The Somali cat, often described as a “little fox” due to its striking ticked coat and alert demeanor, is a breed that captivates with its intelligence, playful nature, and stunning appearance. This article delves into the official breed standard, providing a detailed overview of the Somali’s physical characteristics, coat requirements, and acceptable colors, designed for cat enthusiasts and potential owners seeking in-depth knowledge about this unique breed.
General Impression
The Somali is recognized as a well-proportioned, medium to large cat with a firm, muscular build. Its physique is lithe, conveying an alert and lively interest in its surroundings. Known for an even disposition, Somalis are generally easy to handle, projecting an image of activity, robust health, and overall vigor. This breed embodies a balance of elegance and strength, making it a distinctive presence in any feline-loving household.
Head
The head of a Somali is characterized by a modified, slightly rounded wedge shape, devoid of flat planes. The brow, cheek, and profile lines all exhibit a gentle contour. There is a slight rise from the bridge of the nose to the forehead, which should be of a good size. The width between the ears flows smoothly into the arched neck without any abrupt break.
Muzzle
The muzzle follows gentle contours that conform to the skull when viewed from the front. The chin is full, neither undershot nor overshot, presenting a rounded appearance. The muzzle should not be sharply pointed, and there should be no signs of snippiness, foxiness, or whisker pinch. Allowance is made for jowls in adult males.
Ears
Somali ears are large, alert, and moderately pointed. They are broad at the base and cup-shaped. The ears are set on a line that runs towards the rear of the skull. Crucially, the inner ear should possess horizontal tufts that extend nearly to the opposite side of the ear; these tufts are considered desirable.
Eyes
The eyes are almond-shaped, large, brilliant, and expressive. The skull aperture is neither perfectly round nor overly oriental. The eyes are accented by dark lidskin that is encircled by a lighter colored area. Above each eye, a short, dark, vertical pencil stroke should be present, with a dark pencil line continuing from the upper lid towards the ear.
Body
The Somali’s torso is medium in length, lithe, and graceful, demonstrating well-developed muscular strength. The rib cage is rounded, and the back is slightly arched, giving the cat the appearance of being poised to spring. The flank is level, with no tuck-up. Overall, the conformation strikes a balance between the extremes of cobby and svelte, lengthy types.
Legs and Feet
The legs are in proportion to the torso, and the feet are oval and compact. When standing, the Somali gives the impression of being nimble and quick. There are five toes on the front paws and four on the back.
Tail
The tail is characterized by a full brush, being thick at the base and tapering slightly towards the end. Its length should be in balance with the overall size of the torso.
Coat
Texture and Length
The Somali’s coat texture is exceptionally soft to the touch, extremely fine, and double-coated. A denser coat is preferred. The coat is of medium length, though it may be slightly shorter over the shoulders. Preference is given to cats that exhibit a ruff and breeches, contributing to a fuller overall coat appearance.
Color and Markings
The coat color should be warm and glowing, with distinct and even ticking. This ticking consists of dark-colored bands contrasting with lighter bands on the hair shafts. The undercoat should be clear and bright down to the skin. Deeper color shades are desired, but the intensity of the ticking should not be sacrificed for color depth. Cats that are unmarked on their undersides, chest, and legs are preferred, as is a tail without rings. Darker shading along the spine, continuing through the tail tip, is desirable. Shading is also allowed up the hocks and at the point of the elbow. Dark lines extending from the eyes and brows, along with cheekbone shading and dots/shading on the whisker pads, are considered desirable enhancements. The eyes are accentuated by a fine dark line, encircled by a light-colored area.
Eye Color: Gold or green, with richness and depth of color being highly valued.
Accepted Somali Colors
- Ruddy: The ground color is burnt sienna, ticked with various shades of darker brown or black, with the extreme outer tip being the darkest. The tail is tipped with black. The underside and inside of the legs should have a tint that harmonizes with the ground color. The nose leather should be tile red, and the paw pads black or dark brown, with black between the toes extending slightly beyond the paws.
- Cinnamon: This color features a ground color of rich, warm, glowing red, ticked with chocolate-brown. The extreme outer tip is darkest, with a red-orange undercoat. The tail is tipped with chocolate-brown. The underside and inside of the legs should have a tint harmonizing with the ground color. The nose leather is rosy pink, and the paw pads are pink, with chocolate-brown between the toes extending slightly beyond the paws.
- Blue: The ground color is warm beige, ticked with slate blue, the extreme outer tip being the darkest. The tail is tipped with slate blue. The underside and inside of the legs should have a harmonizing tint. The nose leather is old rose, and the paw pads are mauve, with slate blue between the toes extending slightly beyond the paws.
- Fawn: This color presents a ground color of warm rose-beige, ticked with light cocoa-brown, the extreme outer tip being the darkest. The tail is tipped with light cocoa-brown. The underside and inside of the legs should have a harmonizing tint. The nose leather is salmon, and the paw pads are pink with light cocoa-brown between the toes extending slightly beyond the paws.
It is important to note that the Somali cat is very slow to show mature ticking, and allowances should be made for kittens and young cats.
Penalties and Disqualifications
Certain faults are penalized, while others lead to disqualification according to the breed standard.
Penalize: Color faults include a cold grey or sandy tone to the coat color, or mottling or speckling on unticked areas. Pattern faults include necklaces, leg bars, tabby stripes, or bars on the body, and a lack of desired markings on the head and tail. Black roots on the body are also a fault.
Disqualify: A white locket or groin spot, or any white on the body other than on the upper throat, chin, and nostril area, will result in disqualification. Any skeletal abnormality, incorrect color paw pads or nose leather, colors other than the four accepted, an unbroken necklace, kinks in the tail, or an incorrect number of toes will also lead to disqualification.
