Because it has many features in common with the Abyssinian cat, the Somali cat is often considered to be its long-haired version. However, the Somali is much more than that because it is indeed a breed in its own right, endowed with many virtues such as its character or its intelligence, which in no way neglects its elegant and majestic appearance characterized by its distinctive coat. . Nowadays, it enjoys great popularity and we understand why when we know all its characteristics.
If you are thinking of sharing your life with one of these cats, discover in this PlanetAnimal sheet all the characteristics of the Somali, its main care, its curiosities and much more.
Happy reading!
Origin
- America
FIFe Rating
- Category IV
Physical Characteristics
- Thick Tail
- Little ears
- Strong
- End
Size
- Average
Average Weight
- 6-8
Life expectancy
- 10-15
Character
- Active
- Affectionate
- Smart
- Curious
Climate
- Temperate
Hair type
- Medium
- Long
Origin of Somalia
It was in the 50s of the last century that the hybridization between Abyssinian Siamese, Angora and Persian carried out by breeders from the United States, New Zealand, Australia and Canada resulted in the appearance of litters of long-haired specimens. At first, these long-haired specimens were despised and given away because for breeders they lacked interest, since they had no pedigree. However, over time and the succession of crossings have increased the appearance of these long-haired cats. In the 1960s, a Canadian breeder decided to separate these long-haired kittens and started the breed. The American breeder Evelyn Mague is the one who succeeded in 1967 in breeding long-haired Abyssinians.
It was in 1979 that the Somali breed was officially recognized for the first time.It bears the same name because it comes from the Abyssinians, themselves from Ethiopia, a country bordering Somalia. This recognition is carried out by the Cat Fancier Association (CFA) and is followed by that of the International Feline Federation (FIFe) in 1982.
Somali physical characteristics
The Somali is a medium-sized cat that weighs between 3.5 and 5 kg, although some specimens can weigh 7 kg. His body is muscular and stylized, giving him an elegant and majestic appearance. Their limbs are elongated and slender, but they do not cease to be strong and sturdy. Generally, their life expectancy is between 9 and 13 years.
The Somali cat's head is triangular and has a slight indentation that gives it a slightly domed forehead. Its muzzle is elongated, like its nose which has a wedge shape. Its ears are large and wide and taper to a point with longer hair. Its tail is long and shaped like a feather duster with long, dense hair.Her eyes are large and almond-shaped with dark lids, exhibiting a range of colors from green to gold to copper.
The hair of the Somali cat is semi-long, although it is longer at the tail and ears than on the rest of the body. This coat of hair is dense and soft, it has no woolly coat which makes it a cat very sensitive to cold. The colors of its hair are particular because, within the same hair, there are several shades. For example, it is common for the color to be lighter at the roots and darker as it reaches the tips, this is called ticking and this is what gives it a special look. The color range includes blue, sorrel, fawn and wild or red.
Now that you know the main characteristics of the Somali in terms of physical appearance, we will see what woods his temperament consists of.
Character from Somalia
The Somali cat is characterized by its activity and good humor, it loves company and playing with its humans. It is a very energetic cat breed that needs to release all its energy to relax and not not be nervous. As if that weren't enough, the Somali is very smart and very cooperative when it comes to training and learning simple commands!
These animals love to live outside, but that does not mean that they do not adapt perfectly to living in an apartment, even if in this case it will be necessary to provide them with an enriched environment so that they he doesn't get bored and can get the exercise he needs!
Somali Care
The Somali, whose coat is mid-length, should be brushed daily using the brush best suited to his coat. This little routine will allow you to keep your cat he althy while preserving it from dirt and dead hair.Caring for his fur will be simple, since it usually doesn't tangle and isn't too long. We can complete brushing with the use of products against hairballs such as m alt, petroleum jelly or specific oils for this use.
It will be necessary to provide it with a quality diet, with foods as rich as possible in meat and with as little cereals and by-products as possible. In addition, we must moderate its consumption, since it is a cat that tends to be rather gluttonous. Although it is true that their tendency to play and exert themselves compensates for their gluttony in many cases they can easily be overweight and even obese.
Similarly, we must check the condition of his claws, eyes, ears, mouth and teeth, as well as keep his vaccines and veterinary exams up to date. Of course, we must not forget the aforementioned environmental enrichment, so it will be essential to practice intelligence games with him while providing him with scratching posts and toys that will allow him to be able to express his hunting instinct.
Somali He alth
The he alth of the Somali is truly enviable, given that the breed has no congenital diseases and is one of the he althiest and most resilient cat breeds.
However, despite its good constitution, we must protect our cat against various contagious diseases. To do this, we will vaccinate him in order to prevent viral diseases (dangerous and fatal feline rabies) as well as bacterial ones. Likewise, for a complete preventive medicine, it is recommended to administer antiparasitics, both external and internal, which will keep it safe from fleas, ticks, lice and intestinal worms, all of which are very harmful to its he alth and even for ours because transmissible to humans.
Pictures from Somalia
