Ukrainian Levkoy Cat Breed Description

Active: Ukrainian Levkoy cats are a moderately active cat breed. They enjoy play and do need attention throughout the day but are not an overly demanding or needy cat. They love affection and attention - whether it is playing or curling up in their favorite human's lap.

Size: Ukrainian Levkoy cats are medium in size, typically weighing between 11 - 15 pounds.

Characteristics: Ukrainian Levkoy cats have long, angular head that is often called "dog-like" in appearance. They also have large, prominent almond-shaped eyes and curly whiskers. Aside from being hairless, one of their signature features are their folded ears that bend forward and inward. Their medium-sized body is muscular and strong, yet still slender in appearance. Their body also has a broad chest with a somewhat arched back and long tail. Their hairless body actually has a very fine coat of down and their skin appearance wrinkly all over their body.

Temperament: Ukrainian Levkoy cats will take their time to warm up to a new environment and will only begin to socialize when they feel fully comfortable. Once they feel at home, though, they will be very social and friendly. In fact, they even get along great with people of all ages including children, as well as other family pets. They enjoy playing games and their intelligence helps them learn new tricks or training quickly. As much as they love play, they also equally enjoy showing their love and affection.

Care: Ukrainian Levkoy cats are fairly easy to care for and do not shed because they are hairless. However, it is best to keep them indoors and important to ensure that they avoid direct sunlight or drafty places because they can quickly become cold or sunburned. They need to be routinely wiped down or bathed to ensure that oils and sweat do not accumulate on their skin and kept warm during cold temperatures as well.

Coat: The Ukrainian Levkoy cat is a hairless cat breed though some do have a small amount of fur. Their fur, or more specifically for most Ukrainian Levkoys - their skin, can come in any color.

Origin: Ukranian Levkoy cats are some of the most interesting looking hairless cats in existence today. They are an incredibly young breed with origins dating back only to the early 2000s. Russian cat breeder Elena Vsevolodovna Birjukova wanted to create a new and unique hairless cat and bred a Donskoy female with a Scottish Fold male with the intention of focusing on dominant genes that controlled the unique folded ear appearance as well as hairlessness. To widen the gene pool, Oriental and Domestic cats were used in the breeding program. By 2004, Birjukova had created the desired look she was interested in and began the work to get the new breed recognized. In 2005, the ICFA RUI (Rolandus Union International) recognized the Ukrainian Levkoy cat breed and by 2010 they granted the breed Championship status so that they could compete in the "Best in Show" category. Additionally in 2010, the ICFA WCA in Russia recognized the Ukrainian Levkoy breed. Today the breed is still in development and is beginning to get recognized slowly on an international level.