Because it's a longhaired Abyssinian, the Somali inherited the Abyssinian's unusually high rate of pyruvate kinase deficiency — in tested Somali populations the mutant gene has been found in 10% to 28% of cats sampled across different countries — a disease that causes lifelong, incurable anemia in cats that inherit it from both parents.
Health tests to ask the breeder for
There is no CHIC program for cats. These are the DNA and screening tests that the testing laboratories and cat health bodies name for the Somali. A breeder who tests will show the certificates; a DNA result of "clear" for one variant is not a guarantee against the disease.
- PRA-rdAc (CEP290) DNA test (UC Davis VGL / Langford Vets) screens for late-onset progressive retinal atrophy / blindness
- Erythrocyte Pyruvate Kinase (PK) Deficiency DNA test (UC Davis VGL / Langford Vets) screens for inherited haemolytic anaemia
When to spay or neuter: by five months, whatever the breed. That is the one answer the AVMA, the feline practitioners and AAHA all give, and the spay and neuter page has why, and the two weeks after.
Sources: vgl.ucdavis.edu · vgl.ucdavis.edu · langfordvets.co.uk. Checked September 2026. Check a breeder has the questions.
Adopt a Somali near you
Shelters and rescues list Somalis and Somali mixes on Petfinder. Enter a ZIP code to see who is waiting within 100 miles.
Listings come from Petfinder and open there. Petipedia does not take part in adoptions and earns nothing from them.
Living with a Somali
Somalis are athletic and busy almost to a fault — expect a cat that jumps, climbs, investigates cupboards, and needs real daily play, not a quiet lap companion. The coat looks high-effort but resists matting reasonably well; weekly combing usually keeps it in order.
Health you should know about
- Pyruvate kinase (PK) deficiency — an inherited, incurable hemolytic anemia; in tested Somali populations the mutant allele has been found in 10% to 28% of cats sampled across different countries, with about 8% of tested German Somalis actually affected (two copies) and 57% carriers (one copy). Clinical signs usually appear before age 3.
- Renal amyloidosis — cannot currently be screened for with a genetic test, so buyers must rely on a breeder's disclosure of family health history rather than a lab result.
- Progressive retinal atrophy — genetic testing is now used to identify carriers and reduce the risk of affected kittens.
Read the full Cat Care Guide first — costs, daily time, and everything a cat needs before you choose a breed.
Sources — 3 references
Last reviewed October 2026. 3 sources listed below. Written and maintained by Petdeals.io. General care information, not veterinary advice — for a sick animal, call a vet.