Unusual 'Werewolf Cat' Resembles Giant Rat and People Are Baffled

Most people who have a cat just take whatever variety of domestic shorthair that is granted them by the unofficial “cat distribution system”—a mythical means by which people who are thinking about adding a cat to their lives seem fated to have a cat suddenly bestowed upon them. Some favor cats with certain color markings, like fans of tortoise, or people who love their ginger boys. Others are more particular, and go to great lengths breed and even purchase purebred cats, like the majestic Maine Coon, the adorable Scottish fold, or the uniquely hairless Sphinx. As cat breeds grow in popularity, people even try to make new breeds, usually by exploiting natural mutations in wild populations of cats. This is how breeds like the Scottish fold, who has misshapen ears, and several “munchkin” breeds (with dwarfism) came about.

The Lykoi, or so-called “werewolf cat” is another one of these breeds.

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Lykoi cats first came into being less than fifteen years ago, when a litter of formerly feral cats were brought into a Virginia animal rescue exhibiting unique hair growth patterns. It was discovered that this abnormal hair growth was part of recessive genetic mutation, distinct from the kind that produces Sphynx cats and other hairless breeds. In order to achieve the desirable black or gray “werewolf” look, Lykoi were bred with black cats.

Related: Video of Lykoi Cat Mowing Down Popcorn Is All of Us at the Drive-In

Why do Lykoi Look Like That?

Lykoi comes from an ancient word meaning “wolf” and it is clear that those who developed the breed were certainly leaning into the spooky connotations.

Their coat pattern is the result of a genetic mutation that results in hypotrichia, or hairlessness, that presents as a total lack of undercoat as well as patchy or hairless areas on the animal’s face, limbs and tail. Most Lykoi cats are either black or roan colored.

It’s the pattern of this hair that makes the cat look like something out of a horror movie—but Hollywood makeup artists got the “look” of mangy werewolves not from recently mutated cats, but rather, from scarier-seeming animals like rats and possums. Like the Lykoi, these animals are often missing fur on their snout, their feet, and their long, whiplike tail.

And that means that rather than a werewolf, these poor kitties can sometimes look far more like a rat.

Care of a Lykoi Cat

Some of these cats have more hair than others, and the amount of hair and placement of the hair can vary throughout the cat’s lifetime. Because of their lack of undercoat, Lykoi are a more delicate cat, who can become cold and even get hypothermia in the winter months if not given adequate heating and even sweaters. (Whether it adds or detracts from the “werewolf” look if you provide the animal with clothing really depends on the type of clothes you go for.)

Additionally, like other so-called “hairless” breeds, Lykoi are in needs of more intense grooming rituals than their furry domestic shorthair counterparts. Their skin can be extremely delicate, and one must be careful when using brushes on them not to tear the surface of their skin. They also may need regular baths, like Sphynx cats, to help clear the oil off their skin and prevent them from stinking.

But fans of the Lykoi breed say they are a playful, affectionate, “doglike” cat…even if they do look a bit like a rat.

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