If you want to add a new member to your new family, a little furry bundle of joy with lots of attitudes and a unique look to boot, then you might want to buy or adopt a Lykoi kitty. These small creatures may not look like any cat you’ve ever seen (except for the sphinx cat), but that’s exactly why there are hundreds of people who want to raise them. Lykoi cats, or what people like to call werewolf cats, are quite popular now.
Ever since they were recognized by the Cat Fancier’s Association and acknowledged as one of the rarest types of cats to breed in the US, many people have shown a growing interest in the werewolf-like felines. If you’re thinking about getting one yourself, here is everything you’ll need to know about them.
Origin
The work ‘Lykoi’ comes from the Greek language, and it means wolves; however, that doesn’t mean that these kitties come from Greece. They are completely native to the US after they’ve been reported to be seen all over the US in the past 20 years. In 2011, Tennessee-based breeders Johnny and Brittney Gobble discovered this breed, and they became the first breeders of the Lykoi cats. Later, more and more people started breeding them in Vonore and Tennessee, which prompted many people to raise them due to their wolf-like coat and ruffled wild look. Due to these Lycan attributes, people started adopting them, not to mention their overall charm, friendliness, and cutesy appeal.
Excessive Shedding
One thing that might alarm you is when your cat sheds to the point of leaving bald patches on their thick, fine coat and spitting out furballs practically everywhere. However, according to LeluandBobo.com, this shouldn’t worry you because Lykois can shed a lot of hair, and that’s totally normal! Although they don’t have enough hair on their skin (or maybe because of that), Lykois is known to shed hair as much as other domestic breeds. Their thin, almost non-existent fur makes them look like other hairless breeds like the sphinx cats. Ironically, they don’t have any sphynx or devon gene on them, but a unique hairless gene of their own that doesn’t quite let them shed all of their hair. That’s exactly why this breed is especially unique for cat lovers.
Temperament
Lykois are domestic cats with medium to high intelligence and amicable behavior. They can overcome almost all problems that they face. In addition to this, they enjoy humans’ company, but it also won’t be entirely depending on their owner. They can find entertainment in toys, or other objects in the room like all domestic cats do. Lykois can also get along with other breeds, so you will be facing any problems if you have a Himalayan cat or Siamese cat, for example. Note that Lykois can be a bit protective over their territories and possessions more than other domestic cats, so they might be slightly hostile if you introduce a new cat into the house, but once they get used to their new friend, they’ll soon open up and mingle with them.
Grooming
Like all cats, Lykois like to keep their coats clean and shiny by licking them on their own. They tend to do so more frequently during the molting season. However, because their thin coat accumulates excess oil, you will have to bathe your Lykois more frequently to prevent their coat from greasing. That’s why you should bathe them once every week during the molting season, but make sure to reduce their baths when their hair grows back. Other than that, you should provide them with basic hygiene steps like wiping their ears on a regular basis with a cotton ball and a mild cleaner. You should also clip their nails and do proper dental cleaning every week to avoid any dental diseases.
Health Concerns
While this special breed is generally healthy, your little hairless kitty might exhibit some signs of illnesses associated with hairless breeds as it grows up. For example, skin problems due to sunburns, a build-up of oil, and difficulty staying warm due to their thin coat are all possible health concerns, so be sure to consult an experienced vet about the best approach to avoid fatal feline illnesses.
Apart from the glaring fact that they have a thin coat compared to other cats, raising a Lykoi cat shouldn’t be challenging for you. There is no special feeding regimen or a training program that you should follow with Lykois, but you have to make sure that they get sufficient nutrients in their daily meals and training equipment to enhance their hunting instincts.
