What Is the Rarest Somali Cat Color? See All 6 Ranked

Quick Take

• Somali cats can display up to 28 biological color variations, yet only a small handful are actually considered breed standards. The reason some colors get left out is more complicated than you'd think. See the most common color →
• The rarest recognized Somali color is technically a dilution of another color on this list, and its actual appearance surprises most people who hear its name. See the rarest Somali color →
• Two of these six colors are recognized by one major cat association but completely rejected by the other, a split that changes how rare those cats really are. See the association split →
• One color on this list is so common it earned a nickname that has nothing to do with color, and it still surprises new owners who think they have something special. Meet the nicknamed color →

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. The name “Somali” was not chosen because the breed originated in Somalia, but because Somalia borders Ethiopia, the native land of the Abyssinian. While Somali cats look similar to Abyssinians, they have distinct differences, like the various lengths and colors of their coats. These cats may have up to 28 biological color variations, but only 6 colors are breed standards, with four recognized by The Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) and an additional two recognized by The International Cat Association (TICA). Here is our ranking for ruddy, cinnamon, blue, fawn, chocolate, and lilac coat colors from the most common to the rarest.

6. Ruddy

Ruddy is the most common Somali cat color. In fact, it is so common that its nickname is the “usual” pattern. The base color of a ruddy Somali is burnt sienna, with dark brown to black ticking that is darkest on the tips. Their tails are also tipped in black. They have reddish noses and dark brown or black paw pads, with black between their toes.

5. Fawn

Fawn Somali cats have a base color that is a warm, rosy beige shade with light brown ticking. The darkest cocoa brown shades will be on the tips. Their tails are also tipped in a light cocoa shade. Their noses should be a salmon color. CFA breed standards note that their paw pads should be pink with a light cocoa shade in between their toes.

4. Blue

CFA breed standards indicate that the base color of a blue Somali is a warm beige shade. They have slate blue ticking with the outer tips being the darkest. Their tails will also have slate blue tips. Blue Somalis have noses of an old rose color, which is a muted dusty pink. Their paw pads are mauve with slate blue coloring between their toes.

3. Cinnamon

Cinnamon Somalis are also sometimes referred to as “sorrel” or “red.” According to the CFA breed standards, the base color is a warm red ticked with chocolate-brown. Their tails also have chocolate-brown ticking. Cinnamon colored Somalis have rosy pink noses. Their paw pads should also be pink, with chocolate-brown between their toes.

2. Chocolate

Chocolate is one of the rarest Somali cat colors. This color is not recognized by the CFA, but TICA recognizes it as a breed standard color. These cats typically have an apricot base color ticked with a dark chocolate brown, giving them an overall warm chestnut brown shade. They have brownish-pink noses with chocolate brown or pinkish-chocolate paw pads with dark chocolate in between their toes.

1. Lilac

The lilac Somali is the rarest breed standard color recognized by TICA. The color is not recognized by the CFA. Their base coat is oatmeal or mushroom colored ticked with lilac, which is a pale, warm taupe-grey with hints of lavendar that is the dilution of chocolate. These cats are an overall warm dove grey shade. Their noses and paw pads are a mauve-pink with lilac in between their toes.