Sokoke: The cheetah cats that lived with humans

In 1978, a farmer in Kenya discovered a litter of cats that looked like cheetah cubs. This was a new breed of cat that was named Sokoke. From there, these cats reached Denmark and from there they spread to other countries, until in 1993, the “cheetah cats” received official recognition as a breed.

Origin of the Sokoke cat breed

No one doubts that today’s domestic cats have their origins in wild cats, but if there is one domestic cat with wild DNA, it is the Sokoke. In 1978, a farmer discovered a litter of wild kittens in Arabuko Sokoke National Park, from which it gets its name, that looked very similar to cheetah cubs. At first, its discoverers decided to call it the “khadzonzo cat”, which means “it looks like a tree beating.”

Initially, it was considered that the first Sokoke specimens were originally a hybrid between a domestic cat and a wild cat, although curiously, once socialized, cats of this breed decided to voluntarily live in the environment of human populations.

The Sokoke came to Europe first in Denmark, but let us not forget that since the African adventure of the Danish writer Karen Blixen (“Out of Africa”) there has been a long relationship between this country and Kenya, and from there it spread to other countries. The official acceptance as a feline breed took place in 1993.

How do I know if my cat is Sokoke?

Following genetic analyses carried out for acceptance as a breed, it was found that the Sokoke were cats that came from the islands of Lamu and Pate, where the natives have lived with them for generations, and that their origins would be in domestic cats from India and in a species of wild cat that lives in the Arabian Peninsula, although this means answering the question of how these cats could have reached Africa.

What no one doubts is that the Sokoke is a feline breed with totally natural and wild DNA since the few existing specimens are not the result of any selective breeding program.

How tall and how much does the Sokoke cat weigh?

From a physical point of view, the Sokoke is a medium-sized cat, with legs that stand out for their length and a particularly dense coat, details that make them similar to wild cats. On the other hand, they are characterized by having a slow sexual maturity process, between 1.5 and 2 years, a circumstance that differentiates them from other feline breeds.

At first glance, this breed may give us the appearance of a cheetah, although later we can see that these cats are not aggressive. Still, their senses of sight, smell, and hearing are specially developed, which makes them very active cats that need a high level of exercise and interactivity and a lot of space where they can move freely.

How long does a Sokoke cat live?

The life expectancy of Sokoke cats is between 10 and 16 years always depending on the care they receive and other genetic aspects, such as possible hereditary diseases.

How much does a Sokoke cat cost?

The English name for the Sokoke cat is African Shorthair. If you find a specimen of this breed in a registered and quality cattery, the price of a Sokoke cat will not be less than 1,500 euros.