Sokoke Cat Breed Information

Group

Short Haired

Weight

2.7-4.5 kg

Length

17.8-20.3 cm

Lifespan

9-15 years

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About the Sokoke Cat

Reviewed by:

Dr. Cristina Alice Vulpe

Veterinarian

Ever wondered what the rarest cat in the world is?

Well, you’re in luck – because the Sokoke is the rarest naturally-occurring domestic cat breed on the globe, and you’re about to find out everything there is to know about this charming feline!

What Is the History & Origin of the Sokoke Cat?

The Sokoke cat breed originated in the Arabuko Sokoke Forest in Eastern Kenya.

It’s said that the wildlife artist Jeni Slater found a litter of Sokoke kittens, and a couple were taken over to Denmark, which resulted in the breed spreading to Europe in the late 1970s.

Later, around 2001, a woman named Jeannie Knocker, who lived in Kenya, began to research these unusual cats. She helped to put the Sokoke cat breed on the map by letting breeders in the US and Europe know about this special kitty.

In 2004, the Sokoke was officially recognised as a breed by the International Cat Association (TICA).

What Is a Sokoke Cat Breed?

The Sokoke, also known as the African Shorthair, or the Sokoke Forest Cat, is considered a natural breed, meaning they came about by natural means, breeding freely and most likely descending from the feral cats of Kenya.

Besides having ‘wild’ origins, these kitties are currently known as one of the world’s rarest breeds due to their relatively unknown status and sparse breeding.

Who Is a Sokoke Cat Best For?

The Sokoke certainly fits the bill if you’re looking for a great family cat! They are easily adaptable, aren’t skittish, and they enjoy all the attention – whether it’s from their owners, kids, other felines, or canines!

These kitties are loyal and form strong bonds with their human family, including young children.

When it comes to other pets, Sokokes get along well with other cats and dogs.

However, thanks to their heritage, they tend to hunt, so they aren’t suitable companions for smaller pets, like rabbits, mice, hamsters, fish, and birds. Make sure you keep them far out of reach for this kitty!

What Does a Sokoke Cat Look Like?

The Kenyan locals call this rare breed Kadzonzo, which translates to ‘tree bark’. The Sokoke cat has faint (ring-like) visible tabby markings covering their bodies.

Their ears are unusually long, and they typically have high cheekbones. These kitties have striking amber or light-green coloured eyes, as well as a tapered tail.

If you’ve ever seen the Bengal and Egyptian Mau cat breeds, you’ll notice that the Sokoke has very similar exotic coat markings to them.

Coat

If you become the owner of a Sokoke, you’ll be very pleased to know that grooming them is super easy, since they have short coats and hardly any undercoats at all.

Thanks to their short hair, one can easily see their muscular, lean body, further accentuating their wild look.

Colours

As of now, the only recognised Sokoke coat colour is a black tabby with modified classic tabby markings.

Agouti regions can be seen within the black markings, which results in a marbled or clouded tabby pattern, sometimes known as “see-through tabby.”

Sokokes can be tabby colour pointed (Snow Sokokes), solid blue, and solid black.

Patterns

Sokokes are tabby cats (specifically ticked tabby) with a distinct M-shaped marking on their foreheads.

Sokoke Cat Grooming & Shedding

If you’re not a fan of grooming cats, you’ll love owning a Sokoke, as they don’t require much grooming at all.

Their coats are short, and they don’t shed excessively.

These cats dislike handling much, so it’s best to save your grooming efforts for occasional toenail trims and toothbrushing.

If you raise your furry friend from a kitten, grooming them shouldn’t be much of a challenge since they will be used to these routines.

How Do Sokoke Cats Behave? A Look at Their Temperament and Personality

Sokokes are undoubtedly one of the most intelligent cats – in fact, they’re often likened to dogs. This means that the breed can be trained to learn new tricks and play fetch with ease! And did we mention that Sokokes love playing in the water?

These cats are known to be extremely loyal to their human companions and enjoy being close to wherever their family – whether that’s relaxing in the lounge or spending time outside in the garden.

This cat breed thrives off being part of a busy family environment and doesn’t tend to do well being left alone for long periods of time.

Having wild cat ancestors, Sokokes are naturally active and very inquisitive. They can spend hours exploring, climbing, and running around!

Living Needs

The Sokoke’s geographic origins are to blame for this cat’s limited resistance to most of the common New World cat illnesses. In addition, they tend to be less well adapted to colder climates. That means they might need a kitty jersey for winter!

This breed’s dog-like nature makes them a fun addition to the household, as long as their owner are prepared to give up some time to entertain and mentally stimulate them.

These curious kitties love to explore pretty much anything and everything they come across.

A great way to keep your Sokoke stimulated and happy is to have plenty of interactive toys around the house, such as balls, puzzles, toy mice, feathers, and a scratch post.

Since the Sokoke is highly energetic, they need an equally active human family to keep up with their bursts of energy and silly antics!

What Are Common Habits and Activity Levels of Sokoke Cats?

Habits

The Sokoke is one of the few cat breeds that loves playing in the water. So, don’t be surprised to see your furry friend prancing in your garden pond!

These kitties also enjoy climbing and jumping, whether it’s a tree, your furniture, or even your kitchen cabinets! They have the ability to squeeze into places you would never have expected.

Activity level

Sokoke cats are extremely active. You won’t be finding yourself needing to encourage them to exercise!

As mentioned, these felines are excellent jumpers and highly capable climbers. When it comes to their running skills, they’re as fast as lightning!

Vocalness

You certainly won’t feel lonely or antisocial when you have a Sokoke cat in your house!

This cat breed is extremely talkative, with quite a loud voice (sometimes loud enough for your neighbours to hear). These vocal cats love talking to their human family and even to other felines.

What Is the Weight, Height, and Size of a Sokoke Cat?

Height

On average, fully-grown Sokoke cats are between 17.8cm and 20.3cm tall.

Weight

Sokoke kitties can weigh anywhere from 2.7kg to 4.5kg.

Size

The Sokoke is typically a medium-sized cat.

Are Sokoke Cats Easy to Train?

Sokoke cats are extremely smart, which means they can be trained to do almost anything a dog could be trained to do. Their intelligent nature and desire to please their owners are thanks for their easy trainability.

If you’ve always wanted to get a cat that you can take out for walks, Sokokes can totally be leashed-trained – and they’ll thoroughly enjoy exploring new environments with you!

Does the Sokoke Cat Have Any Common Health Issues?

Sokokes are known to be relatively healthy cats, and there are currently no known genetic health issues associated with this breed.

However, they are more prone to catching contagious diseases than most breeds are, as they don’t seem to have at least partial immunity to common diseases that affect domestic cats.

With that being said, it’s essential that you stay on top of routine vaccinations and seek veterinary advice to avoid your precious kitty getting sick. Like any other cats, they are prone to diseases such as cancer or kidney failure in their senior years.

What Is the Lifespan of a Sokoke Cat?

The average lifespan of the Sokokeis 9 to 15 years.

How Much Does a Sokoke Cat Need to Be Fed?

Although Sokoke cats don’t have specific nutritional needs, they do thrive on a high-quality diet.

Whether you feed your kitty dry or wet cat food, you’ll want to look for a product that provides sufficient protein and minimal carbohydrates since cats are indeed carnivores!

Plus, make sure you’re feeding your kitty food that is suitable for their life stage (kitten, adult, or older cat).

How Much Can You Expect to Pay for a Sokoke Cat in Australia?

In general, you can expect to pay anywhere from $1,400 to $2,700 for a purebred Sokoke kitten.

Why are they so expensive?

Thanks to this breed being the rarest in the world, it can be challenging to find a breeder, and you can expect waiting lists to be very long (but totally worth it!).

Sokoke Cat FAQs

How rare is a Sokoke cat?

Sokoke cats are super rare! In fact, they’re known as the rarest cats in the world.

This wild breed is said to be naturally occurring, without the need for human intervention at all. Originally, they could only be found in the Arabuko-Sokoke Forest Preserve, just off the Kenyan coast.

How do you pronounce Sokoke?

The word Sokoke, for this African tabby breed, is pronounced “So-Ko-Key”.

Are Sokoke cats cuddly?

Although the Sokeke’s roots lie in the wild Sokoke Forest, they can easily become very tame housecats. They are moderately affectionate, meaning they won’t be too demanding of their human companions.

Instead of desperately looking for attention or cuddling up in your lap, these friendly felines tend to display their affection by following their owners around the house.