Somali Cat Colors: Rarest to Most Common

The Somali cat closely resembles a wild cat with its bushy tail, tall, pointed ears, and expressive eyes. These cats were bred from a recessive gene found in Abyssinians. However, researchers believe they originated in Somalia, while Abyssinians are native to Ethiopia. While Somali cats look similar to Abyssinians, they have distinct differences, like the various lengths and colors of their coats. These cats come in 28 color variations. However, not all are accepted by organizations that register this breed. Below is a list of 9 official Somali cat colors from rarest to most common.

1.     Lilac

These gorgeous and rare Somalis look very similar to the blue Somalis, except they have a purple tint. Furthermore, the base of their coat is darker but still closely resembles oatmeal.

2.     Chocolate

Chocolate is one of the rarest Somali cat colors. They typically have dark brown shades on their backs, transitioning to a light apricot base on the belly. Additionally, they have darker fur on their legs and tails.

3.     Cream

These cats have a rich glow because of their white base coats. However, they have shades of apricot on top of the base coat, giving them a creamy appearance.

4.     Red

This coat color is a darker variation of the sorrel coat. Red Somalis have a soft red base coat covered with deep red fur. Furthermore, they have bright pink noses that really stand out against the red.

5.     Tortie

A tortie, or tortoiseshell cat, has a mix of two or three colors, but none can be white. There is no distinct pattern, and these colors can occur randomly over their bodies. However, a chimera tortie has the colors split evenly across their bodies. There are actually multiple types of tortoiseshells, like the ruddy tortie, sorrel tortie, chocolate tortie, blue tortie, lilac tortie, and fawn tortie.

6.     Blue

Blue is one of the more common Somali cat colors, but many people think they are gray, as they have a dark tint to them. However, if you examine the individual hairs, you understand why they are called blue Somalis. Furthermore, their base coat is typically a lighter shade of oatmeal.

7.     Fawn

Fawn Somali cats are basically blonde cats. For example, their base coat is sandy and extends to their legs and belly, but the top portion is darker, usually a deep beige color. But, the best-identifying feature is their pink nose, which stands out against their fawn fur.

8.     Sorrel

Sorrel Somali cats look like foxes because they have reddish-orange fur. It’s hard to miss them because of their incredibly bright coats, which usually have patches of white around the chest, neck, and face. Furthermore, like the fawn Somalis, their bright pink nose sticks out like a sore thumb against their cinnamon coats.

9.     Ruddy

Ruddy is the most common Somali cat color. In fact, it is so common its nickname is the “usual” pattern. Their coats have a golden brown ticked with black pattern. The black is more pronounced around the face and tail. Additionally, the fur along the spine is often darker.

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