SokokeCharacteristics, history, behaviour and care

The feral cats of the Kenyan coast, called “khadzonzo”, live everywhere from city streets to the Arabuko Sokoke National Park. Local people had long known them, but in 1978 they were “discovered” for breeders by Jeni Slater, a horse breeder and wildlife painter, near a coconut plantation in Watamu.

Slater started a breeding programme and named the breed the “African Shorthair”. In 1983, her friend Gloria Moeldrop took a pair to Denmark, because Slater feared the cat would disappear from Kenya. The cats were first shown in Copenhagen in 1984. FIFe recognised the breed under the name Sokoke in 1993. Genetic studies have not confirmed the rumour that it is a hybrid with a wild cat.

How the breed developed

• 1978 – Jeni Slater begins breeding khadzonzo cats, in Kenya.
• 1983 – a pair reaches Denmark.
• 1984 – first show, in Copenhagen.
• 1993 – recognised by FIFe under the name Sokoke.

• Active families. It is lively and playful.
• Homes with room to climb. It likes climbing.
• Large apartments. French Wikipedia says it adapts if it has enough space and exercise.
• People who want a rare cat. It is not widespread.

It has a medium-sized, long and slender body with long legs; the hind legs are longer than the front ones, as in the wildcat. Because of this and a straighter knee, it has a unique tiptoe gait.

General appearance

The head is relatively small, with long ears. The eyes are usually amber to light green. The tail tapers towards the tip.

The coat is usually a marbled tabby, in shades from black to brown, similar to that of the Bengal or the Ocicat. The centre of the markings looks hollow, and the ticked hairs give a “salt and pepper” look; the pattern is called “African tabby”. At shows, a “wood grain” look is highly valued.

Related breeds and how to tell them apart

Its closest relative is the cat of Lamu island, in northern Kenya. The coat resembles that of the Bengal or the Ocicat, but the Sokoke is a natural breed, with no wild blood.

French Wikipedia describes it as lively and playful; it likes to climb and swim. It is fairly independent, but sociable with other cats and animals.

Socialisation

It is sociable with other cats and animals, while keeping its independence.

A kitten gets used to new people, noises and other animals most easily in its first months of life.

Habits at home

Like all cats, it sleeps a lot: usually 12–16 hours a day. It is most active early in the morning and in the evening, but partly adapts to the family's routine.

Cats instinctively bury their droppings, so it quickly learns to use a litter tray. It scratches rough surfaces to shed the old outer layer of its claws, so it needs a scratching post or board.

It is very active and needs space and exercise: climbing, hunting games and, ideally, a fenced garden.

Tips for a balanced life

• Change its toys from time to time, so it does not get bored.
• Play with it in short sessions, several times a day.
• If it goes outside, let it do so in a fenced area or on a balcony with a safety net.

Coat care

The short, coarse coat with almost no undercoat is very easy to look after: one brushing a week is enough.

Common health problems

The sources consulted do not describe any breed-specific diseases.

Recommended genetic tests

There is no genetic test required for the breed. Ask for the parents' health records.

Is it hypoallergenic?

Cat allergy is caused mainly by the Fel d 1 protein, found in saliva and skin glands; it is behind the allergy in 90% of people who are allergic to cats. Kittens, females and neutered males produce less of it, but still enough to trigger symptoms. No breed is completely hypoallergenic.

Other care

• A check-up at the vet once a year.
• Vaccinations and parasite treatment on the schedule set by the vet.
• Trim the claws if they do not wear down on their own.
• Clean its teeth or give it food that helps keep them clean.

The cat is a carnivore: it needs animal protein. Unlike a dog, it must get vitamin A, arachidonic acid and taurine from its food. Water is very important, because cats usually drink little; several water bowls around the house encourage it to drink.

Tips for a healthy diet

The table gives a starting estimate, calculated with the formula from the Merck Veterinary Manual for a healthy adult cat. The last column shows what this means in dry food with 3,500–4,000 kcal per kilogram. If you also feed wet food, reduce the dry portion.

• Adjust the portion to its weight: neutered cats put on weight easily.
• Weigh it monthly; the ribs should be easy to feel under your fingers.
• Kittens need more calories: Merck recommends 2.5 times the resting energy requirement.

Dangerous foods and substances

Some common household items are dangerous for cats:

• Lilies (and daylilies): they can destroy a cat's kidneys. Even the pollen or the water in the vase is dangerous.
• Paracetamol: extremely toxic to cats, which lack the enzyme that breaks it down. Never give it human medicines.
• Flea spot-ons and collars for dogs containing permethrin: the concentration meant for dogs is dangerous for cats.
• Foods: chocolate, coffee, alcohol, onions, garlic, grapes and raisins.

Maturity

Females usually reach sexual maturity at 5–10 months, and males at 5–7 months. The age varies from breed to breed.

Mating and pregnancy

Pregnancy in cats lasts 64–67 days, 65 on average. A first litter usually has fewer kittens than later ones. Only healthy cats that match the breed standard are used for breeding.

Blood type

Cats have blood type A, B or AB. Type A is the most common: in a study from England, 87.1% of non-pedigree cats and 54.6% of pedigree cats had type A. This matters for breeding: if the mother is type B and the kittens are type A, the antibodies in her first milk (colostrum) can destroy their red blood cells. The condition is called neonatal isoerythrolysis. That is why breeders test the blood type of both parents.

We found no published data on how common type B is in this breed; the test is done before mating anyway.

Caring for the kittens

Kittens are weaned at 6–7 weeks. They are ready to go to their new home at about 12 weeks, when they can be separated from their mother.

Neutering

Neutering used to be done at 6–9 months, but it is more and more often done before puberty, at around 3–6 months. It prevents unwanted kittens, urine marking in males and the loud “calling” of females in heat. A 2024 study found that neutered cats live one year longer on average. After the operation, the metabolism slows down and appetite increases, so the portion has to be reduced.

How to choose a kitten

• Ask for the pedigree from a recognised cat association (for example, a FIFe member).
• The kitten leaves its mother at about 12 weeks.
• Look at the mother and at the place where the kittens are raised: it should be clean, with kittens used to people.
• Ask about vaccinations, parasite treatment and the blood type of the parents.

• Walking on tiptoe. It has a distinctive tiptoe gait, because its hind legs are longer.
• A coat “like wood”. At shows, a pattern that looks like wood grain is valued.
• Saved in Denmark. The breed was also bred in Denmark, for fear it would disappear from Kenya.
• Not a hybrid. Genetic studies have not confirmed the rumour that it has wild cat blood.

The cats of Lamu

Its relatives, the cats of Lamu island in northern Kenya, are the subject of the book “The Cats of Lamu”, by Jack Couffer.

Where does the name come from?

From the Arabuko Sokoke National Park in Kenya, where the first cats came from.

Is it a wild cat?

No. It is a natural breed of domestic cat; the rumour of a hybrid with a wild cat has not been confirmed genetically.

Does it like water?

French Wikipedia says it likes to swim.

Is it hard to care for?

No, the short coat needs one brushing a week.