Somali

Foreign

Coat

Ticked tabby (modified): This breed shows a modified form of ticked tabby. The pattern is created by layering a ticking furfile over a base colour (topcoat) with lighter markings on the undersides of the cat.

The pattern is split as follows:
Topcoat - The base colour of the coat.
Undersides - A lighter colour on the undersides and extremities. Primary Underside markings (Required) are the belly, throat/front of chest, around the eyes and on the toes/fingers. These areas never have ticking. Secondary Underside markings (optional) are allowed on the eye pips, legs (lower legs or up to shoulders/hips), sides of body, chest, cheeks, underside of tail, and jowls. These markings may have ticking (fully or partially), though unticked is preferred.
Ticking - Darker tipping on top of the topcoat. Ticking may be be an allowed tipping colour (preferred), a darker shade of the topcoat colour or a combination of the two, using transparent ticking on the lower legs and other lightly ticked areas (areas with Secondary Underside markings) and dark ticking on the rest of the cat.

The ticking may be even all over the cat or gradually fading. When gradual, it should be the most intense along the spine, tail and/or back of head/neck and lighter towards the legs. The second half of the tail (half nearer to the tip) may show heavier ticking than the first half.

All of the above may show darker shading along the spine and tail (or just top of tail). The shading is a darker shade of the topcoat colour.

For all of the above, the ticking is preferred to be as intense, dark and clearly visible as possible, with the exception of areas with Underside markings which are preferred to be unticked.

Allowed combinations:

Black (Ruddy):
Topcoat: (last is faulted)
Undersides:
Ticking:

Blue:
Topcoat:
Undersides:
Ticking:

Cinnamon (Red, Sorrel):
Topcoat:
Undersides:
Ticking:
Topcoat with ticking is also an allowed combination
The Undersides may be the same colour as the topcoat without fault in all Cinnamons.

Fawn (Beige):
Topcoat:
Undersides:
Ticking:
The Undersides may be the same colour as the topcoat without fault in all Fawns.

Silver colours:
For all Silvers, the Undersides are the same colour as the topcoat.
Black silver: with ticking
Blue silver: with ticking
Cinnamon silver: with ticking
Fawn silver: with ticking

Additional markings:
The tailtip must always be a solid version of the ticking colour (Black and Blue catz must use an allowed ticking colour for that combination, Cinnamon and Fawn catz may use the same colour as the topcoat). The eartips, toe tufts, bottom of feet, eye pips, eyelines and cheekbones may also be a solid version of the tipping colour.

All combinations are allowed to have chin, muzzle, around and/or above the eyes and throat. is also allowed in Black catz.

Eyes

Nose

Matches surrounding coat.

Faults

White on chest, necklaces, lockets, 'cold' colours, greyish undercoat, lack of ticking, incomplete markings.

Disqualifications

Barring (striping), lack of required markings.

Varieties

None

Notes

Essentially a longhaired Abyssinian, the Somali is a well-proportioned medium to large cat with firm muscular development and a lithe frame. It shows an alert, lively interest in all surroundings, with an even, easy-to-handle disposition. Longhaired kittens had been cropping up in Abyssinian litters for decades, possibly from crosses to Angoras or Balinese, but regardless of their origins, the Somali was accepted by CFA in 1979 and has been a wonderful addition. They have a wild, foxy look with that big, bushy tail, and fantastic if hyperactive personalities. They are highly intelligent and very trainable, succeeding in the feline agility ring and the popular sport of Jump On The Highest Thing In The House.

Type & judging remarks
The head is a modified wedge without flat planes, with large tufted ears and a medium long torso that is lithe and graceful. Slightly arched back gives the impression of a cat about to spring. The long coat is silky rather than woolly, and is most obvious on the tail, which is full and plumed, and on the ruff and breeches. The colour should be warm and glowing, with even ticking throughout the coat.

Breed Files

Filename: SN Somali
Offset: 2311
Base: Tabby
SCP: Tabby
Accepted: January 2, 2015
Notes: Version 2 of the Supernova file. Addballz tail (3 variations), ruff and tail fur variations.

Filename: SN Somali
Offset: 2311
Base: Tabby
SCP: Tabby
Accepted: February 10, 2007
Notes: Includes three addball variations and two ruff variations. Internal ticked tabby furfile, which is accepted.

Filename: Siamese
Offset: EC03
Base: Siamese
SCP: Siamese
Accepted: December 31, 2005
Notes: The blue variation in this file is not accepted. Check eye colour before registering.

Filename: SomaliP
Offset: CAC8
Base: Maine Coon
SCP: Maine Coon
Accepted: February 15, 2004
Notes: Comes in two fur lengths - the longhair variation has an addballz ruff. Has an addballz tail and belly feathering. Addballz ears don't look quite the same in 2nd+ generations.