The Lykoi (lykos is ancient Greek for “wolf”) may at first glance seem like the Hollywood version of the werewolf. At first sight, you may not even be able to believe that this breed of cats actually exists. But it is in fact not an invention of the film industry, but a natural mutation of a native shorthair cat that is bred today. In the United States, the werewolf cat is already considered a secret trend. Accordingly, Lykois are the stars on social media.
History of the Breed
The history of the breed began in 2010 when Patti Thomas, who among other things breeds Sphynx cats, discovered two special-looking kittens. Genetic and health tests were then carried out to find out whether the kittens’ strange appearance was due to an illness. It turned out that the cats’ appearance was due to a natural mutation. The mother animal was a black domestic cat. As a co-founder of the breed, Patti Thomas gave the cats the name “Lykoi” based on their external appearance. Patti entrusted the cats Brittney and Johnny Gobble, a veterinarian from the US state of Tennessee. A few months later, a second couple was spotted, adopted by Brittney and Johnny Gobble. After the necessary tests had been carried out, it was possible to start breeding Lykoi.
Gobble has been raising plants and animals since he was 15 years old. His wife Brittney, on the other hand, is characterized by her particular weakness in animal photography. On social media, she presents photos of Lykoi cats hung with eye-catching necklaces.
Appearance
As the name suggests, the Lykoi cat resembles a wolf or werewolf in the format of a domestic cat. A natural gene mutation is very common house cats is what gives this very special looking breed its appearance. This is a recessive gene, so both parents must have this gene for Lykoi kittens to be born. In some parts of the body, the Lykoi has no hair. This usually includes the eye area, nose, chin, muzzle, and back of the ears. According to the breed’s discoverer and breeder, Johnny Gobble, the nose of cats of this breed “feels like household rubber”.
Legs and paws are usually sparsely-haired. This is due to the fact that the Lykoi has no undercoat. The reason for this is that some of the hair follicles are missing the components that are needed for hair production. The other part of the hair follicle lacks the balance of components that maintain growth. This is also the reason that this breed moults several times a year, i.e. changes its coat like a bird: During this phase, the Lykoi is half-naked or even completely bald for a while. Female representatives of this breed of cats weigh on average two to 3.2 kg body weight, males around 3.5 kg to 4.5 kg.
The Lykoi is a bit like an opossum. According to its breeder and discoverer, Johnny Gobble, the first Lykoi cat is said to have looked somewhat like a small hunting dog. The characteristic fur finally earned the supposed miniature hunting dog the nickname “werewolf kitten”. The coat color of the Lykois is unique: it consists of white and black hair, which gives the cat the appearance of a miniature werewolf. The proportion of black or white (pigmentless) hair and hairlessness varies from animal to animal. This special coat color is called “roan” (spiky hair), although this term is more familiar to other animals such as horses. The Lykoi is the only known breed of cat with this coloration.
Lykoi Temperament
The nature of the werewolf cat is on the one hand playful and highly curious and at the same time calming. Also, as one would not expect from a werewolf, she has a very friendly nature. She values getting the attention of her human roommates. Of course, she is certain of this because of her special appearance. Lykois are very intelligent and love to play with “their” people. A selection of cat toys should not be missing, for the clever Lykois also like intelligent toys. It is also possible to buy a second cat, as Lykois usually get on well with their fellow cats.
John Gobble describes the nature of this breed of cats as “clever, similar to the hunting dog” and as “fairly affectionate”. He also describes that the Lykoi like to be near their owners. The character of the cat in werewolf form is also described by its owners as being loyal and human-centered in an almost dog-like manner.
Diseases
As dermatologists at a university clinic in Tennessee confirm, Lykoi cats are generally healthy. It is a very robust breed of cats. Specific racial diseases of the Lykoi are not yet known.
Lykoi Diet
Basically, the same food recommendations apply to Lykoi cats as to other pedigree and non-pedigree cats. It is up to you whether you choose dry or wet food. Wet food has a high proportion of liquid – which is around 80% – so that the cat is adequately supplied with it through its diet. A good supply of moisture is important for the kidneys, among other things. If this is not the case, kidney diseases can occur. It is important to ensure that the moist food is of high quality. You do not recognize this by the price, but among other things by forming an impression of the ingredients of the feed.
Dry food is recommended when it is fed to the diet, i.e. given in addition to the moist food. Otherwise, the low moisture content in dry food could damage the cat’s kidneys. After all, the moisture content of dry food is only around 8%. In any case, you should always offer your cat enough fresh water in a water bowl or a cat trough.
Other feeding methods are BARF (biologically appropriate raw feeding) or self-cooking. Here, too, it is important that the meat that is offered to the cats is of high quality. It should also be noted that these methods require optimal knowledge of your cat’s nutritional needs, otherwise, deficiency symptoms can occur. Find out more about the subject and, if necessary, seek advice from your trusted veterinarian.
Cat snacks are welcome as a treat, but should never be used as the main feed to avoid your beloved cat from getting too fat.
How Do I Find the Right Lykoi Breeder?
The Lykoi has a proud price: the buyer has to pay around 1,800 dollars for a representative of this breed. The number of breeders is extremely limited. This breed of cats is much more common in the United States than in Europe. There are currently around 30 breeders worldwide.
According to genetic studies, the Lykoi is not a mutation of the krt71 gene, which leads to the emergence of the pedigree cats Devon Rex and Sphynx. Breeding focuses on black cats with the special gene that creates the Lykoi. Because in shape the cats are most similar to the werewolf as we humans imagine them. For this purpose, conventional black house cats are crossed in order to expand the gene pool.
Basically, certain aspects must be considered when choosing a reputable breeder. These apply to breeders of all cat breeds. An indication of seriousness is, for example, that the breeder does not give the kitten into new hands at too young an age, i.e. not before the twelfth week of life. In addition, trustworthy breeders are limited to breeding one or two breeds because breeding requires very extensive knowledge of the individual breeds. The breeder should also be a member of a recognized cat breeders association. And there are very obvious indicators of the trustworthiness of the breeder: How well-groomed is the place where the kittens live. This of course also includes the condition of the bowls. At the end of the day, aside from all recommendations, your intuition is the most important thing.
It doesn’t matter whether you choose a shelter tiger or a pedigree cat: We wish you a wonderful time together with your beloved roommate kitty!
