Somali vs British Longhair - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

Somali vs British Longhair - Breed ComparisonBritish Longhair is originated from United Kingdom but Somali is originated from United States. Both British Longhair and Somali are having almost same weight. Both British Longhair and Somali has almost same life span. Both British Longhair and Somali has same litter size. Both British Longhair and Somali requires Moderate Maintenance.

Basic Information

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United Kingdom
United States
Weight Male:
4 - 8 kg
8 - 18 pounds
3 - 6 kg
6 - 14 pounds
Weight Female:
4 - 8 kg
8 - 18 pounds
3 - 6 kg
6 - 14 pounds
Life Span:
15 - 17 Years
10 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
2 - 6
2 - 6
Other Names:
None
None
Colors Available:
Solid or in a variety of different colors and patterns
Coat of many colors - mostly brownish color with black ticking.
Coat:
Semi long hair - silky
Medoum length, soft and silky
Shedding:
Moderate, Seasonal
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Sweet, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate Maintenance
Moderate Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

british longhairThe British Longhair cat hails from Great Britain. The cat is a longer-haired variety of the British Shorthair.

These British Shorthairs were interbred with imported long-haired varieties with the idea being to bring about a cat that was more compact and stout and with a rounder face. Today the British Longhair is an established longhair breed in its own right.

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.

Description

british longhair kitten - descriptionThe beautiful British Longhair cat is a medium-sized feline, leaning towards being a large cat with semi-long hair.

The cat, whether males or females can weigh between 4 and 8kg. It is robust and muscular with round paws and legs of medium length. The ears are smallish and round at the tips.

The color of the eyes can be different - browns, greens, blue, and grey. The colors of the coat can be blue, white, black, grey, calico, tabby, bi-color and tortoiseshell. The coat can be a solid color or it can be in different patterns. The fur is always medium length and silky with an undercoat.

Temperament:

The British Longhair has much the same personality as the British Shorthair – being calm, amicable cats who appreciate their human owners.

They’re adaptable cats too and are willing to get along with any other pets in the home as well. They’re playful and affectionate with their owners but don’t particularly like being held for too long.

Even though this is a docile cate, it is intelligent and will require mental stimulation. You’ll need to invest in a few ‘intelligent’ type of toys to keep your cat physically and mentally active. Take a look at the kinds of games where your cat will be required to ‘hunt’ for his food.

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.

Characteristics

british longhair cat - characteristicsThe British Longhair makes an awesome pet and can live happily with children, other dogs, and cats and all of his human family.

He isn’t a cat that wants to be picked up too often – he is independent but is willing and loving towards his humans.

For the friendship he offers, you’ll want to reward him for the joy he brings by providing well for him.

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.

Health Problems

british longhair kittens - health problemsThese beautiful cats can be prone to obesity if kept as an indoor cat only and a cat that doesn't get enough exercise.

Obesity, an accumulation of excess body weight, is a preventable disease. It is necessary to prevent this obesity as it can reduce your pet’s life expectancy. Fat tissue is active, secreting inflammatory hormones and creating oxidative stress on the body’s tissue, and this is precisely what contributes to so many diseases.

The British Longhair cat can also be prone to renal polycystosis. This disease is where many pockets of fluid or cysts form in the kidney and if they grow large over time they can actually interfere with kidney function and this can bring on kidney failure.

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.

Caring The Pet

british longhair cats - caringBecause of the long hair, the British Longhair is going to require brushing as the coat can easily become matted, particularly as the coat thickens in preparation for winter.

You’ll need to brush the hair once a week, but perhaps more in peak shedding times. A gentle but firm brushing keeps the cat’s fur and skin in good condition.

Have your pet spayed and neutered to avoid unwanted kittens.

Take your pet to the vet as soon as he is unwell. He is part of your family now and must be treated as such.

Provide your pet with human companionship especially if you buy one of the more social cats.

If your cat is an indoor pet, provide him with a litter box ad be prepared to clean it every day.

Provide a clean, dry, comfortable bed in a quiet area.

Provide your cat with stimulating toys.

Vaccinate your cat against the major feline diseases. Also, have your cat dewormed.

Diet:

In terms of nutritional requirements, make sure that your British Longhair gets the very best cat food there is, whether you provide him with homemade food or you give him some of the excellent commercially manufactured cat foods there are.

There are wet- and dry foods and it's for your furry friend to decide which one he prefers.

Learn to read labels and make sure your cat is getting foods high in protein, after all, your cat is a carnivore.

Be sure that the food has lots of vitamins and minerals for his health. A cat also needs a constant supply of fresh, cool water.

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.

Comparison with other breeds

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