Somali Kitten Breed

The name of this longhaired version of the Abyssinian indicates its association, for Somalia shares a border with Ethiopia (Abyssinia). Though longhaired kittens had previously occured in Abyssinian litters, and one was exhibited in Australia in1965, it was only in 1967 that an American breeder first decided to develop a new breed. They reached Europe ten years later. In conformation the Somali follows the Abyssinian precisely, being neither cobby nor oriental in type, the head less rounded than the British or American Shorthairs but not nearly so pointed as the Siamese and other orientals. The coat has the same darker shading on the spine, tail and heels, facial marks and dark eye line. The longhairs are ticked through their length — some have as many as fourteen bands, with the tip dark; light tips are a fault. Head hair is short, that on the body of medium length with a good ruff, breeches are preferred, and a full tail; ears are tufted and there are tufts between the toes. Kittens often have rather dark coats, the agouti ticking becoming more apparent with maturity. A variation on the Somali, exhibited at a CA of Britain show in 1990, is the Suqutranese, which has the conformation and coat characteristics of the Somali but with dazzling white, unticked fur.

Foreign type but more solid looking than the Siamese, well developed and muscular with slim legs and oval feet; tail fairly long, thick at base and tapering.

A moderate, slightly rounded wedge; brow, cheeks and profile showing a gentle contour and flowing into the arched neck without a break; the muzzle not sharply pointed, a shallow indentation forming the muzzle desirable but a pinch a fault; a slight nose break and a firm chin; ears set well apart, pricked, broad and cupped at base.

Large, bright and almond-shaped, neither round nor fully oriental; green or gold in color, plus hazel in the GCCF standard and amber to yellow in some others.

A double coat, very soft to the touch; medium long, except on head, very fine and dense, at least three bands of ticking and often many more.

Ruddy, blue, sorrel, lilac, fawn;also chocolate and all these in tortie and with silver in some cat associations.