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A fox in the houseFor a long time, kittens with semilong, soft hair appeared in litters of Abyssinians (which were actually of a much heavier type than today). But breeders were not interested in them and did not use them in reproduction. The gene responsible for semilong hair was probably introduced by crossing Abyssinians with longhaired cats (Persians or Angoras).In Canada, it was not until the 1960s that breeders Don Richings and Mary Mailing and judge Ken MacGill became interested in these new cats. In 1967, American breeder Evelyn Mague managed to pin down the semilonghair gene in Abyssinians. The new breed was named the Somali, in reference to the neighboring country of Ethiopia, the supposed birthplace of the Abyssinian.Mague founded the Lynn Lee Cattery and the first breed club in the United States. She showed the first Somali in 1972. The C.F.A. recognized the breed in 1978.Lynn Lee’s Picasso and Lynn Lee’s Pearl, two Somalis from Mague’s cattery, arrived in France in 1979.The F.I.Fe. approved the breed in 1982. It is highly prized by more and more people.

Head:Viewed from the front, shaped like a triangle with rounded contours. Slightly domed forehead. In profile, the head has a gentle curve. Muzzle neither small nor pointed. A whisker pinch is a fault (?). Nose of medium length, without stop. Firm, well-developed chin.
Eyes:Large, almond-shaped, well-spaced, with dark markings below the eyes. Above each eye is a short vertical marking (remnants of the tabby “M”). Color: amber, green, gold.
Body:Medium in size and length, semi-foreign type, graceful. Slightly arched back. Powerful muscles.
Tail:Long, carried high, and well-furnished like that of a fox.
Coat:Semilong, dense, very fine, and soft hair. Short on the face, front of the legs, and shoulders; semilong on the back, flanks, chest, and belly. It is long on the throat (ruff), behind the thighs (britches), and tail (plume). The undercoat is not long as in the Persian.Color: Ticked coat, that is, the presence on each hair of alternating bands of dark and light coloration. At least two or three bands, up to eight banks. The tip of the hair must have a dark band. Let us mention several varieties:- ruddy (“usual” in Great Britain): black bands and apricot bands- blue: slate blue bands and cream bands- red (or sorrel): chocolate bands and apricot bands- fawn beige: dark cream bands and dull beige bands- black silver: black bands and white bands- sorrel silver: chocolate bands and white bands- blue silver: blue bands and white bandsThe C.F.A. accepts the ruddy, red, blue, and fawn. A greater number of colors is accepted in Europe.