Breed standard Somali

The official GCCF (Governing Council of the Cat Fancy) breedstandard for the Somali.

General Type Standard:

The Somali should be a beautifully balanced, semi-longhaired cat of medium build and foreign type. The head to be broad and curving to a firm wedge set on an elegant neck. The body to be firm, lithe and muscular of medium length, tail fairly long and tapering. The head, body, legs, feet and tail should be in proportion, giving a well-balanced appearance. The expression should be alert and smiling. The cat should be in excellent physical condition with good weight for size.

Head - A moderate wedge with brow, cheek and profile lines showing gentle contours. There should be a slight rise from the bridge of the nose to the forehead which should be high with good width between the ears. From the front, a shallow indentation should form the muzzle. In profile, a slight nose break is essential, a firm chin and an elegant neck.

Ears - Set wide apart but not low, broad at the base, proportionately large, pricked, well-cupped and tufted. Inner edge well furnished with long hair.

Eyes - Large, almond-shaped, set obliquely and well apart, expressive and bright. Accentuated by a dark surround encircled by lighter coloured "spectacles". Short dark "pencil" lines at either edge of the eye, the inner one vertical, the outer one pointing towards the ear. Colour: amber, hazel or green: the richer and deeper the better.

Body - Firm, lithe and muscular of medium size, foreign type with a level back.

Legs and Feet - Long legs. Feet oval with tufts between the toes.

Tail - Long, well furnished, broad at the base and tapering slightly with a full brush. Length to balance with the body.

Coat - Soft and fine, dense but lying flat along the spine. Medium long except over the shoulders where a shorter length is permitted. All other points being equal, preference should be given to the cat with a ruff and full breeches. Ruff and breeches may not be apparent in kittens.

Colour and Pattern - Ticking is the essence of the Somali coat. There should be at least three bands on every hair; i.e. six contrasting colour sections from base hair to tip. Ticking is slow to develop but should be apparent at least on the shoulders of all kittens. Ear tips and tufts, facial markings, top and tip of tail, toe tufts and heels are the same colour as the ticking. Darker shading along the spine and top of tail is desirable. Chest, belly, under tail, inside of legs and breeches are the colour of the unmarked base hair. Depth of colour in sex-linked colours may not be achieved in kittens or young cats as this develops with maturity.

Scale of points Somali:

Head	15	Color	10
Ears	10	Ticking	15
Eyes	10	Texture	5
Body	10	Length	10
Legs & Feet	5	In total	100
Tail	10

Withhold all Awards for:
1. White locket or white patches anywhere except around the chin, lips and nostrils.
2. Absence of ticking in adults
3. Unbroken necklace.

Withhold Certificates or First Prizes in Kitten Open Classes for:
1. Cobby or oriental type
2. Pinched muzzle
3. Straight profile or stop
4. Absence of facial markings
5. Incorrectly coloured heels. (Heel colour in silvers) may not extend to the hock)
6. Severe barring on legs, body or tail
7. Any defect as listed in the preface to this SOP booklet

Colours

USUAL (63) Overall impression - rich golden brown made up of an apricot base coat ticked with black. Ear tips and tufts, facial markings, top and tip of tail, toe tufts and heels - black. Chest, belly, under tail, inside of legs and breeches - rich apricot-colour should be rich as possible. Nose Leather - Tile red. Paw pads - Black or brown. Withhold Certificates or First Prizes in Kitten Open Classes for: 1. Cold, pale tone to the coat 2. Grey roots extending over a large area of the body. (Seasonal grey roots during change of coat in kittens and young adults should not be penalised.) 3. All other withholding faults as in the Somali General type Standard.		SORREL (63a) Overall impression - a rich copper colour made up of an apricot base coat ticked with cinnamon. Ear tips and tufts, facial markings, top and tip of tail, toe tufts and heels - cinnamon. Chest, belly, under tail, inside of legs and breeches - Rich apricot. Nose leather and Paw pads - pink. Withhold Certificates or First Prizes in Kitten Open Classes for: 1. Absence of contrast between the undercoat and ticking. 2. All other withholding faults as in the Somali General type Standard.

FAWN (63e) Overall impression - A warm powdery fawn made up of a pale oatmeal or mushroom undercoat ticked with fawn. Ear tips and tufts, facial markings, top and tip of tail, toe tufts and heels - Fawn. Chest, belly, under tail, inside of legs and breeches - Pale mushroom. Nose leather - Pink Paw pads - Mauvish pink Withhold Certificates or First Prizes in Kitten Open Classes for: 1. Absence of contrast sufficient to obscure ticking. 2. All other withholding faults as in the Somali General type Standard.		CHOCOLATE (63b) (Provisional) Overall impression - a vivid coppery brown made up of an apricot base coat ticked with dark chocolate. Ear tips and tufts, facial markings, top and tip of tail, toe tufts and heels - Dark chocolate. Chest, belly, under tail, inside of legs and breeches - Rich apricot. Nose leather - Pinkish chocolate. Paw pads - Chocolate. Withhold Certificates or First Prizes in Kitten Open Classes for: 1. Absence of contrast sufficient to obscure ticking. 2. All other withholding faults as in the Somali General type Standard.

BLUE (63c) (Provisional) Overall impression - A soft blue consisting of a warm oatmeal or mushroom base coat ticked with any shade of blue. Ear tips and tufts, facial markings, top and tip of tail, toe tufts and heels - Blue Chest, belly, under tail, inside of legs and breeches - Warm mushroom. Nose leather and Paw pads - Mauvish blue. Withhold Certificates or First Prizes in Kitten Open Classes for: 1. White undercoat anywhere on the body: this is particularly obvious on the back. 2. All other withholding faults as in the Somali General type Standard.		LILAC (63d) (Provisional) Overall impression - A warm dove grey made up of an oatmeal or mushroom undercoat ticked with lilac. Ear tips and tufts, facial markings, top and tip of tail, toe tufts and heels - Lilac Chest, belly, under tail, inside of legs and breeches - Mush room. Nose leather and Paw pads - Mauvish pink. Withhold Certificates or First Prizes in Kitten Open Classes for: 1. Absence of contrast sufficient to obscure ticking. 2. All other withholding faults as in the Somali General type Standard.

RED (63f) (Preliminary) Ticking, ear tips and tufts, facial markings, top and tip of tail, toe tufts and heels - Bright red. Chest, belly, under tail, inside of legs and breeches - A paler shade of red. Nose leather and Paw Pads - Bright pink. Note: freckles may occur on nose, lips, eyelids, ears and paw pads. Slight freckling should not be penalised.		CREAM (63g) (Preliminary) Ticking, ear tips and tufts, facial markings, top and tip of tail, toe tufts and heels - Rich cream. Chest, belly, under tail, inside of legs and breeches - A paler shade of cream. Nose leather: creamy pink. Paw pads - Flesh pink. Note: freckles may occur on nose, lips, eyelids, ears and paw pads. Slight freckling should not be penalised.

TORTIE SOMALI Colour distribution is random and immaterial through a solid foot is not permissible. Ticking, ear tips and tufts, facial markings, top and tip of tail, toe tufts and heels to be a mingling of the standard ticking colour and that determined by the sex-linked gene. Chest, belly, under tail, inside of legs and breeches to be a mingling of the standard base coat colour and that determined by the sex-linked gene. Presence or absence of a blaze is immaterial.		Withhold Certificates or First Prizes in Kitten Open Classes for: 1. Solid foot 2. Absence of contrast sufficient to obscure ticking. 3. All other withholding faults as in the Somali General type Standard.

USUAL TORTIE (63t) (Preliminary) Ticking, ear tips and tufts, facial markings, top and tip of tail, toe tufts and heels - A mingling of black and bright red. Chest, belly, under tail, inside of legs and breeches - A mingling of apricot and red. Nose leather - Red and/or pink. Paw pads - Black and/or pink.		SORREL TORTIE (63at) (Preliminary) Ticking, ear tips and tufts, facial markings, top and tip of tail, toe tufts and heels - A mingling of cinnamon and bright red. Chest, belly, under tail, inside of legs and breeches - A mingling of apricot and red. Nose leather and paw pads - Red and/or pink.

CHOC. TORTIE (63bt) (Preliminary) Ticking, ear tips and tufts, facial markings, top and tip of tail, toe tufts and heels: a mingling of dark chocolate and bright red. Chest, belly, under tail, inside of legs and breeches: a mingling of apricot and red. Nose leather and paw pads: pinkish chocolate and/or pink.		BLUE TORTIE (63ct) (Preliminary) Ticking, ear tips and tufts, facial markings, top and tip of tail, toe tufts and heels - A mingling of blue and warm cream. Chest, belly, under tail, inside of legs and breeches - Pale cream. Nose leather and paw pads - Mauvish blue and/or pink.

LILAC TORTIE (63dt) (Preliminary) Ticking, ear tips and tufts, facial markings, top and tip of tail, toe tufts and heels - A mingling of lilac and cream. Chest, belly, under tail, inside of legs and breeches - Pale cream. Nose leather and paw pads - Mauvish pink and/or pink.		FAWN TORTIE (63et) (Preliminary) Ticking, ear tips and tufts, facial markings, top and tip of tail, toe tufts and heels - A mingling of warm fawn and cream. Chest, belly, under tail, inside of legs and breeches - Pale cream. Nose leather and paw pads - Mauvish pink and/or pink.


SILVER SOMALI The base hair of all this group should be silvery white giving an overall lustrous silvery sheen. Ticking. Ear tips and tufts facial markings, top and tip of tail, toe tufts and heels to be the same colour as in the appropriate non-silver variety. Chest, belly, under tail, inside of legs and breeches to be silvery white.		Withhold Certificates or First Prizes in Kitten Open Classes for: 1. Tarnishing over a substantial portion of the designated silver areas. (Minor patches of tarnishing are not to be considered a fault it the overall impression is of silver) 2. All other withholding faults as in the Somali General Type Standard.

USUAL SILVER (63s) (Provisional) Ticking, ear tips and tufts, facial markings, top and tip of tail, toe tufts and heels - Black. Chest, belly, under tail, inside of legs and breeches - Silvery white. Nose leather - Brick red. Paw pads - Black or brown.		SORREL SILVER (63as) (Provisional) Ticking, ear tips and tufts, facial markings, top and tip of tail, toe tufts and heels - Cinnamon. Chest, belly, under tail, inside of legs and breeches - Silvery white. Nose leather and paw pads - Pink.

CHOC. SILVER (63bs) (Provisional) Ticking, ear tips and tufts, facial markings, top and tip of tail, toe tufts and heels - Dark chocolate. Chest, belly, under tail, inside of legs and breeches - Silvery white. Nose leather and paw pads - Pinkish chocolate.		BLUE SILVER (63cs) (Provisional) Ticking, ear tips and tufts, facial markings, top and tip of tail, toe tufts and heels - Blue. Chest, belly, under tail, inside of legs and breeches - Silvery white. Note: The base coat MUST be silvery white. Nose leather and paw pads - Mauvish blue.

LILAC SILVER (63ds) (Provisional) Ticking, ear tips and tufts, facial markings, top and tip of tail, toe tufts and heels - Lilac. Chest, belly, under tail, inside of legs and breeches - Silvery white. Nose leather and paw pads - Mauvish pink.		FAWN SILVER (63es) (Provisional) Ticking, ear tips and tufts, facial markings, top and tip of tail, toe tufts and heels - Fawn. Chest, belly, under tail, inside of legs and breeches - Silvery white. Nose leather - Pink. Paw pads - Mauvish pink.

RED SILVER (63fs) (Provisional) Ticking, ear tips and tufts, facial markings, top and tip of tail, toe tufts and heels - Bed. Chest, belly, under tail, inside of legs and breeches - Silvery white. Nose leather and paw pads - Bright pink. Note: Freckles may occur on nose, lips, eyelids, ears and paw pads. Slight freckling should not be penalised.		CREAM SILVER (63gs) (Provisional) Ticking, ear tips and tufts, facial markings, top and tip of tail, toe tufts and heels - Rich cream. Chest, belly, under tail, inside of legs and breeches - Silvery white. Nose leather - Creamy pink. Paw pads - Flesh pink. Note: Freckles may occur on nose, lips, eyelids, ears and paw pads. Slight freckling should not be penalised.

TORTIE SILVER SOMALI As for the Silver Somali except that the silvery white base hair should have two colours of ticking: the standard colour and that expressing the sex-linked gene. The distribution of these two colours is immaterial but a solid foot is not permissible.		Withhold Certificates or First Prizes in Kitten Open Classes: - As for Silver Somali above.

USUAL TORTIE SILVER (63ts) (Provisional) Ticking, ear tips and tufts, facial markings, top and tip of tail, toe tufts and heels - A mingling of black and red. Chest, belly, under tail, inside of legs and breeches - Silvery white. Nose leather - Bed and/or pink. Paw pads - Black and/or pink.		SORREL TORTIE SILVER (63ats) (Provisional) Ticking, ear tips and tufts, facial markings, top and tip of tail, toe tufts and heels - A mingling of cinnamon and red. Chest, belly, under tail, inside of legs and breeches - Silvery white. Nose leather and paw pads - Bed and/or pink.

CHOC. TORTIE SILVER (63bts) (Provisional) Ticking, ear tips and tufts, facial markings, top and tip of tail, toe tufts and heels - A mingling of dark chocolate and red. Chest, belly, under tail, inside of legs and breeches - Silvery white. Nose leather and paw pads - Pinkish chocolate and/or pink.		BLUE TORT. SILVER (63cts) (Provisional) Ticking, ear tips and tufts, facial markings, top and tip of tail, toe tufts and heels - A mingling of blue and cream. Chest, belly, under tail, inside of legs and breeches - Silvery white. Nose leather and paw pads - Mauvish blue and/or pink.

LILAC TORTIE SILVER (63dts) (Provisional) Ticking, ear tips and tufts, facial markings, top and tip of tail, toe tufts and heels - A mingling of lilac and dark cream. Chest, belly, under tail, inside of legs and breeches - Silvery white. Nose leather and paw pads - Mauvish pink and/or pink.		FAWN TORTIE SILVER (63ets) (Provisional) Ticking, ear tips and tufts, facial markings, top and tip of tail, toe tufts and heels - A mingling of warm fawn and cream. Chest, belly, under tail, inside of legs and breeches - Silvery white. Nose leather and paw pads - Mauvish pink and/or pink.