The highest achievement in the CFA show ring is accomplished when a cat successfully earns the title of National Winner (NW). CFA established the title of Grand Champion in 1930 and the title of National Winner first appeared in 1971. In CFA, each year the top 25 cats in Championship, 25 Kittens and 25 cats in Premiership are awarded the NW title.
The Somali was first accepted for competition by CFA in the 1979-80 show season, although only in ruddy and red colors at that time. The blue was later accepted in 1986, and the fawn in 1990.
That very first year, the Somali's had their first Grand Champion - a ruddy male named Foxtails Rio Grande. Even more amazing, he went on to become the first Somali National Winner, placing as 19th Best Cat that season!!
The highest placement to date for the Somali was in the 1991-92 season, when GC, NW Silkpaws Raj became 3rd Best Cat. Although there have been a number of National Winning cats and alters, there has yet to be a National Winning kitten.
In the 2002-03 show season, breed history was made when the first dilute Somali, a fawn male named GC, NW Rampageous Ziggy Stardust, earned a National Win, as 23rd Best Cat.
Below is a table with the national winning Somalis including their name, color, sex, year of their win, and the award they earned.
If the cat's name is in blue text, you can click on it to see a photo of the cat. Championship cats names are on an orange background, kittens are on pink and alters are on a blue background.
Somali National Winners in CFA
| Year | Position | Cat's Name | Color | Sex |
| 1979-80 | 19th Best Cat | GC, NW Foxtails Rio Grande | Ruddy | M |
| 1980-81 | No Somali National Winners | |||
| 1981-82 | No Somali National Winners | |||
| 1982-83 | No Somali National Winners | |||
| 1983-84 | No Somali National Winners | |||
| 1984-85 | 16th Best Cat | GC, NW Murex's Sunrise | Ruddy | M |
| 1985-86 | No Somali National Winners | |||
| 1986-87 | No Somali National Winners | |||
| 1987-88 | No Somali National Winners | |||
| 1988-89 | No Somali National Winners | |||
| 1989-90 | No Somali National Winners | |||
| 1990-91 | 14th Best Cat | GC, NW Mabuhay's Wind Warrior of Zarpa | Ruddy | M |
| 1991-92 | 3rd Best Cat | GC, NW Silkpaws Raj | Red | M |
| 12th Best Alter | GP, NW Mabuhay Copper Blaze of Foxykats | Ruddy | N | |
| 14th Best Alter | GC, GP, NW Roadrace's Ferrari Dino of Bemy | Red | N | |
| 1992-93 | No Somali National Winners | |||
| 1993-94 | No Somali National Winners | |||
| 1994-95 | 3rd Best Alter | GC, GP, NW Silkpaws Repeat Performance | Red | N |
| 1995-96 | No Somali National Winners | |||
| 1996-97 | No Somali National Winners | |||
| 1997-98 | No Somali National Winners | |||
| 1998-99 | 4th Best Alter | GP, NW Zzaby's El Nino of TheCatgarden | Ruddy | N |
| 1999-00 | 6th Best Alter | GC, GP, NW Mittsnpaws Red Zeplin | Red | N |
| 19th Best Alter | GP, NW Foxtrot's Promises Promises! | Ruddy | N | |
| 2000-01 | 19th Best Cat | GC, NW TheCatgarden's Pinchmeimustbedreamin | Ruddy | M |
| 2001-02 | No Somali National Winners | |||
| 2002-03 | 21st Best Cat | GC, BW, NW Mittsnpaws Maxa-Milion of Karactorz | Red | M |
| 23rd Best Cat | GC, NW Rampageous Ziggy Stardust | Fawn | M | |
| 2003-04 | No Somali National Winners | |||
| 2004-05 | No Somali National Winners | |||
| 2005-06 | 13th Best Alter | GP, NW Mittsnpaws Miromax of Wyldephyre | Red | N |
| 2006-07 | No Somali National Winners | |||
| 2007-08 | No Somali National Winners | |||
| 2008-09 | 6th Best Alter | GC, GP, NW Gray Castle Dances With Mice | Ruddy | N |
| 2009-10 | No Somali National Winners | |||
2010-11 |
4th Best Kitten | GP, NW Front Range Leonard H McCoy | Ruddy | N |
| 2011-12 | 15th Best Alter | GP, NW Front Range Leonard H McCoy | Ruddy | N |
| 2012-13 | No Somali National Winners | |||
| 2013-14 | No Somali National Winners | |||
| 2014-15 | No Somali National Winners | |||
2015-16 |
17th Best Kitten, China | NW Bas-Brrau Char of Kitties Land | Ruddy | M |
| 2016-17 | No Somali National Winners | |||
| 2017-18 | No Somali National Winners | |||
| 2018-19 | No Somali National Winners | |||
| 2019-20 | No Somali National Winners | |||
| 2020-21 | No National Winners Awarded by CFA this season | |||
| 2021-22 | No Somali National Winners | |||
| 2022-23 | 3rd Best Cat, Regions 1-9 | GC, BWR, NW Gunsmoke's Coquito | Ruddy | M |
| 20th Best Cat, China | GC, BWC, NW Tootop's Lucas | Ruddy | M | |