Meet The Werewolf Kitty

Halloween is just around the corner! If you pop into almost any store this week, you’ll see all sorts of Halloween candy and decor, spiders, skulls, and plenty of products with vampires, mummies, and, of course, werewolves. And guess what? 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 name, appearance, and possible fixation on full moons, the Lykoi is not that much different than any other cat. They have an average lifespan of 10 to 15 years, weigh between 6 to 8 pounds, and can easily wrap their humans around their paws. Fluffy may not howl at the moon, but she isn’t shy about speaking her mind. 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, not very fluffy at all. Most Lykois have thin coats. And many of them don’t have any fur around their mouths, eyes, and nose. Some have no hair at all! (Not surprisingly, these bald kitties often get mixed up with Sphynx kitties.) Like other hairless cats, these lovable felines get chilly, fast. This is one reason we recommend keeping them indoors … especially when there’s a full moon. However, that doesn’t mean they don’t shed. The Lykoi sheds a lot for a cat that doesn’t have much hair to begin with! 

History

Werewolf myths have been around for hundreds of years. A few of the oldest legends go all the way back to ancient Greece! (Fun fact: the name Lykoi is derived from Lycos, the Greek word for wolf.) The Lykoi may not be that old, but kitties with the Lykoi look have been seen in feral cat colonies for quite a while. Breeders matched two of them up in 2011, thereby beginning Fluffy’s journey to getting recognized as an official breed. That process didn’t take very long: the International Cat Association granted the kitties official status just one year later, in 2012. Despite the Lykoi’s newly won status, this breed is still quite rare: there are fewer than 100 show-standard ones registered worldwide. While we still have lots to learn about these kitties, we can assure you that you won’t change into a werecat if Fluffy bites you.

Do you have questions about your feline friend? Contact us, your animal clinic, today.