Even when relaxed, their slightly longer rear legs give the appearance of being "at the ready". Their graceful athleticism, alert intelligence, and peaceful personality combine to make the Sokoke a true companion animal who thrives on affection. They can exhibit a vocal possessiveness towards their feline families and human companions with whom they deeply bond.
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| Sokoke |
The Sokoke Cat is a long legged moderate-sized cat with a short dense coat without any undercoat.
It looks a little like a ocelot having an "African tabby pattern" with ticked hairs in the dark part of
the pattern. It's movement pattern can be compared with a cheetahs. They mature very slowly,
and only reach sexual maturity at the age 1,5-2 years.
Even if the Sokoke looks like one of the wild cats and has retained all the characteristics of the wild cats, does it bond very strongly to its human independent and loving, but never clinging. It is totally bereft of aggression and only marks with teeth or claws if strongly threatened. All muscles tense if in danger, ready to flee quickly. The Sokoke is a very sensitive cat and swings with the mood of its human. It is active and quite talkative, having a strong voice, it is an independent cat but it much enjoys the company of its' humans. It is a proud and highly intelligent cat and you can communicate at a high level using voice and and body language.
Because they are totally domestic by nature, Sokokes can be kept without permits and licenses normally required in the keeping of wild or endangered species. These little "cheetahs" are totally dependable in personality, they require no elaborate housing facilities, and they are a practical size for a family pet. Qualities that persevere from the wild are: super efficient ears, eyes and whiskers. Camouflaged coats, agile and athletic bodies, a unique self confidence, and a high level of intelligence. Additionally, the Sokoke breed strives to preserve genes unknown among the traditional domestic breeds. FIFe's breed council is taking special interest in preserving these rare genes, and have made strict breeding plans for the few breeding cats. They have not been mixed with domestic cats and are therefore totally unique and is by some though to be a completely independent genera.
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| Sokoke |
SOKOKE CAT BREEDS
SOKOKE HEAD:
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.
SOkoke Color:
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.
SOKOKE BODY:
Torso: Medium long, slender, lithe and graceful, with well- developed chest, level back, and rounded rib cage. Size: Males tend to be from 10 to 40% larger than females. 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.
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. 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.
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| Sokoke |
SOKOKE COAT:
Texture: Very short, close lying with an almost hard not silky feel and little or preferably no undercoat. Pattern: Modified classic tabby. The pattern should be muted by ticking. This ticking, along with the modifications of the pattern are hallmarks of the Sokoke breed. The Sokoke pattern differs from the standard classic pattern in the following manner: at least one chin strap (broken allowable); the shoulder butterfly may be broken, just a blotch or not obvious; the bullseye should be broken, and the forehead "M" may be broken, but must be vestigially present.
SOKOKE COLOR:
Any shade of brown tabby. It should be noted that the Sokoke is not a highly rufoused cat and the shades of brown can range from cool to warm. Black tail tip may also be ticked.
Being a cat of the rainforest, the Sokoke has a special relation to water and will just swim across any stream that crosses their path, they don't seem to enjoy it but take is as a part of life. Another special characteristic is their hard muscular bodies, rendered even more athletic by their extremely short coat through which every muscle can be seen.
