Somali Cats

Somali cats have been compared to little foxes. The Somali breed has a bushy tail, large ears, and a masked face. The Somali cat originated as a longhaired Abyssinian. Abyssinian cats may carry the gene for longhair. Longhaired Abyssinian kittens were undesirable. Some breeders valued the qualities of these longhair Abyssinian cats. A breeder in the United States named the longhair Abyssinians “Somali,” after Somalia which neighbors the area which used to be Abyssinia. Somali cats are a medium to large size. The Somali cat is an intelligent, active cat breed. Somali cats are not as vocal as many cat breeds. They have quiet voices.

Somali cats are known for their alertness and energy. The Somali cat has bursts of energy frequently throughout the day. They may run around the house during these energy bursts. A Somali cat may run sideways like a monkey. They are playful and may hide inside cupboards.

Adept at using their paws like hands, they have been known to turn on faucets and play with the water. The Somali cat may hold food between its front paws. The Somali cat enjoys human companionship. They frequently attempt to communicate with humans with soft meowing. Because of their eagerness to interact with humans, they are often recognized as being terrific companion pets.

The Somali cat has a muscular body. This cat breed is slow to mature. The Somali cat only reaches full size at about eighteen months of age. The Somali cats have gold or green eyes. Somali cats have shorter hair over their bodies with long hair on their tails. The Somali cats are considered semi-longhair. They have tufts of hair between their toes.

The coat of the Somali cat is ticked, meaning that each hair has bands of color. The coloring of the coat can be ruddy, fawn, red, or blue. They may have white coloring on the upper throat or nostril and chin area. Their coat is a soft, fine, dense double coat. The Somali cat does not tolerate cold temperatures well, despite its dense, longhair coat. Their silky coat requires very little grooming.