Coexistence is important that you have with your new friend. Before considering the acquisition of a cat of the breed "Sokoke cat" you know certain factors. You must take into account their character, their need for exercise, their interaction with other pets, their care and if you have small children, their level of tolerance towards them.

The genesis of the Sokoke

The Sokoke it is one of the rarest cat breeds in the world. Historically it has lived in the wild in the rainforest of Sokoke-Arabute, a nature reserve on the east coast of Kenya. But, it is not known since when.

One of the hypotheses is that it descends from domestic cats who arrived at the end of the 19th century with British settlers and then took over the forest of Sokoke-Arabute.

But, it is more likely that the Sokoke have lived in the area for much longer, in particular through contact with Giriamas, a local tribe that hunts and feeds on the Sokoke, even today. The Giriamas they also gave it its original name, Khadzonzo, which means "like the bark", in reference to its mottled coat.

In any case, never ceased to intrigue scientists, and many tried to study it. For a long time this was in vain, given their stealth and propensity to evade them.

In 1978, Jeny Slater, an Englishwoman who lived on the edge of the nature reserve, discovered a litter of three kittens Khadzonzo abandoned and hidden in the hollow of a log. Decided to take them home and feed them. His fascination was even greater because normally it was very difficult to see them, much less catch them. He was very surprised to see how easy it was to tame these little wild cats. Worried about the possibility of this animal disappearing, decided to raise them. When they became adults, two of the little cats gave birth to their first litter.

Scientists were finally able to begin studying the Khadzonzo. DNA tests were carried out to find out if it was descended from African wild cats, but they were negative: could not establish that link. It was then decided to call the cat simply «African shorthair cat«.

In 1984, a danish friend of Jeny Slater, Gloria Moldrop, came to visit her in Kenya. Enchanted with Khadzonzos, took two of them to Denmark, Good gene, to try to publicize the breed and contribute to its development. In fact, that year he exhibited them at a cat show in Copenhagen.

In 1985, Good gene they had their first litter. But, starting with just two individuals was not enough to establish a breeding program that would avoid inbreeding and all the health problems that it could entail.. In 1990, Gloria Moldrop brought three more specimens from Kenya and was able to start a real breeding program with the aim of getting the breed recognized.

In 1992, Gloria Moldrop presented several copies to the Fédération Internationale Féline (FIFé). The following year, the organization recognized the breed under the name of Sokoke, in reference to the forest Sokoké-Arabute, its natural habitat.

In 2003, the International Cat Association (TICA) did the same. It was also in this year that the Sokoke was recognized by the Official Book of Feline Origins (LOOF) French.

But, in 2014, TICA decided to lower its status: it was still possible to register their representatives in the registers kept by the institution, but they could no longer compete in the cat shows organized under their auspices. In effect, had not received the report that breeders normally send and that allows statistics to be established: annual number of births, distribution between males and females, age of the reproducers…

In any case, the Sokoke cat still has a long way to go to be fully recognized around the world. In fact, still ignored by some major organizations, as the Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA).

Others have given their blessing, but only in a preliminary way, waiting for your full recognition. Is the case, for example, of the Governing Council of The Cat Fancy (GCCF) from 2015, or from Association Féline Canadienne (CCA), which grants it the status of an experimental breed.

A part of the population of Sokoke cat still living in the wild in the forest of Sokoke-Arabute, in Kenya. But, they seem to be in danger of extinction.

Can't say that the Sokoke domesticated is imposing, as it is still extremely rare worldwide. Its population is also very small.

In France, only three specimens were registered in the Libro Oficial de Orígenes Felinos (LOOF) over the years 2000 and 2010, more specifically in 2004.

The breed is a bit more established in Britain, with almost a dozen annual registrations in the Governing Council of The Cat Fancy (GCCF) at the end of the Decade of 2010. But, this is still a matter of confidentiality.

In Denmark, Gloria Moldrop has had some followers, so there are also a handful of breeders. There are also some in other European countries, like germany.

The situation is quite similar in North America: In both the United States and Canada there are hardly more than a handful of breeders. But, the Association Féline Canadienne (CCA) has accepted it as an experimental breed, waiting for your full recognition. The leading organization in the United States, the Cat Fanciers’ Association, has not yet taken the step.

The Sokoke It is an elegant and distinguished feline of medium size and semi-linear type. Domesticated and bred individuals look much more harmonious than those left free.

The body medium length is slim and muscular, built around a strong bone structure. The chest is well developed and prominent.

The tail is moderately long to long. Thick at the base, tapering towards the tip.

The legs they are tall and thin, which contributes to the elegant appearance of the dog, But they are, However, muscular. Finish in feet oval with black pads. The hind legs are longer than the front legs and have a significant angle specific to the breed.

The head rests on a neck long and muscular that separates it well from the shoulders. It is small in relation to the body, and is shaped like a smoothed triangle. The skull it's almost flat.

The ears are size medium, wide at the base and rounded at the tip. They can end in plumes, and this feature is highly appreciated.

The eyes they are big, they are far apart, are almond-shaped and slightly sloping. Their color ranges from amber to light green and they are expressive and bright.

The nose is straight and of medium length. Finish off with a brick red nose. Seen on side, there is a slight concave curve between the forehead and the nose.

Whisker pads are well marked, but they are not prominent. They dominate a strong and broad chin.

The fur of the Sokoke It is brilliant, very short and has no undercoat. This is a tabby cat, which can be any shade of black brindle. It is preferable that the marks have sharp hairs, that is to say, that alternate light and dark areas.

Last, this cat is not characterized by a sexual dimorphism pronounced: males and females are quite similar in size and weight.

• Size: 30 cm.
• Weight: Of 3 to 5 kg

The breed standards are documents produced by official bodies that list the conditions that a dog must meet. Sokoke cat to be fully recognized as belonging to the race:

• Standard FIFé (Fédération Internationale Féline)
• Standard LOOF (Livre Officiel des Origines Félines)
• Standard AFC (Association Féline Canadienne)
• Standard GCCF (The Governing Council of the Cat Fancy)

Although it may seem surprising, the Sokoke was originally a wild cat and was easily tame.

He even enjoys the company of humans, and is especially attached, kind and affectionate with the members of his family, with both adults and children. He is also very playful, which makes it an excellent entertainment companion for them, and vice versa. But, this does not prevent a certain caution: a small child and a cat should never be left alone unsupervised, and this applies to all races. In any case, things are better if the children are old enough to have learned to behave in a respectful way with their companion.

His playful nature and intelligence make it essential to provide him with interactive toys to stimulate and develop his faculties.. Always play very intensely for short periods of time, then you need to calm down to start over. Of course, he is even happier when he can play with his family. The possibilities are very numerous, since his proximity to the family and his intelligence make him perfectly capable of learning different tricks. These may include, catching an object that is thrown at him is a lot of fun for him. Being an activity with your family and spending time with them, It doesn't bother him to be walked on a leash either, and he can get used to it..

More broadly, His intense relationship with his family means that he is both an attention seeker and an attention giver. Participates willingly in family activities and tends to follow family members and greet them at the door when they arrive home. This is especially true of the person who cares the most about him., although he does not ignore the others.

He is also very vocal when interacting with family members.. Purr loudly to express well-being, meows softly to calm its owners when its great sensitivity makes it sense that they are in an unusual emotional state, or give your opinion on the TV show. Pretty talkative, knows how to use different recognizable tones to communicate: these different modulations allow you to quickly know, for example, if he is asking for a hug, asking for attention, asking for food or indicating pain.

He is loyal to his family and enjoys interacting with them, for example playing or receiving pampering. Of course, also needs time apart, since it could be in nature. But, he does not like to be alone: even when he rests quietly in his corner, be grateful that there is someone close.

Close to yours, the Sokoke he is also very sociable with strangers who enter his domain. He is not one of those who are scared or aggressive towards them: although he should not be expected to hug them, will play happily with them.

He is also able to share his home with another dog. But, as it is quite territorial, gradual adaptation is necessary for everything to go well, and the ideal is that the coexistence is established from the earliest age of the two protagonists.

The Sokoke he is very active and does not really belong to a flat. to prosper, you need to live in a house with a garden to which you can have free access, thanks to a cat flap, for example. His instinct is to climb trees, where in nature he used to spend most of the time. This allows you to recover part of its original state, hunt insects, satisfy your curiosity and keep an eye on your territory. It is especially agile in this area.

He also likes to have some height when he is indoors., so a cat tree is an essential purchase to make you feel comfortable.

It also, the Sokoke differs from his peers in his attraction to water; not only does he like to play with her, but that it is one of the cat breeds that like to swim. So don't be surprised to see him come back drenched from his wanderings., since he is delighted to bathe in a river or a lake. But, if there is a pool in the house, it is better to cover it to avoid getting into it, since chlorinated water is not good for cats and if they drink it regularly it can cause kidney problems and irritate their skin. So, if he can get into it, it is better to rinse it afterwards with clean water.

The same, after any bath anywhere, or even just when I come back from the outside wet, it is important to dry him well with a towel so that he can then snuggle up in a blanket and prevent him from getting cold. Of course, this is even more important when the temperature is low.

"Sokoke cat"

The Sokoke wild has been little studied. It also, its domestication is relatively recent and the breed's population remains small. All this explains why there is little time to know the diseases to which this cat is especially exposed. But, the cat is known to be generally in good health.

It is also known to withstand high temperatures very well, which is not surprising for an animal native to the rainforests of Kenya. But, it is also known to fear the cold, above all because does not have undercoat. But, can adapt to all climates, as long as you have constant access to a well-heated place where you can shelter in cold weather, so as not to catch a cold. This risk should not be taken lightly, since the coryza, the common cold, can have lifelong consequences. The risk is even higher for young and old cats, that are more fragile and, Therefore, more prone to colds.

To adopt a Sokoke, it is essential to contact a serious breeder. This will give you the best chance of having a healthy kitten and keeping it that way.. In effect, a true professional takes the time to socialize little felines and monitor their health from a very young age. But, above all, as the genetic background of the breed is quite small, can also ensure that parents do not have a common ancestor to avoid inbreeding problems. You can also present a certificate of good health issued by a veterinarian, as well as the health or vaccination card containing the vaccines administered to the animal.

Once the adoption is final, it is the owner's responsibility to take care of the health of his little companion throughout his life. In particular, should ensure that the pet receives a regular check-up by a veterinarian, to make sure everything is okay or, on the other hand, to diagnose any problems as soon as possible and to be able to react as best as possible. Once a year is the minimum, and it is better to go further when the animal gets older. It also, these appointments are also an opportunity to repeat the necessary vaccinations.

It also, the owner must give his cat the necessary treatments throughout the year to ensure that he is always protected against parasites. This is even more important for an animal like him, who spends a good part of his time outside and who likes to climb trees.

The Sokoke it's a low maintenance cat.

This is especially true of their very short coat., that has no undercoat: a simple weekly brushing is enough to remove dead hair.

It is also important to check your ears once a week and clean them with a damp cloth to remove any impurities., which could otherwise end up accumulating and becoming infected (ear infections, etc.).

You should take the opportunity to check your eyes. If they are dirty, wiping the corners with a damp cloth will also reduce the risk of infection.

Regular brushing of your pet's teeth is essential too. This should be done at least once a week, although the ideal is to do it daily. Otherwise, plaque builds up and turns into tartar. This can lead not only to bad breath, but also to more or less serious diseases.

Last, you need to check the length of the cat's claws every month. If they get too long, there is a risk of injury, discomfort or breakage. Due to its high level of activity, this is not a problem, due to natural wear and tear. But, natural wear and tear may not be enough (for example, in the case of a less active and / or elderly person), and manual trimming may be required. In any case, even for an individual with free access to the outside, the presence of a scratching post (either inside or outside) is essential. This allows them to satisfy their essential need to scratch on an object designed for it., instead of using furniture or curtains, for example.

Whether for the fur, the ears, the eyes, teeth or claws, the different treatments necessary for the care of the Sokoke are available to everyone. But, to avoid the risk of harming or injuring you - and traumatizing you at the same time- it's best to ask a vet or groomer for advice the first time. This will allow you to know the appropriate gestures to act safely and effectively.

The best way to get this care to become, with the time, in a special moment between the owner and his pet, is getting used to it from a young age. It also, will appreciate these moments even more if they are sprinkled with cuddles and caresses, or even if they allow a little conversation, since he likes to talk a lot.

In its natural state, the Sokoke spends most of the time in the trees, where he also hunts. Unlike their peers, does not eat birds or rodents, but insects like crickets, butterflies and flies. He then descends to ingest his weed loot.

A domesticated individual needs the food provided by his master to satisfy his nutritional needs.. So, both quantitatively and qualitatively, must suit your age, your health and activity level.

Quality industrial products usually fulfill this function perfectly.. But, it is not advisable to feed your dog human food, that is unlikely to meet your nutritional needs unless it has been carefully selected for this purpose. For this reason, Giving him table scraps or rummaging through the trash is rarely a good idea, especially since some foods popular with humans are toxic to cats. So, it is better to avoid these situations, and this from a very young age, to prevent you from developing bad habits.

Last, the Sokoke, just like any other cat, you must have fresh water at all times.

The Sokoke it is one of the rarest cat breeds in the world. Although it has spread to various regions far from its native Kenya, especially in Europe and North America, the number of breeders is still very limited. So, a person wishing to adopt a representative of this breed should not fear traveling many kilometers or having to wait several months.

Even so, the price of a kitten Sokoke usually hovering between 1500 and 1800 EUR.

But, when adopting a cat from abroad, It is important to note that transport costs and administrative costs are added to the price of the cat. It also, it is necessary, of course, find out about the legislation regarding the importation of animals and comply with it.

whatever the country, the price charged can vary significantly depending on the reputation of the kennel, the lineage from which the animal originates and, above all, its intrinsic characteristics, especially when it comes to physical. This last point explains why there can be significant differences within the same litter..

Adorable Sokoke Cat Berlioz : African Shorthair Cat

Rarest Breed of Domestic Cat – Sokoke

Sokoke kitten Barika having fun on the bamboo curtains for kitchen

Sokoke cat in Spain

▷ Sokoke Forest Cat, African Shorthair, khadzonzo or kadzonzo