Meet The Werewolf Kitty

Halloween will be here before you know it! Pop into almost any store this week, and you’ll see all sorts of Halloween candy and decor, and plenty of products with mummies, skulls, spiders, and vampires, and, of course, werewolves. In fact, there’s a new werewolf on the scene, and she’s pretty loveable. In this article, a veterinarian discusses Halloween’s newest mascot … the Lykoi, or werewolf kitty.

Basics

If you look past her name, appearance, and possible fixation on full moons, the Lykoi cat is very much like any other feline. With an average lifespan of 10 to 15 years, Lykois should weigh about 6 to 8 pounds. And, they’re quite skilled at wrapping their humans around their paws. Fluffy doesn’t howl at the moon, but she’s not shy about speaking her mind! As expected, Lykois live for kitty luxuries, such as catnip scratching posts, and comfy beds. (No word yet on how they feel about silver.)

Coat

Truth be told, Fluffy isn’t all that fluffy. Most Lykois have thin coats, and many don’t have any fur around their eyes, mouths, and noses. Some have no hair at all! (Unsurprisingly, these bald kitties often get mistaken for Sphynx kitties.) Like other hairless cats, these lovable felines can get chilly very easily. This is one reason we recommend keeping them indoors … especially when the moon is full. But that doesn’t mean they don’t shed. In fact, the Lykoi sheds quite a bit for a cat that doesn’t have much hair! 

History

There’s no shortage of Werewolf myths, and many have been around for centuries. Some of the oldest legends go all the way back to ancient Greece! (Fun fact: the name Lykoi comes from Lycos, the Greek word for wolf.) And while the Lykoi breed may not be that old, felines with the Lykoi look have been observed in feral cat colonies for quite a while. Not too long ago, in 2011, breeders matched two of them up. This began Fluffy’s journey to getting recognized as an official breed. Just one year later, in 2012, the International Cat Association granted the kitties official status. Despite their official rank, the Lykoi is still quite rare. There are fewer than 100 show-standard ones registered worldwide. And while we still have lots to learn about these adorable kitties, we can assure you that you don’t need to worry about changing into a werecat if Fluffy bites you.

 Do you have questions about your feline friend? Contact us, your animal clinic, today.