Lykoi cats that are bred to look like WEREWOLVES are the latest kitten craze IS IT a cat or a werewolf? A new breed of cats has been developed which looks like a werewolf but behaves like a dog [REX] These scarily cute kittens are said to act like dogs and are now taking the internet by storm.  The Lykoi cat has no hair around the eyes, nose, ears and mouth and bear a striking resemblance to Wolverine. The breeders of the black cats say they have a similar personality to a hound dog. They have been bred through a natural mutation from the domestic shorthair cat population.The Lykoi cat bear a striking resemblance to Wolverine [REX] The mutation has occurred in other cats, but to date, no reports of anyone starting a breed have been made The cats were developed by American breeders Johnny Gobble and his wife Brittney in Tennessee, who are one of only seven Lykoi breeders in the world.Mr Gobble's first litter of Lykoi cats were born in July 2010.He said: "The mutation has occurred in other cats, but to date, no reports of anyone starting a breed have been made."

The name for the cat comes from the Greek word for wolf and translates as 'wolf'.Hugh Jackman starring as The Wolverine [AP]Mr Gobble's website added: "They like to hunt around the house for whatever they can find."They show caution to strangers, but warm up quickly and become very friendly." A Facebook page dedicated to the supernatural looking cats said the Lykoi cats are not large pets.The said females weigh up to only 2kg and while males weight just up to 3.2kg.The Lykoi cats are described as quiet and loving pets are often seen appearing to be "praying with their hands clasped together".Usually, people prefer cats with full, robust fur, shunning those mangier specimens with thin, scraggly hairs. But that might be changing. The "werewolf cat" just might be the next big thing. The Lykoi cat is a new breed, one that's only been around for a few years. The name is derived from the word "lycanthrope," because its patchy fur coverage makes it look kind of like a werewolf. At Nautilus Magazine, Ian Chant explains how it's all thanks to a genetic anomaly that affects hair growth.

Lykois bear a mutant gene variation that interferes with their hair growth, robbing the animals of much of their undercoat and leaving them with hair follicles that are either unable to produce hair at all, or that can produce it but not maintain it. While they do have hair, it is sparse, and often missing entirely around the face and paws, lending Lykois a lean, slightly mangy look, with eyes that, unhidden by fur, give the illusion of being much larger than normal."These are the result of a natural mutation that appeared in the wild cat population," says Johnny Gobble, a veterinarian and breeder of Lykois. "They've been reported for years, but no one has tried to breed them because there were concerns about their health." Though the cats don't project the image of a hale, hearty feline, the unusual variety has caught the interest of cat fanciers recently. So far, it seems as if Lykois are faring decently, as long as they're kept inside where they can compensate for their lack of fur with artificial sources of warmth.

But all the Lykois are still pretty young, and some health concerns might not become evidence until they mature. Of course, it's not always health that humans are seeking in a new animal breed—often, it's novelty. Teacup Yorkies For Sale Cincinnati OhioBreeders look for very specific traits and do their level best to not only bring them out but hone them to their ultimate expression. Wild River Laminate Flooring ReviewsPug noses get flatter, corgi legs shorter, and bulldog shoulders so broad that the animals have to be delivered by cesarean section. Newborn Basset Hound Puppies For SaleRather than being weeded out as they are in nature, these mutations in breeding are prized, preserved, emphasized, and multiplied at grand scales.

At its heart, breeding animals represents the industrialization of mutations.As Chant explains, corgis suffer from something called achondroplastic dwarfism, a condition that gives them both their adorably tiny legs as well as osteoarthritis. One gene mutation gives shar peis both their wrinkly skin and fevers. The list goes on. That dog and cat breeders generally select for appearance, often to the detriment of the animals' health, isn't exactly news. But now that we know more about genetics and the diseases and disorders that afflict our domestic menagerie, should we stop to consider how to move forward in a more ethical way?I'm the first one to admit that the Lykoi is an adorable cat, and I don't even like cats all that much. But let's think carefully about the welfare-related ethical consequences of this sort of pet breeding. It is encouraging that Lykoi breeders are taking the necessary steps to see whether this particular genetic mutation is associated with health concerns more generally.

It's something that all pet breeders should think about. It strikes me as fascinating, the disconnect between the intense fear that some people have over our tinkering with the genes of the fruits and vegetables we eat, and our often lackadaisical attitude regarding our tinkering with the genes of the animals we treat as members of our own families.Read more about the "werewolf cat" at Nautilus Magazine.Header photo via Lykoi Cats on Facebook.A Rambling novel below** I may do a funny live video in a few minutes, but first I want to be serious. I have posted bits of this in response to questions asked, but never as a post on my page. And I think it is important. You know, I totally get why people dislike breeders. And I am truly an animal lover to my very core. When I go take photos at the shelter to help try and get more cats and dogs noticed, my eyes start watering because I want to take them all home....Lire la suiteLykoi CatsHolding hands this morning....Lykoi CatsLittle man says good morning everyone <3Lykoi CatsI just love this set!

Lykoi CatsGorgeous little girly going to Australia <3Lykoi Cats a partagé la publication de Brittney Gobble.Brittney GobbleThese kittens crack me up!Lykoi Cats a partagé la photo de Brittney Gobble Photography.Brittney Gobble PhotographyBabies in a boat <3Lykoi CatsLittle Lykoi gene carrier boy available as a pet :). He will be fully coated and solid black as an adult. He does NOT have the show coat. His adoption fee is $125. That includes the neuter, vaccinations (except last booster), microchip, registration paper, and health guarantee/contract. <3Lykoi CatsDo we have any football fans?Lykoi Cats a partagé la photo de Brittney Gobble.Brittney GobbleRaindrops keep falling on my head... <3Lykoi CatsTelling secrets....wonder what they are telling each other?Lykoi CatsGobblins come pre-spoiled... 😝 # # #Publié par Lykoi CatsBaby blue with baby blues ;) We haven't had a blue in over a year...he was a surprise! Lykoi Cats a partagé la photo de Brittney Gobble Photography.Brittney Gobble PhotographyGone fishin' From the boat session in the video :)Lykoi CatsWait for the end....😂