A Somali is a semi-longhaired athlete with three maintenance lines: a coat that needs one comb a week, gums that start to fail early, and kidneys that merit monitoring from middle age. The coat is the easy part and the one owners overwork; the mouth and the kidneys are where the breed actually loses years.
Adults run 2.5-4.5 kg. Everything on this calendar is sized for a cat that is lean, busy and slightly dramatic about being handled.
Weight and the daily calorie target
Feed 170-210 kcal a day for an active 3-4 kg adult, split into two measured meals. Treats stay under 10% of that, about 15-20 kcal. Free-feeding an Abyssinian-family cat is how a lean breed becomes a 5.5 kg one with sore joints by nine.
Weigh monthly. Kittens gain 10-15 g a day for the first three weeks and reach 700 g to 900 g at 8 weeks, 1.5-1.9 kg at 4 months, 2.2-2.8 kg at 8 months. A 5% loss in a month, or a 200 g gain after maturity, is a visit rather than a diet tweak.
The coat: one comb, two windows, three zones
A single weekly pass with a steel comb handles most of the year. In the spring shed (March to May) and the lighter autumn one (September to October), go to two or three sessions a week, because that is when the undercoat loosens and a missed fortnight becomes a mat behind the elbow.
Check three zones every time: behind the ears, the armpits, and the britches. The rest of the coat rarely tangles. No routine bathing — a bath every 8-12 weeks at most, and only when the cat is genuinely dirty. Too much shampooing dulls the ticked coat and dries the skin. If the cat objects to combing, short sessions with food work better than restraint.
Gums: the family trait that starts at 2
Gum inflammation is a family weakness here and often shows up before the third birthday. Brush three times a week from 4 months, using a soft brush and enzymatic paste, and book a professional check every 12 months from age 2 rather than age 5.
Watch for three things between visits: chewing on one side, a line of red at the gum margin, and dropping hard food. Bad breath is the last sign, not the first. Cats with early gum disease often need a scaling at 3-4, and starting then is what keeps the extractions to the back molars later. See dental staging for what each grade means.
Screening: PK, rdAc and kidneys
PK deficiency is an anaemia passed down through a PKLR mutation, and a swab test exists — ask for both parents' results and test the cat once. Carriers are usually unaffected but should not be bred; an affected cat tires early and may need monitoring rather than treatment.
Progressive retinal degeneration in this family is linked to the rdAc mutation shared with the Abyssinian. One DNA swab gives the genotype; an affected cat should have a dilated exam yearly from age 3, because vision loss develops in adulthood and owners notice the furniture collisions late.
Renal amyloidosis occurs at higher rates in this family, so from age 5 request an annual chemistry panel with SDMA and a urine protein-to-creatinine ratio. Kidney changes in this breed are quiet: a rising SDMA with normal creatinine is the pattern to catch, and it is only visible if you test every year.
Exercise: vertical first, then toys
Two sessions of 10-15 minutes of hunting-style play a day, plus a floor-to-ceiling climbing tree and a window perch. Without vertical space the energy turns into shelf-clearing and 3 a.m. racing, which owners read as misbehavior rather than under-stimulation.
Rotate five or six toys weekly and feed one meal from a puzzle feeder. At least one high perch per cat; a balcony needs netting, because this breed can clear a railing without effort. Enrichment is cheaper than replacing the curtains.
Nails, ears and the handling habit
Trim claws every two weeks from 12 weeks of age, pairing each session with a treat so the cat is not wrestled at 6. Check ears weekly: a semi-long coat traps warmth and wax, and the ear leather is large. Wipe the visible folds with a dry pad, never a swab in the canal.
Brush teeth after the nail session, on the same towel, so handling becomes one predictable routine. A Somali that learns three handling events — comb, claws, teeth — before 6 months is a cat you can examine at 12 without a sedative.
When to call the vet
Gums that bleed when brushed, a tooth that has visibly moved, or food dropped after one bite. Any weight loss above 5% in a month. Drinking over 100 ml per kg a day, or a cat that starts drinking at night. Sleeping respiratory rate above 30 a minute. Pale gums with lethargy, which in this breed warrants a PCV check the same day given the PK mutation.
The year at a glance
| Period | Coat | Health | Home |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan-Feb | Weekly comb; three zones | Monthly weigh-in; book exam | Dry air: humidifier on |
| Mar-May | Spring shed: 2-3x weekly | Dental check; annual panel | Screened windows open |
| Jun-Aug | Weekly comb; check for burrs | Water intake watch | Balcony netted before use |
| Sep-Oct | Autumn shed: 2-3x weekly | Eye exam if rdAc-affected | New perches; toy rotation |
| Nov-Dec | Weekly comb; skin flake check | Yearly panel from age 5 | Warm bed; draft-free perch |
Six mistakes that shorten a Somali's life
- Waiting for bad breath before the first dental check.
- Combing the back only and finding mats under the elbows in May.
- Bathing monthly to "keep the coat clean" and dulling the ticking.
- Free-feeding a cat that needs 170-210 kcal a day.
- Skipping the yearly panel because the cat looks lean and lively.
- Leaving a balcony open without netting at 1.2 m.
Start here this month
- Comb the three zones tonight and time how long it takes.
- Book the dental check if the cat is over 2 and never had one.
- Order the PK and rdAc DNA swabs in one go.
- Add the SDMA panel to the next visit if the cat is 5 or older.
Frequently asked
Does a Somali need daily brushing?
No. One comb a week with a stainless steel comb covers most of the year, because the semi-long coat has little undercoat. During the spring shed from March to May, and again lightly in September and October, go to two or three sessions a week. Focus on behind the ears, the armpits and the britches, which are the only zones that mat.
What health tests should a Somali have?
A PK deficiency DNA test and an rdAc DNA test, both once, ideally with the parents' results on file. From age 5, an annual chemistry panel with SDMA and a urine protein-to-creatinine ratio for amyloidosis risk, plus a dental check every 12 months from age 2 and a dilated eye exam yearly if the cat carries rdAc.
How much should I feed a 3.5 kg Somali?
About 170-210 kcal a day, split into two measured meals, with treats kept under 10% of that. Weigh monthly and adjust by 10% at a time. This family stays lean on the right intake and gains fast on free-feeding, and the extra weight shows up as joint and dental problems rather than an obviously fat cat.