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Home » Blog » Cat Breeds » Lykoi Cat Breed - History, Characteristics, and Grooming
Lykoi cat is one of the intriguing cat breeds and looks like a Werewolf. This cat breed is a natural genetic mutation from a domestic Short haired which took place in domestic cats during the past 20 years. These cats are usually hairless cats with tall, erected, pointed ears and fur patches. They are famous as “Werewolf cats” or “Wolf cats” due to their similar looks to werewolves.
The Lykoi breed is considered the intelligent and fun-loving breed that loves to interact with dogs, cats, and humans. These cats have sparked an unprecedented fascination among cat lovers.
Below you can find all the details about the Lykoi cat breed.
The Lykoi is the naturally mutated gene that occurred in the feral cat breed. The word Lykoi means “Wolf Cat” in Greek, which describes them as a feline Werewolf. Lykoi cat is an experimental new breed produced by mutating the shorthaired cats. Hairless kittens with an unusual appearance were observed in various feral cats around 2010.
The unique balding pattern of coat hair instigates researchers and dermatologists to investigate the reason for baldness. Dermatologists examined them for skin abnormalities but did not find any reason for the coat pattern. Genetic testing and test breeding determined that the pattern is the true natural mutation. The testing proved the particular gene to be recessive and not related to any other hairless mutation.
The first Lykoi was born to two Lykoi-type cats discovered in the feral population. It was founded by Patti Thomas, Brittney Gobble, and Johnny Gobble in 2010. The Gobbles did a careful examination to make sure that the cats’ unique appearance is not because of any disease or sickness. To clarify it was a unique gene, Gobble intentionally produced Lykoi by breeding two unrelated cats.
Gobble liked the black coat, so they have intentionally outcrossed domestic cats with these cats. This attempt was to keep the unique unusual Lykoi’s appearance and prevent inbreeding. Lykoi began their journey to become a breed in 2011 when Gobble started the Lykoi breeding program.
The Lykoi breeding program intends to prove that they are naturally occurring breeds with a unique gene. The International Cat Association (TICA) registered the Lykoi in 2012. Since then, this breed has appeared all around the world. Many naturally occurring mutations were also added to the gene pool to bring diversity in pedigree.
TICA registered Lykoi to “Registration Only” status by unanimous consent. However, it is now recognized as a Championship breed and competing against other Championship breeds since May 2017. Also, more work is in progress to expand the breeding program.
The Lykoi cat is a relatively new breed, developed recently and started showing in experimental classes. They have derived from feral cats and have maintained their strong prey drive. These cats have carefully been bred to keep a friendly personality.
Lykoi loves to stalk people, other pets, and humans. However, they become cautious in a new situation but quickly warm up to new pets and people. They have maintained many fascinating personality traits of feral cats. It helped feral cats survive various issues which they have encountered over their lifespan.
The Lykois are the only handful of the “wild cat” generation of feral cats left behind. As such, they are highly energetic, active cats and do not mind being scratched and petted. However, they do not like simply sitting on a lap but prefer to accomplish things on their to-do list.
Although Lykoi is a friendly cat breed, they do not love sitting on a lap all the time. Your Lykoi kitten sits with you for some time and then goes exploring other things. You’ll also see them guarding other cats and your children, as well as if they are the kings of the home. They believe that they must watch over everything.
These cats are easy to train; they’ll learn to use a toilet. They try to stand on their hind legs so that they can reach things with the front paws. Once they learn to use the front paws as hands, you’ll see them carry things in their paws and hop across the floor on their hind legs. They are very energetic and love to play fetch games.
When multiple Lykoi come together, they tend to play and track like a pack. If one kitten smells something to investigate, all others decide to follow with their tails erect and up like a wolf pack after the scent. This is the reason why most people considered Lykoi a more dog-like breed.
Lykoi is a medium-sized cat with slightly slender legs and a muscular body. They vary from partially hairless to completely covered in hairs. During the times of ‘molting,’ which occurs about twice yearly, they lose all hair that results in looking like Sphynx cats. However, they have no undercoat, and most of the body parts such as the muzzle, chin, nose, eyes, and back of the ears are usually hairless.
When Lykoi kittens are born, they look the same as any other normal kitten. They have a normal coat and no fur pattern or roan coloration. However, after almost two weeks, they start to lose their coat and begin appearing fluffy. During this time, they may lose the entire coat, which will grow again after a few weeks.
The Lykoi have a unique gene that causes a roan pattern and the hair coat’s pattern balding. The eyes, ears, and hairless skin patches feel similar to the leather. The skin is generally pink in color, which darkens with exposure to the sun. Their coat usually looks like the coat of an opossum when entirely coated.
After about three to four months, the kitten gets a complete Lykoi appearance. The coat appears stiff and bristle but is very soft and silky to touch. The coat is not always stable, and its softness always surprises people. When the coat regrows after the molting period, it is less coated or denser than usual.
Moreover, the roan coloring also changes after this molting period which makes them appear black to white. The mesmerizing roan color is the most common in Lykoi, which is the mingling of black hairs with white hairs. The other striking feature of them is the facial mask which gives them a vivid appearance.
Lykoi holds certain characteristics more consistently, and certain lines are very stable, which makes them look different from each other. The standard color is black roan which makes them recognized as the werewolf cats. However, the range of colors in the naturally occurring mutation can vary, while breeders carefully select the black cats.
Lykois are not generally big cats, but the male cats are slightly bigger than the female cats. They have a strong and lean body with a shorter tail and medium legs relative to the body’s size. The ears are set wide apart, tall, and pointed, contributing well to the usual facial appearance. The unique face mask and color contrast give them a “wolf look.”
A solid weighted lithe body without excessive bulk with a wedge-shaped head and a solid black roan coat is the standard Lykoi. They show a high level of affection towards their owner and are considered friendly and unchallenging in their behavior.
Due to the fact that Lykoi has a minimal coat, many people think that they are hypoallergenic cats. But that’s not the case; they are not hypoallergenic. Cat allergic people get allergic to Lykoi. Some allergic people claim that they do not have any problem with Lykois.
However, that is not enough to say that people with allergies can have a Lykoi. Other than that, just loving these cats is what you can do for their care.
As Lykoi cats are special and unique, they have some unique facts associated with them. Check out some amazing facts about this new breed given below.
Although Lykoi is a special and unique breed, they don’t need special care or grooming. Since they originated from domestic cats, they are treated as domestic cats. Lykoi lives like normal domestic cats and do not have any specific requirements. They can stay in the same bed setting and eat the usual cat food as any other domestic cat.
But the domestic Lykoi should be protected from sunlight and excessive cold weather. Otherwise, they’ll get heat burns in summer and quickly catch a cold in the winter season. The hair coat of Lykoi is known to be thickened in winters and tan in the summer. The amount of shedding is also average, like normal cats.
Fortunately, Lykoi has no specific severe health problems. However, they are prone to some skin problems due to the lack of an undercoat. Their skin can get sunburns if exposed to the sun in hot summer. They even get brush burns if their hairs are brushed with an insufficient grooming tool.
During summer, Lykoi becomes completely bald due to a high amount of shedding. Moreover, they quickly accumulate oil in their ears and on nails due to the missing undercoat. So you need to protect them from the cold, the wrong grooming tools, sun, and skin oil.
Although these cats have not reported any serious health disease than any other cat breed, they need high attention and care. Like all other cat breeds, Lykoi needs high-quality food and proper nutrition to have a healthy and sustainable life. You need to show them the same amount of responsibility and devotion as any other feline ball out there deserves.
Since Lykoi cats are bred to keep a friendly personality, they make a great companion. Although they are not perfect lap cats, they still sit in your lap for a while and enjoy the petting session. However, Lykois are very active cats, and they love to play around instead of just in the corner or on the couch.
If you want a pet who keeps you motivated for physical activities and keep you busy with fun activities, Lykoi is the one for you. These cats are fun-loving, intelligent, and highly alert cats. They also have an instinct to protect their toys and other stuff from pets or children. However, they do very well with children, cats, or even dogs.
So, if you are looking for a cat that is perfect in many aspects, go for a Lykoi. Make her your emotional support animal by getting a legit emotional support animal letter. To get an authentic ESA letter, you can contact RealESALetter.com anytime round the clock. We provide ESA letters written by a certified mental health professional at affordable rates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, Lykois are healthy cats as they have not shown any specific health problems yet. However, researchers have warned that it is too early to tell that this breed is not prone to any disease. On average, a cat breed takes approximately 6 - 7 years to show health problems.
Yes, Lykoi cats are the best family cats. They give devotion and care to their owner and love to play with them. As they are highly indoor cats, they spend quality time with their family members.
Yes, Lykois are intelligent and quick learners. They can easily be trained to use the washroom or litter box for having food. Lykois learn to use their front paws to catch things and walk on the hind legs.
Below is a quick analysis of the cost of Lykoi cat for sale:
No, Lykoi cats are rare but not the rarest domestic cat. They are commonly found as stray cats or in rescue centers. However, Sokoke is considered the rarest cat around the globe.
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