IndexArticles
18th Jun 2009
By Susan Shoring as featured in Paws & Claws Magazine
Known as the ‘fox cat’, the Somali is essentially the longhaired version of the Abyssinian. Although the Abyssinian is a shorthaired breed, semi-longhaired kittens occasionally appeared in Aby litters as ‘unwanted accidents’ in the 1950s and 60s. Initially sold as desexed pets and thereby excluded from future pedigree breeding plans, these kittens had such a unique appeal of their own, prompting their establishment as a new breed.
Long hair is a recessive gene which can be passed on for generations without necessarily showing up. Only if two carriers are mated is there a chance of longhaired kittens being born. Somali to Somali pairings produce all Somali; never shorthairs.
Differing theories exist over the true source that led to this breed. Perhaps another breed was introduced into Abyssinian stock at some early stage in the development of the breed and these elements re-emerged years later. A Persian in 1900 is specifically mentioned, and ticked tabbies of unknown parentage were used to sustain the breeding viability of the early Abyssinians as the gene pool was extremely restricted well into the 1920s and 30s. Alternatively, such crossings played no part and the recessive longhaired gene cropped up naturally as a simple mutation in otherwise pure Abyssinian stock. The latter explanation seems more likely because the Somali does not show any non-Abyssinian features aside from the longer coat.
Investigations into the origins of these cats by Somali researcher Walter Del Pellegrino revealed a male cat, “Raby Chuffa”, bred in England by Lady Barnard in 1952 and exported to the US a year later to the “Selene” cattery of Francis Shuler-Taft. The mother of Chuffa was “Roverdale Purrkins”, bred by Janet Robertson – Purrkins was from “Mrs Mew”, a female of unknown breed, found pregnant and wandering around London streets towards the end of WW2, so the suspicion of carrying the longhair gene fell on her. Chuffa sired many Abyssinians and his descendants “Dalai Robin of Mehitabel” and “Dalai Deta Tim” figure significantly in Somali history.
American Abyssinian breeder Evelyn Mague from New Jersey is credited as the pioneer of Somalis. In 1968 she came across a one year old longhaired Abyssinian rescue cat. Calling him “George”, she was surprised to find that he was sired by her own stud, and that she also had George’s mother, “Lo-Mi-R's Trill-By”, so she repeated the “recipe”. She named this new breed “Somali”, and worked with a world-wide network of breeders on the long-term breeding program, starting the Somali Cat Club of America in 1972. Thelma Carlisle of Sydney bred a Somali in a litter of Abys in 1966, as did June Scott and Pat Scheumack, thus commencing an Australian breeding program, with breed recognition following in 1979, both here and in the US. Somalis arrived in Europe in 1977 and Britain finally imported in 1981. By the early 1990s, the breed was accepted internationally.
The name Somali is a tribute to the breed’s connection to the Abyssinian – Abyssinia (now Ethiopia) is a next-door neighbour to Somalia. There is no African connection in origin or development of the Somali.
Medium sized, graceful and well-muscled, the elegant Somali weighs between 3.5 and 5.5kg. Its body is firm and lithe, with a long thickly plumed “bottle brush” tail. Its legs are fine and long, with feet that are small and oval, giving the impression of standing on tip-toe. The head is wedge-shaped and medium sized with a medium long nose, and a firm, well developed chin. Its ears are relatively large and well set apart, and may have tufts at the tip. A slender neck with a full ruff is teamed with wide-set expressive almond-shaped eyes which can be amber, green or yellow and are outlined in dark colour.
The Somali’s medium length coat is very soft, extremely fine, and very dense. Grooming consists of weekly brushings, increasing to daily for the ruff and tail during heavy shedding. Its coat pattern is quite distinctive: each hair is ticked with several two-colour bands of colour. The usual coat colour seen is the typically Abyssinian one of tawny, but it’s also available in blue, cinnamon, fawn, chocolate, and silver. In each of these colours, the undercoat, belly and insides of the legs is a much lighter colour. The development of ticking is slow, and it takes two years for the Somali to achieve its coat’s final appearance.
All reputable registered breeders have their Somali breeding cats tested for Erythrocyte Pyruvate Kinase (PK) Deficiency, a disorder leading to chronic anaemia. Always ask to see documentation supporting negative testing results of parents when buying a Somali kitten.
While not quite as outgoing as its Aby relations, the calmer Somali is a natural hunter that flourishes on activity, so indoor living with access to an outdoor enclosure featuring facilities for climbing, jumping, hiding and running is ideal.
The Somali is a strikingly beautiful, charming and bright-eyed feline with a cheeky demeanour. It is gentle and receptive to quiet handling and affection. Little escapes this puss; it is sensitive to the moods of the household. Demanding plentiful attention but less possessive than the Aby, the Somali is a remarkably intelligent, hardy, well-balanced, and even-tempered breed. It is very sociable towards children, dogs, other cats and strangers, bonding strongly with its owner and close family. It thrives on human companionship, enjoying cuddles and games in equal measures, and remaining playful to a great age. It has a soft voice, but is not usually very vocal. Athletic yet gentle, forward yet not an extrovert, the exquisite Somali is a perfect companion for the right household.
Some Somali owners say “once you’ve lived with a Somali, you’ve experienced the best” while others will declare that “every cat lover should have at least one Somali” … deservedly high praise for a very special puss!
