Sokoke vs European Burmese - 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 European Burmese was developed in the 1960s when they were imported to England by British breeders.

They were then crossed with red-point Siamese as well as British Shorthairs to expand the gene pool and number of coat colors.

In 1994, the cat was recognized by the Cat Fanciers Association and later by the Canadian Cat Association as well as the Cat Fanciers Federation and others as well.

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.

Your beautiful European Burmese cat is a small to medium-sized cat and both males and females will weigh between 3 and 5kg.

The cat’s coat is short and glossy and it comes in a number of different colors such as white, brown, cream, blue, red and tortoisehell.The cat has large, expressive eyes that are a yellow or amber shade.

Your European Burmese has a silky short coat and the coat will also only need to be brushed once a week to keep it in tip-top condition.

Temperament:

The European Burmese is a very affectionate, loyal ad intelligent cat, loving the companionhip they share with their human family.

They’re a great pet for families as they’re active and playful. They are also a cat breed that likes to bond with one particular family member more than others.

They’re also inclined to be lap cats, grabbing each opportunity to be stroked and petted. They will also be quite willing to become friends with other pets in the home and don’t like to be left alone for a long time.

They like having other pets around to keep them company and can become withdrawn if constantly left on their own.

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.

Your European Burmese has a sweet disposition and it is a loving, companionable cat. They enjoy the company of their human owners as well as other pets.

They can be quite vocal too and they don’t like being left alone. If you work all day, it will be a good idea to have another pet as a companion for the European Burmese.

The European Burmese loves to play and is a fun-loving, active, social cat. While they love their human family, they may not make the greatest pet for an inactive, single person as these cats actually seek out companionship.

A person unable to involve themselves with this cat, may well find it becoming depressed. These are cats that require a lot of interaction and attention, craving the attention of their human families.

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.

The European Burmese is a fairly healthy cat and is unlikely to cost you a lot in terms of vets fees.

Just like with other cats, some of the common cat illnesses include developing diabetes mellitus. There have been some of these cats that ave been known to suffer from Feline Orofacial Pain Syndrome (FOPS).

It is a disease related to the teeth. Teeth problems are a common ailment with cats. With this particular problem, there is an unusual amount of pain when the cat's adult teeth begin to emerge. Your cat will be displaying a lot of licking and chewing motions. The symptoms do however go away once the adult teeth come in.

The cat will in all likelihood need to see the vet for pain medication and other treatments such as a potassium supplement.

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.

Because the European Burmese is a very affectionate, loyal cat, and because they thrive on the companionship of their human family, you owe it to him to provide him with consistent companionship. They are friendly cats and will be amicable to visitors to the home too.

Scratching is a natural behavior of pets so instead of becoming angry with your cat when he scratches on your furniture, provide him with a scratching post.

You can also learn how to carefully clip your cat's nails, otherwise a professional cat groomer can do it for you.

It’s not always easy keeping a cat indoors and that is why neutering or spaying becomes important to avoid unwanted kittens. It makes your European Burmese a more balanced cat and it has a host of health benefits too.

It can’t be stressed enough how important good food is for the health of people and animals. The European Burmese needs top quality food high in proteins and meat to remain healthy.

If you feed your cat human food or food high in carbs, expect to spend a lot on vet fees.

Make sure your pet enjoys his food but that it is also nutritious and in the right portions to avoid obesity.

Kittens will eat 4 bowls of food a day and then progress to 2 bowls of food after the cat turns one year of age.