Somali vs Asian Semi-Longhair - Breed Comparison | PetzLover

Similar to the Asian Shorthair, the Asian Semi-Longhair with its semi-long fur was developed in the UK in the 1980s and isn’t recognized by any U.S. registries.

It is believed that the cat breed goes back to matings between the Chinchilla and Burmilla cats. This cat may not be recognized by any of the U.S. registries but it has recognition in the GCCF.

The 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.

This beautiful cat is medium to large in size and can weigh up to 6 or 7kg. The body is compact, the face and eyes round with a slightly blunt snout. The ears are fairly small and pointed.

The luxurious silky coat comes in different colors and patterns such as black, brown, chocolate, blue and lilac, which happen to be the five main colors of this beautiful cat with his shiny green eyes.

Temperament:

The Asia Semi-Longhair is a gentle cat but curious and active. These are cats that become attached to their human owers and don’t like to share their humans with other cats.

They’re very talkative and they are therefore not the best breed to keep in an apartment. It’s also a cat that doesn’t like to be left on its own for long periods of time and will make a friend of children and other pets such as dogs if it means some companionship.

The 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.

The Asian Semi-longhair is such a sociable, friendly cat and he loves his human family so much that he can’t bear to be separated from them. It is often referred to as being a dependent cat, as it absolutely hates being alone and does not want to be separated from the people he loves.

It’s not the type of cat to get if you work long hours and there is nobody else at home. It's the kind of cat that also gets on well with kids and dogs.

He is such a playful cat that even a yarn of wool will keep him amused for ages and he loves toys. For so much friendship coming from your feline friend, he deserves plenty of love and attention - after all, he is prepared to give you that.

The 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.

The Asian Semi-longhair is a robust cat, not prone to lots of health issues and he can reach up to 15 years of age.

It doesn’t have any particular breed-specific diseases, but as with any cat, you want to be looking out for heart and periodontal diseases.

Also, hypokalaemic polymyopathy is a condition that results in muscle weakness and pain in your cat. The cause is low potassium and your pet's entire body can have muscle weakness.

Some other symptoms include being stiff, slow walking and an actual reluctance to walk. Some of the common causes of this illness include chronic kidney disease and poor diet.

Although 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.

Your Asian Semi-Longhair will require regular deworming.

Keep your cat’s vaccines up to date.

The Asian Semi-longhair has moderate to long hair, and it’s a cat that sheds quite a bit so use a soft brush to brush the coat gently twice a week.

Have your cat spayed or neutered as this can prevent unwanted kittens. Not only this, doing this for your cat can be beneficial for your cat and bring out better characteristics in them. They no longer want to roam and mark territory. In the female cat it's the removal of the cat’s ovaries and uterus, and with the male cat, neutering is the removal of the cat’s testicles.

After this op, your vet will explain to you how to look after your recovering pet.

Cats 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.