This is also a cat who takes well to being walked on a leash, but make sure you take appropriate safety steps before adding the activity to your cat's routine. The Sokoke cat’s tail should be medium to long, with a distinct whip-like taper. The feet are oval and medium to small in size. In 1978 horse-breeder and wildlife artist Jeni Slater found a litter of these domestic type cats in her garden on her coconut plantation.
A strong cat condo with platforms and at least one cave will be appreciated, and scratching posts can help save your furniture. Jan 8, 2020 #2 jen TCS Member. They are more vulnerable to contagious diseases than most other cats are, as they have little to no built-in resistance to common diseases that affect domestic cats. The chin should be strong & broad, in line with the tip of the nose in profile. The town-dwelling population (presumably through crossbreeding with non-native cats) come in a wider variety of colours and patterns, including white-spotted coats, and some that are mostly black. The Sokoke’ cat’s eyes should be moderately large and set wide apart, with a slight almond shape and a slight upward slant toward the base of the ears. For more information, call Sally on 01793 783351 or email sally@aspirata.com. They also have a unique tip-toe gait, in part due to a straighter stifle as well as the longer back legs.
[4] The centers or "oysters" of the patterns are hollow-looking due to the agouti gene[12], which also produces a "ticked" or "salt and pepper" look to the coat, overall. The distinguishing feature of a Sokoke is that the tabby marking should be muted by ticking throughout the patterned areas. If left together, the mother will often wait months to wean her kittens, even though their development is fairly rapid once they leave the nest box. Beyond scheduling yearly wellness visits with your vet, make sure that you pick up a scratching post for your Sokoke cat's living environment. Noticed anything different about this month’s Your Cat Magazine? Brilliant and expressive. The Sokoke is a lean, medium-sized cat with a long, graceful body and slender legs. Leggy, with large upright ears and lithe, graceful movements, they are moderately active and easy to keep. See Cats with Low Potential for Playfulness. If you’re not feeding fresh food, look for a brand that provides ample protein and few carbohydrates.
The cheek bones should be high and well defined. Some were obtained as kittens, and others were adult feral cats that she tamed with the help of food rewards. These cats look fine and delicate, but, when lifted should be surprisingly solid and give the feel of strength. They are extremely playful – and are ready to play at almost any moment in the day.
Not many cats are as smart as this one. There is little or no undercoat. Owners find it very cute that the cat will interrupt whatever it is doing to greet new visitors at the door. Sometimes two litters may come closely in a row, with a longer period of time before further reproduction. [11] The cats caught in the forest from 2001 onward have been added to this breeding programme, as have some more recent specimens.[3]. Don’t shop if you’re looking to add one of these cats to your home! Most Sokokes are a modified Brown Tabby – with well defined classic tabby markings. Sokokes have a very special bond with their owners; your cat will love to spend time with you, and will quickly become your best friend once he’s settled into the family.
The legs are long and slender with medium or fine boning. Owners find it very cute that the cat will interrupt whatever it is doing to greet new visitors at the door. Breed Number The eyes are moderately large, set wide apart, slightly slanted towards the base of the ears. And, being neutered, that means he was owned by someone before and was either lost or dumped. As a final consideration, be aware that the Sokoke likes to be active and is very inquisative, so you'll need to provide a living space where they can climb around to satisfy their instincts. [4][9][verification needed] The local tribe called the cats ‘Kadzonzo’, which means ‘looks like tree bark’, because of the distinctive ring patterns on their sides. The Sokoke gets its name from the Arabuko Sokoke rain forest in Kenya, very near to Mombassa. Your email address will not be published. The forest population tend to consistently "breed true" for ticked coats in brown tones with prominent mottling with large rosette spots, which may fuse. Noted so far (and not accepted for showing by most registries) are seal lynx point (accepted for showing in GCCF), melanistic (black or near-black), and "blue" (i.e. The neck is slender, medium to slightly long in length, yet strong & muscular. Sokokes are good for homes with children, or for owners who already have a dog or two. Give the perfect gift this Christmas or treat yourself! They have a marked distaste for being picked up and snuggled; instead, they prefer to follow their family members around, sometimes opting to rest alongside a favorite person during downtime. . Cattime is a property of TotallyHer Media, LLC, an Evolve Media, LLC company. The ears should be moderately large and upright.
But always make sure to supervise early interactions between the new cat and existing pets.
Snow Sokokes are exceptionally rare: This unique pattern features a pale body with faint, visible tabby markings everywhere except the points, where darker tabby markings can be seen.
There may be more definition to the rear of the whisker pads, giving the frontal view a smooth look with gently rounded contours. Some breeds sound off more often than others with meows, yowls, and chattering. In 1978, Slater began her breeding program in earnest, using cats from the Watamu area.
The Sokoke is first and foremost a tabby cat.
The breed’s name comes from the Arabuko Sokoke Forest in Kenya. This breed does best in a busy family environment where there's always someone available for company or fun.
The chin should be strong & broad, in line with the tip of the nose in profile. The cats are almost extinct now in the wild. It is possible that other breeds contributed to today’s Sokoke cats, however no one knows for certain. Some Sokokes also enjoy going out for walks on a lead and harness — anything to stretch their legs! So I doubt that he is a Sokoke. Offer your cat lots of toys and swap them out frequently to prevent boredom. They have a tip-toe gait in the rear that becomes more pronounced when they are excited. However, contrary to previous reports, they can be acclimated to colder climates, and do not require special housing any more than similar short-haired, Asian-group cats. Consider whether you have the time and patience for a cat who needs daily brushing.
"Chaotic", "chained", and "clouded" marbling patterns have been seen with the advent of the "new line", as deviations away from the earlier established modified blotched tabby pattern, but clearly based on the genetics of the landrace forest specimens from the 1990s. They adapt very easily into family homes and, once they’ve found their feet, will be the first to greet visitors to the door. Kittens should be playful and inquisitive. Affiliate Disclosure: Evolve Media LLC, and its owned and operated websites may receive a small commission from the proceeds of any product(s) sold through affiliate and direct partner links. Read more here. Google lens suggests that Tobias is a Sokoke or Bengal mix. To date, the only other registries that recognize Sokoke cats are The International Cat Association (TICA), the Canadian Cat Association (CCA), and the UK Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF). .he certainly doesn't look like an average cat. [3] The urban variety are very similar to an island population a few hundred kilometres north, the subject of a book called The Cats of Lamu (by Jack Couffer, 1998, Lyons Press). The coat is very short, close-lying and glossy, but not silky. Although a playful kitten sounds endearing, consider how many games of chase the mouse-toy you want to play each day, and whether you have kids or other animals who can stand in as playmates.