Lika Star - romances with Presnyakov and Bondarchuk, abduction of her husband by bandits and a new life in Italy

Likoi is an amazing cat with an extraordinary appearance. Large eyes and unruly fur sticking out in all directions make one think that the animal has some kind of demonic origin. Therefore, many people compare a cat with a werewolf or a creature from a parallel universe, attributing otherworldly abilities to it. But the Likoi, despite its appearance, is an affectionate, devoted pet.

Origin story

Likoi is a cat breed that appeared in 2010. Then, American breeder Patty Thomas, when crossing hairless cats with ordinary cats, had a litter with a strange appearance. Thomas's goal was to breed large-bodied sphinxes. The breeder, seeing the result of her labors, considered the litter sick and unviable. But veterinarians refuted her assumptions, recommending that the kittens be examined more carefully.

After the babies were shown to the Gobble spouses (large Sphynx breeders), it was found out that there was a rare change in the genotype of the kittens, which affected the appearance of the offspring. Subsequently, felinologists again crossed ordinary cats with sphinxes, resulting in another litter of unattractive kittens.

The results of the study showed that little “werewolves” have good health. And the main gene responsible for appearance affects only hair follicles. During seasonal molting, the animal becomes almost bald. Cats have no undercoat and guard hairs are not thick.

This section of DNA is recessive. Therefore, the litter may contain babies different from their relatives.

In further breeding, the first resulting litters were used, crossing them with ordinary outbred cats. The breed received official recognition in 2012 only in America. Breeders chose from two names - opossum cat and werewolf cat (Lykoi). The second name stuck.

In the world community, Lykoi are recognized, but with the note that these are representatives of a new developing breed.

How much do werecats cost?

The average price of such kittens from a breeder in America is 2 thousand dollars. At the same time, a full set of documents is issued, including information about origin and parents. In European countries, Lykoi kittens cost about the same. There are very few of them in Russia, and most of them live in Moscow. Prices for a Lykoi kitten in Russia usually start at 100 thousand rubles. This situation is determined by a very limited number of kittens and an incredibly high demand, which increases every year. Such kittens cannot be cheap, so you should beware of advertisements for their inexpensive sale.

See also: TOP 10 biggest cats in the world

Description and standard

Despite the fact that the Likoy breed is young, there are already clear standards for the animal’s appearance and its main characteristics.

1. General form. Medium sized animal. Males grow up to 4.5 kg, females - up to 3.5. The build and size are similar to sphinxes. The skeleton is small, the muscle structure is pronounced, the face is lean and elongated. The chest is expanded, the back rises in the shape of an arc.
2. Limbs, tail of medium size. Legs bare or with little hair. The tail is comparable to a rat's due to the lack of hair.
3. The head is medium in size, the muzzle is wedge-shaped. The nose is wide with a straight transition to the forehead.
4. The cat's ears are large, triangular in shape, stand straight, and slightly rounded.
5. The eyes are like walnuts. The color can be varied - gray, golden, emerald, gray with blue, ash blue, copper yellow. There is no fur around the eyes.

Buying Lykoi

Direct sale of kittens is carried out after they reach 3 months.

For purebred kittens, it is necessary to undergo registration in clubs of European or American systems (for Lykoi this is TICA), after which they receive a metric. This procedure must be carried out before selling the kitten: it guarantees the purity of the breed. Subsequently, the metric is exchanged for the pedigree.

Before selling, the breeder must give the kittens at least a primary vaccination, or preferably two at once.

Video: Likoy cat in a Russian nursery

Unfortunately, due to their small numbers and relative freshness of the breed, Lykoi are not easily accessible animals for purchase. The TICA website lists only two registered nurseries and they are located in the USA (Michigan and Oklahoma), and in Russia, according to breeders, only 4 nurseries have Lykoi. Therefore, having received an offer to sell a Lykoi, you should think about whether they are trying to sell the animal to you.

Distinctive features of Likoy breed kittens:

• black coat color;
• the presence of a bald mask on the face;

  Some breeders compare Likoy kittens to monkeys because of the characteristic mask on their face.

• the presence of characteristic bald patches on the paws.

Features of character and behavior

Lykoy is a werewolf cat who has developed intelligence and a friendly character. The pet quickly becomes attached to the person, tries to listen and hear him. At the same time, he calmly endures loneliness. He will not get bored, but will find something interesting to do. It is recommended to purchase several different toys for your animal, including rustling objects.

Werewolves readily get along with other pets. They will keep company and actively play with cats and dogs. Lykoya can be purchased as a companion not only for yourself, but also for the rest of the household.

Animals have a developed hunting instinct, so you should not place fish or rodents in their access area. High intelligence will allow Lykoi to find a way to open a cage or catch a fish from the water.

Strangers can cause fear and strange behavior in a cat. In some cases, a pet is ready to attack an ill-wisher, protecting itself and its owner. Such habits are similar to those of dogs. Many owners compare Lykoi with them.

What to feed

The amazing appearance of these cats not only makes a great impression, but also requires increased heat exchange, since the skin, devoid of warm fur, can freeze. Therefore, Lykoi require large portions, unlike representatives of fluffy and even ordinary short-haired breeds. In this case, balance is very important, since excessively large portions can lead to overfeeding. Experts recommend premium food for this breed. When choosing food, you need to pay attention to the expiration date and composition, which in no case should contain wheat, corn and soy. To ensure that your pet receives quality feeding, you need, firstly, to consult with a veterinarian, and secondly, to buy products from internationally recognized brands – such as, for example:

• Hills;
• Royal Canin;
• Acana.

If you choose natural feeding, you need to make sure that your dog receives normal portions of raw, lean meat, offal and ocean fish. Porridge, boiled vegetables, quail eggs and fermented milk products also provide excellent variety to the diet. The list of categorically not recommended products includes potatoes, sausage and smoked meats, pork, river fish, mushrooms, baked goods, sweets and any other food that may be present on the owner’s plate.

Care and maintenance

Cat care is minimal. The absence of wool allows you to simply wipe the body with wet wipes to remove sweat. Bath the cat only when necessary.

Lykoya's ears should be cleaned regularly with cotton swabs. Brown secretion must be removed once a week. Trim nails, clean eyes from dirt.

Since the animal's body is only partially covered with fur, the skin reacts sharply to heat and sun. When a pet stays near heat sources or under the sun for a long time, the skin turns black or becomes covered with dark spots. To eliminate the problem, it is necessary to remove the “irritants”. Cat skin will quickly restore its natural color.

Breeding

So, you have a Lykoi or even two of their representatives in your home. It is worth taking the chance to raise the offspring of these amazing animals, especially since due to the small number of nurseries, the sale of several kittens will bring significant income.

First you need to join a specialized club for breeders. For example, in European systems these are WCF, FIFE, etc., and in American systems - TICA, CFA. In the case of Lykois and difficulties with the recognition of this breed, be prepared for the fact that it will definitely be possible to join only TICA. Next, you need to start taking part in exhibitions, because without this, the cat cannot be officially admitted to breeding.

Likoy kittens are born completely black and then acquire the “gray hair” characteristic of this breed.

After all the preparations are completed, you can start looking for a match for your pet.

Criteria for choosing a partner

There are the following criteria for choosing a partner that are common to all cat breeds:

• health;
• pedigree or confirmation of breed purity;
• the opportunity to conclude an agreement with the owner, which will stipulate all rights to future kittens.

Cats should not be given for mating during their first heat; to obtain healthy offspring, it is necessary to skip 1-2 heats. The appropriate period is around 1 year of age. Males can be bred from the age of 14 months.

How often can a cat give birth?

Physiologically, a cat can give birth 4–5 times a year, but in this case the animal’s body works for wear and tear, exclusively producing offspring without adequate recovery after childbirth. You must understand that in this case, not only the cat’s health will suffer, but also the quality of the kittens.

The first birth should take place in the presence of an experienced veterinarian or with the ability to quickly contact him if something goes wrong.

When breeding, a caring owner must take into account the condition of the mother cat immediately after birth, as well as the presence of complications such as mastitis, inflammation of the uterus, and so on. If any such disease has occurred, then the cat can endure the next birth only after 10 months. Breeders who are members of the club, as a rule, deliver cats 3 times every 2 years.

Health

Representatives of the breed are distinguished by excellent health. During the short period of existence, it was not possible to identify any serious pathologies or abnormalities in them. But felinologists are ambiguous in their statements. The breed has not been studied enough; it is too early to talk about the complete absence of health risks.

No allergic reactions to foods commonly fed to cats, medications, or vaccines have been identified. Selective tests were also carried out to determine if the breed had a predisposition to diseases of the heart, urinary tract, and liver. All gave negative results.

It is currently known that Lykoi can be susceptible to the most common infectious feline diseases. Therefore, regular preventive visits to the doctor, vaccinations, and careful care are the key to your pet’s health.

Advantages and disadvantages

Werecats are animals that are rare. But pets have their own advantages and disadvantages, which few Lykoi owners managed to note.

Pros:

• unique appearance;
• simplicity of content;
• easy learning;
• developed intelligence;
• devotion;
• friendliness towards animals and people.

Minuses:

• excessive activity;
• high price;
• problems with purchasing a kitten;
• overdeveloped hunting instinct.

Lykoi has much more advantages than disadvantages. If the future owner takes care of the animal responsibly, the pet will become a real companion for him.