditions this breed is prone to.

Progressive retinal atrophy – is a group of degenerative eye diseases that affect photoreceptor cells.

Pyruvate kinase deficiency (PKD) – is a genetic disease occasionally encountered in Abyssinian and Somali cats. It is an inherited hemolytic anaemia which is caused by insufficient activity of its namesake regulatory enzyme.

Renal amyloidosis – is a genetic health condition that happens when a type of protein called amyloid is deposited in their body organs, primarily in the kidneys in Abyssinians and Somali cats.

Patellar luxation – is a congenital health condition that appears to be more common in Abyssinians and Somali cats than other breeds. It is where there is a dislocation of their kneecap that can range from mild to severe in terms of pain and symptoms.

Children & Other Pets

The active, playful, and social Somalis are ideal for families with children and cat-friendly dogs. They can play fetch and learn tricks very quickly, and they enjoy the attention they receive from children who treat them respectfully. They are smart enough to get out of the way of young children but adore school-age kids because they match their energy level and curiosity. Always supervise younger kids to avoid accidents.

Nothing scares Somalis, not even dogs, and they will giddily make friends with them if they don’t give them any trouble. These amicable cats have also been known to get along well with ferrets, parrots and other animals. However, it is always recommended to introduce pets gradually and in controlled environments to make sure that they learn to get along well together.