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Somali

Somali

At a Glance

The Somali is the longhaired cousin of the Abyssinian, named after the country, historically known as Somalia. Loyal and affectionate, they are wonderful companions interested in everything and anyone around them. Their soft coat is easy to maintain. Find out more about this breed and if the Somali is right for you and your family.

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All About Cats

Printable Breed Introduction
Breed Standard
Pet Buyer’s Guide
Somali-Full-Body
Temperament

Playful

Height/Weight Range

Adult females: Small-to-medium, 6-8 pounds Medium-to-large, 8-10 pounds

Adult females
Adult males
Life Expectancy

10-19+ years, with proper care.

Colors

Ruddy, cinnamon, blue, fawn, chocolate, and lilac. Each color can also be accompanied by silver.

Similar Breeds

Opposite Breeds

About The Breed

Somalis are loyal, affectionate, highly intelligent and very interactive with their owners and their environment. No place ever goes unexplored, yet seldom do they knock anything off of a shelf or countertop. Their high energy and curiosity level make them highly interested in everything around them and what everybody is doing. They like a good view of their surroundings, so expect them to find them atop the refrigerator, doors, and bookcases.

The overall impression of the ideal Somali is a medium cat, regal in appearance. The Somali is foreign in type. Males proportionately larger than females, the female being finer boned and usually more active than the male. The Somali shows firm muscular development and is lithe and panther-like in activity, showing a lively interest in all surroundings. The coat of the Somali has an iridescent quality. Coat pattern is genetically a form of agouti ticking with even, dark-colored ticking contrasted with lighter bands giving a translucent effect. The Somali is of sound health and vigor, well-balanced physically and temperamentally gentle and amenable to handling.

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Saying Somalis show an intense curiosity in all that surrounds them is an understatement. They love toys and places to climb and explore. Agile and athletic, they can be found dashing up a cat tree or running on an exercise wheel. Entertained by whatever moves outside, bird feeders visible through a window are a must.

Engaging companions for people of all ages, they are happiest in the company of others. They are best suited with people of all ages who can spend ample time at home, including an older child who can train and play with them. Because they crave companionship, they will find ways to involve their family in their activities. They enjoy the company of another cat with a similar active temperament in the home for playing or cuddling.

TICA Regions, Clubs & Rescues

Want to connect with fellow cat lovers and those who love the same breed as you?
TICA is a large resource made up of smaller regions and clubs around the world.
Click here to find a club near you and contact information for your regional director and website.

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Find a Kitten: TICA Breeders

The TICA website is the only place where you can find TICA member breeders who have signed the TICA Code of Ethics.

Find Somali
  • The Somali cat is the longhaired version of the Abyssinian.
  • The Somali does not actually come from the African nation of Somalia, but was given a name to match that of her short-coated sibling the Abyssinian.
  • The Somali’s bushy tail has given him the nickname “fox cat.”

Breed Information & Characteristics

Abyssinians look like a small mountain lion or cougar with almond eyes set in a dramatically marked expressive face and a spectacularly warmly ticked coat that produces a shimmering iridescence whether still or in motion. They are athletic, alert and very active. Even though they are well-muscled their movement is lithe, graceful and very quick. Their carriage is confident and regal, but their antics have caused some to call them “Aby-silly-ans”! The Somali is simply and beautifully a semi-long-haired Abyssinian. It has the same expressive face but with a shaggy ticked coat, ear tufts and a fox-like tail. The Abyssinians and Somalis are also known as the ‘preposition’ cats because they leave no niche unexplored; they are above, below, in, under, across, beside, between, into, over, among and through everywhere! Perhaps alliteration is an easier way to describe the Abyssinian and Somali: active, awesome, agile, astounding, alert, animated, affectionate, amusing, athletic, astute, amiable and attentive.

The Abyssinian is one of the oldest breeds of domesticated cats, but its real ancestry is lost in time. Romantic tales call it the cat from the Blue Nile saying it is a direct descendant of the sacred cat of Ancient Egypt because it resembles the cats depicted in Egyptian murals and artifacts. Others believe British soldiers from Abyssinia (now Ethiopia) brought a cat named Zula home with them to England at the end of the Abyssinian war in 1868. So far, no documentation links Zula to the cats of today and recent genetic studies identify the cats in the coastal area of the Bay of Bengal in India as the Abyssinian’s potential forebears. The Abyssinian was developed and refined in Britain. The first Abyssinian arrived in the United States in the early 1900s and they were first exhibited in 1909. In the 1930s an effort to develop the Abyssinian in the US began and it quickly developed into one of America’s favorite breeds because of its expressive eyes, unique coat pattern and personality. The Somali is the stunning long-haired descendant of the Abyssinian and is named for Somalia which borders Ethiopia, formerly Abyssinia, to represent their connection to each other.

Abyssinians and Somalis are loyal, affectionate, highly intelligent and very interactive with their owners and their environment. No place ever goes unexplored and yet seldom do they knock anything off of a shelf or countertop. They are wonderful companions who are highly interested in everything around them and what everybody is doing. They like a good view of their surroundings, so expect them to find them atop the refrigerator, doors, and bookcases. They are entertained by whatever moves outside making bird feeders visible through a window a must. Saying they show an intense curiosity in all that surrounds them is an understatement. Not usually considered a lap cat due to their high energy and curiosity levels, Abys/Somalis do occasionally make visits to your lap or find a way under the covers to spend time near their beloved owners. The way they transform within seconds from a radiant and regal presence into an amazingly playful character with childlike antics and an indomitable spirit is astounding. Engaging companions for people of all ages, they are happiest in the company of others, love to play and will find ways to involve you in their activities. While exceedingly social, they are not always content in large cat populations where they have to share attention.

The Abyssinian is a short-haired cat whose coat has an iridescent warmth of color produced by the Agouti ticking, where each shaft of hair has 4-6 bands of alternating rich color similar to that of a bunny coat. The coat is resilient and when rubbed against the lay of the coat it snaps back into place. Similarly colored, the Somali is semi-long-haired with a coat that is very soft and finely textured. Coat texture for both is generally soft but varies somewhat with different colors because the pigment particles have different shapes and distribution within the hair shaft causing the textural variation.

The Aby/Somali head type is a modified wedge with rounded contours. In profile, there is a rise from the bridge of the nose to the forehead with a brow ridge that helps establish the wild appearance to the face. The ears are large and arched forward in alertness not to miss out on anything. The eyes are large, almond-shaped jewels, expressive and richly colored gold, amber or green surrounded by a ring of dark color (eyeliner) that is then surrounded by a lighter color. The muzzle is rounded in contour without being pointy or pinched in appearance.

They are a medium sized cat with males weighing 8-10 pounds and females 6-7 pounds. The body is medium long, lithe and graceful with the muscular strength of a fine-motor skilled athlete. The Aby/Somali is solidly built with a level flank and a slight arch to the back that is more noticeable when the cat is sitting. The legs are slim, long and well-muscled with oval-shaped feet and an appearance of standing on tip-toes.

Abys and Somalis are bred in the following colors: Ruddy, Chocolate, Cinnamon, Blue, Lilac and Fawn and the silver version of these colors where an icy white coloration closest to the skin is followed by ticking up the hair shaft.

While knowledgeable breeders do their best to test for and eliminate genetic health problems, cats may still develop certain diseases or conditions. Somali cats may have a higher risk for the following:

  • Early periodontal disease
  • Patellar luxation
  • Amyloidosis and associated kidney disease can be found in some lines.
  • Progressive retinal atrophy. DNA testing is available for this condition. A knowledgeable breeder will test for this.
  • Pyruvate kinase deficiency. DNA testing is available for this condition. A knowledgeable breeder will test for this.

Despite having long hair, Somali’s are easy to groom. Their soft, silky coat rarely mats or tangles. They do not require regular brushing however, many of them like it. They don’t need to be groomed professionally or bathed unless they’ve gotten into something messy. They should have their claws clipped every other week or more. Some lines are prone to dental issues like gingivitis, so begin brushing their teeth regularly at an early age with a vet-approved pet toothpaste.

Somalis are active cats with good appetites. Some love to eat and may overeat if food is left out, so free feeding is not recommended. They do well when fed a high quality food twice a day. Others are so active that they may need more calories than the average cat and access to high calorie food. Somalis love treats but they should be given in moderation.

As with all cats, it is important to give your cat fresh, clean water daily. Fresh, clean water is best, so cats don’t hesitate to drink. If you worry about your cat drinking enough water each day, here’s a tip from some cat behaviorists: place the water bowl at least three feet away from any food. Cats’ noses are sensitive, and an overwhelming smell of food may cause them to drink less. Filtered drinking fountains can also be used in place of a water bowl.

Somali Breed Committee (3)

Name Email
Chair: Cheryl Chamberlinclc@cherylleigh.com
Kerry DolanHowlingCoyoteCat@aol.com
Mary FranzTajhara@aol.com

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