Somali

The Somali's history is inseparable from that of the Abyssinian. In the early 20th century, Abyssinian breeders occasionally saw kittens with **noticeably longer coats** appearing in otherwise standard litters. These longhaired kittens were first treated as **contamination or a flaw**, quietly rehomed as pets and never registered or shown.

The breeder who ultimately turned them into a distinct breed was **Evelyn Mague** of New Jersey. In 1963 she encountered a returned Abyssinian longhaired male named 'George' at a show and was struck by his beauty — the plumed tail, the two-toned ruff on the cheeks, the perfect ticked pattern. She began a systematic breeding programme and founded the **Somali Cat Club of America** in 1972.

The name comes from the geography of the region: since the Abyssinian is named after Abyssinia (modern Ethiopia), Mague chose the neighbouring country **Somalia** for the longhaired cousin, symbolising 'same land, different face'.

**Recognition timeline**: - **CFA** recognised the Somali as an independent breed in **1979** - **TICA** recognised it in **1979** - **FIFe** in **1982** - **GCCF** in **1991**

Modern genetic work (Lyons 2007; Gandolfi 2013) has confirmed that the Somali coat is caused by a **recessive mutation in FGF5** — the same locus responsible for long hair in other breeds. Two carrier shorthaired Abyssinians can therefore still produce Somali kittens. Genetically, **Somali and Abyssinian are simply the short- and long-coated forms of the same bloodline**, and several registries permit cross-registration between them.

The Somali's signature look can be summed up as a **longhaired fox**. The CFA breed standard uses phrases such as *wild, feral appearance, fox-like tail*:

- **Body**: medium, lithe and firmly muscled without being heavy; adults are 3.5-5.5 kg - **Head**: modified wedge with softly rounded cheeks and a slight nose break, gentler than the Abyssinian's - **Ears**: **large and cupped**, wide at the base, often carrying lynx tips - **Eyes**: almond-shaped, large and expressive, gold or green, framed by dark mascara-like liner - **Tail**: **long, thick and dramatically plumed** — the source of the fox comparison - **Coat**: **semi-longhaired (medium-long)**, silky and fine, with a distinct chest ruff and rear-leg breeches

The **core pattern is ticked tabby**: every guard hair carries 4-12 alternating light and dark bands (**agouti banding**), producing the wild-shaded look unique to the Abyssinian/Somali family. **Four official colours**: - **Ruddy (usual)**: warm red-brown base with black ticking; the classic - **Red (sorrel)**: honey-gold base with chocolate ticking - **Blue**: cream base with slate-blue ticking - **Fawn**: pale cream base with warm-grey ticking

Compared with the Abyssinian, the Somali differs only in coat length — the same blueprint stretched into a semi-longhair. Everything from the ticking, ear tufts, mascara eyes and body outline is shared.

If the Abyssinian is 'the monkey among cats', the Somali is that same monkey **plus fur**. Its activity level, curiosity and social demands are all at the top of the feline spectrum, and it copes very badly with long stretches of solitude.

**Key traits**: 1. **Constant motion**: it spends most of its waking hours moving — jumping onto the fridge, the door frame, the bookshelf and treating the entire house as a 3D playground 2. **Skilled paws**: it is remarkably good at operating things with its paws — opening cupboards, twisting knobs, pulling out drawers, flicking switches. **Child locks are strongly recommended** 3. **A shadow of the owner**: Somalis are follower cats, tracking you between rooms and often landing on the book you are reading or the keyboard you are typing on 4. **Talkative but soft**: frequent chirps and trills rather than the loud voice of a Siamese 5. **High intelligence**: they can learn fetch, opening doors, coming when called, sit and other cues 6. **Sociable with strangers**: unlike a British Shorthair, a Somali usually walks straight up to guests to inspect them

**Social needs**: Somalis really should be **kept in pairs or with a dog**. Left alone more than eight hours a day, they tend to overgroom, become destructive or slip into depression-like behaviour. They mix wonderfully with other Somalis, Abyssinians, Burmese, Siamese and lively dogs; they are **not a great match for older, quiet cats** such as Persians or British Shorthairs, whom they will pester.

They are not suited to owners looking for a quiet, decorative pet, nor to households that cannot tolerate a cat on the counters, in the sink or across the keyboard.

The Somali is one of the rare **longhaired breeds that are genuinely easy to groom**. Key routine points:

**1. Grooming**: - The semi-long coat is silky and **almost never mats** — it is nothing like a Persian or Maine Coon undercoat - A **weekly comb-out** with a metal or wide-tooth comb is enough most of the year - During spring and autumn shedding, comb daily with an undercoat rake to remove loose fur - Bathing is rarely needed unless the cat is unusually dirty or being shown

**2. Vertical space**: - **Non-negotiable**: at least one cat tree of 1.8 m or higher, ideally at a window - Cat shelves or perimeter walkways above head height greatly improve quality of life - Plan on **30-45 minutes of active play daily** — wand toys, laser pointer with a treat reward, puzzle feeders

**3. Diet**: - Fast metabolism justifies **high-protein food (>36%)** with wet food included - Adults may free-feed but monitor body condition — the long coat can hide weight gain - Provide plenty of fresh water; a circulating fountain is worth the investment

**4. Claws, ears, teeth**: - Claws: heavy scratcher — offer multiple textures (vertical + horizontal, sisal + corrugated) - Ears: large ears collect dust; check every two weeks - Teeth: some Somali lines are prone to chronic gingivitis and stomatitis, so start weekly tooth brushing early

The Somali / Abyssinian family is one of the most thoroughly studied groups in feline genetics. The main health issues:

**1. Pyruvate kinase deficiency (PK-Def / PKD)**: - **The single most breed-specific disease** in Abyssinians and Somalis - **Autosomal recessive** mutation in the PKLR gene, causing an unstable red-blood-cell metabolism and **intermittent haemolytic anaemia**, lethargy, jaundice and splenomegaly - Age of onset varies enormously — from 6 months to 12 years - **UC Davis VGL offers a PK-Def genetic test** as part of the Abyssinian/Somali panel - Responsible breeders should show **both parents' PK-Def status** and never mate carrier × carrier

**2. Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA-rdAc)**: - Caused by a mutation in the **CEP290** gene (Menotti-Raymond 2007) - Vision begins to decline around 1.5-2 years and is usually complete by 5 - UC Davis and Optigen offer genetic testing; it is **standard mandatory screening** for the breed

**3. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM)**: - Reported in Somali/Abyssinian at moderate frequency - Recommend a cardiac ultrasound at age 1 and again around age 3

**4. Renal amyloidosis**: - A breed-associated middle-age kidney disease presenting as polydipsia/polyuria, weight loss and chronic renal failure - **No genetic test is available**; catch it early through routine biochemistry and urinalysis - Boyce 1984 and DiBartola 1986 described this breed-specific amyloidosis in detail

**5. Gingivitis / stomatitis**: relatively common in Somali lines and demands lifelong dental care.

Overall life expectancy is **12-16 years**, with well-screened lines regularly reaching 18+.

**A Somali fits well with**: - Experienced cat owners who have kept Abyssinians, Burmese, Siamese, Devon Rex or other high-drive breeds - Homes with **plenty of company** available (remote workers, retirees, larger households) - Rooms that can accommodate **vertical space** — tall cat trees, cat shelves, open-plan layouts - Households with other active cats or friendly dogs - Families looking for the compromise of 'long coat + dog-like interaction + relatively easy grooming' - Buyers willing to fund PK-Def, PRA-rdAc and HCM screening

**Not a good fit for**: - Owners who live alone and are away >8 hours a day - People wanting a quiet, decorative or lap-only cat (look at Persian, Ragdoll or Ragamuffin instead) - Small apartments with no room for vertical furniture - Households with older, quiet resident cats who will be pestered by a young Somali - Anyone who cannot tolerate a cat climbing on top of the fridge, prying open cupboards or landing on the keyboard

**Special notes**: - **Strict indoor housing** — the Somali's activity, curiosity and outstanding climbing skills make it very escape-prone - Ask breeders for documented **PK-Def and PRA-rdAc test results**, plus clearly stated carrier status of both parents - Be wary of unusually cheap 'Somali kittens' — some are Abyssinian longhairs sold without screening - Consider getting **two Somalis** or pairing with an active dog; solo Somalis often develop behavioural problems from sheer boredom