Are they truly cats? Or a cross with a monkey/wolf?
They are 100% cats. They are extremely unique looking, but that is what they “naturally” look like. Brittney Gobbles did not do any crazy mad scientist experiments to “create” these cats. They even had the breed standard written to resemble the first pair of Lykoi so that breeders will stay true to the appearance of the “original mutation”.
What is up with the two tone hair? Are they smoke?
This coloration is not found in any other cat breed in the world. It is called “roan” when it appears in dogs and horses. They are born with a solid color (like black) and as the kitten coat falls out, they grown in equal amounts of solid white hairs and solid black hairs. The color is solid from root to tip where as with the other colorations the hair shaft is two different colors. The color in a black roan cat is best discibed as salt and pepper. DNA testing showes that these cats are not tabby.
Are they half Sphynx?
N0. The founding Lykoi all had DNA testing done by UC Davis in California and do not have the Sphynx or the Devon gene. The Lykoi gene is it’s own special “mutation” from the domestic shorthair cat population. The mutation is not uncommon and today with awarness of the Lykoi these mutated cats gives new material to the genepool.
Is this gene dominant or recessive?
The Lykoi gene is recessive. That means that the firts generation F1 of outcross with a domestic cat gives cats that looks ”normal” but carrie the Lykoi gene. It also means that when you mate two Lykoi all offsprings will be Lykoi.
Can the Lykoi be shown?
Yes! They are on the way to get Championship in all cat associations.
Are there any known genetic health issues with this breed?
Although since the breed is a natural mutation from domestic short-hair cats, the Lykoi could share any health issues common in your typical barn cat. It had been shown that our domestic cat has more hearth issues that we expected, and therefore we hearth scan on all our Lykoi in breeding program.
Luckily, this breed has shown very few predispositions to medical conditions. They are generally healthy animals, but there are some health concerns that owners should be aware of. Like with all cats you should keep your cat fit, cat today tender to get get obesity witch is strongly connected to the development of diabetes. Hypothermia is not a disease on its own, but it is something that occurs more frequently in cats with sparse coats. This condition involves a below-normal body temperature, which can lead to a whole host of systemic issues. Hypothermia most commonly occurs when cats are left in cold temperatures, but since Lykois lack a normal coat, they are unable to maintain their body temperature as efficiently as a normal-coated cat, which increases their chances of developing hypothermia in cool temperatures.
Calling hypotrichia a disease isn’t necessarily accurate because this is what is responsible for the sparse hair coat that defines the Lykoi cat breed. While many people who get Lykois know they’re in for a cat with a sparse coat, many people aren’t aware that these cats can molt and may lose most or all of their coat. The coat typically returns to its former state in a short period of time, but it can be distressing to notice your cat’s coat falling out.
Are there other colours than black?
Yes, there are other colours! They are in a variety of colours, and pattern. They are even in colour point and odd-eyed.
How often should I bathe my Lykoi and what Shampoo should I use?
We use a shampoo called “Hylyt” made by DVM. It can be purchased from Ebay or Amazon. If you don’t want to use Hylyt, a gentle pet shampoo from the pet store is best.
