Out of the Wild; Into your Heart - The African Sokoke

In the wild, the Kadzonzo/Sokoke lives in the trees. It is said that it feeds on insects, not on birds or rodents. As a cat of the rainforest it accepts water as part of the environment, if water is in the way it will swim across it. Some Sokokes even have web between their toes. The Sokoke has the refined movements of a sprinter, long legs – the hindlegs longer than the forelegs – small head and a slender muscular body. Eyes, ears and whiskers are top tuned and it is easy to compare it to a cheetah or ocelot. The short dense coat has a blotched tabby pattern with agouti hairs. The colour varies from sand to black and the stomach is spotted, in every way a perfect camouflage coat. (There are a few snow Sokokes.)

The Sokoke is a proud cat, confident and sensitive. It is very lively, one moment it is very affectionate, the next it is a "100 miles an hour cat". The Sokoke is talkative, its voice is modulated and very penetrading – so much that it can make a Siamese greeneyed with envy! It likes following you around talking, commenting all the time. It is intelligent, and you can communicate in a rather sophisticated way for a long time. Even though the Sokoke is very affectionate it does not like to be held tight. Sitting on your shoulder is all right, so is sleeping in your bed, on or under your eiderdown / on your stomach, in your armpit, lying diagonally on the mattress or huddled together. The Sokoke loves company and thrives in a pack.

Although it has only recently come out of the jungle, the Sokoke is very gentle, not agressive at all. If it feels threatened the cat will freeze, tighten all muscles and flee. The Sokoke only uses its strong teeth and powerful claws if it sees no way of escaping.

When domesticated, the Sokoke keep its independence and feral side, but also its natural gentleness.