Torby vs Somali - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

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.

The Torby is a rare cat and the name ‘Torbie’ is shortened for Tortoiseshell-tabby. They are known for their tri-colored coats. In fact, when a cat has tabby stripes along with Tortoiseshell markings, the results are Torbie. Tortoiseshell cats are almost exclusively female. Males do exist but they are rare. They’re also referred to as Torties with their coat resembling that of the shell of a tortoise. The colors represented are usually red, orange and black. Just like the Tabby cat, the Tortie cat is not actually a breed, but is rather referring to the coat pattern. Pure breed cats such as the Maine Coon can also have a Tortoiseshell pattern.

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.

There is a type of tortie cat that is called a torbie and it comes with tabby-like features. They are striking looking cats and can be medium to large size, weigh between 3 and 7kg and be muscular and athletic. Essentially when there are tabby stripes you get a Torbie. Some people call them patched tabbies because they are a tabby with Temperament: No two Tortoiseshell cats have the same personalities, and because they can be any breed of cat, they have a wide range of personality characteristics. They can be energetic, docile, curious, lazy, playful, shy, reserved, aloof, social, friendly, angry, calm, or something else. Not every Torbie cat will have the same characteristics, but most make the most awesome pets. It is true that a cat’s personality and behavior are formed a lot by the people who own it and the lifestyle they provide for it.

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.

Your torbie cat isn't going to turn out the same way as your friend's torbie cat. This is because torbie is just indicating the type of coat your cat has. Yes, they can be strong-willed, social and even angry sometimes, but they can also be quiet, sweet and content. Nothing is set in stone when it comes to a cat's personality. The type of personality you have and the lifestyle you provide your cat with can play a big part in how your Torby turns out. Give him lots of love and care and you'll be blessed with an awesome friend and pet.

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.

Torbie cats are such lovable felines and because they are describing the type of coat the coat has and not the breed, nobody can be sure how long these cats will live for. Some will only live to be 10 while others can reach 15 to 18 years of age. The diet and lifestyle you give your torbie can influence his health and longevity. Health issues in a torbie are certainly not connected to the color of the coat. No matter what cat breed you have, most of the common cat illnesses to watch for are issues that affect the kidneys, the eyes, the skin, and heart. Make sure you get your torbie vaccinated against some of the deadly cat diseases there are.

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.

It can be difficult to decide which food to go with for your feline friend as the cat food manufacturers have provided pet lovers with a generous selection. With a cat, it may be tempting to choose the cheapest option, but in the long run, it will just increase your vet bills. Diet plays a massive role in the health of your cat. The important thing to remember is that your cat is a carnivore and he will require meat as the biggest part of his diet. If in doubt, speak to your vet about the type of food to give your cat and how much. Ensure your cat has a constant supply of fresh, cool water. All cats are low-maintenance, and your Torby isn’t going to require much grooming. Make a habit of regular grooming, even if it is only once a week. Your Torby will also need his claws trimmed regularly. You can visit your vet or pet groomer to do this for you. Just like human parents prepare for the arrival of a new baby, you have to prepare for the arrival of a cat in the home, whether it comes to you as a kitten or an adult. Make a list of the essential cat accessories you will need. Buy some fun toys for your Torby, more so if you are bringing a kitten home. Cats need to be stimulated to steer away from boredom. Essentially your Torby checklist will look like this - • Litter box and cat litter • Cat bedding • Veterinarian-recommended cat food • Bowls for food and water • Toys • Collar with tag and contact info etched in • Brush for grooming • Scratching post • Climbing tree