Everything You Need to Know About Lykoi Cats

It’s called the werewolf cat because of the unusual appearance of its coat, which resembles that of a werewolf.

It has a unique combination of build and color, but the real shocker is its unusual hair pattern. It has patchy, thin, and wiry hair, which from time to time sheds to such a degree, the cat appears hairless. It is classified as partially hairless because of this unique “trait”.

This cat also has the strange ability to change skin color, believe it or not! Let’s take a look at this interestingly strange breed of feline, the Lykoi.

It’s believed that the look of the cat is a result of natural mutation. It would seem that a pair of shorthair cats, both carrying a hairless gene, created offspring that carried this mutated gene.

Lykoi Discovery: Where It Started

Breeders have sought to preserve the look of the cat by breeding the discovered Lykoi with domestic black cats.

Preserving the Appearance

Lykoi cats are considered unique in that they were found as ferals and strays. One of the key discoverers and investigators of the breed, John Gobble, coined the phrase “second-chance cat” to describe its fortune.

Lykoi: The Second Chance Breed

Lykoi Cats Are Hairless (Sort Of)

They do lack an undercoat, so their fur is indeed thin, and in some places basically non-existent.

Physical Description Of  Lykoi Hair and Color

A classic Lykoi has a combination of fur colors as it is partly black and partly amelanistic. This means that some of its hair has no melanin and is therefore colorless.

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