Origin of the Somali Cat
The Somali cat arose from another breed of cat, the Abyssinian , with which it shares many characteristics. In the 1940s, British breeder Janet Robertson brought some Abyssinian cats to the United States, New Zealand and Australia, whose offspring included long-haired specimens .
The first known longhaired Abyssinian appeared in 1953, and during that decade many breeders became interested in these longhaired cats, attempting to dissociate them from the common Abyssinians and continuing to breed them.
The first official litter of Somali cats appeared in 1967, and it was decided to name these cats this way because they were related to the Abyssinians , since Somalia borders Ethiopia, formerly Abyssinia. This breed was recognized in 1978 by the Cat Fanciers Association (CFA) and in 1983 by the Association Internationale Féline (FIFe).
Types of Somali Cat
There are no different types of Somali cat, the only differences between specimens being related to their color , not their morphology.
Colors
The colors allowed in this breed are 4 different, also accepting different shades of these.
- Ruddy or wild: The original color of Somali cats. It ranges from light brown to orange, with black shades along the body.
- Sorrel: Reddish cinnamon or chestnut in color, with brown tones along its body.
- Fawn: Very similar to sorrel, but much lighter, with light cream tones and warmer shades of that color.
- Blue: They come in different shades ranging from blue to the gray Somali cat.
Hair type
The Somali cat has semi-long hair with a sparse undercoat , both very soft and fine. In addition, it has shorter fur in the shoulder area and a more or less defined ruff , depending on the specimen. When we talk about a ruff, we refer to the fur in the neck area, above the shoulders and without reaching the face, which usually have longer fur than the rest of the body.
The Somali Cat Cub
The gestation period for a Somali cat ranges from 63 to 68 days , giving birth to a litter of 2 to 4 kittens . These kittens will reach adult size in their first or second year of life.
These little ones are also known for being very playful and restless . They start fighting at four weeks of age as a game and, from six weeks onwards, their entertainment evolves and they start to chase each other while running, hiding and catching objects.
Character and behavior of the Somali Cat
What characterizes the Somali cat the most is its playful and active nature , always looking for ways to entertain itself, both on the floor and on the highest shelves. This also comes from its great curiosity , always wanting to know what is going on around it; but be careful, because this curiosity can lead it to run away from home , so it is essential that you have protections on the windows.
He is also a very affectionate cat and, although he does not trust strangers at first, with a session of cuddles and games it is possible to gain his trust.
How to feed a Somali cat based on its age?
Although their diet is not very different from that of other cats, keep in mind that they are, by nature, very greedy and active felines , which means they have higher caloric needs. With an interactive dish they can entertain themselves while playing, which is perfect for their personality.
Feeding in stages
As with all felines, the Somali cat needs to be fed a specific diet at each stage of its life to receive the specific nutrients it needs according to its age.
Therefore, as soon as the puppy is born, it will need to be fed with breast milk and, when it reaches the weaning stage , it will be necessary to mix breast milk with a porridge made from puppy food and water. When the puppy is weaned, it can be fed only with this food, without the need to mix it with liquids.
When your cat reaches one year of age, it will be considered an adult , which means that its diet will change to one for adult cats. The
change from one food to another cannot be done suddenly, but gradually, mixing the usual food with the new one in varying quantities, until it ends up eating only the new food.
If your pet has been sterilized or suffers from any intolerance , allergy or illness, its feed should be designed to alleviate the symptoms of these or to vary its composition so as not to affect its health. Again, the change from one feed to another should be done gradually .
Finally, in the
senior stage , your cat should be fed with a food for older cats and, if he starts to suffer from any illness, that it is specifically designed to treat it. Before changing his food, make sure you have previously consulted a veterinarian and,
if the new food makes him feel bad and makes him vomit, change it for another with the same characteristics.
Somali Cat Health
The Somali cat is generally very healthy , but is prone to certain diseases similar to those of the Abyssinian cat, such as feline neonatal isoerythrolysis , which involves an incompatibility of blood groups A, B and AB between the mother and her kittens.
Other common diseases in both breeds of cats are progressive retinal atrophy and deficiency of the enzyme pyruvate kinase in red blood cells , which causes anemia. Therefore, it is essential to visit a veterinarian regularly to find out if your cat may suffer from any of these diseases and treat them in time to avoid aggravating its symptoms.
Caring for a Somali Cat
Somali cats do not require very specific and special care. Even so, it is advisable to take them for veterinary check-ups at least once a year and to keep their vaccination card up to date .
Hair
This cat’s semi-long hair needs weekly brushing to avoid knots , tangles and a bad appearance. In addition, brushing collects all the dead hairs that may have been left among the healthy hair, which would prevent the cat from ingesting them and forming hairballs .
Fur
Regular brushing can also inform us about the appearance of harmful parasites , especially if he likes to walk outside the house. If you find any, go to the vet to find out if they may have reached his skin and thus eliminate them. Put an anti-parasite collar or a pipette on him and regularly check his fur every time he goes out on adventures.
Others: Eyes and ears
Although cats are very conscientious about their hygiene, sometimes they may clean some areas with less enthusiasm or, in fact, they may not get to them at all. Also depending on whether they have a lot of hair in specific areas, such as the eyes and ears, they may accumulate eye discharge or earwax there , which can end up causing problems.
You can trim the hair in these areas and check if it needs extra cleaning. To clean the eyes and ears, use a sterile gauze and avoid cotton at all costs, as they can release fibers and accumulate in these areas. Soak the gauze in a veterinary solution for ears and eyes or, alternatively, use distilled water or saline solution and, very carefully, clean the area delicately .
Adopting a Somali Cat
Somali cats are a bit more difficult to find than Abyssinian cats, which makes them even more difficult to adopt. Therefore, if you are looking for a cat with long fur, a playful and active character that will always be with you, you can go to one of Tiendanimal’s physical stores and ask about our adoption programs . You are sure to fall in love with one of the many cats that are up for adoption!
In addition, on the website you can find all the items you need for the new member of your family, from food and treats to bed , toiletries and antiparasitics . Visit us and pamper your cat as it deserves.
