Meet The Werewolf Kitty

Halloween will be here before you know it! Stop by almost any store this week, and you’ll see all sorts of Halloween plenty of products with spiders, candy and decor, mummies, skulls, vampires, and, of course, werewolves. Actually, there’s a new werewolf 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 appearance, name, and possible fixation on full moons, the Lykoi is much like any other cat. They have an average lifespan of 10 to 15 years and should weigh about 6 to 8 pounds. And, not surprisingly, they’re very good at wrapping their humans around their paws. Fluffy may not howl at the moon, but she isn’t shy about getting your attention when she wants to. As you might expect, Lykois appreciate kitty luxuries, such as catnip, scratching posts, and comfy beds. (No word yet on how they feel about silver.)

Coat

Fluffy is, well, anything but fluffy. In fact, most Lykois have thin coats. And too, many don’t have any fur around their eyes, mouths, and noses. Some have no hair at all! (Unsurprisingly, these bald kitties often get mixed up with Sphynx kitties.) Not unlike other hairless cats, these lovable felines catch a chill very easily. This is one reason we recommend keeping them indoors … especially when the moon is full. All the same, 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

There’s no shortage of werewolf myths and they’ve been around for centuries. Some of the oldest legends go all the way back to ancient Greece! (Fun fact: the name Lykoi derives from Lycos, the Greek word for wolf.) The Lykoi breed may not be that old, but felines with the Lykoi look have been observed in feral cat colonies for quite a while. In 2011, breeders matched two of them up, which began Fluffy’s journey to getting recognized as an official breed. And that process didn’t take very long at all: the International Cat Association granted the kitties official status just one year later, in 2012. But still, the Lykoi is quite rare with fewer than 100 show-standard ones registered worldwide. While we still have lots to learn about these kitties, be assured 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.