Somali cat
The Somali cat is a breed of long–haired cats descended from the Abyssinian. They have a bright saturated fur coat, animated by ticking, and a fluffy tail.
Brief information
- Breed Name: Somali Cat
- Country of Origin: USA
- Birth time of the breed: 1972
- Weight: 3.5 – 5.5 kg
- Life span: 13 – 15 years
Somali cat is an amazingly beautiful creature that is often compared to a small fox because of the similarity of color and fur coat. These are healthy, energetic and intelligent cats that are suitable for people with an active lifestyle. Somalis love to play and it is not recommended to leave them alone for a long time.
Breed characteristics
History
At the end of the 40s of the XX century, a British breeder brought her Abyssinian kittens to Australia, New Zealand, the USA and Canada. They grew up there and became parents. Among their descendants there were unusual long-haired kittens. It is not known exactly where they came from: perhaps a spontaneous mutation, or maybe the result of crossing with long-haired cats. Then the same individuals quite often began to appear in the breeding process, but they were usually rejected, and therefore given away, considering a deviation from the norm.
Only in 1963 such a cat was first shown at the exhibition. It happened in Canada. And after a couple of years, the breed got its own name, the breeders began to actively promote it, and in 1978 it was officially recognized in the USA.
Appearance
- Color: ticked (each hair has several tones, transverse dark stripes), the main colors are wild, roe deer color, blue, sorrel.
- Coat: quite thin, but thick, with an undercoat. The coat is longer on the back and especially in the abdomen. Around the neck is a frill made of wool.
- Eyes: large, almond-shaped, outlined with a dark rim.
- Tail: long, fluffy.
Features of behavior
These cats borrowed from the Abyssinians both a graceful appearance and a lively character. They really like to play — run, jump, climb, so this is clearly not the best option for those who dream of a pet spending the whole day on the windowsill. Somalis need communication, they are affectionate towards their owners, children, get along with other pets. It is not recommended to leave them alone for a long time. In addition, these cats do not feel well in a small enclosed space.
The Somali cat understands humans well, so they are easy to train.
For entertainment, they use not only their toys, but also everything that catches their eye — pens, pencils, etc. The owners say that one of the favorite activities of the breed representatives is playing with water: they can watch the dripping water for a long time and try to catch it with a paw.
Health and Care
The coat of a Somali cat needs to be combed regularly. Representatives of the breed usually have no problems with nutrition, but the diet, of course, should be healthy and balanced. Cats have good health. However, there may be problems with teeth and gums. In addition, sometimes there are violations of protein metabolism.