oursokokes

The Sokokes
of Wyld Illuzion
Introducing Our Newest
sokoke ....

Kasafari Wahadi af Kibutata DK
Joined our family March 14, 2003
(Wahadi means '"Vow" or "Promise")

       We were privilegedto be the second cattery in America to be owned by these interesting and mysterious kitties. (Our friends, Judy and Sherri of Shabengal's were the first.) Now we are proud and privileged to be the first cattery in the US to receive one of the new African line of Sokokes. (Though she only beat some others by about 2 weeks.) Above Wahadi's shown checking out the premises. She settled in after a few weeks and now is no longer shy with Ken and I. (I think Wahadi will probably always be shy with strangers but we'll see, she's getting better with that, too.)
          We are so grateful to Helle and Edith & Robert for entrusting us with our very special girl -- there are no words to express our thanks and appreciation!!
         To learn more about Sokoke history and about Sokokes in the US and Canada, visit the new web site for the North American Sokoke Association. We are looking for members to help the Sokokes and this site will answer many question you may have. If not, you can always email me and I'll find the answer for you.

Wahadi Has Babies! (6/26/03)

**These are very special babies. Visit Wahadi's Nursery to learn why. (2 boys still avail) © Patsu**

Our Story:

   We were introduced to these facinating kitties when our friend Judy, via the magic of the Internet, learned of the plight of the Sokokes through Helle in Denmark. Helle was equally interested in the Bengals. (There were no Bengals at that time in Denmark.) In 1998, Kwaza Kwa Kufika af Kibutata, appropriately named "First To Arrive", was received from Denmark at the Seattle Tacoma Airport.
          We met Kwaza a few weeks after she arrived. She won our hearts. She knew no strangers. It was like she'd already known us. Then watching her enjoying her banana and out-leaping the Bengal kittens who were twice her size, clinched it. We were hooked!
          Later that same year, Hesabu, "Many Blessings", arrived; and on 3/8/99 America's first babies were born. Our first two Sokokes were siblings from this litter.
         We received Rajua, Shabengals Wanarajua Mbele, (Swahili for "to have hope for the future") in June of 1999; and then, Shabengals Akuna Matada (named from the movie The Lion King) arrived in September 1999.

This was taken just by Sherri just before we recieved Rajua. I love this shot because it shows one of his many funny facial expressions. He truly was a little character and you really could "know" what he was thinking or feeling.

On April 4th 2000, Akuna blessed us with three beautiful kittens -- the first in the World in the new millennium. (This litter was soon followed by litters in Denmark and Italy.) From this litter we kept one queen, Illuzions' Kitangulizi, "Lizi", (meaning "she who goes first"). Her sister, Illuzions' Johari Mzungu (meaning "rare gem") went to Judy and Sherri's in Washington, and her brother, Illuzions' Imara Akita (meaning "Strong Chief") went to Canada (as did a brother from a later litter).

Rajua taking his cherry flavored medicine and Akuna with her babies (and some adopted Bengal babies). Rajua has retired and now lives in California, Akuna is now in France and recently had a lovely litter there. © Patsu

Akuna's April 2000 litter in our Apple tree (left). Imara & sister, Lizi, (middle) napping on the couch at 5 mos. (Imara & Lizi are 2 of the kittens in the Apple tree.) Johari, the remaining kitten, taken at about a year. (right) © Patsu & Sharon Parks

**Lizi (left) and Densi (right).**
**© Lizi's photo by Maryanne Porth, used with permission.**
**All rights reserved.**

        We were forced in 2001 by finances, space constraints, and a hoped for move, to cut back on our breeding programs. Akuna, Kia, Imara, & Jamani moved to Montreal to help Canada establish the Sokokes as a breed there. We assumed Lizi would conceive with Densi and we'd have kittens. We continued showing Lizi in UFO and taking her with us when we traveled in our motor home, all the while hoping that she'd present us with kittens. Two years later, Lizi continues to be an excellant ambassador for her breed, but we are still waiting for babies. During that time, Densi and Lizi were the only whole breeding pair in the US. Then in 2002, Falani arrived in Montana from Canada. Now in 2003 new Sokokes are coming into the US from Kenya and from the Kenya lines via Denmark & Sweden. New litters have arrived from these kitties and another is expected in Montana. This is very exciting for those of us who have been working to estabolish this breed on the western side of the Atlantic.
          We will be trying a little longer for kittens with Lizi. She's travelling with Fulani (and Lynn Schafer-Russell) so we have our fingers crossed and are doing nightly fertility dances (with the blinds pulled). If that doesn't work out, I'll alter her the fall).
          Below is Lizi and her boyfriend this summer. They were so sweet together but we don't appear to have any babies on the way. Vizuri is leaving soon to go home. We'll miss him.

**Vizuri & Lizi (collar) snuggle together. © Patsu**

Our Lizi
is
2nd Best NBC
in UFO NW Regionals
for 2000-2001 Show Season!!

**Lizi with her Best NBC ribbons a year ago and recently enjoying a snack of cantaloupe, one of her favorite treats. Patsu**

We are very proud of our little ambassador!
November 2002 Update: For our UFO Annual & show in November 2002, we brought Lizi for the judges to "learn on" as they are unable to handle Sokokes during the show season in their areas of the US. She was wonderful and well received by all the judges who had lots of questions and were very interested!!
Lizi has been an excellant ambassador for her breed in many ways. This will not stop if she doesn't have babies. She will still be a wonderful example of her breed and be travelling and showing with us.

Lizi sunbathes on our porch on the 4th of July 2002.

Wahadi's babies peek out from their hiding place between the matress & bed frame.

Lizi's back out on the porch this year, too.

Wahadi enjoys a treat of Romaine (a change from the usual cantaloupe).

Kasafari Vizuri af Kibutata DK, (right) is Wahadi's brother his name means "handsome" and it couldn't be more perfect. He truly is handsome and is learning the show routein, too. Vizuri is the Sokoke who "came to dinner". He visited with us for about 5 months before leaving to be with his owner, Peter Martel, in Wisconsin. We watched him mature into a lovely boy with muscles and phyisique to match his name.

Vizuri sunning on our porch. What a way to live!

© Patsu

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