The Somali cat is basically the same as the Abyssinian cat, with a slim, graceful, slightly rounded body; a slightly rounded wedge-shaped face; a pair of large ears in a wide “V” shape; and impressive black eyelids above the almond eyes. The Somali cat is born with a short coat, which quickly softens. However, the coat will gradually become smooth and shiny as the cat grows up.
Origin of Somali Cat Breed
Somali cats, origin: supposedly in the United States and Canada. It is said that the Somali cat is a breed of long-haired cat that was created by mutation from purebred Abyssinian cats in 1967, and was formed through planned breeding. After breeding and cultivating in Europe and America, there were four breeds respectively, and only in 1983 was it recognized by the British Cat Association, and in 1991 it won the championship status in the British Cat Fanciers Management Board.
Introduction of the Somali cat breed
Somali cats have a dark red coat again the representative color of Abyssinian cats and Somali cats, the most common. All Somali cats have amber, light brown or green eyes. Somali cats are very intelligent, gentle and sociable. It can rampage like a monkey, and the way it catches food or things is also like a monkey. Most Somali cats know how to boil water Teeny, because they all like to play with water. Its tight muscles and serious face give it a very wild feeling. Its motor nerves are extremely developed, so it is agile and likes to move freely, and its purr is particularly clear and loud, so it is not suitable to be kept in an apartment.
- Somali cat morphological characteristics
Somali cats are medium in size and have a kingly appearance. Somali cats are shaped like Abyssinian cats, but with a semi-long coat. Body weight: 3.5 to 5.5 kg. Active, but not overly enthusiastic. Vigorous, docile, mild-mannered, very playful, emotional, very much in need of attention from its owner, but less possessive than the Abyssinian cat, making it a great family pet companion.
Morphology of Somali cats
The Somali cat looks basically the same as the Abyssinian cat, with a slim, graceful, slightly rounded figure; the body is medium to large in size, with even proportions, strong muscles and beautiful lines. The face is also slightly rounded and wedge-shaped; the pair of large ears are in a wide “V” shape; and the black eyelids above the almond eyes are very impressive. The Somali cat is born with a short coat, which will soften quickly. However, the coat will gradually become smooth and shiny as the cat grows up. The coat is medium in length, quite soft, fine and dense, short at the shoulders, but long on the hind legs, and the tail hair is also very dense. The coat color has chestnut silver white, brownish red, dark red, blue, silver creamy yellow, lavender, blue silver white, silver white, chocolate silver and so on eleven or two kinds. Among them, dark red is the representative color of Abyssinian cats and Somali cats and is the most common. The eyes of all Somali cats are amber, light brown or green. Somali cats have a slightly rounded wedge shape, with gently curved eyes and cheeks, and a smooth line between the ears and between the neck. All Somali cats have dark eyes surrounded by light-colored fur and have clear markings on the forehead and cheeks. The head is moderately chevron-shaped, with smooth lines and a slight folded nose in profile.
- Somali cat personality characteristics
See the name Somali cat, you must think of Somali pirates, in fact, they have no relationship at all, the Somali cat in addition to good energy, selling cute is also a strong point, that ice green cat eyes, is not some cold cool it? Some silly and cute. So be sure not to misunderstand it, thinking it will be as unpopular as the name of the Somali pirates, the Somali cat is actually a gentle kitty.
Somali cat’s personality
Somali cats are very intelligent, gentle and understanding. It can rampage like a monkey and catch food or things in the same way as a monkey. Most Somali cats know how to boil water to tease their heads because they all like to play with water. The tight muscles and serious face give a very wild feeling. It has extremely well-developed motor nerves, so it is agile and likes to move freely, and its purr is particularly clear and loud, so it is not suitable to be kept in an apartment. Somali cats are still wild and beautiful at the same time, and very active and outgoing, and love sports. According to reason such a cat should be very healthy, right? Actually not, Somali cats used to have a large number of genetic diseases in their early days, mainly in their teeth, and they are also prone to internal diseases such as fatty liver, which have now generally been ruled out, but cat lovers still need to look after them carefully.
- Somali cat care knowledge
Somali cat’s beautiful medium-length coat has another feature, that is, each coat has about 20 kinds of gradient colors, such a beautiful long coat, the care section is not at all carefree. Somali cats will have two shedding periods every year, and if they are not combed, their coats will easily get tangled together, so the daily care for Somali cats cannot be lazy at all, and those owners who are afraid of trouble are not suitable for Somali cats.
Somali cat care
The coat also needs to be combed, even if it is a short-haired cat. It is best to practice regular and regular grooming of the Somali cat’s hair. At least once a week and at the same time. After grooming, the coat should be smooth and shiny. Steps are as follows: prepare the tools needed for grooming: antelope skin, Uncle Kim comb, bristle brush, rubber brush; adjust the cat’s mood, wait for him to relax before grooming, if he is resistant, must not be forced. Grooming method and steps: first use a metal comb to comb away the tangled hairs, pay attention to see if there are any black spots infected by fleas when combing. The black spots are flea droppings and should be carefully removed. When combing, use a bristle brush to brush the entire body, including the abdomen, in the direction of hair growth. Brush with clear movements so as not to hurt the cat. After brushing, there will be shed hairs stuck on the fur, so use a rubber brush to brush them away, so that the fur is smooth and clean. In caring for the glossiness of the fur, a few drops of fur protector every few weeks will help remove grease and restore the color and luster of the cat’s fur. Scrub the cat’s fur with antelope skin to further remove surface dirt. In addition, frequent stroking and adhering to a healthy diet will also result in a beautiful coat.
- Somali cat feeding requirements
Despite some fear of the cold, Somali cats are not very fond of apartment living. They love to hunt and patios are very popular with them. Care is easy and weekly grooming is sufficient. Daily grooming is required during the shedding period. Newborn Somali cats have a nearly bi-colored coat: dark on the back and light on the bottom. The coloring of the coat is very slow to develop. Similarly, its coat length and final appearance do not stabilize until it is 2 years old.
Feeding of the Somali cat
There are some things that Somali cats cannot eat, such as animal liver: some cats love animal liver and refuse to eat other foods. Animal liver contains a lot of vitamin A, but excessive intake of vitamin A can lead to muscle stiffness, neck pain, bone and joint deformation and liver disease. High-fat foods: If the cat’s diet contains a lot of high-fat fish or fatty meat that is not fresh, this can lead to insufficient intake of vitamin E, which in turn can cause inflammation and extreme pain in the cat’s body fat. Raw fish: Some raw fish contain enzymes that can destroy vitamin B1, and vitamin B1 deficiency can lead to neurological disease in cats and can be fatal in severe cases. This enzyme can be destroyed by heating, so be sure to cook the fish before feeding it to the cat. Meat: Although the cat’s diet should be based on meat, feeding cats only meat can lead to uneven intake of minerals and vitamins, which can lead to serious disorders of bone metabolism. Dog food: The nutrients in dog food are not the same as those in cat food, and the nutrients in dog food are not able to meet the needs of cats. Although both dogs and cats are carnivores, dogs do not have as great a need for nutrients as cats. Cod liver oil: Special care should be taken when supplementing cats with additional vitamins and minerals. Excessive consumption of cod liver oil can lead to excessive intake of vitamin A and vitamin D, which in turn can lead to bone disease.
