Sokoke Standard
(This is the official new standard
for TICA, The International Cat Association, and UFO, United Feline Organization.)
Head (30)
Body (40)
Coat (30)
|
...............
Shape 5
Ears 4
Eyes 4
Chin 2
Muzzle 4
Nose 4
Profile 5
Neck 2
...............
Torso 6
Legs 9
Feet 3
Tail 6
Boning 9
Musculature 7
................
Texture
10
Pattern 12
Color 8
|
The
Sokoke is a recently discovered breed, found in and near the threatened
Arabuko Sokoke Forest on the coast of Kenya. The first Sokoke Cats
were discovered in the 1970’s, and exported to Europe where a breeding
program was started. The Kenyan Sokokes are a naturally occurring
breed, free roaming and self-sufficient, yet living in close proximity
to human settlements.
The
Sokoke is a sleek, slender, naturally athletic, muscular cat, with a medium
frame dressed in a tight, short, ticked modified classic tabby coat. The
local Girama natives describe them as "looking like tree bark". Even
when relaxed, their slightly longer rear legs give the appearance of being
"at the ready".
Their
graceful athleticism, alert intelligence, and peaceful personality combine
to make the Sokoke a true companion - animal who thrives on affection.
They can exhibit a vocal possessiveness towards their feline families and
human companions whom they deeply bond with. |
| Head
|
Shape: modified
wedge, appearing small in relation to body, top of the skull almost flat,
and length should be slightly longer than width at
temples. Cheek bones high and well defined. |
|
Ears: Medium large;
broad at the base, upright with tips slightly
rounded. Tufts on the tips desirable, but not
required. Set medium high, with a distance
of one ear's breadth in between preferred. |
|
Eyes: Moderately
large, set wide apart, slightly slanted towards the base
of ears. Slightly almond in shape. Brilliant and
expressive. Color: Amber to light green, outlined with black. |
|
Chin:
Strong and broad, in line with the tip of the nose. Not
fleshy. |
|
Muzzle:
Whisker pads: Well
defined. There may be more bulk, or definition to the rear of the whisker
pad than to the forefront, giving the frontal view a smooth look, with
gently rounded contours. |
|
Nose: Broad,
with a relatively abrupt end of the tip. |
|
Profile: Nose
of medium length, straight; with a short, softly convex curved bridge. |
|
Neck:
Slender, medium to slightly long in length yet strong, muscular. |
Body
|
Torso: Medium
long, slender, lithe and graceful, with well
developed chest, level back, and rounded rib cage.
Males tend to be from 10 to 40% larger than females. |
|
Legs: Long,
slender with medium or fine boning. Hind legs well angled and muscular
and longer than the front legs. The position of the hind legs gives a "tip
toe" gait that is very characteristic of this breed, when standing at ease
the back remains level. |
|
Feet: Oval
and medium small. Should be in balance with overall size. |
|
Tail: Medium
to long, and has a firm, tight, muscular feel from base to tip; tapers,
whip like, to a narrow pointed tip. |
|
Boning: A
fine to medium boning giving a slender, yet sturdy look. |
|
Musculature: Well
developed musculature especially pronounced in neck and shoulders.
These cats look fine and delicate; but, when lifted should be surprisingly
solid and give the feel of strength. |
| Coat |
Texture:
Very short, close lying with an almost hard - not silky feel and little
or preferably no undercoat. |
|
Pattern: Modified
classic tabby. The pattern should be muted by ticking. This ticking, along
with the modifications of the pattern are hallmarks of the Sokoke breed.
The Sokoke pattern differs from the standard classic pattern in the following
manner: at least one chin strap (broken allowable); the shoulder butterfly
may be broken, just a blotch or not obvious; the bullseye should be broken,
and the forehead "M" may be broken, but must be vestigally present. |
|
Color: Any
shade of brown tabby. It should be noted that the Sokoke is not a highly
rufoused cat and the shades of brown can range from cool to warm.
Black tail tip may also be ticked. |
Penalize
|
Head: Type too oriental, or
too round, stop too distinct.
Neck: Short and thick.
Body: Too cobby, lack of elegance.
Pattern: Weak
ticking. |
Disqualify
|
Lockets
Tail faults
No ticking |
©Examples of Sokokes used with permission of the Danish Sokoke
Council.
|
