The Lykoi started their journey to becoming a breed in 2011. The very first Lykoi cat for the Lykoi breeding program was born to Brittney Gobble in the Fall of 2011 to prove these cats were a breed with a unique gene. The five foundation cats were then all registered together that same year with The International Cat Association(TICA). Since then, the work of multiple breeders, pet owners, and loyal fans have elevated the Lykoi to an almost rockstar status. During their 5-year journey, there have been several accomplishments that the Lykoi have completed to make them different from other breeds of cats and unique in their journey. First, all the foundation Lykoi used to start the breed are from strays, shelters, or feral colonies. It is a natural occurring mutation in the domestic house cat that can appear from time to time. The gene has appeared in all corners of the world, and 17 of these naturally occurring mutations have been incorporated in the program. This playfully earned them the nickname “second chance breed” since they all started from rescue cats that may not have survived without our help, and many of which were dropped at shelters due to people not realizing how special they were. Second, they have received grants for research into their genetics, skin, and hair. There is a team of scientists (geneticists, dermatologists, etc) continuing to collect data on the Lykoi to explain the interaction the recessive gene has on their color, hair coat, and the hairless pattern they develop. Third, they were passed to Championship status in TICA in the fall of 2016. That means they can be shown in competitions with every other breed of cat, as of May of 2017. That hurdle establishes them as a breed of cat which is recognized by one of the leading cat registries. And fourth, with the help of many of the Lykoi breeders, TICA members, our researchers, our genetic diversity with so many foundation cats, and our kitten owners, the Lykoi have developed into a very healthy, beautiful breed that many people can enjoy.
These cats are very intelligent. They are pretty playful and love to be close to their relatives. However, they can also do well playing by themselves. One interesting feature of these scruffy-looking felines is that they act like dogs. They will fetch, hunt, and hound in the wild, just like a dog would do. They are a bit aloof with strangers until they can confirm that they are out of danger. They are very protective of their family and a little territorial with their toys. But they are willing to share, even with another cat, if asked for.
The body of a Lykoi cat is partially or entirely hairless. When they are almost covered with hair, their coat has the appearance of that of an opossum. Their hairless face gives them that unique look that cat enthusiasts love. The coat of the Lykoi cat is black roan on a solid weight body. When these cats grow older, they shed a lot but the hair grows back at some point.