The Somali is also known as the long-haired variety of the Abyssinian.
Somali cats share the Abyssinian’s characteristic ticked coat, in which each hair has alternating bands of lighter and darker color. Instead of the Abyssinian’s short coat, the Somali has a medium-length coat with a fuller ruff, breeches, and tail.
Long-haired kittens occasionally appeared in Abyssinian breeding programs. Rather than being discarded, some were selectively bred, and the resulting cats eventually became established as a separate breed. The name Somali refers to the country next to Ethiopia, historically linked with Abyssinia, rather than to a documented origin there.
The Somali is therefore not simply any long-haired cat with an Abyssinian-like appearance. Its pedigree, body type, and ticked pattern connect it specifically to Abyssinian breeding. The two breeds are commonly discussed together in cat registries and breed histories.