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The wolf cat — how this bizarre, adorable cat came to be (pet hobbies)

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https://www.zmescience.com/other/feature...-13092021/

EXCERPT: A wolf-cat (or a werewolf cat) suffers from a rare genetic mutation that causes them to sometimes shed most of their hair, up to the point where they almost look like a werewolf. The cats are also sometimes called Lykoi, which means ‘wolves’ in Greek.

The breed only seemed to emerge around 20 years ago in Tennessee, but was officially recognized around 10 years ago. Two pairs of wolf cats were used to found and name the breed. DNA testing confirmed that cats have a genetic mutation, and also showed that the cats do not carry the Sphynx gene — and while their fur may sometimes fall off almost entirely, it grows back.

Since the breed is rare, and wolf cats trigger fewer allergies, the breed has become somewhat popular in some circles. [...] Much of what we know about wolf cats comes from a few recent studies carried out on the species. According to the researchers, the breed exhibits something called hypotrichia — a congenital deficiency of hair caused by a reduction in the average number of follicles. The remaining hair follicles are also less capable of supporting hair. Existing hair is also more likely to be discolored.

Because of these mechanisms, the cats lack an undercoat, and when they molt, they can become almost completely bald — this can happen from time to time, and owners should not be alarmed, the researchers say.

“The lykoi is a very recently developed novelty breed with a sparse hair coat and black and white hair roaning, hence named from the Greek term lycos for wolf. To maintain diversity in the founding population, the breeders have actively recruited cats with similar phenotypes for the breeding program, resulting in six different “foundation” lineages identified in this study from 16 potential founders. The breed is growing in popularity due to the novelty of the appearance, the lack of concern for health problems and the charismatic name and nature.”

Novel cat breeds are often developed, the researchers note; but new breeds are rarely as striking as the wolf cat — which again, is caused by a natural mutation. However, by breeding them, we are perpetuating a mutation that would likely be weeded out through natural selection.... (MORE - missing details)

The Wolf Cat ... https://youtu.be/_NndSy2JR3c

https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/_NndSy2JR3c
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