Chapter
44: Somali
CFA Standard
POINT SCORE
HEAD (25)
Skull ........... 6
Muzzle .......... 6
Ears ............ 7
Eye shape ...... 6
BODY (25)
Torso ........... 10
Legs and feet ... 10
Tail ........... 5
COAT (20)
Texture ......... 10
Length .......... 10
COLOR (30)
Color ........... 10
Markings ........ 5
Ticking ......... 10
Eye color ....... 5
GENERAL: the overall impression of the Somali is that of a well proportioned medium to large cat, firm
muscular development, lithe, showing an alert, lively interest in all surroundings, with an even disposition and
easy to handle. The cat is to give the appearance of activity, sound health, and general vigor.
HEAD: a modified, slightly rounded wedge without flat planes; the brow, cheek, and profile lines all
showing a gentle contour. A slight rise from the bridge of the nose to the forehead, which should be of good
size with width between the ears flowing into the arched neck without a break.
MUZZLE: shall follow gentle contours in conformity with the skull, as viewed from the front profile. Chin
shall be full, neither undershot nor overshot, having a rounded appearance. The muzzle shall not be sharply
pointed and there shall be no evidence of snippiness, foxiness, or whisker pinch. Allowance to be made for
jowls in adult males.
EARS: large, alert, moderately pointed, broad, and cupped at the base. Ear set on a line towards the rear
of the skull. The inner ear shall have horizontal tufts that reach nearly to the other side of the ear; tufts
desirable.
EYES: almond shaped, large, brilliant, and expressive. Skull aperture neither round nor oriental. Eyes
accented by dark lid skin encircled by light colored area. Above each a short dark vertical pencil stroke
with a dark pencil line continuing from the upper lid towards the ear.
BODY: torso medium long, lithe, and graceful, showing well-developed muscular strength. Rib cage is
rounded; back is slightly arched giving the appearance of a cat about to spring; flank level with no tuck up.
Conformation strikes a medium between the extremes of cobby and svelte lengthy types.
LEGS and FEET: legs in proportion to torso; feet oval and compact. When standing, the Somali gives the
impression of being nimble and quick. Toes: five in front and four in back.
TAIL: having a full brush, thick at the base, and slightly tapering. Length in balance with torso.
COAT: texture very soft to the touch, extremely fine and double coated. The more dense the coat, the
better. Length: a medium length coat, except over shoulders, where a slightly shorter length is permitted.
Preference is to be given to a cat with ruff and breeches, giving a full-coated appearance to the cat.
PENALIZE: color faults D cold grey or sandy tone to coat color; mottling or speckling on unticked areas.
Pattern faults D necklaces, leg bars, tabby stripes, or bars on body; lack of desired markings on head and
tail. Black roots on body.
DISQUALIFY: white locket or groin spot or white anywhere on body other than on the upper throat,
chin, or nostril area. Any skeletal abnormality. Wrong color paw pads or nose leather. Any other colors
than the four accepted colors. Unbroken necklace. Incorrect number of toes. Kinks in tail.
SOMALI COLORS
COAT COLOR: warm and glowing. Ticking: distinct and even, with dark colored bands contrasting
with lighter colored bands on the hair shafts. Undercoat color clear and bright to the skin. Deeper color
shades desired, however, intensity of ticking not to be sacrificed for depth of color. Preference given to
cats UNMARKED on the undersides, chest, and legs; tail without rings. Markings: darker shading along
spine continuing through tip of tail; darker shading up the hocks, shading allowed at the point of the elbow;
dark lines extending from eyes and brows, cheekbone shading, dots and shading on whisker pads are
desirable enhancements, eyes accentuated by fine dark line, encircled by light colored area. Eye color:
gold or green, the more richness and depth of color the better.
RUDDY: ground color burnt-sienna, ticked with various shades of darker brown or black; the extreme
outer tip to be the darkest. Tail tipped with black. The underside and inside of legs to be a tint to harmonize
with the ground color. Nose leather: tile red. Paw pads: black or dark brown, with black between toes,
extending slightly beyond the paws.
RED: ground color rich, warm glowing red, ticked with chocolate-brown, the extreme outer tip to be
darkest. Tail tipped with chocolate-brown. The underside and inside of legs to be a tint to harmonize with
the ground color. Nose leather: rosy pink. Paw pads: pink, with chocolate-brown between toes,
extending slightly beyond the paws.
BLUE: ground color warm beige, ticked with slate blue, the extreme outer tip to be the darkest. Tail
tipped with slate blue. The underside and inside of legs to be a tint to harmonize with the ground color.
Nose leather: old rose. Paw pads: mauve, with slate blue between toes, extending slightly beyond the
paws.
FAWN: ground color warm rose-beige, ticked with light cocoa-brown, the extreme outer tip to be the
darkest. Tail tipped with light cocoa-brown. The underside and inside of legs to be a tint to harmonize with
the ground color. Nose leather: salmon. Paw Pads: pink with light cocoa-brown between the toes,
extending slightly beyond the paws.
(PLEASE NOTE: the Somali is extremely slow in showing mature ticking and allowances should be made
for kittens and young cats.)
The following information is for reference purposes only, and not an official part of the CFA
Show Standard.
SOMALI COLOR CLASS NUMBERS
Ruddy ......................... 1380 1381
Red ........................... 1382 1383
Blue .......................... 1384 1385
Fawn .......................... 1386 1387
AOV ........................... 1398 1399
* Somali allowable outcross breeds: Abyssinian. |
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