Minus any hint of hair around their eyes, ears and muzzles, the Lykoi treads a fine line between unique and terrifying, although it possess an undeniable charm and unique set of dog-like behaviors that are sure to intrigue even those who don't consider themselves "cat people." Born from a natural mutation, "Lykoi" cats are named for a word that comes from the Greek for "wolf" due to their werewolf-like appearance that likely would never have survived in the gene pool were it not for the efforts of one doctor and his colleagues.
Dr. John Gobble's first experience with breeding animals was when he was 8 years old. After selectively pairing fancy fantail guppies to find out what color the offspring would sport, he was fascinated as he watched them grow into their new colors. Fast-forward to today and Gobble is at the forefront of the Lykoi cat breeding program, a natural mutation of the domestic shorthair.
Gobble, a veterinarian who has been practicing medicine for nearly 20 years, works with his wife, Brittney, along with various other breeders to conduct the Lykoi breeding program at his Vonore, Tenn., clinic, which was founded in 2011. After receiving two cats with an unusual hair pattern from his friend Patti Thomas, Gobble stumbled upon two more with similar traits.
"A person contacted Brittney through a friend, Cheryl Kerr, and stated they had some unusual looking cats," Gobble explained to Headlines and Global News in an exclusive interview. "The person offered them to us, and Brittney traveled to Nashville, Tenn., to get them. It was two cats, a male and a female, that looked exactly as the first two. We determined that they must be unrelated due to the distance between them and did a breeding. The offspring, born in the fall of 2011, looked exactly the same. That proved we were dealing with a genetic mutation, and the Lykoi program began."
Although he and his wife are selling a select few Lykois at the moment, there is a two-year waiting list. They will continue to make more of them available, but Gobble's main reason for conducting the breeding program is less about business and more about his passion for animals. His program ensures the unique Lykoi gene is preserved and keeps them from ending up in shelters with people who don't know what to do with them.
"If they were not bred, shown, and made publicly aware, they would still be considered unwanted kittens in shelters," he said. "Now that they are a breed, I can ensure that the gene will survive."
