Somali Cat – Information, Images of the Tawny Dawn Cat
Somali
Like his brother the Abyssinian, the Somali lives life to the fullest. He climbs higher, jumps further, plays harder. Nothing escapes the notice of this highly intelligent and inquisitive cat.
See all the features of Somalia below!
Somali Cat Breed Information, Pictures, Characteristics and Facts
Vital Statistics:
Lifespan: 11 to 16 years Length: 11 to 14 inches Weight: 6 to 10 pounds Origin: United States
More about this breed
History
Showing cats was all the rage in the late Victorian era. One of the unusual breeds exhibited at the Crystal Palace Cat Show in 1871 was an Abyssinian, “captured in the last Abyssinian war”, which came third. The report on the cat show, published in the January 27, 1872 issue of Harper’s Weekly, was the first known print mention of the breed. Unfortunately, there are no records of the cat’s origins, although myths and speculation abound, including claims that it was the cat of the pharaohs and that it was created in Britain by crossing silver and brown tabbies with cats that had “marked” fur. ”.
Today, genetic evidence suggests that the cats came from the coastal regions of the Indian Ocean and parts of Southeast Asia. British and Dutch traders may well have brought the cats from ports such as Calcutta, India, or the Indonesian islands. A taxidermied specimen of a ruddy cat displayed in the 1830s at the Leiden Zoological Museum in the Netherlands, where it was labeled “Patrie, domestica India,” lends credence to that theory. The cats probably received the name Abyssinian because Zula, the cat exhibited in the Crystal Palace, was said to have been imported from Abyssinia (now Ethiopia). Early pedigrees show crosses with non-Abyssinian cats, which may explain the introduction of new coat colors and the longhair gene.
Enter the Somali. This longhaired variety of the Abyssinian was first observed in the early 20th century and probably arose when breeders introduced longhaired cats into their breeding programs to increase their population, especially after World War II when the Abyss were few and far between, but they weren’t. t developed as a breed in its own right until the 1960s and 1970s. They were given the name Somali as a nod to that country’s geographic status as a neighbor of Ethiopia (formerly known as Abyssinia).
Size
This is a medium sized cat weighing 6 to 10 pounds.
Personality
Like his brother the Abyssinian, the Somali lives life to the fullest. He climbs higher, jumps further, plays harder. Nothing escapes the notice of this highly intelligent and inquisitive cat, a quality that makes life with him endlessly entertaining and challenging. Staying one step ahead of a Somali, or even just keeping up with him, requires the graceful footwork of Fred Astaire, the brainpower of an Einstein, and a sense of humor that never stops. You never know what he’ll get into next, although you can assume that if he has something or is doing something, your Somali will want to look into it closely.
Sometimes it can seem that the Somali never sleeps. He’s always on the go, jumping out the window to watch the birds or squirrels, jumping on the fridge to supervise the preparation of food, sitting at his desk to watch his fingers move over the keyboard and then sliding them over so he can instead. , pay attention to him. This is a playful and persistent cat who loves to be the center of attention and will do anything to achieve and maintain that status.
The Somali loves to play, so plan to make or buy a variety of toys to keep him busy. Ping-pong balls, bottle caps, rolled up pieces of paper, puzzles and teasers like big peacock feathers will amuse this busy and clever cat. Teach him to recover under his responsibility. Once you start, it won’t let you stop. He picks up tricks quickly and many Abys enjoy taking a feline agility course.
The love of heights is a characteristic feature of Somalis. He likes to be as high up as possible and will appreciate having one or more cat trees at ceiling height. When they’re not available, he’s perfectly capable of reaching the highest point of any room. Fortunately, he is naturally graceful and rarely breaks items unless simply out of curiosity.
Somalis adapt throughout their lives and do well in any home where they are loved and given a lot of attention. In a household where people work or study during the day, the Somali does best with a partner, ideally another Somali or Aby, who can match their activity level. Left to his own devices, the Somali may well dismantle the house in his search for something interesting to do.
Beware! Somali can be addictive. Once you’ve had one, you may find that no other cat will do.
Health
Both pedigree cats and mixed breed cats have different incidences of health problems that may be genetic in nature. Issues that may affect Somalis include the following:
Early-onset periodontal disease Hyperesthesia syndrome, a neurological problem that can cause cats to excessively groom themselves, causing hair loss, and act frantically, especially when touched or stroked Patellar luxation, an inherited dislocation of the kneecap that can vary from mild to severe. Severe cases can be relieved with surgery. Progressive retinal atrophy, a degenerative eye disease. Pyruvate kinase deficiency (PKD), for which a genetic test is available to identify carriers. Renal amyloidosis, an inherited disease that occurs when a type of protein called amyloid is deposited in the body’s organs, primarily the kidneys in Abyssinians. It eventually leads to kidney failure.
Careful
The Somali’s medium-length coat needs a moderate amount of grooming. Comb the coat once or twice a week with a stainless steel comb to remove dead hair, prevent or remove tangles, and distribute skin oils. In the spring, when the cat sheds its winter coat, it may need to be combed every day. A bath when the cat is shedding will help remove excess hair more quickly. Check the tail for bits of poop stuck to the fur and clean it with a baby wipe.
Brushing teeth to prevent periodontal disease. Daily dental hygiene is best, but weekly brushing is better than nothing. Cut your nails every two weeks. Wipe the corners of the eyes with a soft, damp cloth to remove any discharge. Use a separate area of the cloth for each eye so you don’t risk spreading any infection. Check the ears weekly. If they look dirty, wipe them down with a cotton ball or soft damp cloth dampened with a 50-50 mixture of cider vinegar and warm water. Avoid using cotton swabs, which can damage the inside of the ear.
It’s a good idea to keep a Somali as an indoor cat to protect him from diseases carried by other cats, attacks by dogs or coyotes, and other dangers cats who go outdoors face, such as being hit by a car. Somalis going outdoors also risk being robbed by someone who would like to have such a beautiful cat without paying for it.
Coat color and grooming
Except for the extra length, the Somali has the same marked coat as the Abyssinian. A marked coat has alternating bands of light and dark color on each hair shaft. The ticking of the Somali may take longer to develop than that of the Aby.
Everything about him suggests his vivacious and attentive nature. The Somali has a slightly rounded wedge-shaped head topped with large, wide ears, for better hearing. Large, almond-shaped eyes, golden or green in color, express interest in everything they see. On the face, dark lines can extend from the eyes and eyebrows.
The muscular body is graceful and athletic. It falls somewhere between the stocky or cobby body of a breed like the Persian and the long, slender body of Eastern breeds like the Siamese. The body is supported by slender, fine-boned legs on small, compact, oval feet. It is often said that Somalis appear to walk on tiptoes. Moving behind them is a full brush, or tail, thick at the base and slightly tapered at the end.
Their bands of color give the Somali’s coat a warm, shiny appearance. To the touch, medium-length hair is soft and silky with a fine texture. The Somali is distinguished from the Aby by the ruff around the neck and the “breeches” on the legs, which give it a fuller appearance than the Aby. Horizontal tufts of fur adorn the inner ears.
The coat comes in four main colors: reddish-brown, more artistically described as burnt sienna and marked with darker brown or black, with brick-red leathery nose and black or brown pads; red (sometimes called sorrel), a cinnamon shade marked with chocolate brown, with pink nose and foot pads; blue, a warm beige marked with various shades of slate blue, with the nose described as old rose and the paw pads as mauve; and fawn, a warm pinkish beige marked with light cocoa brown, with salmon-colored leathery nose and pink paw pads. Some associations allow additional colors, such as chocolate, lilac, and various shades of silver.
Children and other pets
The active and social Somali is a perfect choice for families with children and cat-friendly dogs. He will play fetch and fetch as well as any retriever, picks up tricks easily, and loves the attention he gets from children who treat him politely and respectfully. He is smart enough to get out of the way of young children, but loves school-age children because they support his energy level and curiosity. Nothing scares him, certainly not dogs, and he’ll happily make friends with them if they don’t give him any trouble. Somalis are also known to get along with large parrots, ferrets, and other animals. Always introduce pets, including other cats, slowly and in a controlled environment.