Purina

Personality:

• Active, enthusiastic companions.
• Intelligent and enterprising.
• Some have an uncanny ability to use their paws like hands.
• Very adept at entertaining themselves.
• More tranquil than their Abyssinian relatives.

History:

At one time these cats were considered the undesirable result of a recessive gene that caused some Abyssinians to be born with long hair.  A few Abyssinian breeders liked the look and began a breeding program to develop the longhaired Abyssinians as a separate breed.  The breed’s name was chosen because of the close proximity of Somali to Abyssinia.  Accepted for championship status in the Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) in 1978.

Body Type:

• Medium to large with a lithe, graceful body, well-developed muscles, and a full-brush tail.
• Fox-like appearance.
• Head is a modified, rounded wedge with large, alert, tufted ears.
• Eyes are almond shaped, large, and expressive.

Coat:

• Fine, non-matting, medium-long, double coat with ruff and britches.
• Colors include blue (soft-gray ticked with slate blue.  Undercoat should be a warm blush-beige or oatmeal), ruddy (reddish-brown ticked with black), red (warm, red ticked with chocolate brown) and fawn (cream ticked with pinkish brown).
• Each hair has two to three alternating bands of darker and lighter coloring known as ticking.

Health and Wellness:

• Gingivitis may occur in some lines.  Preventive dental care and early treatment can keep this condition under control.

What you should know:

• Although many people believe that a Somali needs lots of space and should be kept outdoors, they are perfectly adapted to apartment life and are much happier, safer and healthier when they are kept indoors.