It’s Halloween season! Pop into almost any store this week, and you’ll see all sorts of Halloween candy and decor, and plenty of products with classic icons like spiders, skulls, vampires, mummies, and, of course, werewolves. Speaking of werewolves, there’s a new member of that pack, and she’s definitely a bit different than the others. In this article, a veterinarian discusses Halloween’s newest mascot … the Lykoi, or werewolf kitty.
Basics
Aside from her name, appearance, and possible fixation on full moons, the Lykoi cat is very much like any other feline. They have an average lifespan of 10 to 15 years, should weigh about 6 to 8 pounds, and are very skilled at wrapping their humans around their paws. Fluffy may not howl at the moon, but she isn’t exactly shy about speaking her mind, either. As one would probably expect, Lykois appreciate classic kitty luxuries, like scratching posts, catnip, and comfy beds. (No word yet on how they feel about silver.)
Coat
Fluffy is, well, not very fluffy. Most Lykois have quite thin coats. Many don’t have any fur at all around their eyes, nose, and mouths. Some of them have no hair at all! Like other hairless cats, these adorable felines get cold very easily. This is one reason we recommend keeping them indoors … especially when the moon is full. However, don’t assume that having thin fur means they don’t shed. The werewolf kitty actually sheds quite a bit for a cat that doesn’t have much hair!
History
Werewolf myths have been around for centuries. Some of the oldest legends date back to ancient Greece! In fact, the name Lykoi is derivative of Lycos, the Greek word for wolf. The Lykoi may not be that old, but kitties with their distinctive look have been observed in feral cat colonies for quite a while. In 2011, breeders matched two of them up, thereby beginning Fluffy’s journey to getting recognized as an official breed. That actually didn’t take very long: the International Cat Association granted the felines official status only one year later, in 2012. These cats are still quite rare: there are fewer than 100 show-standard Lykois registered worldwide. While we still have lots to learn about Fluffy, we do know you don’t need to worry about changing into a werecat if she bites you.
Do you have questions about your feline friend? Contact us, your animal clinic, today.