Somalis have gold or green eyes in all colors, with the more depth and richness of color the better. Some associations, such as the American Cat Association, also accept hazel. Females are smaller than males, weighing about 6-10 pounds on average as adults. Males are an average of 10-12 pounds as adults, although some may be larger. The Somali coat color develops slowly, and doesn't show its full, mature ticking and coloring until age 18 months. Kittens tend to be darker and less warm-colored than they will be in adulthood.
Somalis generally have longer hair over their chests (the "ruff") and on their hindquarters (the "breeches"). Their tails are full and brushy, almost like that of a fox.
Somalis are active, playful, interactive cats. Like their parent breed, the Abyssinians, Somalis seem to wake up every morning with a "to-do" list. They should be given plenty of room to run, lots of individual attention and play, and a variety of toys. However, they tend to be calmer and less active than the Abyssinian.
Somalis seem happiest if kept with another cat of about their own activity level. Contrary to what some cat books say, though, Somalis do very well as indoor-only cats, provided that they are given plenty of room to run and play.
Somalis are even-tempered and easy to handle. They are ideal cats for households with children, as they are quite gentle (provided the children do not abuse them). They also do well as in a "mixed pet" household, getting along well with other animals.
Somalis are extremely affectionate and people-oriented -- "loves a party and all the guests", as one of my kitten buyers told me.
They are also extremely inquisitive and clever, which may cause some trouble for the cat! An open door is as good as an invitation, as are garbage pails, windows and open drawers. Fortunately, they are also easy to train to use scratching posts.
Like Abyssinians, Somalis are generally quiet cats, with soft voices they don't use a great deal. Somalis are adept communicators, but don't rely on their voices to do so. This can be frustrating for breeders, as some few Somali females may have a "silent heat" (in heat but doesn't call). Buyers of pet Somali females should also be careful to have their female spayed as soon as she is old enough for this reason, so an inadvertant breeding doesn't take place. Somali females have been known to go into heat as young as five months.
They also shed very little, less than many short-haired cats. They have two seasonal moults in spring and fall, but otherwise shed minimally throughout the year.
Many Somalis exhibit what breeders jokingly refer to as the "hairdresser gene". For some reason, many Somalis seem to have a need to "dress" the hair of their human owners! Many Somalis will try to groom their owners' hair, beards, and moustaches, particularly if they are wearing any kind of hair-care product such as hairspray or mousse.
Somali
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