Somali cat (Somali) - description of the breed and character

What about a Somali cat? This is an amazingly beautiful pet with an incredibly beautiful coat, as well as a no less luxurious tail. The appearance of the cat is a bit like a fox, which makes it incredibly attractive.

Breed data: colors

The main feature of the cat is a fluffy collar and pants, and on the neck and paws the coat is much longer than in all other places. Color is also quite unusual, because it combines strips of dark and light shades. This phenomenon is called ticking. The more such bands, the more expensive the cat is estimated. At the same time, ticking uniformly covers the entire body of the animal and does not form any separate pattern, however, on the paws, along the spine and on the tip of the tail, the ticking is very clearly marked. On the cat's stomach and the inside of the paws, the color is not so bright.The wool of these animals is very thick and dense, and to the touch pleasant and smooth.

The colors of the Somali cat breed are quite diverse. Among them are:

1. Blue. Here the color combines blue with a light haze.
2. Wild. Very original color, consisting of two colors - red and black. The combination may also be slightly different shades. On paws between fingers wool is painted in more dark color. The nose with such a coloring animal painted in bright red color.
3. Sorel. This color is the most common and common in this breed, combining copper and red shades. The ears are bronze-colored, while the paw pads and nose are light pink.
4. Faun. This color is a combination of cream and matte colors.
5. Silver. Judging by the name, in this type of color there are silver and blue colors.

All colors in this list are WCF standards.

History of the origin of this species

In the middle of the 20th century, a British breeder managed to take representatives of cats of this breed far beyond the borders of the motherland. Later these animals had their own long-haired offspring. And even later, one felinologist spotted representatives of this type of cats, taking several for selection.

At that time, long-haired kittens were born in America, which were named Somalis. Later they tried to cross the Canadian and American Abyssinians. As a result, the first long-haired Somali cat appeared, which was later recognized by all organizations around the world.

What is the Somali breed

Cats of this breed are not very large and weigh an average of 3-5 kilograms. General requirements and ideals are the same for all breeds, which differ only in the length of the coat.

Description officially recognized by the CFA:

1. The head is a slightly rounded wedge. There are no flat lines. Eyebrows, cheekbones and profile are a neat line without sharp outlines and transitions.The muzzle does not resemble a fox in its outline, and there is no pronounced pinch.
2. Representatives of the Somali breed have very large and expressive almond-shaped eyes, as if outlined by a black eyeliner. Eye color can vary from yellow to green, having light or very rich shades.
3. The ears of cats at the base resemble small cups, not very pointed and wide. In size, they are quite large and in a wary position. Inside the ears are small tassels.
4. The body of animals is very graceful and flexible, has an average length and good muscles, the chest is presented in a rounded shape, the back is slightly curved. Thanks to this form of the back, it seems that the cat is ready to immediately leave the place and jump.
5. The legs are very proportionate to the body and the legs are oval in shape. During the stand, cats of this breed seem fast, playful and very nimble.
6. The tail of animals of this breed is a single brush, which narrows closer to the tip and has a rather massive base. The length of the tail as a whole has proportions equal to the body.
7. Wool is very pleasant to the touch and soft in its texture. If the wool has a greater density - it is considered more prestigious. Fluffy sideburns, pants and the presence of wool between the fingers of this breed are very much appreciated.

Cat behavior

Pets of this breed like no one else have a unique sensitivity and intelligence, they are also very loyal to their owner. These unique pets are curious and always tend to learn new things, so you can hardly find them sleeping peacefully in the corner of the bed. Most likely, you will find them crawling on a cupboard or mezzanine.

This breed is very active and playful. According to the jury of animal shows, cats of this breed are completely unable to sit still and turn everything into a subject for games. Therefore, the main thing is to be able to keep track of these animals, and those who live on high floors should be doubly attentive in order to prevent the animal from falling out of the window. For cats, it is desirable to purchase special claws.

These cats can not be seated in their arms, but to get them for their children will be a good idea, as these pets will always find how to have fun with children and cheer up all the household.

But the Somalis do not like to be in the same territory with other animals, because attention does not get them one hundred percent, which is a tragedy for them.

Cat care

The life of these pets is quite long by the cat's standards and is 16 years old. But although these animals are very active and have great mobility, they still have health problems that need to be known.

If it concerns teeth, then parodontosis is a frequent problem.

There are also problems with joints and kidneys.

The specificity of caring for a cat of this breed is that the animal must be constantly combed (several times a week). Every month you need to bathe in the bathroom using special shampoos for long-haired cats. Teeth pets need to be cleaned every day, and ears - once a week.

How to clean the teeth of the animal? The presence of a toothache in animals is a very unpleasant thing, because cats cannot tell us about their problems, and therefore they sometimes endure this unbearable pain. Problems with their teeth can lead to indigestion.

Among the most common dental diseases in cats are considered: dental plaque, which can later lead to the formation of stone, and caries. There are also various pathologies in the development of teeth.All of these problems can be a serious cause of health problems for a pet. Therefore, to prevent this from happening, it is important to observe a number of preventive measures.

First, it is necessary to inspect the animal’s mouth during each month. Then you need to systematically visit the veterinarian, as well as to make a suitable diet for your pet. Examine the oral cavity is necessary when the animal is in a good mood and not nervous. You can calm him down by scratching his ear.

During the molting period of the cat, combing should be done as often as possible, as well as adding weekly baths to it.

Nutrition

To keep cats of this breed always in shape and in a good mood, it is recommended to feed them with high protein foods, as well as reduce fat intake.

Also these animals need a special acid, which is found in meat and dairy products. It is important for the active life of your pet and the mass gain by animals. L-carnitine, which promotes fat burning, will not interfere either.These requirements are necessary only when the cat is fed with natural food.

If you do not have time to follow all the recommendations, it is better to feed the cat with special dry food, which already contains all the necessary vitamins and nutrients for the animal's body.

Somali cat breed cost

Basically, prices start at 11,000 rubles, but it all depends on many features, such as the sex of the animal, its pedigree, and more.

Mating

If pregnancy nevertheless has come, then the cat needs to be surrounded as much as possible with care and affection. During this period, the owners should not move anywhere and protect the animal from stressful situations.

Where can I buy?

The breed of Abyssinians is very popular all over the world, so its breeding is practiced in every country.And therefore, you can find a Somali breed anywhere, if you wish.

This article gives examples of what precautions exist when choosing an animal and how to properly care for this pet. The basic rule is to continuously monitor the animal. If you are not ready to spend a lot of time on it, or you already have various pets living at home, then it is better to refrain from buying this breed (if you don’t want your new friend’s constant clashes with existing inhabitants of the house).

Video: Somali cat