Werewolf cat named new breed at American Kennel Club
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A Lykoi breed of cat, a new breed recognized by the American Kennel Club, stands during a meet the breeds event. (Reuters)
Beware the werewolf cat.
The International Cat Association announced Wednesday it had recognized the Lykoi cat -- a feline also known as the werewolf cat because of its black and golden-rimmed eyes and black and slightly gray sparse coat on a lean body.
“If you walk up on it around 2 a.m…they can kind of frighten you,” cat breeder Anthony Hutcherson told NBC New York. “But they are really sweet cats, and it is an interesting appearance.”
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}When asked about people describing the feline as “ugly,” Hutcherson said “beauty is the eye of the beholder” and that some owners like the “werewolves and vampires.”
Lykoi cats have a werewolf-like appearance and are said to be very smart felines. (Reuters)
“And if that’s your look and you want something that’s going to be sweet and warm, a lykoi might just be right for you,” Hutcherson said.
The Lykoi breed was founded in 2011, when breeders discovered the cats were the product of natural mutation in a domestic shorthair feline that developed more than 20 years ago, around when the animal took on a werewolf-like appearance. The name Lykoi means “wolf cat” in Greek, according to the International Cat Association.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The felines are said to be “very intelligent” and are great problem solvers.
The American Kennel Club also announced it will be recognizing two new breeds of dogs — the Nederlandse kooikerhondje and the grand basset griffon Vendeen.