The Somali cat is a breathtakingly beautiful animal with a vibrant colourful coat, a full plume tail and an alert personality.

Origins
The origins of the Somali lie in longhaired kittens which sometimes appeared unexpectedly in Abyssinian litters . Most sources agree that Somalis were first deliberately bred and given their name in the early nineteen sixties in America by an Abyssinian breeder, Evelyn Mague, however , there are records of longhaired Abyssinian Kittens going back before then. There is for example, in the publication “The Cat in Ancient Egypt” by Jaromir Malek, which shows a cat that may be well be one of the first recorded Somalis. The cat is described as “Mistress of embalming house” in the papyrus of Nespharen, circa 900 BC – (the original is in the Oxford Library in England)

The longhaired cousin to the Abyssinian, the Somali cat’s long silky coat was at one time considered to be an undesirable trait by Abyssinian breeders, who took careful measures to ensure that it did not show up in their litters. ln the 1960’s however, cat fanciers began to realise the exquisite beauty of the longhaired Abyssinian and soon the Somali breed – named after the country bordering Abyssinia – was born. No one knows for sure when or where the first Somali appeared, some think that the long coat was a spontaneous natural mutation in the Abyssinian. Genetic studies indicate, that the Somali probably  originated around the turn of the century in England, where breeders, low on breeding stock used longhaired cats in their Abyssinian breeding programs.

In 1967, Evelyn Mague, an American breeder, recognised the appeal of these cats and began a breeding programme, starting with ‘George’ the founding father of the Somalis.

General Description
Somalis look like a small Mountain Lion or Cougar with almond eyes, dramatically marked expressive face and a spectacularly warmly ticked coat, which produces a shimmering iridescence whether still or in motion. They are athletic and always very active. Even though they are well muscled, their movement is lithe, graceful and very quick. Their carriage is confident and regal but their antics have caused some to call them ‘Aby-silly-ans’. The Somali is simply a beautiful semi-longhaired Abyssinian. It has the same expressive face but with a ticked semi- longhaired coat ear-tufts and a fox-like tail. The Abyssinians and Somalis are also known as the ‘preposition’ cats because they leave no niche unexplored. They are above, below, in, under, across, beside, behind, into, over, among and through everywhere. Perhaps alliteration is an easier way to describe the Somali. Active, awesome, agile, astounding, alert, affectionate, amusing, athletic, astute, amiable and attentive.

The Somali Type
The Somali Standard of Point is the Bible for all Somali breeders and Judges, requires a beautifully balanced cat of medium build and Foreign type. A Somali should demonstrate style and elegance , its body lithe and muscular, it’s long legs slender with oval paws . The head should be broad forming a moderate wedge with gently rounded contours. The muzzle should also be rounded and generous to give the unique ‘Somali smile’. Even in kittens the breadth of the muzzle should be noted. The eyes are large and almond shaped with an oblique setting. A Somali’s profile should show a slight nose break; the chin should be firm and the neck elegant. All Somalis have dark rims to the eyes surrounded by lighter ‘spectacles’. This highlights and accentuates the size of the eyes making them very expressive and appealing. The eyes should also be set well apart. The ears should be set wide apart but not low. They should be broad at the base, proportionally large pricked and well cupped. They should have tufted ears which are also well furnished. The body should be lithe, firm and muscular of medium length, with a level back. The tail should belong and tapering with a full brush. The head, body, legs, and tail should be in proportion, giving a well balanced appearance overall. A Somali’s expression should be alert and smiling; any suggestion of a pinched, snippy look should be severely penalised. A Somali should be in excellent physical condition with good weight and muscle tone for its size.

*Information courtesy of Rhondda Watson – NSW All Breeds Cat Judge