Lykoi: The Werewolf Cats

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I knew months in advance that I wanted to cover the Lykoi as the breed of the month for Encyclopaedia Felidae’s first October. There was no way I could pass up the opportunity to talk about the “werewolf cat” during spooky season. The Lykoi is so nicknamed for its appearance, which is entirely unique among pedigreed cats and reminds some people of the werewolves in classic film. They are also one of the newest and rarest breeds in the world.

History

Lykoi cats have cropped up in random-bred cat populations for a long time [1, 2]. It’s unknown just when the first Lykoi-type cat was born, but they were first recognized in September, 2010 by Patti Thomas, who found two partially-hairless kittens with their black Domestic Shorthair mother at a shelter and adopted them [3]. She began a breeding program with Tennessee veterinarian Jonny Gobble and his wife Brittney [3, 4, 5]. They obtained another, unrelated litter of kittens with the same appearance, and in 2011 they bred a cat from each to get the first intentionally-bred Lykoi [3, 4, 5].

Through the breeding program, the founders quickly realized that the Lykoi appearance came from a natural, recessive mutation [1, 4, 6]. Thomas, the Gobbles, and incoming breeders incorporated Domestic Shorthairs, primarily black ones, as well as any naturally occurring Lyoki that could be found into the breeding program to broaden the gene pool [3, 4, 6]. Despite some incredible drama in the Lykoi breeding community, the breed has seen rapid success, although it remains quite rare due to its newness. As of August 2020, there were still fewer than 100 show-standard Lykoi on the planet [2].

Breed Traits

The Lykoi’s striking coat is it’s stand-out feature. They are considered partially-hairless, although they can range from nearly bald to nearly full-coated [4, 6, 7]. Their sparse, thin pelt has little to no undercoat [1, 2, 6]. Instead, they are covered in a variable layer of guard hairs which make their fur look coarse in texture [2, 6, 7]. In fact, Lykoi actually have a soft, silky coat, despite appearances [2, 6, 7].

The Lykoi lacks fur on their facial “mask” and behind their ears [1, 2, 4, 7]. This, in addition to the rough appearance of their coat, gives them that werewolf look. That coat also has a pattern otherwise unknown among cats: roan, a mixture of colored and amelanistic hairs [4, 6, 7]. Amelanistic hairs are unpigmented and appear white. A roan coat can look silvery or frosty, but it depends upon how much roaning there is. A lot of roaning can cause an animal’s coat to look almost white. The traditional Lykoi color is black roan, and that is still the only color which can be shown in The International Cat Association (TICA) shows [4]. However, the Cat Fanciers’ Association now allows all solid and point colors [3, 6], and Lykoi of many different colors and patterns are being bred as pets.

There is another curious thing about a Lykoi’s fur. It molts. At least once. Lykoi kittens are born looking like any other kitten, and then after a week or two they lose their coat [7]. It regrows all werewolf-y [7]. This may happen as an adult cat, as well, as often as every shedding season [2, 3, 7]. When the coat grows back, it sometimes looks a little different than it did before [7].

The other breed standards for the Lykoi are fairly basic. After all, Lykoi came from Domestic Shorthairs, mostly random-bred ferals. Lykoi are medium-sized cats with short to medium hair [2, 6, 7]. They have rounded wedge-shaped heads and tapering tails [6, 7]. Their eyes are usually amber or green [2, 4].

Weird Science

When Lykoi cats were discovered, they were tested for known cat fur mutations. However, they do not have any of the genetic variants associated with the hairless Sphynx and the curly-haired Devon Rex, Selkirk Rex, German Rex, and Cornish Rex [8, 9]. A genome sequencing study published in May 2020 found six different loss-of-function mutations of the gene Hairless (a.k.a. lysine demethylase and nuclear receptor corepressor) in Lykoi [8]. Perhaps this shouldn’t be surprising, given that the breed came from random-bred cats with natural mutations in quite a few different populations. The study was able to confirm sixteen different Lykoi lineages [8]. It is interesting, though, that so many mutations arose in this particular gene, with the same result no less.

Hairless is important for skin function and hair maintenance [8], and this is borne out by what we know about the skin and hair of Lykoi. They have fewer and shallower hair follicles than Domestic Shorthairs [9]. Their hair shafts are thinner, but they have more oil gland tissue [9]. Lykoi frequently have hair follicles that are too small, too large, or misshapen [9]. The breed demonstrates lymphocytic mural folliculitis, an inflammatory skin condition with unclear impacts on the health of the cats, if any [9]. What is clear is that Lykoi have markedly different skin and hair than other cats. The scientists who studied their skin and hair up close hope that their unique traits may teach us more about dermatological disorders [9].

The Care and Keeping of Werewolves

Some Lykoi enthusiasts characterize their personalities as dog-like or wolfish. I’ll spare you the rant on how I feel about people saying that friendly cats are acting like dogs. Instead, I will simply say that that’s a bit silly. Lykoi are smart, energetic, and people-oriented [4, 5]. They can sometimes be shy with strangers, but they can usually learn to get along well with just about anyone, including children and other pets [4, 5]. Lykoi have guard-cat tendencies, wanting to keep watch over their toys and their people [4, 7].

Lykoi need plenty to occupy their active minds and bodies, but outdoor time is not a good option for this. Their sparse coats make them sensitive to cold and sunburn [1, 2, 6]. They need to be indoor-only cats, and if you have a catio, make sure it’s warm enough outside. You may even need to consider pet sunscreen.

Even without sunscreen, Lykoi can have a build-up of oils on their skin, just like hairless breeds do [1, 2, 6]. They need regular bathing to keep their skin clean, about once a month. They can also have buildup on their claws and in their ears, so those may need a quick cleaning once a week or so. Brushing is part of any good grooming routine, but because a Lykoi’s fur is so thin, you have to make sure to brush gently. Too harsh or too much brushing can irritate their skin [5].

As far as health goes, Lykoi are believed to be a healthy breed. There are no known health conditions associated with the breed except the lymphocytic mural folliculitis, which may or may not be a real problem. It remains uncertain. However, the breed is so new, and there are so few cats, that it is possible there are lurking health problems which haven’t become apparent [1, 2]. The best practice is to just watch a Lykoi for any signs of illness or injury, as you would a non-pedigreed cat.

A word of caution to anyone interested in getting a Lykoi: because the breed is so rare, and therefore so valuable, there are a lot of scams out there. This is the case with all pedigreed cats, but the rarer the breed, the worse it gets. Of course, this is just another reason to adopt, not shop! Even rare breeds end up in shelters, and Lykoi cats still turn up as natural mutations, too. Unfortunately, they are sometimes put down because staff think they are sick, especially if they molt [10]. Avoid a scam and adopt a vulnerable cat. There aren’t a lot of Lykoi-specific rescues yet. You can always check your local shelter if there isn’t one in your area, or you can try Werewolf Warriors Lykoi Cat Rescue, a Facebook group dedicated to placing Lykoi in need of forever homes.

Fun Facts

• The name Lykoi comes from the Greek word for wolf, lycos [2, 8].
• Lykoi have pink skin that will tan if exposed to sunlight or heat [4].
• The Lykoi is one of the most genetically diverse breeds of cat, according to a joint Wisdom Health and TICA study [11].

Works Cited

1. Chant, I. (2014, September 15). Watching the birth of a new breed: The werewolf cat. Nautilus. http://nautil.us/blog/watching-the-birth-of-a-new-breed-the-werewolf-cat
2. Taylor, C. (2020, August 24). Lykoi. Daily Paws. https://www.dailypaws.com/cats-kittens/cat-breeds/lykoi
3. Hartwell, S. (2018). The uncensored origins of the lykoi. MessyBeast. http://messybeast.com/lykoi-story.htm
4. The International Cat Association. (2018, August 13). Lykoi breed. https://www.tica.org/breeds/browse-all-breeds?view=article&id=852:lykoi-breed&catid=79
5. Cat Time. (n.d.). Lykoi. TotallyPets. https://cattime.com/cat-breeds/lykoi#/slide/1
6. Cat Fanciers’ Association. (n.d.). About the lykoi. https://cfa.org/lykoi/
7. Gobble, J. (2019, November 4). All about the lykoi cat breed. All About Cats. https://allaboutcats.com/lykoi-cat
8. Buckley, R.M., et al. (2020). Werewolf, there wolf: Variants in Hairless associated with hypotrichia and roaning in the lykoi cat breed. Genes, 11(6), 682. https://doi.org/10.3390/genes11060682
9. LeRoy, M.L., et al. (2016). Clinical and histological discription of lykoi cat hair coat and skin. The Japanese Journal of Veterinary Dermatology, 22(3), 179-191. 10.2736/jjvd.22.179
10. Lykoi Cat Rescue. (2020, April 5). Hello all! We just wanted to give you all a quick update about our Lykoi Cat Rescue Page [Status Update]. Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/lykoicatrescue/posts/838934323252539
11. Lytle, K.M., Anderson, H., Hutcherson, A., and Kajon, A.E. (2019). The International Cat Association-Wisdom Health State of the Cat study: lessons learned in genetic diversity by bringing panel testing to the cat fancy. The International Cat Association. PDF

Published October 18th, 2020

Updated June 14th, 2023