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The Somali is a long-haired breed
of cat. The breed
appeared spontaneously in the
1950s from
Abyssinian breeding programs when a number of Abyssinian kittens were born
with bottle-brush tails and long fluffy coats. Abyssinians and Somalis share the
same personality (active, intelligent, playful, curious) and appearance. The
only difference between them is the fur length and therefore the amount of
grooming required. Unlike most long-haired cats, Somalis shed very little excess
hair. Their coat is generally shed en masse, or "blown", once or twice a
year, rather than constantly shedding like a
Persian or other long-haired cat.
A red Somali
Somalis have a striking, bushy tail, which, combined with their ruddy coat,
has earned them the nickname of "fox cats" in some circles. Their coats are
ticked, which is a variation on tabby
markings, and some Somalis may show full tabby stripes on portions of their
bodies, but this is seen as a flaw, and tabby Somalis are only sold as neutered
pets. The only tabby marking on a show Somali is the traditional tabby 'M' on
the middle of the forehead. Like Abyssinians, they have a dark rim around their
eyes that makes them look like they are wearing
kohl, and they have a small amount of white on their muzzles and
chins/throats. White elsewhere on their bodies disqualifies them from
show-status.
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