Lykoi: Weight, Colors, Lifespan, Health, Care Special Info
With a unique, partially hairless coat that gives it the appearance of a wolf, the Lykoi looks like no other cat breed. Lykoi also has a hairless mask that combines a nose, mouth, eyes, and ears, further suggesting a werewolf appearance. Therefore, it is not surprising that the name of the breed is derived from the Greek word “Lykos”, which means wolf.
According to the breed standard, a lycoe’s coat should resemble an opossum. Lykoi’s coat may seem rough and wiry, but it’s actually soft and silky to the touch. There is no undercoat, and guard hair grows in varying amounts, varying between individual cats and throughout the year. Although some Lykoi is almost completely hairless at times, in the show ring, a high coat is preferable to a low coat.
Lycos should have running, a color pattern consisting of a mixture of pigmented and non-pigmented white hair (melanistic hair). Roaming is best seen on solid-colored cats, especially black roan.
Wolf-like appearance aside, Lykoi is far from scary. This is an outgoing, friendly breed that is happy to meet new people and play. They are loyal and bond closely with their favorite humans. Lykoi is a wonderful family cat that does best when kept indoors. If allowed to roam outdoors, their sparse hair coat makes this breed prone to sunburn and skin damage.
- Origin: United States
- Height:8 to 10 inches
- Weight:6 to 12 pounds
- Lifespan:12 to 15 years
- Colors: Black-based roan – with white hairs scattered throughout
- Length: About 11 to 14 inches
Breed Characteristics
The Lykoi cat is considered a partially hairless cat. There is no true undercoat, and parts of the body, such as the eyes, chin, nose, muzzle, and behind the ears are usually hairless.
Exposed skin, ears, and noses look like leather, and although the skin is usually pink, exposure to the sun can darken it. Most cats will shed some or all of their coat, sometimes leaving them looking even more naked than usual. This is normal for Lykoi cats and is not associated with a disease process.
Some Lykoi cats are hairier than others – some animals appear almost completely hairy, while others are almost completely bald. Breeders are actively selecting black cats, although, in naturally occurring mutations, the range of colors varies.
Animals with white in their coats will appear silvery. This combination of white and black is often called a roan in non-feline species and is often used to describe these cats as well. However, when they do show up, they usually fall into the “all-black” category.
The haircoat is a mixture of melanistic (pigmented) hair and solid black hair, which is very unique. They are born solid black, and within a few weeks, are hairless and develop a roan coat color.
Lykoi is not particularly large cats, but males are usually larger than females. Like wild cat, their body is lean and strong. Their tails are shorter than their bodies, and their legs are medium in proportion to their body size.
Their ears are broad, high, and pointed – contributing to the cat’s unusual facial appearance. Many people feel that this contributes significantly to the “wolf look” of the animal.
| Apartment Living: 5 | Potential for Weight Gain: 3 |
| General Health: 5 | Intelligence: 4 |
| Child Friendly: 4 | Tendency to run away: 3 |
| Playfulness: 4 | Energy level: 3 |
| Dog friendly: 5 |
History
The history of the Lykoi cat is very short and somewhat unusual. The defining characteristics of the Lykoi cat are the partial hair coat and roan pattern, but in all other respects, the Lykoi is a standard house cat.
The gene that causes the distinctive Lykoi hair coat occurs naturally and randomly in a population of domestic shorthair black cats. This relatively rare natural genetic mutation was reported over 40 years ago, but it wasn’t until very recently that this particular cat, with its distinctive werewolf appearance, began to attract attention.
Kittens
In 2011, a woman named Patti Thomas rescued two unusual kittens from a rescue organization in Virginia, U.S. She named the male cat Silver Lining and the female cat Ray of Hope. The kittens, who were littermates, had the same distinctive hair coat and came from the same solid black domestic shorthair mother.
Concerned that the kittens had a disease, Patty took her new kittens to a veterinarian in Tennessee, Dr. Brought to John Goble, who became part owner of the kittens. He determined that the cats were perfectly healthy, but everyone involved wanted to know more about where the unusual hair coat came from.
Were these kittens related to the two other known hairless cat breeds, the Devon Rex or the Sphynx? Dr. Goble, a geneticist Dr. With the help of Leslie Lyons, was able to determine that the kittens did not have the genetics of this breed and were not related in any way.
Immediately, Dr. Goble and his wife, Brittney Goble, were given two more kittens with the same distinctive hair coat. They bred them with an unrelated first pair, and the Lykoi cat breed was born. Patty Thomas and Gobles quickly established a breeding program to control and monitor the health and gene pool of the Lykoi cat.
The Lykoi cat is closely guarded, and breeders are careful not to inbreed or accidentally introduce new genetic health problems. The Lykoi cat breed was officially admitted to the International Cat Association in 2012 and the Cat Fanciers Association in 2018.
Today, the Lykoi cat is still considered rare, almost as hard to find as its name. However, the “werewolf cat,” with its charming personality, easygoing good health, and dreamy fuzzy face, is definitely worth a try.
Appearance
There’s no way around it: the Lykoi is probably a … challenging cat to love. This werewolf-like cat is usually medium-sized with a slim, toned body and a wedge-shaped head with a hairless “mask” of skin behind its eyes, nose, mouth, and ears. Some Lykois are completely hairless.
This makes them often confused with Sphynx cats, although the two have no genetic connection.
The coat that the Lykoi possesses is fine, short, and relatively soft despite its rough appearance. Black Roan Likoi cats are the standard color, with a slight silver appearance. Lykoi have no undercoat, leaving them with only a thin top coat, giving them an almost werewolf-like appearance. Their eyes are almost round and amber or green in color.
Despite their beautiful, relatively short coats, the Lykoi is not considered a hypoallergenic cat breed. Lykoi is heavy shedders, sometimes more so than the typical domestic shorthair, and Lykoi kittens are also born with full coats.
“This breed evolved from naturally-occurring mutations that sometimes appear in domestic cats,” says Marilyn Krieger, a certified cat behavior consultant in San Francisco. “Kittens are born with hair and begin to lose it around one or two weeks of age. Can be completely bald, then their fur starts to grow back.”
Before bringing a Lykoi kitten home, spend time with the breed to see how your allergies react.
Temperament
This breed is a loving, easy-going cat. The personality of the Lykoi cat allows it to get along with humans, cats, and cat-friendly dogs with equal ease. Lykoi cat behavior is usually very playful, but they will wander off on their own from time to time.
“Lykois are loving, sweet cats and are very playful and full of energy,” Krieger says.
They are open to strangers but can be somewhat aloof and shy around them at first, as they prefer the company of their regular human companions and can cling to them when the company ends.
Personality
So, does Lykoi work like a werewolf? Will it transform at midnight or at the sight of the full moon? Not as far as we know, although we can’t say the same when you try to bathe them
The wild roots of Leikoi are still very prevalent in the breed’s characteristics. For example, they exhibit a very strong predatory instinct and will love a good chase. That said, when faced with a new situation, they will err on the side of caution and prefer to assess the situation before leaping.
Breeders have tried to favor friendly personality traits in the process, with some success. Likes are friendly once trusted. They are still very active, even as pets, and will thrive if they have the space and energy to express their high-energy selves.
When playing with cat toys, they will better enjoy the kind that they can stalk and pounce on. Lykois seem to be adept at problem-solving and are able to play fetch like a dog.
They may not be the best at being cats that sit quietly with you for long periods of time. While they enjoy some human interaction, and they prefer to be on the tummy, they are often left to do their own thing.
Health
As the Lykoi is a new breed, it’s really too early to get a good understanding of their genetic makeup and potential issues. Your best bet is to get checked for all your standard feline problems, including feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) and heart problems.
“The most common thing we see in cats is kidney disease. It’s really just in cats,” explains Michelle Beck, DVM, CCRT, CVA of Backlund Animal Clinic in Omaha, Neb. [And] cats, by age 10, [about] 70 percent have arthritis somewhere in their body.”
Engage in a healthy dialogue with your vet about how your Lykoi is aging and keep an eye out for any potential problems at home.
“Hyperthyroidism is also common,” adds Lynn Kaufman, DVM, of Prairie View Animal Hospital in Grimes, Iowa. She says owners can treat the disease, which stems from an enlarged thyroid, with radiation treatment and a diet low in iodine.
Care
The Lykoi’s unique coat doesn’t shed much and doesn’t require much brushing, but it does require some special care. If you do brush, make sure the bristles are extremely soft to avoid scratching their delicate skin. Before buying a brush, test the bristles against the skin of your hand to make sure it’s soft enough.
Like completely hairless breeds, the Lykoi needs to be bathed more frequently than you would expect a cat too. Bathing with a moisturizing shampoo removes excess oil from the skin and prevents clogged pores, which can lead to blackheads – a form of acne. How often your Lykoi needs a bath varies from cat to cat.
Ask your breeder or veterinarian for advice on how often to wash your Lykoi and what shampoo to use.
Trim your Lykoi’s nails once a week or every other week to keep them short. Also, make a habit of looking inside the ear while bathing. If you see any wax or dirt, use a pet ear cleaner and a cotton ball to clean the ears.
If the ears look red or excessively dirty, schedule a checkup with your veterinarian.
Lykoi is extremely active, so make sure they have plenty of toys and places to climb and explore. If you provide enough toys, Lykoi is happy to play with anyone – you, another cat, or even himself. Rotate the toys occasionally, put some away and bring in different ones to keep things interesting.
Provide a variety of scratchers in the approved scratching areas of your home, try both vertical scratchers and horizontal scratchers.
Best Food For
Despite their unusual appearance, Lykoi’s nutritional needs are no different from those of other cats. As carnivores, an adequate supply of animal protein is especially important for them.
At the same time, it is advisable to avoid cat food containing grains. Grains in food favor intolerance and digestive problems and therefore have no place in your Lykoi’s menu.
As a quality-conscious cat owner, you’re right on target with products from I Love My Cat. Our cat food contains only easily digestible ingredients. Grain-free wet and dry food for cats provides your koi with high-quality animal protein from fish, meat, or insects and is therefore ideal for species-appropriate food.
Feeding
Despite their unusual appearance, Lykoi’s nutritional needs are no different from those of other cats.
Every cat is unique and each has its own unique likes, dislikes, and needs when it comes to food. However, cats are carnivores and every cat must obtain 41 different and specific nutrients from their food.
The amount of these nutrients varies based on age, lifestyle, and overall health, so it’s no surprise that a growing, energetic kitten needs a different balance of nutrients in its diet than a less active senior cat.
Other things to keep in mind include feeding the right amount of food to maintain an ‘ideal body condition’ according to dietary guidelines and catering to individual preferences regarding wet or dry food recipes.
Grooming
While the Lykoi’s fur is not long and tangle-free, their generally disheveled appearance makes it difficult to spot scrapes and minor injuries, so it’s worth going through the coat once a day, with a proper comb once a week. Lykoi can shed their entire coat, before growing it back for the next season, so a good grooming routine is essential for this breed.
Brushing them once or twice a week will be enough to stay on top of all the shedding. It’s a good idea to bathe this breed once a month or so to keep their exposed skin clean and free of any oil build-up.
Remember that a greasy coat can be evidence that your cat is no longer trying to groom itself, which can be an indicator of poor or failing health or being overweight. Like all cats, Lycois benefit from regular vaccinations, parasite control, and annual veterinary health checks.
Training
Like any cat, the Lykoi wolf cat is not easily trained. This breed is extremely independent, meaning they don’t like to be told what to do. This breed wants to do things on their terms, so if they’re scratching the furniture or jumping on the counters, you may need to get a little creative to stop them.
Be patient and consistent if you want to keep the cat from doing things on its own for the best results.
After some encouragement, your Lykoi Wolf kitten should be fine with continuing to use the litter box, so you don’t have to worry in that department.
Exercise
As mentioned earlier, the Lykoi wolf cat breed is a very active breed that needs to be stimulated both physically and mentally. So, for your cat to stay healthy, they need at least 15 to 20 minutes of exercise a day, give or take a few minutes.
Be sure to provide your cat with plenty of toys, laser pointers, feather toys, balls, and the like, so they can play whenever they want. You may also find them playing with other pets or children, but don’t force them to do so.
Where to adopt or buy Lykoi
Lykoi is extremely rare. If you want to buy a Lykoi kitten, prepare to get on a long waiting list. Both The Cat Fanciers Association and The International Cat Association list active icon breeders on their websites.
It’s unlikely that you’ll find an adult or kitten Lykoi at an animal shelter or rescue group, but breeders may be aware of their adult Lykoi wanting to be rehomed. It is also possible, though rare, to find a domestic shorthair with a Lykoi-like genetic mutation in a shelter or rescue group.
See More Cat Breeds For Further Research
FAQs
Lykoi Price in india
Breeding cats sell for $3 000 to $5 000 (about R43 500 to R72 500).
Are Lykoi cats friendly?
Sometimes called the “wolf cat” or “werewolf cat,” the Lycoi is definitely one of the most unique cat breeds in the world. Despite their wild appearance, they are friendly, loving, playful cats that get along with humans and other animals.
What is special about the Lykoi?
A unique feature of the cat breed is that the leikoi sheds heavily in old age, but regrows later in life depending on the season. The Leikoi’s missing facial coat gives the breed a werewolf-like appearance.
How much is a Lykoi cat?
Here’s a quick price analysis that will answer your questions: The starting price for a Lykoi kitten is usually around $1,500. Lykois can cost up to $2,500. Some breeders specialize in producing litters with Lykoi kittens.
Are Lykoi cats hypoallergenic?
Although their sparse hair coat suggests that Lykoi cats are hypoallergenic, they are not. They have a long topcoat and shed regularly. Families with known allergies should not get this breed.
