The Somali cat is the afterlife of the Abyssinian breed of cats, but has a longer coat. The official year for the recognition of the Somali breed of cats is 1978, and in 4 years this breed was added to the official list of breeds.
Cats of Somali breed possess a muscular and flexible body of medium length. They are graceful, smooth movements, fascinating. The head is rounded, the ears are large, the eyes are almond-shaped. The line of transition from head to neck is smooth. Some individuals at the tips of their ears are lynx tassels. The bend from the forehead to the back of the nose is light. The ears inside are covered with long hair.
Around the eyes there are light areas that are "summed up" in a dark color. The lower eyelid and ear are connected by a black stroke over each eye. Externally, the Somali cat looks as if it is always ready to jump. This effect is achieved due to a rounded chest and a slightly curved line of the back.
Thin, but thick coat to the touch is very soft, the undercoat is rich. Outwardly it resembles a mink skin. Around the shoulder blades, the fur is shorter, the back is slightly longer. The maximum length of the coat is observed on the abdomen. A collar of long wool must always be around the neck. In cats, the effect of "jabot" is less pronounced than that of cats (males). It should be noted that Somali kittens are not immediately born as fuzzy, wool grows with time in the period of growing up.
Somali cat - the nature of your pet
The character of Somali is playful, playful, cheerful. In this case, the cat has a sharp mind and a desperate sense of devotion. Aggressive notes in behavior are absent. A cat of this breed at any age likes to play and play pranks. If you dream of a quiet and calm pet that will spend most of the day in a daze, then this cat is not for you.
For all its shyness, Somalis are unobtrusive. If you are busy, she will not bother. But keeping a cat in a cage or alone for a long time is not recommended. The animal will get stressed and may be offended for a long time.
Somali cat - caring for animals
Despite the long coat of a cat, Somali breeds practically do not molt. It is not made by coils, and therefore does not require daily combing or unraveling.
Cats of Somalia are thermophilic and are afraid of drafts. When you have a pet of this kind, make sure that the house is always warm.
Somali cat, color: features of color scale
The main colors that the Somali breed of cats can boast now is:
- sorrel;
- wild;
- faun (roe color);
- blue;
Somali fur has a ticked coat. It is meant that each hair of a cat's hair has several shades and is covered with transverse strips of dark color. The more such bands on cats, the more it is appreciated among breeders.
Somali cat - keeping animals at home
The pet's diet needs to be balanced. If you feed your cat only with dry food, do not forget to constantly replenish its bowl with fresh water. The Somali breed is close to the Abyssinian, so almost all the conditions that the Abyssinians require are favorable to it.
A great disadvantage in the appearance of a Somali cat is:
- sand or gray hue in color;
- "Necklace" on the chest, spots or torn strips on the body or legs;
- absence of characteristic marks on the tail and head;
- roots of black hair;
- any localization of white spots (except for the chin, throat and nostrils);
- a hook on the tail;
- non-standard fingers (as well as their number);
- Nose leather / paws of non-standard color.