Lykoi

Lykoi
Origin United States
Common nicknames Werewolf Cat, Wolf Cat
Breed standards
TICA standard
Domestic cat (Felis catus)

The Lykoi is a breed of cat, a natural mutation of the domestic shorthair. The Lykoi was developed in Vonore, Tennessee and is said to resemble a werewolf. The word "lykoi" roughly means "wolf" in Greek.

Characteristics

The Lykoi is a partially or almost entirely hairless cat that is genetically distinct from the Canadian Sphynx. The hair coat is unique in appearance in that it resembles the coat of an opossum when mostly coated. Standards call for a solid black roan coat, a wedge-shaped head, and a lithe body of solid weight without excessive bulk. Lykoi are said to be friendly and unchallenging in their behavior. They display a high level of affection for their owners.[1]

A unique characteristic of the cat breed is that the Lykoi sheds a lot when older but regrows its hair later in life depending on the season.[2]

The missing coat of the Lykoi's face gives the breed a werewolfish appearance.[3]

History of the cat breed

Two different sets of domestic shorthairs with the Lykoi gene discovered in Tennessee and Virginia in the 2010s provided the foundation cats now recognized as the breed.[4]

The Lykoi went before The International Cat Association (TICA) registry in 2012 and was passed to "Registration Only" status by unanimous consent. The breed is now recognized as an Advanced New Breed with TICA.[5] Work is currently being done to expand the breeding program.[4]

Controversy

The Lykoi is not a designer breed, but many designer breeds have engendered controversy.[6] The Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA), specifies a number of "Requirements for Recognition as a Provisional Breed".[7] As of November 2015, the Lykoi was not recognized by the CFA even as a provisional breed, but is recognized as an Advanced New Breed with The International Cat Association.[8]

Coat

At the University of Tennessee, dermatologists examined them for any skin abnormalities. Along with biopsy samples of the skin, the dermatologists could find no reason for the coat pattern. What they did find is that some hair follicles lacked all the necessary components required to create hair (which is why Lykoi lack an undercoat). They also found that the follicles that were able to produce hair lacked the proper balance of these components to maintain the hair (which is why Lykoi do molt and can become almost completely bald from time to time). It was determined, with test breeding, to be true natural mutation.[9]

References

  1. ↑ "That's one freaky feline! Breeders develop a CAT that looks like a WEREWOLF and acts like a DOG". Daily Mail. 2014-02-11. Retrieved 2014-03-23.
  2. ↑ Supan, Colleen. "Meet the Werewolf Cat: the Lykoi". Catchannel.com. Retrieved 2015-11-11.
  3. ↑ "Lykoi cats have a DNA mutation that makes them look like werewolves - Tech Insider". Techinsider.io. 2015-10-27. Retrieved 2015-11-11.
  4. 1 2 "Lykoi Breed History". lykoicat.com. Retrieved 2014-03-23.
  5. ↑ "TICA Breeds - savannah cats, bengal cats, maine coon cats, maine coon kittens, savannah kittens, bengal kittens, persian kittens, persian cats, breeds of kittens, breeds of cats". Tica.org. Retrieved 2015-11-11.
  6. ↑ "The "Werewolf Cat" Is Everything That's Wrong With Designer Breeds". Care2.com. Retrieved 2015-11-11.
  7. ↑ "New Breeds and Colors". Cfa.org. Retrieved 2015-11-11.
  8. ↑ "Cat Fanciers Association : Breeds". Cfa.org. Retrieved 2015-11-11.
  9. ↑
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