Sokoke vs Egyptian Mau - 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 Egyptians have always been interested in cats, and it is believed that in 1953 a noblewoman left Egypt with a tabby cat, returning to Italy.

Later, another cat was also brought to Italy and the pair were mated. The Egyptian Mau is a natural breed.

In 1956, a kitten of the pair was brought to the United States and the Egyptian Mau was developed. A breeding program was started in the United States. The breed Egyptian Mau was recognized in 1958 in the United States and 1992 in Europe.

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.

This is a medium-sized, long, athletic cat that is well muscled. It weighs between 3 to 5kg. The Mau is heavily muscled and strong. It has a triangular-shaped head with large almond-shaped eyes.

The coat of the Mau is medium in length and is glossy and soft. There are spots on the coat but the cat is particularly well known for the dark stripe that runs from its head to its tail. The coat comes in several different colors such as silver, black, tan and blue. All Maus have green eyes.

Temperament:

These cats are known for being loyal and friendly and they love warm weather and enjoying a spot in the sun.

They are talkative cats too and also love to sit on high perches and survey the world from these high positions. They are excellent climbers and you’ll need to supply these cats with a climbing tree. Its an intelligent breed and he will get along well with children in the home as well as be friendly towards other pets.

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.

These are social cats with their own human family but the Egyptian Mau does tend to be a bit reserved around strangers.

They make excellent pets and companions and if he is happy, you’ll hear him making little noises to express his contentment.

What also makes him so attractive as a pet is that he is a short-coated cat that is considered to be low maintenance.

Before you decide to take on any animal as a pet and before you bring the Egyptian Mau into your home, do thorough research on this rare cat breed. If you do decide to take him in, find out all you can on how to provide for him so that he receives the best care and love in your home.

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.

Egyptian Maus are strong, robust cats and they don't have any particular health problems.

Obesity is a major disease with this cat and all other cats and it's worth noting, as obesity contributes to a great number of illnesses in cats. Excess weight can lead to diabetes and arthritis and well as other life-threatening diseases.

Two things that play an important role in his health are ensuring that he has access to excellent, nutritious, meaty food, as cats are carnivores.

You also want to ensure that he gets all his vaccines and de-wormings. If you notice that your cat seems to be under the weather, get him to the vet as soon as possible.

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.

The beautiful coat of the Egyptian Mau is easy to care for and a weekly brushing will ensure it stays shiny and healthy.

If he will let you, try to look inside his mouth to ensure the teeth and gums are healthy.

Remember, if there are any grooming activities for this cat that you feel you can’t cope with, professional groomers will do it for you.

Provide your Egyptian Mau with a climbing tree and scratching post as the cat loves to jump and climb.

He is an active, intelligent cat and needs to be stimulated with exciting toys, particularly when you’re not around to entertain him.

Cats such as the Egyptian Mau are clean and they want their litterbox to be kept clean. Invest in scoop and rake and rid the litter box every day of cat droppings. There also comes a time when you will have to replace all the sand or grit as well.

It will be fantastic if you can provide this cat with a water fountain and a type of pool as they love playing in water.

Make sure your Mau has constant access to fresh, cool drinking water.