Somali

The Somalis originated from the Abyssinian breed. Therefore, they are also called as "longhaired Abyssinians". The Somali is an agile, well muscled cat which has the look of a cat about to spring. The slightly arched back of the Somali gives it a distinctively alert appearance.They love running, playing with toys and every now and then - even jumping in the air! Intelligent, alert and active the healthy Somali looks magnificent.

With a very soft medium length hair coat, either ruddy with a ground colour of burnt-sienna ticked with various shades of dark brown or black, sorrel-red ticked with chocolate brown, blue - beige ticked with slate blue or fawn-rose beige ticked with light cocoa-brown, the breed is attractive. It takes 18 months or longer before the young cat gets the ticking that confirms with the breed standard.

A well proportioned body, bushy tail, almond shaped gold or green eyes, large, alert ears and a round chin mark this breed.

The eyes look more expressive because of the the dark eyelid skin encircled by a light coloured area. A breed standard is to have a dark vertical pencil stroke line continuing from the upper lid towards the ear.

Grey or sandy tone to coat color; mottling or speckling on unticked areas, necklaces, leg bars, tabby stripes, or bars on body and black roots on body are some major disqualifications. Besides this, a white locket or white anywhere except for the upper throat, chin and nostril area is also taken as a negative point.