Wanna party? Invite this exuberant, fun-loving Somali who will even look her best with the appearance of eyeliner (the striking color contrast of a dark line of hair surrounding and extending out from the eyes). Mischievous and intelligent, this cat will enliven the group by tossing balls, playing fetch, hide-and-seek, and shaking hands. Loving, affectionate, and even-tempered they are ideal for gentle children and make loyal pets.

If you're looking for a placid companion, look elsewhere. Somali's can spring into action at a moment's notice, bouncing and running sideways. You might think you've adopted a monkey instead of a cat. Somalis can use their paws adeptly to hold food or to toss toys. Some can turn on a faucet to play with the water. Because of their inquisitive nature, they are likely to be found inside anything left open, or anything they can pry open and will delight in assisting you during the cleaning out of cabinets. They will need plenty of room to play and run. Lots of toys are a must. A Somali needs plenty of attention, but is extremely good-natured and particularly quiet, having a soft voice (when they choose to use it) sounding bell-like. Being so social, they love other pets and people. They also have a "hairdresser" attitude, wanting to groom their owner's hair-including beards and moustaches.

An offspring of the Abyssinian, Somalis have longer coats and banding (called ticking) than found in their ancestors. The alternating colors on each hair give them the distinctive, glossy look. Although longhaired, they are easy to care for, requiring little grooming, as they shed mostly in the spring and the fall, and because their hair is silky, it is not prone matting. But they love brushing, for the attention it gives them. There are 28 Somali colors! Some are still quite rare-be prepared to wait if you're looking for the unusual. The most available colors are ruddy, blue, fawn, and red (sorrel).

At 6-12 pounds, the Somali is a medium sized cat. Well-proportioned, muscular and lithe with large ears, big, almond shaped, expressive eyes, and sporting a bushy tail, it is often referred to as the "fox cat." A rounder head, longer hair, the "fox" tail, fluffy britches, and a full ruff distinguishes it from the Abyssinian. A wedge shaped head and tapered muzzle, reminiscent of a puma, give the Somali a feral look.

Somalis originally appeared in the 1950s, spontaneously appearing in Abyssinian litters. Although, originally destroyed as undesirable, they were eventually found to be prized. In the United States in the late 1960s, a group of breeders actively perfected the Somali. In the 1970s an American named the cat and it became accepted by all the North American associations for championship status. It has since become one of the most popular breeds.

Be alert to having your female spayed early, as these cats can have "silent heats" (no calling) and have been known to go into heat as young as five months.

Somalis are prone to gingivitis. Providing high-quality dry food and veterinary checkups is a must.

A few lines of Somalis may be prone to auto immune hemolytic anemia. A PCV blood test will tell. Steroids are the normal treatment.

Breed related problems include patellar luxation; renal amyloidosis; retinal atrophy (a rare eye condition that ultimately leads to impaired vision).

There is currently no special breeding information in our databases for this animal. To submit breeding / propagation information that is specific to this animal please click here.