The Somali
Somali, also known as fox cat, breed of longhaired cat that emerged as
the result of a longhaired gene in its Abyssinian ancestry. The Somali
breed was developed after an American cat breeder received a one-year-old
longhaired Abyssinian that had been rejected by other Abyssinian breeders.
This longhaired cat's parents were mated a second time and produced another
longhaired kitten in a litter of four. These longhaired cats were then
developed as a new breed because they were not accepted by Abyssinian breeders
as a variation of the Abyssinian. The Somali is named for the African nation
of Somalia. Ethiopia, which borders Somalia, once was known as Abyssinia.
A long, graceful cat, the
Somali has a muscular body and a slightly arched back. The head is wedge-shaped
and slightly rounded with a full, rounded chin. Large, brilliant eyes are
almond-shaped and rich gold or deep green in color. Large, pointed ears
are set toward the back of the skull. A thick, plumelike tail tapers slightly
at the tip.
The Somali has a soft, silky
coat, with a ruff, or collar, of fur that encircles the neck, and horizontal
tufts of hair across the ears. Long hair extends up the back legs and creates
the appearance of leggings. Each hair contains numerous bands of darker
color alternating with lighter color that give the coat a rich, shimmering
look. The coat may be one of four contrasting combinations: blue with slate
blue, fawn with light cocoa brown, red or sorrel with chocolate brown,
or ruddy with black.
All cat registries recognize the Somali breed.
Back
to Floor Four