Halloween? Why not a werewolf cat?
Rare breed of cat is living in Manganese Mines
MANGANESE MINES, N.S. – Accalia may be a werewolf cat but rest assured, she’ll be snuggled up inside on Halloween.
The five-month-old cat is a member of a breed called the Lykoi, which is often called the wolf cat or werewolf cat because of its unusual appearance.
“People seem to either really like her right away or they go, ‘Oh my God, it’s ugly!’” said Darlene Westhaver who purchased Accalia from a breeder in Alberta. “I instantly fell in love when I saw them. I really like the look of them.”
They’re called werewolf cats because they have sparse hair on their legs and feet, and a hairless mask connecting the eyes, nose, muzzle and ears. Lykoi is Greek and roughly translates to ‘wolf.’ Accalia’s name is connected with the story of Romulus and Remus, twin brothers from Roman mythology who were nursed by a wolf.
Westhaver was at a cat show, talking to one of the judges about getting a cat to show, when she heard about the breed.
After doing some research, she decided she wanted one.
“Most of the breeders were in the U.S. but there was one in Lethbridge and I was going to Alberta in July, so I asked if I could visit and see the cats,” she said. “I was there two-and-a-half hours.”
She put her name on a waiting list for a kitten, but a few days later the breeder contacted her and told her she could get the kitten she was willing to sell.
When Accalia was 16 weeks old she arrived, by plane, in Nova Scotia.
“It was the Friday before hurricane Dorian so we were worried the storm might delay her trip, but it all worked out,” said Westhaver.
“She’s fit in very well. She’s very playful, inquisitive, and active, loves to cuddle and gets along with the other animals.”
One of Accalia’s best buddies is Spanky, a long-haired black cat who lives in the same home and has been named top household pet at a few cat shows.
“Anyone interested in getting one of these cats needs to understand they’re strictly indoor cats, because they have no undercoat,” said Westhaver. “They do need to be bathed occasionally or their body oils will leave marks on furniture and clothing. They have guard hairs that appear coarse but are actually very soft, and they don’t shed, they moult, dropping almost all their coat at once. They’re not hypoallergenic.”
Lykoi coats are roan, where coloured and white hairs are mixed. They’re the only breed of cat this pattern has been seen in. Accalia is a black roan. She’s a pet and will not be used for breeding, but she will compete in cat shows.
“She’s exactly what I was hoping for, and then some,” said Westhaver. “I can see myself getting another one.”
More information on the breed can be found on The Cat Fanciers’ Association website at http://www.cfa.org/.