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Meet the Lovable Lykoi Cat: A New Breed with a Wolfish Charm

With their wolfish looks and playful spirit, Lykoi cats are capturing hearts worldwide. But what exactly are Lykoi cats, and what's their story? The Lykoi's journey began in 2011 when two separate litters of unusual kittens were discovered. These kittens had partial hairlessness and a roan coat pattern, giving them an appearance akin to tiny werewolves! After extensive health testing ruled out disease, it was determined these cats had a natural genetic mutation causing their unique looks. Johnny Gobble, Brittney Gobble, and Patti Thomas founded the Lykoi breed by breeding some of these special cats.

The name "Lykoi" comes from the Greek word for wolf, "lykos." It's a perfect fit for their lupine locks! With their partially hairless bodies, Lykoi cats resemble miniature werewolves because they have a mask of hairlessness around the eyes, nose, ears, and muzzle. It gives them an unusual look that can be hard to decide if they are cute or spooky. Their roan coat consists of a mix of colored hairs and white hairs without an undercoat. This sparse hair can make Lykois look rough, but their coats are actually incredibly soft and silky, making them perfect for some love and petting. The coat varies from nearly bald to almost fully coated, and their eyes are a striking yellow or green. Despite the hairless appearance, Lykoi cats are unrelated to hairless Sphynx cats but do require some similar care. Their mutation is completely natural and is sometimes found in feral populations.

Lykoi Cat Temperament: Playful, Loyal, and Loving

While their looks may seem fierce, Lykoi cats have wonderfully outgoing personalities. They're intelligent, energetic, and love playing games like fetch. Lykoi cats bond strongly with their families and love to be with you as much as possible. They'll happily snuggle up on your lap when they want affection or a little closeness to you. With proper socialization, these friendly kitties get along well with kids, dogs, and other pets too. Their high prey drive means they'll stalk toys or feet under the blanket, so beware of toe nibbles! But they aren't aggressive and enjoy pack-like play with other Lykoi cats. Their curiosity and dog-like behaviors earned them the nickname "wolf cat!"

Caring for These Special Cats

Due to their sparse coats, Lykoi cats should live strictly indoors. Their skin needs protection from sunburn, and they can get chilled easily. Their skin tends to be oily, so bathing a Lykoi once or twice a week is recommended. Otherwise, they have minimal grooming needs but do shed seasonally. Lykoi cats should eat a high-protein diet and have lots of toys to keep their active minds and bodies engaged. With proper care, these cats can live long, healthy lives of 12-15 years.

Lykoi kittens are born with full coats of fur like wolf pups. But after a week or two, they start "wolfing out" as their fur thins to the mature Lykoi coat pattern. According to many, witnessing it is a magical transformation (if you get the chance). These kittens are just as playful and affectionate as the adults, and socialization and handling will ensure they grow into friendly, well-adjusted cats.

A New Breed Capturing Hearts

With their unique appearance and charming personality, it's no wonder Lykoi cats are capturing the attention of cat lovers worldwide. Their breed is still rare but growing as more people discover these lovable wolf cats. So if you're looking for an intelligent, playful new feline friend, (and have a couple of thousand dollars burning in your pocket), the Lykoi may be the perfect fit for your home! 

Naomi Campbell is Lykois of the Year!

I will cover breeds sometimes because they are fascinating, even though my heart is with rescue. I don't lecture others about breeding because it can come off as self-righteous, like a rabid zealot, and it achieves nothing in my experience. Breed rescues are a great option if you want a purebred cat. In my opinion, if someone buys a cat, they should donate yearly to small, underfunded rescues. If I made laws, that would be Fleur's Law. 

For cat food recalls: https://cats.com/cat-food-recalls. They have a tool so you can get updates by email. 

There are already fraudulent cats advertised as Lykoi, so if you do decide to get one, get it from a breeder listed with one of these cat fancier organizations: CFA or TICA  

(photos cats.com, CFA, necoichi)