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| Somali Cat |
Somali Cat Breed Information
The Somali is lively,
full of vitality and joy. He never stops moving. The few illnesses he can
contract during his life do not prevent him from generally living in the best
conditions until the advanced age of 16 years.
History of the breed
The Somali is not from Somalia. Indeed, this breed of dog
comes from Australia, where it became known. Somali descends directly from the
Abyssinian, since it is actually a medium-long to long-haired variety.
Thus, during the first appearances of medium-haired cats in
the litters of the Abyssinians, the breeders decided to dismiss them until they
persist and appear at the exhibitions across the Atlantic, in Canada more
precisely. It was in this country that research began to make this peculiarity
of the Abyssinians a unique and recognized breed.
Evelyne Mague, breeder from New Jersey, fixed the mid-length
character of the Somali coat in 1967. It was she who baptized it in reference
to Somalia, a country bordering Ethiopia, country of origin of l Abyssinian.
Physical features
His body: Somali shares almost all the characteristics of
the Abyssinian. He has a muscular body. It is both slender and flexible, and
the males are larger than the females. It has a well rounded rib cage and thin
but muscular legs.
His coat: Somali simply differs from the Abyssinian in terms
of its coat. Indeed, it has a medium to long coat. It is silky and quite fine.
The undercoat is dense, but not woolly. Note that the ruff and the pants have a
thicker coat, while it is shorter on the shoulders and back.
His color: The Somali standard has above all 2 predominant
colors: hare and sorrel. We can therefore see a warm and shiny dress. The coat
always has the same characteristic: it is ticked. His hair alternates dark and
light bands. The standard tolerates all colors, to the extent reasonable, and
provided that the color is not dull, but contrasting. Read also: California Spangled Cat Breed Information.
Its head: Somali's is medium in size, quite triangular, but
softened. The contours are rounded, like the skull and the forehead. The stop must
not be too marked, just as a too triangular head is a defect.
His ears: They are large, flared and slightly pointed. They
point slightly forward.
Her eyes: They are quite large and almond shaped. They are
bright and expressive. Their colors vary from gold to
green through hazelnut.
Its tail: It is quite thick at the base and tapers as it
goes. It is long and well proportioned to the rest of the body. It should never
be whipped.
Behavior and character
Somali is a "royal" cat like the Ethiopian, and the Somali is particularly playful. He has a lively and playful personality. He knows what he wants and will do everything in his power to obtain it either by slag or by intelligence. He is a cat that does not like to sit without doing anything.
He will not hesitate to go around the house or hunt instead
of lying on a sofa. Sofa that he nevertheless appreciates during the caresses
he is looking for. Indeed, it is a cat enough pot of glue at times, because he
can not do without the company of his master.
It is independent, but don't like loneliness. He is gentle,
caring and needs a lot of attention. He is curious, agile and very close to the
human being. It also tolerates children, strangers and even other animals very
well.
Living conditions
Somali appreciates a more spacious home. Therefore, an
apartment is not prohibitive, but is not necessarily recommended. A house with
a garden can allow him to go about his business. He will also need accessories
to climb and have fun. A cat tree and a scratching post are essential to its
well-being. Somali should just be careful not to catch a cold in winter, as it
only tolerates the cold moderately and is chilly.
Health
Despite his rather solid health , Somali is subject to some
health problems. Note the possible appearance of amyloidosis , which is a
disease of the kidneys. In addition, his oral cavity can be affected by a few
pathologies such as tooth decay or problems with his gums . It is important to
check your teeth regularly. Just as it is important to watch over his diet.
Indeed, Somali has a fierce appetite and can easily find itself overweight. In
addition, it should be vaccinated against the usual diseases developed by cats:
rabies, typhus, leukosis and coryza.
To protect yourself from these risks and to insure your
companion in the event of health problems, Woopets recommends insurance for
Somali cats. Read also: Antipodean (New Zealand Shorthair/Longhair) Cat Breed Information.
Food
Be careful, Somali likes food. He loves to eat and can
quickly find himself obese. It will therefore be necessary to ensure that it
does not ingest more calories than it expends.
Maintenance and hygiene
Its medium-long to long hair does not require any particular
maintenance. Indeed, Somali is quite easy from this point of view, since there
is only a regular brushing to be carried out. It is not subject to knots even
if a good brush stroke makes it possible to smooth its hairs and to avoid that
they become tangled.
Its fur is very low maintenance. Remember to brush it at
least once a week to allow it to maintain its vitality. In addition, due to his
dental concerns, it is important to regularly check the condition of his teeth. For more details and information about Somali Cat Breed, click here.