Somali

Temperament

The Somali is a cat in perpetual motion. It explores every corner, climbs onto wardrobes, brings toys for you to throw and follows its people from room to room to see what they are doing. It shows affection with head-bumps and kneading, although it is not a typical cat for lying on a lap for hours. It says little but communicates a lot with its body language. It is intelligent and quickly learns tricks, how to open cupboards and how to walk on a harness. It usually gets along well with children and dogs, as long as they have time to play with it. It greets guests with curiosity. Its weak spot is boredom: with nothing to do, a Somali invents its own entertainment, and it copes badly with long periods alone. It is usually happier in a home with a second active cat.

Energy

calmvery energetic

Affection

independentvelcro pet

With children

not idealgreat

With other pets

difficultgreat

Trainability

stubborneager to learn

For first-time owners

for experienced ownersyes

With strangers

waryoutgoing

Playfulness

dignifiedeternal puppy

Shedding

minimalheavy

Grooming

easydemanding

Being left alone

strugglescopes well

Apartment living

needs a house and yardgreat in a flat

Talkativeness

quietchatterbox

Indoor-only life

needs outdoor accessgreat

Scores of 1–5 compare the breed with other breeds of the same species, based on the sources at the bottom of the page. Every animal is different. How we score traits

Who is the Somali for?

The Somali is for active people who enjoy playing with their cat and teaching it tricks, and do not mind a cat that gets into everything. It does well in a home with children and a second cat. It is a weaker choice for people looking for a calm lap cat, for those who work long hours away from home, or for anyone in a small apartment with no room to climb.

Size and looks

Care and exercise

The Somali's coat is soft but has no dense undercoat, so it rarely mats. Combing once or twice a week is usually enough; if the coat gets greasy and clumps at the base of the tail and along the spine, a bath helps. Daily activity is key: at least two vigorous hunting-style play sessions, floor-to-ceiling cat trees, shelves, tunnels and puzzle toys. The Somali happily walks on a harness and learns tricks, which is a good way to channel its energy. As with any cat, get it used to toothbrushing and nail trims from a young age, and take it to the vet once a year. Match portions to its activity level: a Somali burns plenty of energy, but a bored neutered cat can still put on weight.

Health and breed-related conditions

The Somali shares several inherited diseases with the Abyssinian, and tests for them now exist. Pyruvate kinase deficiency causes recurring anemia; in an Australian study of 60 Abyssinians and Somalis, the frequency of the faulty allele in Somalis was 0.29, and in a European study of more than 500 cats, 7.5% were affected. Progressive retinal atrophy leads to blindness. The CFA stresses that testing has made it possible to remove carriers from breeding, but renal amyloidosis cannot be detected by a test, so you need to ask about the history of the line. TICA gives a lifespan of 10–19+ years and VCA 13–17 years, and VCA lists no other conditions typical of the breed.

• pyruvate kinase deficiency (PK deficiency)A recessive hemolytic anemia; in an Australian study, the allele frequency in Somalis was 0.29. A DNA test is available.
• progressive retinal atrophy (PRA)Inherited blindness known in Abyssinians and Somalis; a DNA test identifies carriers.
• renal amyloidosisThere is no genetic test for it; the CFA advises asking the breeder about the history of the line.

This is general breed information, not a diagnosis. If something worries you, talk to your veterinarian.

Breed history

Abyssinians barely survived World War II; in Britain only a dozen or so are thought to have been left. While rebuilding the breed, breeders probably used cats carrying the recessive longhair gene, although its source was never documented. Longhaired kittens in Abyssinian litters were long considered a fault and sold as pets. In the mid-1960s, American breeder Evelyn Mague began breeding them on purpose and named the new breed after Somalia, the neighbor of Ethiopia, formerly Abyssinia. One of the first documented cats was a male named George. The CFA began registering Somalis in 1976 and granted them championship status in 1979.

Fun facts

• The breed's name refers to Somalia, the neighbor of Ethiopia, formerly Abyssinia.
• Each hair of a Somali has several alternating bands of light and dark color (ticking).
• After World War II, only a dozen or so Abyssinians survived in Britain.
• The Somali's bushy tail and ruff are often compared to a fox's.

Frequently asked questions

This breed also appears in

• Long-haired cat breeds

Sources

1. 1CFA – Somalicfa.org
2. 2TICA – Somali breedtica.org
3. 3VCA Animal Hospitals – Somalivcahospitals.com
4. 4Erythrocytic pyruvate kinase deficiency and AB blood types in Australian Abyssinian and Somali catspubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
5. 5Erythrocyte pyruvate kinase deficiency mutation identified in multiple breeds of domestic catspubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
6. 6FIFe – Breedsfifeweb.org
7. 7WCF – Breed standards semi-longhairwcf.de

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.