Meet The Werewolf Kitty

Halloween is on its way! Browse through almost any store this week, and you’ll see all sorts of Halloween candy and decor, and plenty of products with spiders, vampires, mummies, skulls, and, of course, werewolves. In fact, a new werewolf is on the scene, and she’s pretty adorable. In this article, a veterinarian discusses Halloween’s newest mascot … the Lykoi, or werewolf kitty.

Basics

Besides her name, appearance, and possible fixation on full moons, the Lykoi is pretty much the same as any other cat. They have an average lifespan of 10 to 15 years, should weigh about 6 to 8 pounds, and enjoy wrapping their humans around their paws. Fluffy may not howl at the moon, but she isn’t shy about speaking her mind. As you would expect, Lykois love kitty luxuries, such as catnip, scratching posts, and comfy beds. (No word yet on how they feel about silver.)

Coat

Fluffy is, well, kind of sparse in the fluffy department. Most Lykois have thin coats, while many don’t have any fur around their mouths, eyes, and noses. Some have no hair at all! (No surprise, these bald kitties often get mixed up with Sphynx kitties.) Like other hairless cats, these lovable kitties get cold very fast. This is one reason we recommend keeping them indoors … especially when the moon is full. On the flip side, that doesn’t mean they don’t shed. The Lykoi actually sheds quite a bit for a cat that doesn’t have much hair to work with! 

History

Werewolf myths have been passed down for centuries. Some of the oldest legends began long ago in ancient Greece! (Fun fact: the name Lykoi is derivative of Lycos, the Greek word for wolf.) And granted, the Lykoi may not be that old, but felines with the Lykoi look have been observed in feral cat colonies for a long time. In 2011, breeders matched two of them up. This began Fluffy’s journey to getting recognized as an official breed. That actually didn’t take very long: the Lykoi breed was granted official status just one year later in 2012, by the International Cat Association. The Lykoi is still quite rare: there are fewer than 100 registered, show-standard ones, worldwide. We still have lots to learn about these kitties, but 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.