Sokoke cat, or soukok: description of the breed with photos, animal temperament, maintenance features

In the open spaces of Kenya, a breed of Sokoke cats was born, with a unique coat color and graceful physique reminiscent of large wild relatives - cheetahs and leopards. The breed is aboriginal, ancient, naturally occurring. Domesticated Sokoke cats are gentle, affectionate, affectionate, but also freedom-loving, independent, like their wild relatives who hunt birds and rodents in the African savannas.

Care and maintenance of Sokoke cats

Pets require standard grooming measures for short-haired breeds.
The coat needs to be brushed about once a week. To enhance the shine of the skin, it is rubbed with suede. From time to time (about once a month), animals can be bathed using special shampoos. Sokoke cats love water very much and tolerate water treatments calmly. Periodically, the condition of the furry friend's paw pads is checked for wounds or bruises - an active lifestyle can be the cause of such problems. The ears also need regular inspection and cleaning with cotton swabs and cosmetics designed for cats.

It is important to monitor the nutrition of small “cheetahs”. Their diet should be strictly balanced and consist of protein, carbohydrate and partially fatty foods

As a supplement, it is imperative to use taurine, which is necessary for the growth of healthy hair and the normal functioning of the cardiovascular and endocrine systems.

Diseases of the breed

Since the African Shorthair is a naturally occurring variety, its members are characterized by good health. They have no hereditary diseases. However, some veterinarians recommend limiting the Sokoke's exposure to other breeds that may be a source of new infection. This is explained by the fact that the specific conditions of Kenya, where these purebred animals appeared, left their mark on the functioning of their immune system.

As for general diseases, sometimes pets experience nervous disorders, hysteria, convulsions, and meningitis. In such states, the animal rushes about, cannot find a place for itself, and does not recognize its owner.

Conclusions about the breed

Sokoke cats can confidently be called extraordinary and beautiful creatures on the planet. Nature created these animals as a gift to man, since they simultaneously combine the most beautiful qualities: beauty, friendliness, devotion, lack of aggression, playfulness, intelligence. Not every breed can boast of this characteristic. The popularity of Sokoke cats is increasing every year, because having a small, playful and at the same time absolutely safe cheetah in the house is the dream of so many lovers of furry animals.

Prices for Sokoke kittens in rubles

There is only 1 Sokoke cattery in Russia, it is located in Moscow - Mirisok. In Ukraine - Arabuko. The price of a kitten depends on the purity of the pedigree, compliance of the animal with the standard, gender, and is also influenced by the purpose of purchasing the pet. The average cost of a pet-class African forest cat (for maintenance) is 40,000 – 70,000 rubles. Breeding producers and future show participants are offered to buy in Europe at prices above $1,000 plus shipping costs.

Sources

• https://tutknow.ru/animals/10709-sokoke-istoriya-porody-standart-vneshnosti-i-sovety-po-uhodu.html
• https://world-of-cats.ru/poroda/sokoke/
• https://prokoshki.ru/porody-koshek/sokoke
• https://koshkiwiki.ru/porody/korotkoshyorstnye/sokoke.html
• https://cats4you.ru/porody-koshek/sokoke/
• https://FermHelp.ru/koshka-sokoke/

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History of the origin of the breed

The basis of the Sokoke breed was made up of African cats living in Kenya, in the Soukok region. In 1978, Janie Slater, who lived there, discovered exotic-looking kittens on a coconut plantation - she brought two of them home (they became the founders of the breed, which Slater called “African Shorthair”).

The first European country where representatives of the new breed arrived was Denmark (Gloria Moldrup, Slater’s friend, brought them there in 1980). By that time, Janie had created a nursery in Kenya for breeding aboriginal cats.

Sokoke were first presented at an exhibition in Copenhagen in 1984, then in Odense... In 1992, the new breed was recognized by Danish felinologists, and a year later by the European Federation of Cat Fanciers.

DNA research of the newly-minted breed took place within the framework of the Cat Genome Project - the genes of Arabian wild and Asian domestic cats were found in the blood of Sokoke. Hybrid heredity is fully confirmed by the habits of Sokoke: unlike their truly wild relatives, they are easily tamed and quickly come into contact with people and other cats.

Hudsonzos (which translates to "bark-looking") spent a lot of time sitting in trees, so they ate mostly insects. In early 1978, Janie Slater, an Englishwoman temporarily living in Africa, discovered tiny unusual creatures near her house, the same ones that eventually became the progenitors of the entire Sokoke breed.

Later, by mid-1984, Janie’s close friend Gloria Moldrup (Canadian by birth, living in Denmark at the time) noticed the strange babies and became seriously interested in them. Having persuaded Janie to give her a couple of kittens, she began to work closely on selection.

Denmark officially became the first country to recognize the African Shorthair Sokoke as a breed in 1990. And by mid-1993, the name “African cat Sokoke” was officially confirmed by the International Organization FIFe.

Jenny Slater, an Englishwoman, owner of a small coconut plantation at the foot of the Kenya volcano, was incredibly surprised when one sunny morning in 1978. I discovered a “nest” of an insectivorous tree cat with a whole litter of tabby kittens near my house.

She, who has been living in Kenya for several years, knew that Hadzonzos give birth and raise their kittens in tree hollows, and generally prefer not to go down to the ground, but apparently something unusual happened if the “tree spirit peeking out from the crown” was born offspring directly on earth.

Jenny took pity on the exhausted, weakened animal and accepted the family into her home. The cat mother did not show any aggression when moving the children to a new place of residence; rather, on the contrary, she accepted the help with gratitude, she was so exhausted and weak.

This is how the first Sokoke got the opportunity to survive and “register” in a human home.

Jenny even thought that it was someone’s already tamed cat, but there was no owner and Jenny had to take care of the Sokoke family on her own.

To Jenny, the behavior of the “savage” seemed strange, to put it mildly. Therefore, she gave 2 of her pet’s kittens to her friend Gloria Moldrup, who took them to Denmark in 1985.

Gloria Moldrup quickly appreciated the benefits of the expertise and invited her friend Jenn to establish a nursery for breeding a “wild-wild” breed of cats that are so easy to contact with humans.

So in 1988 On the territory of Mount Kenya, a nursery for keeping and breeding aboriginal cats of the Sokoke breed appeared. The “founders,” of course, were the kittens that took root in Jenny’s house.

Historical information about the breed

Representatives of the cat soukok received this name because of the area of ​​the same name, located in Kenya. Their ancestors are the forest cats of Africa; it is not surprising that such animals for a long period were known only among local aborigines. Reliable sources indicate that the official beginning of the breed dates back to 1978, when Janie Slater, the owner of a coconut plantation, discovered wild kittens with an unusual color and took them in for upbringing. Later, the animals that reached sexual maturity were bred. The offspring of four-legged pets were exported to Italy and Denmark. It is from these countries that the Soukok bloodlines originate.

Already in the 2000s, new blood appeared in the breed from other Kenyan cats that continued the breed. Their descendants spread to America and European countries. After several years, scientists worked on genetic research and determined that representatives of the Soukok are nothing more than a cross between an Arabian wild cat and an Asian domestic cat.

Currently, the rare and unusual breed belongs to the Arabian Sea racial group. The reason for this is their similarity in DNA analysis with the spotted animals of Kenya, living on the street, and cats from the island of Lamu.

In the 70s of the last century, an Englishwoman, Jenny, discovered kittens with cheetah-like coloring in the Sokoke forest in Kenya. The breed began to be named after the forest where it was discovered - Sokoke. It was this woman from England who became the person who first started breeding them.

Ten years later, Jenny's friend began distributing these cats in Denmark. At first it was called the African Shorthair. But in 1992, the Danish government officially approved the name “Sokoke” for the breed.

At the same time, in the homeland of the Sokoke, in Kenya, various hybrids began to be bred on various private farms, up to the appearance of snow-colored cats.

The feline offspring of the breed in Kenya began to be called kazonzo, due to the fact that the color of the cat was similar to the bark of trees. They quickly jumped through the trees in search of food: small birds, rodents. Sokoke adopted many character traits from their predecessors.

Breed description, standards, appearance

Sokoke is an athletic cat with well-developed muscles, graceful movements and short, close-lying hair. A detailed description of the Kenyan Forest is presented in the generally recognized breed standard.

Dimensions and weight

Sokoke is a medium-sized cat. There is sexual dimorphism in the breed, so males are noticeably larger and heavier than females. An adult cat weighs on average about 5 kg. The weight of a cat usually does not exceed 3 kg.

Anatomical characteristics

A typical Kenyan forest cat should fit the following description:

1. The head is graceful, wedge-shaped, with high pronounced cheekbones, a strong chin and neat mustache pads.
2. The ears are medium in size, with a wide base and slightly rounded tips. Can be decorated with fluffy tassels.
3. The nose is straight, wide, moderately long. Has a slight bend at the bridge of the nose.
4. The eyes are almond-shaped, wide-set, slightly inclined towards the base of the ears. The Kenyan forest iris has a black rim and can be colored amber or light green.
5. The body is flexible, athletic, moderately elongated, with rounded sides, a developed chest and a muscular neck.
6. The limbs are slender, long, with small oval paws. The Sokoke's front legs are shorter than its hind legs, making the cat appear to walk on tiptoes.
7. The tail is long, gradually tapering from base to tip.

Color and coat type

The body of the Kenyan forest cat is covered with short, coarse, close-fitting hair with little or no down.

Sokoke has two color options:

1. Standard tabby with a brown background and black and brown markings. The paw pads are dark colored.
2. Snow tabby with a clear contrasting pattern on a light ivory background. The nose and paw pads of these Kenyan forest cats are pigmented pink. The eyes of Sokoke with snow tabby color are light blue without any amber or green tint.

The main color features of the Kenyan Forest Cat include a necklace around the neck, a bull's eye pattern on the side, a broken "M" on the forehead and a butterfly pattern on the back.

Possible breed defects

Defects for which Sokoke is subject to disqualification:

• Kenyan forest cats have blue eyes with a classic color;
• rounded body contours;
• plump cheeks;
• clear transition from head to body;
• White spots.

Interesting Facts

During the existence of the breed, many interesting things have been associated with it:

1. Sokoke have several alternative names. These cats are also known as Kenyan Forest and Soukok cats.
2. A special study was conducted to establish the natural origin of sokoke. As a result, it was found out that they have a common DNA structure with the spotted street cats of Eastern Kenya and the cats of Lamu Island. Based on this, the Kenyan Forest was included in a separate racial group called the Arabian Sea.
3. In ancient times, when cattle were considered a luxury item, Kenyan aborigines consumed sokoke as food.
4. Due to the spiral wood pattern on their brown fur, forest cats were called "kanzonzo", which means "bark-like".

Description of the breed

Representatives of Sokoke are of average size for cats, but still they are slightly larger than them.

They have well-developed muscles and are quite athletic. But this does not prevent them from being elegant and graceful at the same time. The average weight of an adult cat does not exceed 5 kilograms.

Sokoke standards and distinctive features regarding TICA:

The cat's head has a modified wedge-shaped shape, slightly elongated and narrow. When compared to the body, the head seems small. Her upper part is flat, her cheekbones and chin are quite expressive. Regarding the ears: they are mostly large and wide, sometimes with tassels at the ends. Cats' eyes are expressive, set at a wide distance from each other, almond-shaped. Their color is deep amber, and there are also slightly greenish ones. The nose is quite wide, of medium length; there is a slight bend on the bridge of the cat’s nose. The cat's body is long, but not flat, the chest is quite expressive, and the sides are rounded. Despite being slender, Sokoke's body is quite muscular.

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This can be noticed by paying attention to the cat's neck and shoulders. The hind legs are slightly longer than the front legs, but both are quite slender and long. Due to the peculiarity of the hind legs, from the outside it seems that the cat walks on tiptoes. The tail can be either long or medium in length, just like the body, it is muscular and tapered towards the end. If we talk about the Sokoke's coat, it is short, a little harsh, and has almost no undercoat.

Standards

The appearance of the Siberian cat is impressive: its body is powerful, large, covered with thick and long hair. Females weigh 4-5 kg, the weight of an adult cat is much larger - 7-8 kg, and sometimes reaches up to 12! These are real long-livers - sometimes they live up to 20 years.

Significant disadvantages of the breed:

• “Bare” fingers;
• Coat growing in tufts and dull, lack of undercoat;
• Tail with bald spots, short or too long;
• Eyes that are too big or small;
• Ears too small or large;
• Flat cheeks, elongated muzzle, long thin neck, poorly developed bones.

General characteristics of the breed

Character

First of all, this breed is extremely active and energetic. They never sit still and are ready to jump and run all day long. This trait was passed down from their ancient wild ancestors. People who have experience in breeding cats say that it is advisable to breed Sokoke in private homes with a large area of ​​free space.

In addition to all of the above, representatives of the breed are very sociable creatures, but at the same time willful and independent. They will not sit on the hands for a long time or annoy the owner - they can easily organize the game themselves. An important feature should not be missed: cats become attached to people and the environment, so they endure moving very painfully. There is no need to fear for your child: they are always restrained and will never offend children.

Positive qualities include intelligence and intelligence. Cats are easy to train. They are very curious and are always exploring something new. Sokoke quickly finds contact with other animals, such as dogs, which is undoubtedly a plus. Pets have a great time at home while their owners are at work. And in the evening they greet them joyfully, showing affection for them.

The behavior and disposition of Hadzonzo descendants is determined by their genetics. These are very active and mobile animals. They love to jump on trees or any other large objects. When you bring a kitten into your home, you should remember that it will need walks in the yard to live a full life.

Despite their free temperament, four-legged pets are devoted to their patrons and have a hard time with a change of owners. It is also not easy for them to withstand moving and changing their home environment. Sokoke cats are socially adept and enjoy interacting with people. However, such sociability and affection is expressed in them by constantly following a person, while they do not like to sit in arms and allow themselves to be stroked. If a Sokoke cat lives in a large family, then it does not single out someone as the main one; all members of the household are equal to each other.

The mental abilities of these animals are very highly developed. They are easy to train and quickly learn simple tricks. In parallel with this, cats show noticeable curiosity and intelligence. Another advantage of the breed is the ability to get along in the house with dogs, which is usually unusual for most cats.

Breeding

There are from 2 to 4 kittens in one litter

Sexually, Sokoke cats mature at 9-10 months. Breeders do not advise starting breeding immediately, but rather wait until 2-3 heats have passed. According to the standard, these cats cannot be crossed with representatives of other breeds.

The procedure for pimping pets takes place on the territory of the “groom”. First, the cat and male cat must have their claws cut and have all their vaccinations. They leave the couple alone in a closed room for at least 2 days. Pregnancy lasts about 65 days.

Feeding the cat

The Kenyan forest cat can eat balanced industrial feeds or high-quality natural food.

It is important that the sokoke diet be enriched with taurine and vitamin E. When selecting drying, preference is given to premium or super-premium products with a simple and well-balanced composition

These requirements are fully met by the following brands of food:

When selecting drying products, preference is given to premium or super-premium products with a simple and well-balanced composition. These requirements are fully met by the following brands of food:

• Carnilove;
• Grandorf;
• Brit Care;
• Bosch;
• Pronature.

When feeding natural products, the Sokoke diet is designed so that fresh, lean meat predominates. Twice a week it is replaced with offal or ocean fish. The Kenyan Forest is also given porridge, eggs, sour milk and vegetables.

It is forbidden to feed a Sokoke cat bony river fish, fatty meats, smoked meats, sausage, potatoes, sweets and any food from the owner’s table.

General characteristics of the breed

What do representatives of the Sokoke breed look like?

Appearance

Typical representatives of the breed have a slender, muscular body with long flexible legs and a medium-length (strictly black) tail, slightly thickened at the beginning and tapering towards the tip. Large and beautiful medium-sized ears with tassels at the corners, like those of a cheetah, are located at a short distance and always seem to be tense. It seems that the Sokoke are always listening to something.

Large round and incredibly expressive eyes, located as if diagonally from the nose, also look very beautiful. The small muzzle, decorated with emerald eyes, gives a feeling of delight from such a cute animal. Note that Sokoke's eyes change color depending on the cat's mood.

When the situation is favorable for her, the color can be amber, while in a tense state the cat takes on a light green look. Sokoke's hind legs are usually longer than their front legs. And this turns the cat’s gait into something extremely funny, which you can continuously watch for a long time: it seems to be crouching in motion.

The incredibly beautiful color is a marbled tabby on a dark background with a varied pattern in a variety of shades. The short, shiny coat of the Sokoke does not feel silky to the touch; in most cases, the undercoat may simply be absent.

Character

Sokoke's light, playful character does not allow her to lounge imposingly in some chair all day. The cat is distinguished by unprecedentedly active behavior: she runs, jumps and plays, while many other cats have long been snoring on the laps of their owners or in dark, inaccessible nooks.

Also, the cheerful nature of cats of this breed allows them to easily make friends with all family members (of all ages), without exception, and with other pets.

Advantages of Métis

When forming the breed, breeders worked not only on the appearance of the animal, but also sought to instill in their pet the necessary character traits: attachment to the owner, lack of aggressiveness, cleanliness. In most cases, offspring inherit the best traits of their parents, and mixed-breed cats have certain advantages over outbred cats:

• beautiful, perhaps unusual appearance;
• calm non-aggressive character;
• quick adaptation to order in the house.

As a pet, such a cat can be a good acquisition.

My neighbor has a half-British cat. When I saw him for the first time, I simply gasped: a real aristocrat - imposing, handsome, with a sense of self-esteem. And the fur coat is such that you want to pick it up and stroke it. I also have very beautiful, but mongrel cats. And although I love my own more, I cannot deny that even the second generation of purebred cats has some kind of zest in their appearance or behavior.

Character

This native of African forests surprisingly quickly adapts to the conditions of a city apartment. And the genes of semi-wild ancestors make themselves felt, first of all, in the form of restlessness and curiosity of the pet.

This cat never refuses to frolic and does not get tired of outdoor games for a long time. Such activity will obviously be a burden for older household members, but it will appeal to young pranksters (despite the fact that the natural restraint will not allow the sokoka to offend the child - the cat will try to escape from the baby cuddling him, but will not use his claws).

At least once a day, a restless pet needs to splash out its energy on the street. It is unlikely that he will agree to walk sedately with his owner, but he will enjoy running, jumping, climbing trees…. He won't even mind swimming in the nearest body of water.

Sokoke gets along well with pets - both cats and dogs.

Representatives of the Kenyan breed prefer to communicate with people and their own kind using their voice.

By nature, Sokoke cats are active, playful, curious and intelligent cats. Therefore, cats of this breed should be kept in a spacious private house with a large surrounding area. From wild cats they inherited an independent and proud disposition, but despite having wild ancestors, they are kind and easy-going animals, able to get along with all family members and other pets.

Sokoke is a predator, playful, curious and tireless. First of all, the breed is suitable for people who can spend a lot of time with a cat, because the Sokoke becomes very attached to a person and follows on his heels, demanding attention. The cat is extremely talkative and playful, but does not get carried away and can play perfectly with children - she will never bite or scratch a child.

Keeping an Ocicat: necessary conditions, physical activity

A curious and restless pet must be provided with a sufficient number of toys, otherwise he will turn into them everything that comes to hand, or rather, paw, including valuables. To prevent your four-legged pet from damaging furniture and wallpaper, in addition to balls and wind-up mice, he should buy a gaming set. A smart Ocicat will also benefit from various puzzles. Representatives of this breed simply adore them.

To comfortably accommodate the tailed inhabitant of the home you will also need:

• bowls for food and water;
• scratching post;
• a tray with filler, which must be changed in a timely manner, otherwise the overly clean cat, sensing an unpleasant odor, will refuse to go into it.

Walking such a pet is not only possible, but also necessary. Representatives of this breed are not prone to running away, but if they see a dog nearby and panic, they may seek refuge in the trees. To avoid having to remove your pet from a high branch later, it is recommended to use a harness to walk it.

Nutrition

Despite their exotic appearance, Sokoke cats need to be cared for in almost the same way as a regular cat. It is enough to comb the coat once a week and bathe it once a month with a special shampoo for cats. Sokoke love water, so cleaning procedures will be easy.

An important issue is the organization of proper nutrition for the cat. The ideal solution would be to use ready-made premium and super-premium food.

A controlled home environment is essential to keeping Sokoke healthy. “Yesterday’s forest dweller” does not have stable immunity to diseases often found in catteries and homes with a large number of pets of other species.

The life expectancy of African Shorthair cats is the same as that of the "average" domestic cat - about 15 years.

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Sexual maturity is usually reached at the age of 8-9 months. Breeders expect 1-2 litters per year from each breeding pair. Males who find themselves in the “family nest” tend to help raise kittens. A mother cat may wait months to wean her offspring, although the babies develop quite quickly once they become independent.

Caring for an “African” involves:

• weekly combing of the coat with a brush with natural bristles (wiping it with a piece of silk, fur or suede fabric will help to increase the shine of the fur coat of an exhibition beauty);
• monthly bathing with a special cat shampoo (sokokes who are not afraid of water have nothing against this hygiene procedure);
• regular preventive visits to the veterinary clinic, annual vaccination and quarterly deworming.

The organization of a balanced diet should be carried out under the guidance of a veterinarian. The optimal diet is ready-made super premium food.

How to properly care for Sokoke cats?

A cat's short fur requires constant care: about twice a week, you need to carefully and gently comb the fur with a soft brush to give it a special shine. This breed has an amazing love for water.

Bathing will turn into an unusual pleasure for both the cat and its owner.

This breed has an amazing love for water. Bathing will turn into an unusual pleasure for both the cat and its owner.

Nutrition

Sokoke's diet, like the diet of any other cat breed, should be balanced, healthy and varied. From a young age, kittens get used to eating the right food and switch to adult food without any problems.

Particular attention should be paid to ensuring that vitamin E and taurine enter the body. Taurine is very important for the health of Sokoke

It affects the state of the cardiovascular system and the course of metabolic processes.

Features of care

Sokoke is an active cat and needs a spacious home where she will have the opportunity to maintain physical fitness. Otherwise, caring for her is not very difficult.

Nutrition

Breeders recommend feeding cats with high-quality super premium and holistic dry food for short-haired animals (you can choose Royal Canin Feline Health Nutrition or Hills Nature Best). Perfectly balanced nutrients will help them maintain energy and good mood.

In the first months of life, it is recommended to base the diet of animals on the basis of natural products, gradually switching to industrial feed. A natural diet should include lean meat in combination with vegetables, low-fat dairy products, and cereals. You can also give sea fish several times a week. Prohibited foods include fatty meat, potatoes, eggplants, sweets, baked goods, spices and preserves.

It is important to establish a consistent feeding time. Adult cats are fed 2 times a day (morning and evening), and kittens - 3-4 times (depending on age).

Natural products

• Sources of protein: meat (veal, chicken, beef, turkey, lamb), offal (liver, kidneys, ventricles, hearts), fish (salmon, flounder, trout, navaga), chicken and quail eggs, dairy products (ryazhenka, kefir , cottage cheese, yogurt).
• Sources of fats: vegetable oils (olive, sunflower, flaxseed), chicken yolk, fish oil, offal.
• Sources of carbohydrates: porridge (rice, oatmeal, buckwheat, corn, wheat), boiled or raw vegetables (pumpkin, carrots, green beans, asparagus, broccoli, zucchini, cauliflower).

The amount of food depends on the age, condition of the breed and the general physical condition of the animal. Cats older than one year are fed 2 times a day: morning and evening. Adolescents from 6 months to six months - 3 times. Under 6 months - 4-6 times.

Recommended food

When choosing ready-made food, carefully read the reviews of the owners, the recommendations of veterinarians and the labels on the packages. Don’t believe advertising slogans and bright pictures: there is not much quality food available. First of all, these include food from the holistic group. These foods are made from high-quality products; they contain plenty of meat, vegetables and healthy additives, and there are no harmful components at all. But holistic foods are also expensive.

Super-premium foods are a step below holistic foods, and they are somewhat lower in quality. Firstly, the percentage of meat is not indicated, and secondly, corn and wheat are sometimes used (which can cause allergies).

Premium and economy food are even worse. Wheat and corn are used there all the time; instead of meat, remnants of the human food industry are added (this can be leather or ground bones).

Holistic food: Applaws, Carnilove, Orijen, Power of Nature. Super premium food: Brit Care, Summit, Vet Life.

Below are recommended super-premium foods. Links with the names of the food are clickable, on them you can, within our website, get acquainted with the descriptions of the food and read reviews from owners of Sokoke cats.

In addition to simple food, the cat must be given a good vitamin and mineral supplement, as well as sprouting grass to cleanse the stomach of hair. This is not a blessing, but a necessity: wool forms lumps in the stomach, which causes discomfort and a direct path to diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Fresh grass helps get rid of them.

Hygiene and care

Caring for Sokoke cats involves weekly examination of the eyes and ears and cleaning of secretions. The ears are cleaned with a cotton swab dipped in disinfectant lotion. It is inserted shallowly into the ear canal, removing all visible discharge. Each new pass is made with a different swab.

Cats' eyes are almost always clean and clear. If small discharge appears in the corners, they are removed with a cotton pad, first dipping it into strong tea leaves and squeezing it firmly.

It is recommended to brush your teeth every 2-3 days using a soft toothbrush.

To care for claws, there should be a scratching post at home. You may then have to avoid trimming your claws (cats really don’t like it). If necessary, overgrown claws are trimmed with a special nail clipper. In this case, it is important to correctly determine the boundaries of the section, removing only those parts where there are no vessels and nerve endings.

Caring for the short coat of the Sokoke is very easy. It is enough to periodically (about once a week) comb the cat with a natural bristle brush, massaging the hair follicles and cleaning the coat. If the contamination is significant, then the pet is given a bath day. Sokoke, as a rule, behaves calmly and even enjoys this process. Their molting periods are short and pass unnoticed by the owner.

Walking cats is desirable, but not required. This is done on a leash or harness. Letting go is not recommended: once free, the cat can immediately climb a tree or other hard-to-reach surface.

Necessary living conditions

Modern Sokoke are fully domestic cats. But they have not stopped loving space and feel good only in spacious housing. Here they have the opportunity to run and play to their heart's content. To provide your pets with the opportunity to realize their passion for conquering heights, you will have to arrange all kinds of climbing frames, stairs, houses, and improvised caves in the house. Favorite toys will help you occupy yourself while your beloved owner is at work.

It is not recommended to leave the animal for a walk in the local area, since fences and fences are not an obstacle to escape.

Character and temperament

Kenyan Forest cats are energetic, playful cats and are unable to sit still for long periods of time. Despite their independent disposition, Sokoke are very attached to people and have difficulty withstanding separation. Kenyan forest cats always try to be closer to their beloved owner, but do not allow themselves to persistently demand attention.

Due to their easy-going and playful nature, Sokoke are great with children. Kenyan forest animals are tolerant of childish pranks and rarely use their claws.

Sokoke are friendly towards other pets. They easily find a common language not only with cats, but also with dogs.

Education and physical activity

Representatives of the Sokoke breed have an energetic temperament. Kenyan forest animals are not afraid of water and love to climb high surfaces. To keep these cats in good shape, they buy more toys and equip them with special complexes with multi-level platforms on which they can jump.

Kenyan forest animals have a lively mind and high intelligence. They easily remember the rules of behavior in the house and get used to the tray. Sokoke are easy to train and learn simple commands.

Sokoke health

Nature created the Sokoke ancestors in the wild jungle. Therefore, initially all the descendants of the breed were not accustomed to low temperatures. In addition, if a cat catches a slight cold, you should immediately contact a veterinarian - Sokoke cats are not accustomed to diseases and infections of northern countries.

It must be said that cats are sometimes prone to nervous system disorders. You can observe the animal’s strong whims, neuroses and even hysterics. In the most serious cases of distress, the cat may collapse in convulsions.

Therefore, it is recommended to keep Sokoke at home without taking it outside. If your pet exhibits nervous disorders, you should show it to a veterinarian and strictly follow all recommendations of a care specialist.

The breed has excellent health, so the owner does not have any special problems even if the cat has a cold.

Health of the African Shorthair Cat

Due to the fact that this breed was formed in the process of evolution and natural selection, the health of these cats is more than good. However, we should not forget that no matter how good an animal’s heredity is, no one is immune from many acquired diseases. Such a pet needs timely vaccination against a number of major feline diseases. In addition, it is recommended to protect your pet, originally from the hot African continent, from the cold; their body can instantly develop some kind of sore due to hypothermia. Some professional breeders and scientists who have been studying Sokoke cats for many years note that the nervous system of these purrs is the most vulnerable. The Kenyan Forest Cat may experience some nervous system disorders, such as mild forms of depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, hysteria, and even episodes of seizures. In addition, representatives of this breed have a high tendency to pathogens of meningitis and meningo-encephalitis.

History of the origin of the Tonkinese

The appearance of the first Tonkinese and the origin of the name of the breed are attributed to the period “a long time ago.” Even in the ancient Siamese (Siam is the early name of Thailand) “Book of Poems about a Cat”, there is a description of a cat that almost exactly corresponds to the standard of modern Tonkinesis. The name of the breed is associated with the Tonkin region - so in the 16th - 20th centuries. were the territories located in the north of modern Vietnam.

The “official” history of the Tonkinese breed begins in the 30s of the 20th century, simultaneously with the Burmese. Moreover, both breeds have a common ancestor (or rather, ancestor) - the Wong Mau cat, imported to the USA from the East, from which modern American Burmese trace their ancestry.

To improve the breed type, Burmese breeders introduced Siamese cats into the breeding program. Some of the descendants were completely different from their parents. The kittens had an elegant, but not thinned physique, a beautiful unique color and a unique bluish-turquoise, “sea” eye color. Enthusiastic breeders began to develop a new breed, but felinologists did not see any prospects in these breeding programs, and here’s why.

Many external signs of a Tonkinese cat appear if the kitten receives different genes from mom and dad. For example, for the Tonkinese color to appear, one gene must be “Siamese” - it is characterized by a sharp contrast between the body and points (legs, muzzle, ears and tail), and the other gene must be “Burmese” - in this case, the difference between the body and the points are barely noticeable.

According to the laws of genetics, only half of Tonkinese kittens are born with the appropriate breed characteristics. These animals were considered by most felinologists and breeders as a “marriage”, the offspring of unknown reasons mated Burmese and Siamese.

One quarter of the kittens - those who received two “Siamese” genes from their parents, had a Siamese color, another 25% - two “Burmese” genes and a Burmese color. However, such kittens also could not be considered either Burmese or Siamese.

The success and recognition of the Tonkinese cat owes much to the American Jane Barletta and the Canadian breeder Margaret Conroy, who worked on the breed type in the 60s. The breed received its first recognition in the early 70s in Canada. TICA, one of the most respected feline associations in the United States, allowed representatives of the breed to participate in championships in 1979. The CFA, the oldest authoritative felinological association in the United States, recognized the Tonkinese only in 1984, after seven unsuccessful attempts at registration by breeders. Now the Tonkinese breed is recognized throughout the world.

Description of the breed

Cats are characterized by medium size, males are predominantly larger. Weight can range from 3 to 5 kilograms. We can say that representatives of this breed are long-lived, as they live about 13–15 years, and some even longer.

The shape of the head resembles a wedge, but on a strong neck. It is elongated and appears small and flat compared to the body. The cheekbones are quite expressive, which emphasizes the muzzle of the individual. The ears are large in size, with numerous tassels on them. Deep and expressive eyes fascinate many cat lovers. Colors come in different colors: from amber to greenish.

The breed itself is quite large, with a long body and paws. The muscles are very well developed. The hind legs are longer than the front legs, which creates the illusion that the cat is walking on tiptoes. The tail is of medium length and tapers towards the end.

Distinctive features of color:

• a necklace around the neck, not necessarily one-piece;
• the tip of the tail is always black;
• butterfly pattern on the back;
• on the forehead you can see the intermittent letter “M”;
• A bull's eye pattern is visible on the side.

The body of a medium-sized sokoke is well developed, due to which the animals exhibit increased speed and maneuverability in movements. A wide chest, pronounced neck and shoulder muscles provide strength and agility.

Sokoke cats have a wedge-shaped head, longer than wide. Compared to the body it looks small. The upper lobe of the skull is almost flat, the cheekbones are moderately pronounced. But the vibrissal pads stand out noticeably, rounding the outlines of the muzzle. The ears, wide at the base, are always medium in size. The tips of the ears are softly rounded and often have tassels.

The eyes of the descendants of Kenyan predators are almond-shaped, set wide and slightly oblique from the nose. The color of the iris can vary from light yellow to light green. The blue tint is not found in this breed. The eyes have a clear black border. Sokoke representatives have a wide, straight nose with a slight bend on the bridge of the nose.

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In general, the colors of pets’ fur are very bright and memorable: contrasting spots or stripes stand out against a light or dark background. In the description of the standard, such a pattern is called “marbled tabby”. There are also carriers of the recessive trait in the form of snow color among cats. This color was first obtained in 2011 in one of the nurseries.

Sokoke cats have several distinctive color characteristics:

• the very tip of the tail is always black;
• there is a “necklace” on the neck in the form of one or more stripes;
• a pattern resembling a butterfly is noticeable on the back;
• the side of the body is made of broken lines;
• On the forehead, the letter “M” stands out from intermittent stripes.

Breed characteristics

Standard

• Appearance: The Tonkinese cat should give the impression of a compact, proportionally built animal, neither strong nor thin in build. The animal should not be light in weight, despite its small size. This is a muscular cat, active and emotional.
• Torso: should not give the impression of being squat or excessively slender; proportionality is preferable to size. The muscles are well developed, but not excessively.
• Legs and paws: quite graceful, proportional to the body. The hind legs are slightly longer. The paws are small and oval.
• Tail: medium length, proportional to the rest of the body, pointed at the end.
• Head: wedge-shaped, but rounded, with high, non-sharp cheekbones, clean contours. The edges of the chin and nose are on the same vertical line. The transition between the forehead and nose is not sharp, the forehead is slightly convex.
• Ears: Proportional to the body, medium in size and rounded at the tips. Set so wide and high.
• Eyes: proportional to the rest of the muzzle, almond-shaped, open. Deep and pure shades are desirable, from aquamarine to sea green.
• Coat: short, close-lying, shiny, silky to the touch, without undercoat.

Colors

The “calling card” of the breed is the mink color, when the dark color of the points smoothly transitions to a lighter color of the body. In adult animals, the mask and ears are connected by tracing (dark paths). With age, the animal darkens, the color “blurs out”. The following variations are allowed:

• natural mink;
• champagne mink;
• blue mink;
• platinum mink.

Photos of colors

Solid colors (Burmese) with eye color from green to yellow-green, pointed (Siamese) with blue eye color are also allowed. The color variations are the same.

Animals are disqualified from:

• yellow eyes;
• squint;
• white medallions;
• crooked tail.

Health

The weight of representatives of the breed ranges from 2.5 to 5.5 kg, males are larger than females. In general, Tonkinese cats have good health. With proper care, they can live 15 years or more.

However, “bad heredity” sometimes makes itself felt. There may be problems with teeth (as with Siamese), and liver amyloidosis - representatives of all breeds of the Siamese-Oriental group are prone to it. The instability of Tonkinesis to upper respiratory tract infections is also noted.

Personality of the Tonkinese cat

The Tonkinese, due to its relationship with the Siamese, has a lively and friendly character. Such a pet strives to communicate with all family members, including other animals. These cats adore their owners and love to tell them all their cat news, except that their voices are softer and quieter.

Representatives of the Tonkinese breed feel good in any, even noisy, family and get along with children - provided that adults have explained to them how to behave with an animal. It is believed that communication with tonkinesis has a positive effect on the condition of a child suffering from certain mental disorders.

Taking care of the juice

Caring for this breed is very simple: brush regularly, clean teeth, ears, tear ducts, bathe once a month. Taking a bath is a joyful activity for cats of this breed.

The ears can be cleaned using mineral oil and a swab, but before doing this, you should carefully remove all dirty lumps from the ear, without going far into the ear canal. Since bathing occurs once a month, washing your face can be made a daily task.

To do this, you need to moisten a rag in warm water and wipe the muzzle, near the eyes, and nose. By refreshing with water, you can get rid of unsightly discharge in the corner of each eye.

It should be noted that the brush for combing should be natural (from wild boar hair, for example). Advantages of a natural comb: does not hurt the skin, good blood circulation, “polishing” the coat. And if you rub it with a piece of suede fabric, the wool will shine even more.

The cat will also be grateful for the “cat structure” on which it will sharpen its claws. Nowadays, many different devices have been created specifically for cats.

History of the origin of the breed line

In 1978, British woman Janie Slater, who moved to Kenya, saw wild kittens not far from her plantation where she grew coconuts. They impressed the woman very much with their unusual coat color. She decided to take two for herself - a boy and a girl. When the pets grew up, Janie crossed them, and soon the female gave birth to cubs, which the enterprising Kenyan gave to her friend from Denmark, who was visiting her, Gloria Moldrup, as representatives of a new breed. Mrs. Moldrup brought them home, and later distributed the kittens to new owners from different European countries.

In the 2000s, Ginny Knocker, also a resident of Kenya, became interested in Sokoke cats. She began to study the breed and learned that it originated from wild Kenyan forest cats, which the locals called Hadzonzo. Soon the woman found these animals. Thanks to her, fresh blood from wild relatives was infused into the new breed, and genetic characteristics were consolidated. New litters born from crossing with Kenyan cats were sent to Europe and the USA.

Scientists conducted a series of genetic tests to determine the true origins of Sokoke cats. They were able to find out that their DNA matches the DNA of cats on Lamu Island and spotted wild cats living in eastern Kenya. Thanks to the research, Sokoke was included in the same group with these cats, it is called the Arabian Sea. In 1883, the breed was named the African Shorthair, but after official registration in 1994 it was renamed Sokoke.

Reference. The Kenyan name for the cat “Hadzonzo” literally translates as “one who looks like tree bark” or “peeping out of the crown” - due to its color, the Soukok cat was hardly noticeable against the background of tree trunks. It is known that in the wild these animals spent most of their time on branches - they obtained insect larvae from under the bark, and caught birds and beetles.

How to get a kitten

Sokoke kittens, 3 months old, vaccinated and independent, are offered for sale. The kittens for sale do not differ from adult cats in coat color, so it is not difficult to determine purebred.

Newborn babies have blue irises. Snow-colored Sokoke kittens are white until they are one week old. The patterns are finally formed a month after birth.

External and behavioral characteristics of a healthy Kenyan kitten:

• activity, curiosity, playfulness;
• lack of fear and aggression;
• soft, moderately well-fed, non-painful abdomen;
• clean tear ducts, ears, nasal passages, anus;
• no traces of skin diseases and parasites on the body.

Price and nurseries

Sokoke is a rare breed. Each representative of the European and American lines in the register of felinological organizations. Most breeders live in Western Europe and the USA. The only Russian nursery is Mirisok (Moscow) . Arabuko-Sokoke (Kiev) operates in Ukraine .

The price ranges from 30 to 60 thousand rubles , determined by the exhibition category, pedigree, and exterior features. For a kitten of the breed category, intended for breeding, they can ask for up to 100 thousand rubles , which is due to the rarity of the breed.

Description of the Sokoke breed

The beautiful Sokoke cat resembles a small spotted cheetah. Cats have a slender body and medium-sized, elongated, flexible paws. The shape of the muscles helps to imagine the strong body of a predatory mammal, the hunting leopard. Males weigh up to 5 kg, cats - up to 3 kg.

The external structure has a number of the following features:

• A distinctive feature of the cat is that the ears are large and have many tufts on them, similar to a cheetah.
• Huge eyes with unique expressiveness attract the attention of animal lovers. They look like almonds, slightly slanted. The cats watch with soulfulness. Mood is the reason for eye color changes. They come in amber and light green with a golden tint.
• The shape of the head resembles a triangular wedge on a short but muscular neck. The small nose looks cute, and the cheekbones are set high, so the muzzle has a sophisticated look.
• The Sokoke's gait can be called the most unusual of all, because their hind legs are angular (it seems as if the cat is doing small squats when walking). The hind legs are longer than the front legs. This factor turned her gait into a graceful one, and even with a squat. But more importantly, it gives cats the opportunity to jump far and high. At the end of the powerful limbs there are compact dark pads. The cat's tail is of moderate length with a rounded black tip.
• Sokoke's coat color is original - reminiscent of a marbled tabby (the presence of a shadow pattern reminiscent of cuts on a marble surface). Stripes in the form of a spiral, half rings in black. The color of the ornament varies from bright brown to crisp brown. Although the fur is short, you can still see how it shimmers and shines when he walks. Short-haired cats need to be brushed 1-2 times a week.