The Khadzonzos (original name) originated from the Sokoke-Arabuke forest on the Kenyan Coast.  This forest is one of the few remaining rainforest in East Africa.

We owe this cat's domestication to Jeni Slater an English woman living in Kenya.  She discovered a litter of kittens hidden in a hollow tree on her plantation in 1978.  She found them so special that she took them into her home and raised them as pets.  Their blotched tabby coats and long thin bodies differed from any domesticated cats from East Kenya which were rather chubby with a much thicker fur.

When Gloria Moeldrop visited the Slater's in 1984, she found those cats so special that she decided to bring a couple to breed with her to Denmark.  They were shown for the first time at a cat show in Copenhagen the same year and in 1985 "Jeni" and "Mzuri" had their first litter.  Gloria imported 3 more Khadzonzos from Watamu (in Kenya) in 1990 to strengthen her breeding stock.  The aim was to breed enough cats to keep the breed alive and healthy.

Then in 1992 a committee of judges from FIFE looked at 19 Khadzonzos representing 5 generations.  they were officially recognized as a new breed in 1993 and renamed "Sokoke" after the area where they first originated.

Here are some of the physical characteristics of the Sokoke:  It has a slender body of moderate size.  It has a dense coat without any undercoat.  Its legs are long with the back legs taller then the front ones.  (It is often described as a little ocelot.)  Its eyes are large and almond shaped with colours varying from amber to light green.  Its tail is fairly long, thick at the base and fraying at the end; the tip must always be lack.

Its behavior is amazing considering that it came from the wilderness, it is sociable with other cats and also with dogs.  It is a soft and affectionate cat.  It is a good companion both for children and adults.  It is very eloquent; it will keep on talking to you for hours on end as long as you answer it back.

If you are looking for a cat to cuddle at all times then it is not for you, because it is a very active cat and an excellent climber!