A cat
that not only likes to be stroked, but will stroke you back? That not only will
love to be groomed, but will return the favour by grooming your hair? Games of fetch, chasey and intense
snuggling sessions? Sound like fun?
Then the Somali cat may be just the companion for you. Life will never
be the same again…..
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Tawny Abyssinian Male, CCCA Gd Ch Gold Gd Ch Merindalee Asgood Asit Gets, provided courtesy of Merindalee Abyssinians. The Somali began appearing in Abyssinian litters in the 2nd half of the 20th century. |
It appears that
longhairs had been appearing in Abyssinian litters for many years and from the
1960s several dedicated breeders in
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. See the Colours page for pictures and detailed
descriptions.
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 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.
Personality
Somalis have bright, bubbly,
energetic and loving personalities. They are very intelligent and active cats,
who demonstrate a real devotion to their staff. They are intensely affectionate
to their people, and are usually extroverted and enjoy visitors also. These
cats make their presence felt - they share their special joie de vivre with the
humans in their lives. They often like to sit on your shoulder to supervise
what you 
are doing, will
help with the housework - they are great at making the beds!
They readily take
to walking on a lead and playing games such as fetch. Although they can be
boisterous in play, they are very gentle, and are excellent companions for
older children. They are great family pets as they really give something
special to each member. They may not want to sit on a lap for long periods, however they usually want to be close to you to be
a part of whatever you are doing. They generally have a lot to get through in a
day! One characteristic of many Somalis is the “hairdresser” gene – they seem
to love licking and grooming peoples hair. They also are fascinated by water
and love to play with dripping taps. (Vivace Zayla, pic D. Kilpin)
Lifestyle
Although
the Somali is an active breed, they make very good indoor cats. This is also
strongly recommended, as their “agenda-driven” lifestyle does not allow for
good road sense. Indoor life also helps to protect local wildlife. Somalis are
intelligent cats who thrive on company – therefore if they are 
to be
regularly alone while you are at work, you should consider a second cat for
company. Plenty of toys, attention, company and a cat gym are all that is
needed to keep the Somali happy. Of course, once the staff
return home, the Somali gives a full welcome party in their honour! And
let the games commence…
)
Somalis thrive on company…
And admiring themselves in
the mirror – Like Katjessalie Timo (photo A.Pick
Somalis get on very well with dogs,
as these pictures demonstrate!
Vivace
Moremi and Genghis (Pic Johan Loew) Animalantics
A Pet Story
Pixie and
Morton – photo courtesy of Janet Chrobok [Ikati Somalis]