Lykoi: Cat Food and a Description of the Breed
The Lykoi is a young cat breed from the USA that resembles a werewolf. For this reason the Lykoi, which enjoys increasing popularity in its home country, is sometimes called a werewolf cat.
History of the Lykoi
The Lykoi is a very young cat breed, whose history began just about 10 years ago. In 2010 Patti Thomas, a breeder of Sphynx cats, accidentally discovered two kittens that had the typical appearance of the Lykoi.
With the help of genetic tests and medical examinations they tried to find out if the appearance of the two four-legged creatures was due to a disease. However, they came to the conclusion that a gene mutation was responsible for their appearance.
This opened the way for the targeted breeding and further development of the breed. Since 2017 TICA recognizes the Lykoi as an independent cat breed.
Appearance of the Lykoi
The Lykoi is a small to medium sized cat breed. Males weigh about 3.5 to 4.5 kilos and females reach a weight between 2 and 3.5 kilos. The Lykoi has a slender build. Its wedge-shaped head is relatively small and its large ears are set wide apart.
The coat of the Lykoi
The most striking external feature of the Lykoi is their unusual coat. Some parts of their body are completely hairless due to a genetic mutation. In most animals this includes the face and the back of the ears.
In addition, the paws and legs of the Lykoi are usually only slightly hairy, as the hair follicles are partly lacking the necessary components for growth and the coat of the cat therefore has no undercoat.
The coat colour of the Lykoi is called spiky. This means that the dark coat also contains a certain amount of white hairs.
Character of the Lykoi
The Lykoi is an extremely friendly cat. They are very curious and love to play.
The Lykoi is sociable and gets well on with other animals. As she is considered to be a very affectionate and human-oriented roommate, the purchase of a second cat is recommended.
Looking after the Lykoi
The werewolf cat is too sensitive to the sun in summer and too sensitive to the cold in winter because of its thin coat, which means the Lykoi is primarily suitable for keeping as an indoor cat. Occasional trips to a cat-safe garden are fine.
The Lykoi's coat is very thin and therefore does not need to be brushed regularly. Owners should keep an eye on the cat’s skin though in case there are any problems.
The Lykoi changes its coat several times a year. During this time her body shows partly very large bald spots. Some Lykois even lose almost their entire coat during their change of coat, so that they temporarily look like a real naked cat.
Lykoi diseases
So far it is not known that the Lykoi is prone to certain race-typical diseases. However, it is still a very young breed with a rather small gene pool. Although breeders are trying to enlarge the gene pool by crossbreeding with other cat breeds, inbreeding is in principle a possible problem with the Lykoi.
Apart from that one can assume that the skin and coat of the Lykoi are comparatively sensitive and problems like inflammations, sunburn or hair loss might occur more often in cats dressed as werewolves.
The life expectancy of the Lykoi
Exact information on the average life expectancy of the Lykoi is hardly possible, since the breed is both young and quite rare. As with all pedigree cats, the keeping conditions with regard to the age to be reached play an important role.
Besides the careful choice of a serious breeder, prospective owners of a Lykoi should plan regular visits to the vet and appropriate preventive measures such as vaccinations and prophylactic deworming of their cat should be part of their daily routine.
The right food for the Lykoi
Despite their unusual appearance, the nutritional needs of the Lykoi do not differ from other cats. As carnivores, a sufficient supply of animal protein is particularly important for them.
At the same time it is advisable to avoid cat food containing cereals. Cereals in the food favour intolerances and digestive problems and therefore have no place on the menu of your Lykoi.
As a quality-conscious cat owner, you are right on target with the products from I love my cat. Our cat food contains only easily digestible ingredients. The cereal-free wet and dry food for cats provides your Lykoi with high-quality animal proteins from fish, meat or insects and is therefore ideal for species-appropriate feeding.
In addition, we recommend the following care products and food supplements for your Lykoi as required:
- Shiimun Skin as additional nutrient supplier to support the skin and coat condition
- Dental powder for an effective and at the same time gentle cleaning of the teeth of your Lykoi
- Eye care drops for the care of the sensitive cat eyes of your quadruped
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