Anyone heard of the Sokoke breed?

The Sokoke is one of the rarest breeds of cats in the world. It's extremely doubtful that your cat has any Sokoke blood.

Contact this breeder, maybe she can help you find out.

http://www.aaliyahbengals.com/Sokokes.html

I've only once seen them in a cat show. A quick checking tells me that there are only 5 registered Sokokes in this country imported within 10 years (no breeders at all as far as I know). They are incredibly rare, near extinction if I'm correct. They are gorgeous though.

I've heard of them but they are very rare and I've never even seen one in person. You have a lovely brown classic tabby domestic shorthair.

Even the classic tabby patterned Ocicats have a longer shaped classic pattern - not a round bullseye pattern.

Beautiful little cats!!! African wild cats! Rrrroaoowwww!!!

This is pretty late and I'm not sure if you even still use the site, but stranger things have happened; I live in a small rural town in Georgia and a unique-looking cat showed up on my doorstep one day. After much investigation, I am confident she is a sokoke. This baffled me at first, but I suspect there is a breeder in the area and she was thrown out for not being good breeding stock because two of her toes are fused. But the fur colorations and body proportions coupled with her decidedly uncharacteristic behavior leave little room for doubt. That being said, in my experience, the sokoke acts a bit like a dog in that she will follow me around and craves attention far more than any cat I've ever had. She is also extremely sociable with people and other animals, including cats and dogs. Additionally, she seems to have limitless energy...which can be a little vexing when I'm busy. She also chirps and "talks" all the time; far more vocal than other cats I've had. She also vibrates the tip of her trail when extremely happy. Overall, a fantastic cat with with such a non-standard personality and disposition.

 

 

I believe such things arent very unusual, they getting rid of "pet quality" cats.  Another source is cats whom got astray, often when during transport to a show or for mating.

But in these cases she should have a chip. Unless dumped / sold cheaply as a kitten.

Was she already grown up when she come to you? spayed?

Please, give us some pics!

 

They were found in the Sokoke forest in Kenya, the breed registered perhaps 20 years ago, not longer.. 

Although I found a swedish musei-photo, taken 1924 in Belgian Kongo in West Africa at Tskuapa-river. A white hunter, a dead black buffalo, and what is he holding in his arms? a big gun?  No, a small cat, a real look alike of a sokoke...  being apparently his friend and companion.

 

If this proves sokokes were spread over big parts of Africa, or if it proves he had the cat from Kenya and took it all the way westwards, I dont know.  But they are apparently pals!

The only I do know this is an unique picture of an early Sokoke.

 

http://www9.vgregion.se/vastarvet/objekt.aspx?id=GNM_989_1

StefanZ, what an awesome picture! I love that this big hunter is out killing buffalo (I don't love that part so much) and when he takes his prize photo, he puts his cat in it. Love the pic.

 

 

Not sure if there's a translation issue or you meant to say this. It's quite unusual for a breeder to just get rid of PQ cats, while not used for breeding they are desexed and petted out  (as are many show or breed quality kittens) not booted out the front door to roam the neighbourhood. 

 

 

 

You jest, surely?  There is nothing difficult about finding a completely secure cat carrier and using it.

 

And here in the UK, pet and show neuter kittens are usually sold at the same price.  I know one breeder who sells queens on the active for the same prices as a female to be neutered, though obviously he is very fussy about who he will sell to. 

 

 

Responsible breeders do of course try to sell them to good homes as pet cats, often at reduced price. Or gives / sell them away to friends or relatives.

With all proper papers and pedigree, although altered, or written in "not for breeding". (In Sweden they are usually altered at earliest 6 months, the recommendation not long ago was 1 year).

Exactly like you say

 

But some dont do so, defending their reputation as really first class breeders is more important than the lives of all kittens. Razor sharp tongues not uncommon in the breeding circles...

It MAY be hearsay, but I had read and heard experienced breeders hint about other breeders putting to sleep kittens, for example of unwanted color combinations (thus hiding their  breeding animals carried that unwanted gene).

I think a somewhat less drastic step is to get rid of this unwanted kitten, not necessary throw just out, but sell very cheaply without papers to anyone who wants a cheap kitten, and dont being too fussy it will be a good forever home. But someone who can keep mun shut. perhaps simply by ignorance, not realizing there was a dramatic story behind.

I believe a lesser evil is more common than a big evil.

 

As you understand, Im NOT defending this practice it it really exists.

 

Im just cynically seeing it may exist.

 

 

1.  Yet I know for fact several examples just from our scandinawian small russian blue world where such things happened...   One got out from the car, disappeared, got run over. The honest finder gave her a honest grave in her garden, togehter with her own cats.

The second was even worse. They were on the way  to the taxi after a show sleeping over in a flat, and she run off... Im not sure how the got out, No traces ever since.

 

Lesson?  Secure cat carrier and leash on.

 

Not to even mention a couple more cases when they disappeared during holidays.

Two were found a month later, one disappeared mysteriously...

 

2.   Same in Sweden They are almost all officially sold as pets, as nobody can really quarantee they will be good show cats when adult. Part of it is, in Sweden they are neutered at 6-12 months age.

Reduced Pet price only if visibly sub standard, or there is some other problem which will not make them good for breeding or show.

 

so it is at least in the russian blue world, being also with a good overall standard. But I believe it is so overall, save perhaps unusal lines or breeds, where parents were imported for big money.

 

 

People are really so careless with cats in cars?  Wow!  Apart from the risk of losing the cat, a cat lose in the car is potentially dangerous. 

 

Do I want Minnie jumping up and clinging on with her claws when I am driving?  Or Max wandering round my feet?  NO. 

 

But I'm not convinced that it has happened to many people.