Exploring the Lively Nature of the Somali Cat Breed

The Cat Somali is a beautiful long-haired Abyssinian. Also called a fox-cat because of its tail, which looks very much like a fox's tail, it is a cat that is not very well known but which is slowly attracting a lot of interest because of its soft, voluminous fur with the characteristic alternating light and dark bands of each individual hair, producing shiny, vibrant highlights.

Its origin is somewhat uncertain, it definitely originates from an Abyssinian but crossed with long-haired cats, thought to be Persians, and initially in breeding it was not really considered when in a litter of Abyssinians an occasional long-haired specimen was born.

The long-haired gene in these cats is recessive, so very few were born and discarded. It was not until 1967 that a breeding programme of long-haired Abyssinian cats was started in the USA, and to diversify from the Abyssinian it was named Somali because of the proximity of Somalia to what is now Ethiopia, which was previously called Abyssinia. But we have to reach 1972 to have the first official litter of Somali Cats.

Character of the Cat Somali

The character of the Cat Somali is the same as the Abyssinian one, that is lively and sociable. It is not considered a purely indoor cat as it needs to move, run and be outdoors. It is exuberant and hyperactive, but also cuddly and very attached to its human, whom it tends to follow everywhere.

As a disposition, he is rather independent and must be accustomed from an early age to a minimum of obedience, even using a little wrist, because he tends very much to do as he likes. He tends a little too much to avoid reprimands and get up to mischief, but then makes up for it with rich effusions and purrs.

He is considered a perfect thief because at the slightest distraction from humans he tends to grab food from pots, dishes and anything left unattended. This cat is an expert hunter so it would be helpful if it had a secure garden where it could hunt mice, insects and butterflies.

The Cat Somali cannot tolerate loneliness, so it is a good idea, if you are not at home very much, to take another cat from the same litter with him, with whom he will certainly get on well, whereas with other cats he will have more difficulty, being a dominant feline. An interesting friendship can also develop with a dog, if you give him a quiet place to go to when he gets tired of playing. He is very interested in what goes on around him and wants to take an active part in it. He is a great jumper and loves high places, in fact in the home he will often be found on the highest furniture or curtain rods.

He is not suitable for older people as he is too exuberant. With children he is better, but he must feel at ease with them, otherwise he tends to avoid them. With strangers he is curious so getting close and playing with him is the best way to make friends.

Appearance of the Cat Somali

Regal is the appellation that comes to mind when looking at this cat. To look at him, the Cat Somali with that proud, intense look and those elegant, flowing movements makes one think of a wild feline, but instead he is a beautiful domestic cat. It is a medium-sized cat, the male usually weighing around 5 kilograms, the female a little less. It is an agile and graceful cat with a robust musculature.

The head has soft features and a slightly curved profile. The ears are rather large, wide at the base, slightly rounded at the tip. The eyes are very beautiful, almond-shaped, slanted, lively and expressive, ranging from amber to gold to green and have a dark outline that makes them stand out even more.

The legs are long and slender, well proportioned, with small, oval feet. The tail is quite long with a long and very thick coat and usually ends in a dark-tipped plume.

Finally, the coat is what distinguishes the Cat Somali from the Abyssinian. The coat is long, smooth and very soft, it has the particular tipping with 3 or 4 colour streaks for each coat of which the base is always lighter and darkens as it reaches the tip. The most popular colours are apricot base and dark hazel and brown shades, but other colours such as hare, blue, cinnamon and deer can also be found, as well as fawn and silver, although these are rarer.

Care and health of the Cat Somali

As far as the care of its coat is concerned, it is rather simple. As it has almost no undercoat it loses very little except when it moults, so a brush a couple of times a week is enough to keep it smooth and soft.

This breed enjoys excellent health and is not prone to particular pathologies. Being devoid of undercoat it is sensitive to the cold, so it is best not to let it out on winter days. It is very active so needs more food than it should, but it must always be controlled as it tends to eat much more than it needs.