Kenyan Street Cat

Kenyan street cats come in different shapes and sizes. However, they often have a long, lean appearance that resembles Asian domestic cats.

Signs of a life-long street cat—versus a stray cat who may be lost—include a clean, well-kept coat (thanks to their meticulous self-grooming), protective body language, and lack of eye contact. Because they're intact, male street cats may have thick necks, muscular bodies, and scars from fighting.

Though all colors and patterns are possible, Kenyan street cats often have short, coarse, tabby coats that come in shades of brown with prominent ticking and mottling.

Kenyan street cats do not follow a breed standard. Their combination of features can vary. But they often have narrow faces, long ears, lean bodies, long legs, and tapered tails.

Like all domesticated cats, Kenyan street cats can trace their roots back to the African Wildcat.

Remains of cats found buried in tombs in ancient Egypt suggest the relationship between humans and felines began thousands of years ago. As civilizations developed, cats became helpful partners in pest control. But before selective breeding began in the 19th century, cats were—and mostly still are—non-pedigreed.

Unlike pet cats, Kenyan street cats live with little human contact. Feral cats—known as khadzonzo—that roam the coastal region of Kenya formed the foundation of the Sokoke breed in the 1970s. Khadzonzo typically have lean bodies, long, tapered tails, and mottled coat patterns.

Lack of neutering, financial constraints, and attitudes about cats, in general, all contribute to an overpopulation of Kenyan street cats.