Sokoke vs Chantilly/Tiffany - Breed Comparison | MyCatBreeds

Compared to other breeds of cat, the rare Sokoke Forest Cat is a fairly new natural breed. It comes from the Sokoke district of eastern Kenya but was developed in the USA.

It is in fact, named after the Arabuko Sokoke National Forest, from where the wild foundation stock came from. Wildlife artist Jeni Slater started breeding these cats in the 1970s. They eventually reached Denmark, where further breeding continued, with the cat becoming popular with local cat fanciers, and laid the foundation of the breed in Europe.

Today, there are just a few breeders registered in the UK and TICA, The International Cat Association lists the Sokoke cat as a New Preliminary Race and it was recognized by FIFe in 1993.

The beautiful Chantilly/Tiffany cat gets people thinking the cat is a semi-longhaired Burmese, but of course, it's not.

The way the Chantilly came about was that there were a pair of chocolate-colored cats but their origins were unknown. The first litter of Chantilly kittens was born in New York in 1969 and people were so taken up by the beautiful kittens that a breeding program was started.

The cat was first started as a foreign longhair and then it changed to Tiffany. In a British registry, a cat breed that was a cross between a Chinchilla Persian and a Burmese was named the Tiffanie and renamed Chantilly and referred to as the Chantilly/Tiffany.

The breed is recognized by most major cat registries.

The Sokoke is a medium-sized cat with a long, lean body and slender legs. The hind legs are somewhat longer than the front legs. The head is smallish and round and he has a constantly alert look to him.

A striking characteristic of the Sokoke cat is its tabby fur, which people say looks like the bark of a tree and it is brindle in coloring.

The tail is medium to long and the ears are also fairly large, The eyes are large and almond-shaped and can be greenish to brown. The coat is short and coarse.

Temperament:

Cat lovers enjoy these playful, curious, intelligent, and family-orientated cats. In spite of their wild side, they adapt easily into different homes.

They’re inquisitive and will follow you, much like a dog. They will even enjoy a leash being put on them and being taken for a walk. They’re very sociable and vocal too and get on with everyone, children and other pets included.

They’re playful cats, loving to jump and climb and then look down at you from their high perches. Easily bored, you will need to provide fun and games continuously.

They enjoy being involved with everything you’re doing and form a strong bond with their owners. Because the Sokoke is social and affectionate, they require quite a lot of attention, and if they don’t get the attention they crave, they meow in anxiety.

The Chantilly is a medium-sized cat that can weight between 4 to 6kg.

The cat has a fairly broad head with widely spaced ears of medium size. The eyes are oval-shaped and gold in color. The fur is semi-long and there is no undercoat. The tail is plumed.

Apart from the original chocolate brown of the cat, other colors of the coat can include fawn, cinnamon, black, lilac and blue, with the chocolate brown being the favorite color.

Temperament:

The Chantilly promises to be a devoted and loyal feline companion for you, much preferring the company of his human family than to being alone.

It gets on well with other pets in the house as well as with respectful, gentle children. He isn't a demanding cat and he tries to talk with his family by chirping. It’s a balanced cat, with a fair share of docility and energy, making the cat an ideal companion for single people, couples, families, and elderly people.

It’s a cat that is so devoted, it will follow his human family around the house.

Your Sokoke is a very social cat and he will get on particularly well in a home with children who have been taught to be kind and gentle with animals.

They are able to adapt well to homes where there are other pets too. They just love exercise and lots of fun. They don’t like being in a home where the owner is out at work all day. The solution to this is to provide him with another cat as a companion.

Sokoke cats are great with people of all ages, and when you bring one of these lively cats into your home, make sure he also receives his share of love and companionship.

The Chantilly/Tiffany is a gentle and kind breed that is playful and easy-going. They are just your typical middle-of-the-road cats that are not too much or too little of anything.

The Tiffany is playful, docile, happy and content and he wants to be your friend and companion.

If you are looking for a breed of cat that is loyal to its human family, allow this cat into your home... you won't have any regrets.

Sokoke cats are generally healthy and have no inherited diseases. To ensure that your Sokoke stands a chance of having a healthy life, you need to have him vaccinated against the life-threatening cat diseases there are.

If your Sokoe cat isn’t his usual self day after day, make a point of getting him to the vet just as soon as possible.

Scratching and hair loss:

Parasites are a terrible scourge with cats, and in fact, the number one cause of hair loss in cats is fleas. The bite of a flea can cause an allergic reaction. Your cat can become miserable with continuous biting, itching, and scratching and this can all lead to hair loss.

It is a wise move to speak to your vet about a good product to treat your furry friend with.

Diarrhea:

There can actually be many causes of diarrhea in cats and one of them is parasites, but it can also be caused by a viral infection or food allergy or something else.

You want to get your cat to the vet who can help you bring it under control. You may also have to feed your cat a bland kind of diet to help the cat’s digestive tract recover from the diarrhea.

There is no health issue that the Tiffany is prone to. Like any cat, a healthy diet will keep the Tiffany healthy for years.

These cats are known to have delicate digestive systems so avoid foods with grain if possible. The Tiffany has full hair in their ears, and wax build-up can occur so the inside of his ears must be checked. Checking the ears once a week, as part of a regular routine that includes brushing, and tooth care, should be sufficient to keep the ear canals clear.

Other issues, which are not detrimental but should be kept in mind, are reports that the Tiffany has delicate digestion. This cat relies on a regular diet that doesn't chop and change often.

Because the Tiffany is a low-shedding cat, it is thought to be a popular breed with those people who are allergic to cat hair.

Because the Sokoke’s coat is short and close-lying, with little or no undercoat, brushing once a week will be sufficient.

Keep the cat’s eyes and ears clean, and his claws trimmed.

The Sokoke cat is very energetic, and he will need games, toys, and attention to keep him physically and mentally stimulated. They love climbing so a climbing tree and other kind of equipment will be a good idea.

Provide your cat with a litter box and ensure it is kept scrupulously clean by removing the cat’s feces every single day.

Diet is of critical importance to the health and happiness of a cat. Some people try to feed their cats human foods and wonder why their cat is continuously sick. A cat is a carnivore and he requires meat.

You can speak to your vet about the best kind of commercial cat food there is for your cat. Read the label and feed him portion-sizes as directed.

Make sure your cat has a constant supply of fresh, cool water.

Diet:

The Chantilly needs an excellet diet and exercise to ensure he doesn’t become to overweght. Remember that cats are carnivores, and this means they have nutritional requirements that can only be met with meat – they can never do well on a diet high in carbohydrates and will develop digestive problems. Your cat will also require clean, fresh water aroud thd clock to ensure his good health.

Ensure each cat you have has a litter box andencourae good litter box habits by cleaning th litter box every day. Keeping the litter box clean also alerts you anything unusual with your cat’s toilet habits.

Provide your cat with a scratching post and a climbing tree.

The cat doesn’t have an undercoat and is therefore easy to groom. With his semi-long hair, you can brush him once a week to keep the coat soft and shiny. The coat is also low shedding.

Check inside his ears and inside his mouth to ensure there is no redness and signs of infection.

Schedule regular vet visits for your cat for his cat vaccines and for when he is sick.

Spay or neuter your cat to prevent unwanted kittens. Spaying and neutering prevents uterine infections and certain cancers in the felines.