History of occurrence
Back in 1978, the British/Kenyan wildlife artist, and horse breeder Jeni Slater spotted two distinctive feral cats (a male and a female) in her coconut plantation. Their wild looks with unusual markings fascinated her so much that she decided to tame them, and later bred them. Since they were tamed easily, it was believed that these were not truly wild but a domestic cat that had adapted themselves to their environment.
Later they were introduced to a cat lover from Denmark and Jeni’s friend, Gloria Moeldrup. In 1984, Moeldrup imported two of these cats to Denmark, and in 1991, three more were imported. Once they were put on show at Odense, they became popular among the cat fanciers. In 1992, one of these was brought to Italy. Thus, these Sokokes created the foundation for the breed.
The Sokoke was accepted by FIFe as a “Championship Breed” in January 1994. It also received the “Preliminary New Breed” status from TICA in May 2008.
General form
The Sokoke is one of the few natural breeds of cat, which has evolved through acclimation to its environment without any initial human intervention. Though this medium-sized breed is a native of the Arabuko Sokoke forest in east Kenya, some of these cats have also been bred in Denmark.
It is characterized by a slim, muscular, and graceful body with higher rear legs and a long, pointed tail. It has a small head with medium-sized ears having slightly rounded tips and almond-shaped eyes with light green or amber hue.
Отличительная особенность породы Sokoke
Shape: Modified wedge, appearing small in relation to body, top of the skull almost flat, and length should be slightly longer than width at temples. Cheek bones high and well defined.
Ears: Medium large; broad at the base, upright with tips slightly rounded. Tufts on the tips desirable, but not required. Set medium high, with a distance of one ear's breadth in between preferred.
Eyes: Moderately large, set wide apart, slightly slanted towards the base of ears. Slightly almond in shape. Brilliant and expressive.
Colour: Amber to light green, outlined with black.
Chin: Strong and broad, in line with the tip of the nose. Not fleshy.
Muzzle: Whisker pad-well defined. There may be more bulk, or definition to the rear of the whisker pad than to the forefront, giving the frontal view a smooth look, with gently rounded contours.
Nose: Broad, with a relatively abrupt end of the tip.
Profile: Nose of medium length, straight; with a short, softly convex curved bridge.
Neck: Slender, medium to slightly long in length yet strong, muscular
Torso: Medium long, slender, lithe and graceful, with well- developed chest, level back, and rounded rib cage.
Boning: A fine to medium boning giving a slender, yet sturdy look.
Musculature: Well-developed musculature especially pronounced in neck and shoulders. These cats look fine and delicate; but, when lifted should be surprisingly solid and give the feel of strength.
Legs: Long, slender with medium or fine boning. Hind legs well angled and muscular and longer than the front legs. The position of the hind legs gives a "tip toe" gait that is very characteristic of this breed, yet even when standing at ease the back remains level.
Feet: Oval and medium small. Should be in balance with overall size.
Tail: Medium to long, and has a firm, tight, muscular feel from base to tip; tapers, whip like, to a narrow pointed tip.
Coat: Hair is very short, close-lying and glossy, but not silky. There is little or no undercoat.
Character
In spite of its wild appearance, this lovable and friendly cat is easy to manage. It is a family-oriented pet that likes to bond closely to the humans. It does not always crave for human attention or like to be cuddled in the lap but loves to follow its owner around the house showing its affection.
Since it is sociable by nature, the Sokoke mingles with other cats as well as other household pets. As an energetic and playful breed, it hates being left alone for long. It keeps itself busy by playing in quick, intense bursts. Known to be very vocal and talkative, it can continue with its conversations for hours. It can at times be aggressive, and may use its claws or teeth if threatened.
Maintenance care
The shorthaired Sokokes need little maintenance. Brushing once in every week is sufficient for their low-shedding coat. Bathe these cats with mild soap only when necessary, but be sure to accustom them to bathing early in their life. Their ears are prone to mite infections and should be frequently cleaned to keep them dirt-free. Clip their claws every 10-15 days to remove the dead layers of nails. Also, clean their teeth every week to ensure sound dental health.
Gaming sessions that involve running, chasing, and jumping are required for this agile and active breed to burn off its excess energy. Toys like cat trees should be provided to satisfy its jumping and pouncing instincts.
Lifespan — 12-16 years.
Dignity
Best with older children, good with household cats and dogs, low shedding, high sociability with strangers.
Diseases
So far, no hereditary or genetic health concerns have been reported. However, it is susceptible to common feline ailments, which could be overcome with vaccinations and de-worming programs. It should be immunized against the parvovirus, feline herpes virus, and feline calicivirus infections.
