SOMALI Photo Pending
The Somali is perhaps also known as a longhaired Abyssinian, although over time, they have changed a bit and now these breeds no longer look like exact counterparts. This is an energetic breed with a bushy tail and has sometimes been called a "fox cat". Its dense, soft coat is ticked in much the same as the coat associated with wild cats.
Somalis are extroverts, active, inquisitive, very affectionate and people-oriented. They are sometimes stubborn and obedience is won with love and praise better than with punishment.
Somalis are fine apartment cats as long as they have the run of the place. They do not like being caged or closely confined to a single room for long periods of time.
They are commonly available in blue, fawn, red (sorrel), and ruddy colors. They are also available in silver tones in Europe, although many associations do not accept this color. They are accepted outside the United States in other colors in some other associations, including chocolate and lilac.
The Somali shares the distinction, as with the Birman, of being a challenging breed of cat to breed for show. This is because there are key features of the breed -- intense undercoat color and clarity (lack of stripes on the neck and legs) -- that tend to interfere with one another. The longer hair length also makes undesirable marks show up more than they do on their parent breed, the Abyssinian.
Where you can find one: