The Somali cat and its vexatious fox tail
The Somali cat is a feline breed related to theAbyssinian, from which it is derived.
Unlike the latter, however, it is distinguished by its long, smooth and very soft-haired coat anda tail covered with fluffy fur that makes it resemble that of a fox.
The origins of the Somali cat
The progenitor of Somali cats is a handsome long-haired cat named George.
Mrs. Evelyn Mague in 1967 took him in at her shelter and was thunderstruck by his beauty except later to discover that George came from a litter of Abyssinians in her breeding, in which he alone carried the longhair gene.
Actually, handsome Big Cat George was not the result of a spontaneous mutation but of repeated matings with Persian cats .
Breeders then began to know and appreciate this fox-tailed cat, which was named Somali to honor its resemblance to the Abyssinian from Ethiopia, a country that precisely borders Somalia.
The recognition of race
In 1972, the first Somali Cat Club was established in America, chaired by Ms. Mague, but it was not until 1982 that the Somali was officially recognized among the feline breeds by the Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA).
The first registered Somali was named May-Ling Tutsuta and from this new strain the breeders’ selection started.
The Somali shares all the standard parameters with the Abyssinian except for what concerns the coat.
Soft silhouette, expressive eyes and medium-long coat
A medium-sized feline weighing between 4 and 6 kg, the Somali is an agile, slender and graceful cat.
Its almond-shaped eyes, large and bright, are amber, hazel or green in color.
The eyelids are marked with a black line that makes them deep, expressive, and penetrating.
The silky and soft hair is characterized by the ticking that is, each individual hair has one base color, three contrasting color sections, and always ends with a dark tip.
The most common color is golden brown with an apricot-colored base dotted with black.
At birth, puppies have a dark coat that lightens with age.
In adults, the legs and the back of the hind limbs are always black.
Its tail, long and fringed, resembles that of a fox, and like a fox, it is equally intelligent and lively.
The character of the Somali cat
Somali cats are known to be extremely sociable.
These felines tend to develop strong bonds with family members and often seek interaction and attention.
Unlike some more reserved breeds, Somalis are adventurous and playful cats who display an innate curiosity about the world around them.
Another distinguishing feature of the Somali character is his affectionate nature.
These cats love to be close to their humans making them excellent companions for those seeking a loving and comforting presence.
The recurrent pathologies
The averagelife expectancy of a Somali is around 12 to 15 years, although many can live up to 20 years.
Although generally enjoying good health, this cat tolerates low temperatures only moderately so care must be taken not to let it get cold.
And again, Somalis can suffer from periodontal diseases for which good nutrition and proper oral hygiene are extremely important.
For fecal screening, vaccines, checkups, and periodic checkups to have your Somali cat undergo, contact the veterinary doctors on our staff who are always available to you.
We would also like to remind you that Clinica La Veterinaria is always open h24 every day including holidays and with First Aid service from 8 pm to 8 am.
