The Somali first originated in the nineteen sixties when a breeder in Canada saw a longhaired Abyssinian and fell in love with its look. The breeder decided to breed the longhaired kitten back to an Abyssinian which resulted in kittens that closely resembled the Abyssinian, but with a beautiful longhaired coat.

With the creation of these wonderful new cats, it is no surprise that their popularity soared quite quickly. This rapid interest soon spread to the United States as well as Europe. The Somali is also known in the cat fancier’s realm as the Longhaired Abyssinian as this is the only breed used to create the Somali.

Appearance
The physical characteristics of a Somali include a wedge shaped head, large ears, enormous expressive eyes, a long, plush tail and a well toned, muscular body. One of the most fascinating characteristics these cats display is their unique facial markings around the eyes.

The Somali’s eyes appear to be outlined in a dark kohl color, while the outside of this dark color is shaded in a light colored fur. Many cat fanciers have commented that these elegant cats look as if they are wearing stage makeup with a pair of eye glasses. These lovely cats come in Ruddy, Chocolate, Sorrel, Red, Blue, Lilac, Fawn and cream colors, with Tabby, Tortoiseshell tabby, or Silver Tabby patterns also being available.

Health Problems and Grooming
A regular grooming regiment is essential for keeping the Somali’s hair looking plush and beautiful. A routine of brushing and combing about once or twice a week should be sufficient for removing loose hair, debris and dander. It is important to note that owners must pay particular close attention to the ruff of hair around the neck and the tail, as these areas of hair are longer than the rest of the coat and can become tangled and gnarled rather quickly.

A well groomed cat is a happy cat. A regular grooming regiment also helps to assist in preventing the onset of hairballs. The Somali is a very healthy breed with exception of a few instances of hairballs. Upon your visit with a veterinarian for your cats physical and vaccinations, consult with him about which brand of specially formulated hairball preventative food is best for you and your cat.

Behavior and Characteristics
Just as its descendants the Abyssinian, the Somali is a very playful and loving cat. This makes this breed perfect for family homes as well as homes with multiple cats. Since these cats are so playful, they need a wide variety of toys to stimulate them.

However, these clever cats have the ability to make any old thing an amusing toy. Paper bags, old boxes, string and feathers are all great toys to keep your cat happy without emptying your wallet. The Somali is a very social breed and is happy to play with its owners or just snuggle up in your lap for a relaxing evening in front of the television.

If your career demands that you spend long hours away from home, you may want to consider an alternative breed that is more self-contained. However, if your heart is set on owning one of these cute Somali’s, you should definitely consider adding another kitten to the home to keep your Somali from becoming sad and lonely.

In addition to these already endearing qualities, the Somali is a very highly intelligent breed of cat. This breed can be taught many tricks including fetch, coming when his name is called and walking on a leash.

Anyone who wants a cat with a unique and distinctive look, combined with a loving and playful personality, is certainly going to want to take a look at the beautiful and wonderful Somali.

The Scottish Fold originated in the nineteen sixties when a Scottish Farmer saw a kitten whose ears displayed an unusual pattern of folding down and forward to rest on the kittens head. Liking this unique look, the farmer bred the kitten to a British Shorthair, thus creating the teddy bear resembling Scottish Fold.

Appearance

The Scottish Fold is available in many different varieties of colors; however, cats that do not display the specific standard markings are not allowed to be shown in the Cat Fancier’s Association show ring. This beautiful and elegant breed is a shorthair breed, as it has been out crossed with the British Shorthair and the American Shorthair in order to make a healthier and sturdier breed of cat.

However, on occasion, there will appear a longhair version. The shorthaired Scottish Fold’s coat is a thick coat, while the longhair version has a medium length coat that sticks out away from its body and its tail is much bushier. Typically, a cats coat will lay flat against the skin; this unique quality of the longhaired Scottish Fold just gives it a more charming appeal.

Grooming

The grooming regiment for a shorthaired Scottish Fold is quite simple as their hair does not require an extensive grooming regiment. The longhair will however need to be brushed or combed once a week in order to prevent tangles, gnarls and matts. This is especially true in the cold winter months as the longhaired Scottish Fold’s hair becomes quite thicker.

Behavior and Characteristics

Anyone having a career that keeps them away from home for long hours at a time will definitely want to take a look at the Scottish Fold. The Scottish Fold's appearance reflects that of a cuddly, affectionate cat, however, this breed’s personality is actually a more reserved and self-contained one.

Health Problems

Although this breed is recognized by the Cat Fancier’s Association as a Championship Class member, British associations refuse to recognize this breed. Heredity ailments concerning the bones and joints are common in this breed and leave the cat crippled or deformed by the time they are six months of age.

It is imperative that you consider a few signs of this health problem before you purchase your Scottish Fold. One symptom in particular, detailing this bone deformity is an inflexible tail. By simply feeling the tail and comparing its thickness to that of the other kittens while at the same time gently trying to bend the tail is the best way to discover this possible problem. Never, force a kitten’s tail to bend; if it shows no signs of flexibility, it is more than likely an unwilling recipient of this genetic disorder.

Anyone lucky enough to find a kitten without this disorder is going to have a beautiful cat. The physical characteristics of this breed include a round shaped head with a face that resembles the cuddly appearance of a teddy bear, large round eyes, a powerful body and a tail that gracefully tapers at the tip. While the folded ears of a Scottish Fold are endearing, this gene is not dominant, so kittens with straight ears are also common.

Anyone looking for a self-contained, unassuming cat that has the appearance of a cute and cuddly teddy bear will certainly want to take a closer look at the Scottish Fold.