Somali
Overview
The Somali is a cat breed of cobby build with a long coat. It traces back to United States, Canada. It originated as a mutation. Its coat usually shows ticked tabby patterning. Cats commonly live 12–18 years, so this is a long-term commitment.
Is the Somali right for you?
A good match if — you want an independent companion that settles into most homes; you want a cat that enjoys being handled and held; you're a first-time cat owner.
Think twice if — you have no time for the grooming this coat needs.
What a Somali needs from you
A Somali needs a moderate amount of space, daily feeding and litter care, and fairly demanding upkeep. That longer coat needs frequent brushing to keep it free of mats. On closeness, this breed is happy to be handled.
A note on this profile
Measured per-breed temperament scores for cats are still being added. The fit notes above are based on coat, build, origin, development and general care needs — not yet on a tested personality profile.
Key facts
- Origin
- United States, Canada
- Development
- Mutation
- Wild hybrid
- false
- Body type
- Cobby
- Coat
- Long
- Pattern
- Ticked tabby
What it needs from you (at a glance)
| Space needed | |
| Experience needed | |
| Maintenance | |
| Time per day | no data yet |
| Need for company | |
| Handling / closeness | |
| Cost level |
What it costs
Scaled to this breed’s roughly 5 kg and a ~15-year life, keeping a Somali works out at about:
Rough cross-breed averages in USD — a planning guide, not a quote. Break it down by life phase in the Cost Calculator →