Tortoiseshell vs Somali - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

Tortoiseshell vs Somali - Breed ComparisonBoth Somali and Tortoiseshell are originated from United States. Both Somali and Tortoiseshell are having almost same weight. Somali may live 5 years less than Tortoiseshell. Both Somali and Tortoiseshell has same litter size. Both Somali and Tortoiseshell requires Moderate Maintenance.

Basic Information

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United States
United States
Weight Male:
3 - 6 kg
6 - 14 pounds
3 - 7 kg
6 - 16 pounds
Weight Female:
3 - 6 kg
6 - 14 pounds
3 - 7 kg
6 - 16 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 15 Years
10 - 20 Years
Litter Size:
2 - 6
2 - 6
Other Names:
None
Tortie
Colors Available:
Coat of many colors - mostly brownish color with black ticking.
black, fawn, tan and organge, Cream
Coat:
Medoum length, soft and silky
Short to long haired
Shedding:
Moderate
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Sweet, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate Maintenance
Moderate Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

somaliThe Somali is a medium- to longhaired Abyssinian. It was in Britain that the original introduction of the longhaired gene took place.

The first Somali cats came about in 1940 and it was British breeder Janet Robertson who exported some of her Abyssinian kittens to New Zealand, Australia and North America, Australia. Most of the kittens had long hair and breeders started showing an interest.

An American Abyssinian breeder Evelyn Mague decided to call her cats Somalis and the breed was recognized internationally by 1991.

tortoiseshellThe Tortoiseshell isn’t a cat breed but rather a coat coloring of cats. It just happens that most tortoiseshell cats are females.

Known as Torties, these cats always have a couple of colors such as red and black as well as some fawn.

Tortoiseshell cats with the tabby pattern are referred to as Torbie cats. Tortoiseshell markings appear in many different breeds.

Description

somali kitten - descriptionThe beautiful Somali is a medium-sized cat which means he weighs in the region of 3 to 6kg. He is muscular and lean with the ears being set wide apart.

The ears are also tufted. The eyes of the Somali are almond-shaped and are usually a brown shade or green in color. The legs are long and the paws are also somewhat tufted. The tail is well plumed.

The Somali's coat is lovely and soft, while being thick and lustrous. The adult cats have a ruff. The Somali's coat comes in a range of colors but the most regular color is a beautiful brownish color with black ticking.

Temperament:

The Somali is an intelligent cat that relies heavily on its human owners for company as well as love and care.

They’re fun-loving cats that get on well with children in the home and from other pets. They are active cats and will need exercise. They should have some high perches and cat trees available so they can jump and climb.

tortoiseshell kitten - descriptionTortoiseshell cats are your regular-sized cats. They can be medium-sized to large and weigh anything between 3 and 7kg.

They come in different colors and patterns. The colors are essentially cream, fawn, black, tan, and orange. Tortoiseshell markings appear in all the different cat breeds.

Because the tortoiseshell cat is a color and not a cat breed as such they can be different sizes and shapes.

Temperament:

Tortoiseshell cats aren't a specific breed, but there are people that believe that just the color of the coat is indicative of the personality – feisty and lively.

People who have owned these cats say they have a sassy temperament and can even be just a wee bit aggressive sometimes with their strong-willed attitude.

Characteristics

somali cat - characteristicsThe Somali is such a loving and affectionate cat, just loving to spend time with her human family.

Thanks to the cat’s good looks and lovely personality, this low-maintenance cat is a firm favourite when looking for a splendid pet and companion.

tortoiseshell cat - characteristicsYour Tortoiseshell is a beautiful cat and fondly referred to as a Tortie. It has a coat similar to the coloring of a tortoise, but the temperament of the cat will rely much on your own personality and the lifestyle you provide him with.

They are fairly vocal, but because this cat isn't a breed but rather a coat color, nobody can say precisely how it will turn out in personality.

One thing is sure, if you offer your Tortoiseshell lots of love and care, you can be sure of a wonderful feline friend.

Health Problems

somali kittens - health problemsAlthough the Somali cat breed is healthy, as with many other cat breeds, there are a few hereditary diseases found in the Abyssinian that may be linked to this breed too. Look out for eye problems with the cat as well as anaemia.

Progressive retinal atrophy

Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) is a degenerative disorder of the retina. This eye disease can either be inherited or acquired.

When a cat gets sick there are some antibiotics that have been associated with progressive retinal atrophy in cats. Cats can also develop vision loss if their diet is deficient.

You have to be very aware of your cat’s diet and ensure that he is getting all the right ingredients, one of which is amino acid taurine. If you can see that your cat is battling to see, you should get him immediately to the vet.even though there is no treatment for PRA. . The vet will explain to you how to make life more comfortable for your pet.

Anemia

Anemia isn’t a specific disease with your cat but rather the result of some other disease or condition. The most common sign that your cat has anemia is that you won’t find that normal pink color of the gums. Your cat will be listless and there may also be signs of blood loss such as blood in the feces or urine. Your vet will do several tests to diagnose the anemia.

tortoiseshell kittens - health problemsYour cat's health depends on good food. If your finances allow, choose a high-quality food. Check the label for the feeding guidelines.

Always remember that your cat's age - kittens, adults, and senior cats have different nutritional needs. Sick cats will require a different type of food. Watch your cat's weight because being overweight can bring on a host of illnesses such as diabetes.

A cat has to have access to fresh drinking water every day and night to remain healthy.

Ensuring your feline friend is exercised both mentally and physically is important for good health.

Speak to your vet about the vaccines your cat needs as well as flea prevention.

Caring The Pet

somali cats - caringCats can sometimes be finicky eaters and even the most delectable morsels might be ignored.

Every cat is unique but every cat is a carnivore – a meat eater – and requires a host of nutrients in their food to be healthy. Commercial cat foods aren’t all one and the same. You get different food for kittens, different foods for young adults, for pregnant cats, for energetic cats, and so on.

There is cat food for every season of a cat’s life. Other important considerations are feeding the right quantity of food to your cat.

Brush your Somali cat each week to keep the coat soft and silky.

Provide your cat with a litter box and empty out the feces every day.

Provide your cat with bowls, bed, scratching post, climbing tree, and toys.

Have your cat spayed or neutered to prevent kittens.

tortoiseshell cats - caringCats are known to be independent but they still need your care and attention. Before you take a Tortoiseshell into your home, prepare for his arrival.

Make sure you have food and drinking bowls ready, a comfortable bed, a stylish cat collar and tag of identification, cat accessories such as a brush, toys, and some top-quality cat food.

If you work all day, maybe it would be a good idea to get 2 cats as some cats can get very lonely during the day, and adding a companion can be an excellent solution for his loneliness.

Always be in touch with the vet if you see that your cat isn’t behaving in his usual way.

Your cat will need to be taken for check-ups and also all the necessary cat vaccinations required to ward off deadly cat illnesses.

Provide your cat with a litter box and make sure you remove the cat feces every day.

Provide your cat with toys. Choose them carefully to keep your cat happy and amused. Buy a scratching post too as all cats want to scratch and you want to save your furniture from your cat using it to scratch on.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Tortoiseshell vs Abyssinian - Breed Comparison
  2. Tortoiseshell vs Aegean - Breed Comparison
  3. Tortoiseshell vs African Serval - Breed Comparison
  4. Tortoiseshell vs Chausie - Breed Comparison
  5. Tortoiseshell vs American Bobtail - Breed Comparison
  6. Tortoiseshell vs American Curl - Breed Comparison
  7. Tortoiseshell vs American Keuda - Breed Comparison
  8. Tortoiseshell vs American Longhair - Breed Comparison
  9. Tortoiseshell vs American Polydactyl - Breed Comparison
  10. Tortoiseshell vs American Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  11. Tortoiseshell vs American Wirehair - Breed Comparison
  12. Tortoiseshell vs Applehead Siamese - Breed Comparison
  13. Tortoiseshell vs Ashera - Breed Comparison
  14. Tortoiseshell vs Asian - Breed Comparison
  15. Tortoiseshell vs Asian Semi-Longhair - Breed Comparison
  16. Tortoiseshell vs Australian Mist - Breed Comparison
  17. Tortoiseshell vs Balinese - Breed Comparison
  18. Tortoiseshell vs Bengal - Breed Comparison
  19. Tortoiseshell vs Bicolor - Breed Comparison
  20. Tortoiseshell vs Birman - Breed Comparison
  21. Tortoiseshell vs Blue Russian - Breed Comparison
  22. Tortoiseshell vs Bombay - Breed Comparison
  23. Tortoiseshell vs Brazilian Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  24. Tortoiseshell vs Bristol - Breed Comparison
  25. Tortoiseshell vs British Longhair - Breed Comparison
  26. Somali vs Abyssinian - Breed Comparison
  27. Somali vs Aegean - Breed Comparison
  28. Somali vs African Serval - Breed Comparison
  29. Somali vs Chausie - Breed Comparison
  30. Somali vs American Bobtail - Breed Comparison
  31. Somali vs American Curl - Breed Comparison
  32. Somali vs American Keuda - Breed Comparison
  33. Somali vs American Longhair - Breed Comparison
  34. Somali vs American Polydactyl - Breed Comparison
  35. Somali vs American Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  36. Somali vs American Wirehair - Breed Comparison
  37. Somali vs Applehead Siamese - Breed Comparison
  38. Somali vs Ashera - Breed Comparison
  39. Somali vs Asian - Breed Comparison
  40. Somali vs Asian Semi-Longhair - Breed Comparison
  41. Somali vs Australian Mist - Breed Comparison
  42. Somali vs Balinese - Breed Comparison
  43. Somali vs Bengal - Breed Comparison
  44. Somali vs Bicolor - Breed Comparison
  45. Somali vs Birman - Breed Comparison
  46. Somali vs Blue Russian - Breed Comparison
  47. Somali vs Bombay - Breed Comparison
  48. Somali vs Brazilian Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  49. Somali vs Bristol - Breed Comparison
  50. Somali vs British Longhair - Breed Comparison