Description of the nature and behavior of Ukrainian Levkoy cats. Ukrainian levkoy: breed history, pet care Ukrainian levkoy fold

At the mention of lop-earedness in the feline world, 99% of people remember fluffy Scots. Whereas there are hairless cats with bizarre ears - Ukrainian Levkoy.

The risky genetic experiment of Elena Biryukova was quickly crowned with success, and now cute babies can be seen more and more often not only at exhibitions.

The work was started back in 2001 in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, within the framework of the Lada cats cattery. Three years later, the kittens were registered by the competent organization as the first of their kind Ukrainian Levkoy. This is a very short period of time, during which pampering with genes has turned into real representatives of the cat.

A few years later, the leftists began their march around the world. The first foreign cattery dedicated only to these cats appeared in 2007 in the cultural capital of Russia, St. Petersburg. Other representatives went to more distant countries.

Today, the work continues: it is aimed at strengthening the phenotype of the new breed. Genetic crossing takes place in accordance with WCF standards. But at the moment Ukrainian Levkoys have not been recognized by professional cat organizations.

Description of representatives

The breed standard was laid down by St. Petersburg breeders in 2012 and has not changed since then.
To begin with, let's look at the Ukrainian Levkoy from the side. The lop-eared pebble has a very original look. Absolutely hairless or with a little fluff. The skin is quite hot, flexible and elastic, it is pleasant to touch it. Cute folds form in the groin, on the neck and under the paws. Body size is average.

Levkoy are not at all fat, they are elegant and elongated, like ballerinas. The paws are long and strong. The tail is elastic, of medium length. Almond-shaped eyes stare intently somewhere into the universe. Approaching closer, the cat immediately begins to be interested in new acquaintances. He is kind and loves to chat.

Now let's take a closer look at the left:

Head. Has a wedge shape. Stretched. Medium size. If you look at the kitten's head from above, you can see a pentagon with soft outlines. It will be slightly longer than wide. The cranial region of the head dominates. It occupies about 2/3 of the area. The forehead is slightly convex, rather flat. The cheekbones have a prominent structure: they are clearly visible, they are high and wide.
Nose. Not too long, but not short either. Quite narrow. The transition to the forehead is smooth, there is a small gentle step at the level of the eye sockets.
Muzzle. Has a rounded shape. The oval is soft, without sharp ends, with smooth transitions.
Chin. Not sharp. Volitional, strong. Small size. Not rude.
Neck. Straight, curved shape. Has a muscular build. Rounded on all sides.
Ears. This is the pinnacle of the program. It is because of their shape that the cats got their name. For some of the breeders, the ears that are curled and close to the head reminded a common flower in Ukraine - Levkoy. They are fairly large and widely spaced. Are standing. The ends are bent forward: the size of the wrapped part is from 1/3 to 1/2 of the entire area of the auditory shell.
Eyes. Almond-shaped, elongated, large and beautiful. A little obliquely spaced. Not fully open. The shade can be anything - from azure to brown.
Body. There are representatives of small sizes and larger ones. Body length ranges from medium to oblong. The torso is strong, but not massive. The chest is narrow, oval in shape. The back is slightly arched. The spine is very flexible.
Limbs. Long and powerful. Paws are oval with elongated fingers, between which there are membranes.
Tail. Not too long. proportional to the body. Very flexible.
Leather. There is a lot of it, so it forms folds almost everywhere - on the head, between the ears, around the eyes, on the neck, under the paws and in the groin area. Lowered stockings are clearly visible when the cat is in a sitting-lying position.
Wool. If the kitten is a show kitten, then it can be completely hairless, with a little fluff (residual hairline) on the points or even short hair all over the body. Individuals must necessarily participate in brush - cats that have a hard, crimped coat over the entire surface of the body with possible areas of baldness (head, neck, back). Also important for maintaining the phenotype are flat-haired cats and cats with curved ears, which were born from Ukrainian Levkoys. They are possible not only with representatives of their own breed, but also with St. Petersburg sphinxes. There are straight-haired cats with straight ears. They can only be paired with lop-eared lions.
Color. The shade of the skin and coat can be any.

Ukrainian Levkoy weigh no more than 5 kg.The most common faults in the breed: rounded head, the same eyes, shortened nose, underdeveloped chin, undershot, overshot.

Photo of Ukrainian Levkoy

In principle, caring for Ukrainian Levkoy is not particularly intricate, but there are some features that you need to know about before purchasing a kitten.

The skin secretes a greasy lubricant, which eventually covers the entire body of the cat and stinks. Therefore, they need to be wiped with wet wipes, and bathed 1-2 times a month.
Levkoy are very sensitive to cold.
The skin may become dull and flaky. This indicates a loss of moisture, so you need to monitor how much water the cat drinks.
Direct UV rays may cause.
Meals should contain a lot of protein and carbohydrates. In addition, this breed is prone to obesity. Therefore, you can not overfeed, because there will be problems with the heart and liver.

Character

Ukrainian Levkoy are tandem of children's playfulness with high intelligence. They are peaceful and non-aggressive, although in appearance it may seem different. Cats are friendly to all residents of the house. They quickly become attached to the owners and, moreover, do not single out one person for themselves. They love everyone at once. Especially when it comes to games.

In adolescence, they are very fond of exploring new spaces, so they will have to keep an eye on them all the time so that they do not mess up. These restless kids resent closed doors, because they need more space for activity. But on the closet you are unlikely to see these cat-dogs: fear of heights is a characteristic feature of all representatives. They can be easily trained, if, of course, there is time and desire for this.

These versatile cats get along with everyone: from small to large, with other felines, dogs and even rodents. This indicates a high level of socialization. Although Ukrainian left-handers are not yet recognized, their popularity is beginning to gain momentum. And this applies not only to the country of origin of the breed. Maybe soon they will appear in private homes.

The history of the origin of the species, a description of the appearance standard of the Ukrainian Levkoy, the character traits of the cat, the health of the pet, caring for the animal at home, the price of a thoroughbred kitten.

The content of the article:

The Ukrainian Levkoy is a unique creature from the vast feline world. Such cats have collected all the most amazing qualities, they are beautiful and quite original, smart and resourceful, educated and playful. Such a pet will be both a decoration of your home and a devoted friend who will wait for you from work and deserve your praise in every possible way, without daring to cross the conditional line between winning attention and importunity.

The history of breeding cat breed Ukrainian Levkoy

If we talk about these amazing and extraordinary creatures, then one cannot ignore the fact that these representatives of the cat world appeared in it not just recently, their existence does not exceed 15 years. But, nevertheless, they are gaining more and more popularity every day, even if so far the fame and demand is limited to the countries close to Ukraine, but this is only because the charming leftist is far from being known everywhere.

Around the beginning of the 2000s, Elena Biryukova, a breeder and felinologist from Ukraine, came up with a brilliant idea, she came up with a completely new, hitherto unknown breed of cats. According to the “sketch” of Elena Biryukova, the future representative of the feline world must combine everything that is, the best qualities: original appearance, not typical for all other Ukrainian cats; good health and good-natured, friendly disposition. Then the program for breeding this wonderful Murzik started.

For a long period of time, the selection of candidates for the progenitors of the new breed was carried out, but in the end, the Don Sphynx and the Scottish Fold cat turned out to be the favorites. When the first kittens were born after experimental mating, everyone already knew for sure - this was an undoubted success. Babies have inherited an exceptional set of genes from their parents, as if all of this could be predicted or programmed in some amazing way.

Initially, no one even thought about what to call the future "stars" of the feline elite. But once, the founder of the breed was stroking a kitten and she noticed one extraordinary resemblance, it seemed to the breeder that the soft, silky texture of the animal's skin very much reminds her of the surface of the petals of a flower - levkoy. Since then, bizarre kittens have had such a beautiful, creative name - Ukrainian Levkoy.

When a representative of this breed first showed off at a prestigious cat show, which was held in Kyiv, he aroused special interest in his person not only from the audience, but also from the most famous felinologists and experts in the cat world. After that, cats from Ukraine were immediately recognized in their homeland, in Russia and in some other CIS countries. Unfortunately, these cute pets cannot be called world-famous, but most likely, the reason for this is the youth of the species, as they say, everything has its place and time, and, perhaps, lop-eared kittens will soon break champion titles far beyond the ocean.

Ukrainian Levkoy: a description of the appearance of a cat

For the reason that this breed has not yet been recognized by any of the world organizations, there are no specific official criteria for the breed standard, however, since these cats still take part in exhibitions, there is a certain standard of appearance for them.

torso Ukrainian Levkoy is not small and relatively long, slender, but at the same time stocky with well-developed muscle tissue that covers the body and forms a light, graceful, muscular relief. The shoulder girdle and the projection of the hips of these purrs are slightly raised above the level of the back, thus forming a certain arc. The average body weight of an adult cat varies from 4.5 to 5.5 kg, the fair sex is always much smaller, their body weight does not exceed 4 kg.
limbs these pets are very thin and slender, but they do not hold strength and stability. They end with rounded paws and strong, fast-growing claws.
tail process also not short in length, tapering noticeably from base to tip. The tail of the Levkoy is quite nimble and agile, many compare it with a whip.
Head representative of a unique breed is also not devoid of features. In its configuration, it is more reminiscent of a rectangle with rounded outlines, flat and slightly elongated in length. All protruding parts of the skull are very well visualized, very sharp, noticeable cheekbones, as if traced superciliary arches and a narrow, but slightly wide nose and a protruding, strong chin. A distinctive feature of the Levkoy is its forehead, the skin covering it is strongly wrinkled, and therefore, one gets the impression that this is not a cat, but some kind of guest from another, unknown planet.
auricles Ukrainian levkoy are quite large, especially if you take into account the overall size of the animal's cranium. The ears are set rather far apart, besides that they are also curved, but these curves do not touch the head. According to the appearance of the auricles, all representatives of the variety are conditionally divided into two large groups: folds and straights. Folds are cats with twisted ears, and straights, in turn, with straightened ones. A mandatory rule when breeding these cats is that in no case should people from the same group be allowed to cross.
Eyes Ukrainian Levkoy has no less charming and unusual ones. In their shape, they resemble an almond, but when you look at the animal, it seems that the cat is constantly half asleep, since its eyes are always half closed. In addition, they are still slightly slanted, which gives the left-handed look some special “zest”. The color of the iris can be very different, but it is believed that the most prestigious and sought after are the owners of rich green eyes or bright blue. Accordingly, the price of kittens also varies.
Wool Ukrainian Levkoy is special in that it either does not exist at all, or it is represented by single thin hairs that disappear over time. But, despite this, all, without exception, kittens of this breed are born, albeit in a short, but still “fur coat”. This coat is not thick and hard, but it is curly. After about a year and a half, there is no trace of this woolen cover. Some individual individuals still have a little fur, in texture it resembles soft velvet. As for the color of these seals, so far their standard allows for a riot of colors and a variety of color combinations.
Skin representatives of the breed are also special in that in some parts of the body they form thick folds. They can be seen near the ears, in the neck, in the axillary part of the body and in the projection of the hips. To the touch, the skin of Ukrainian Levkoy is soft, velvety and always hot.

Ukrainian Levkoy: character and photo

These delightful cats are distinguished not only by their good-natured disposition and intelligent habits, they are also by nature the owners of a very outstanding intellect. It will not be difficult for a representative of this breed not only to teach some elementary rules for living in your house, but also simple tricks. It is only important to know and remember that these pets completely refuse to accept aggression from the owner, even if he raises his voice to his pet for a good purpose. After a while, you will realize that this hairless comrade is very fond of flattery and praise. Thus, he kind of raises his own conceit. Therefore, the cat will try to earn your admiration or even an approving glance, humbly doing everything that you are trying to teach him.

Having brought Ukrainian Levkoy into the house, you most likely will not know what cat hazards mean. This purr does not tend to impose his own special orders in the house, he is indifferent to wallpaper and curtains, he will not throw off everything that, in his feline opinion, does not belong there from the table or shelves.

Such cats are moderately active, they are crazy about spending time together with their owner. Especially when the Ukrainian Levkoy is pampered with attention: he loves it very much when they are scratched behind the ear, but this comrade is also not indifferent to active and active amusements. Show him a ball or string and the cat will happily run around the house like crazy.

Such cats get along well with children, the main thing is that the child does not cause discomfort to the pet, and even more so painful sensations, the animal is unlikely to defend itself with claws, but the fact that then it will no longer allow the child to approach him is a fact.

There are no problems with other pets, even a dog can become Ukrainian Levkoy's best friend, especially if they grew up and were brought up together.

Health of the Ukrainian Levkoy

Many, when they see cats that are devoid of hair, mistakenly assume that they are not very healthy, and if a light breeze blows on them, the animal is already sick. This is not true at all, or rather not entirely true. The Ukrainian Levkoy cannot be called a “strong fellow”, since he has a certain predisposition to diseases, but by nature these cats have very stable body defenses. Therefore, subject to the rules for keeping and caring for a pet, timely vaccination and periodic meetings with a veterinarian, the average life expectancy of these purrs is from 9 to 15 years.

Something to be wary of when a representative of this breed lives in your house is drafts and sudden changes in temperature. Hypothermia of Levkoy is fraught with diseases of the respiratory system (bronchitis, pneumonia, tracheitis) and many other colds. The bladder and kidneys of the levkoy are also vulnerable to cold.

Cases have been recorded in Ukrainian Levkoy of pathologies from the nervous and cardiovascular systems. Some believe that the genetic predisposition is to blame, according to others, such problems in animals are due to stress.

The owners of these charming cats should also pay attention to the food of their pets. This refers not only to the quality, but also the quantity of food eaten. The thing is that an excess of food can bring left-handedness not only obesity, which also has a very adverse effect on the general condition of the body, but also problems from the digestive tract, which tend to turn from acute conditions into chronic ones. And this means that you will have more problems, and the life of your pet cannot be called complete.

Also, do not neglect periodic courses of anthelmintic therapy, additional vitamin and mineral complexes, but in no case do not select vitamin preparations and their doses on your own, without having a medical education. Some vitamins in improperly selected doses simply will not bring benefits, but will also harm your tailed friend.

Home care for the Ukrainian Levkoy

Cat property. When you get a pet and it does not matter who it is, you need to think carefully about where the animal will live, what to sleep on, what to eat and what to play with, and Ukrainian Levkoy is no exception. First of all, make sure that the cat has a personal corner. Let it be a house, a couch or a place made with your own hands, the main thing is that the pet knows that he has somewhere to retire and gather his thoughts. It is important that his “home” is not installed either near heating appliances or near windows and doors. Also, the pet’s sleeping place must be kept clean and tidy, so when choosing where the Levkoy will sleep, immediately pay attention to whether you can wash and clean it. Together with the cat, it is recommended to bring a scratching post into the house (although representatives of the breed are not famous for peeling wallpaper and furniture upholstery), but if he does not have something to sharpen his claws, he will get out of this situation by any means. In the event that the pet does not pay any attention to the scratching post, it is permissible to sprinkle a few drops of valerian on it. A tray is an indispensable thing in a house where a cat lives. First of all, you should decide what kind of capacity you need. However, it does not matter, the Ukrainian Levkoy does not care - it will be an expensive dry closet for cats or an ordinary tray with filler. The main thing for the animal is that its restroom is always clean, and from it “a mile away” does not smell of an unpleasant odor. Some select a tray depending on the maximum possible dimensions of their pet, if you choose a toilet for Ukrainian Levkoy, you should know that its height should not be lower than 7-8 cm, its length should in no case be less than 35-40 cm, and the width is not less than 25–30 cm. Dishes for the cat are personal and stored in a separate corner away from heating appliances. To date, pet stores offer a wide range of all kinds of different utensils, whatever you choose - it doesn’t matter, but it’s better to avoid plastic products, especially those decorated in the brightest shades, although it’s beautiful, it’s not always safe. Dyes can cause allergies in Levkoy. Under the influence of environmental factors, containers are subject to mechanical damage, which is not always noticeable, and dirt accumulates in these microcracks, which later gets into the food, and then into the stomach of your cat, which also does not bring anything good and useful. It is best to choose high ceramic bowls for water, and low, but wide bowls for food. Your pet's dishes should also always be clean, and the food and water in them should always be fresh.
Skin care. Of course, the absence of thick, fluffy hair simplifies the care of the Ukrainian Levkoy, since it does not need to be combed out, and it does not shed. But hairless cats have another problem - increased secretion of sebum. Therefore, it will have to be bathed much more often than cats of other breeds. To do this, you will need a quality shampoo, it is better to give preference to cleansers for combination skin, warm water, a large soft towel and your patience. It is worth accustoming Ukrainian Levkoy to regular bathing from early childhood, so at a more mature age the cat will humbly stand under running water and wait for the hour when he will be released. Remember to dry your pet thoroughly after bathing.
Hygiene. Do not forget to regularly wipe the eyes of the animal, clean the ears and teeth. It will be more than enough to do this about once a week.
What to feed the Ukrainian Levkoy? Breeders recommend feeding these cats with ready-made premium or super-premium food. Both dry and wet are suitable, it is better to give canned food for dinner so that you have the opportunity to remove the leftovers, and dry food is suitable for breakfast with a margin for dinner, if no one is at home, it will not deteriorate and will not weather. As for natural products, Ukrainian Levkoy can be eaten: lean meat, liver, kidneys, udder, lungs, heart, bran, tripe, dairy products, eggs, cereals, vegetables, fruits.

Lop-eared and hairless kittens of the Ukrainian Levkoy breed were obtained thanks to the work of Elena Biryukova, a felinologist from the city of Kyiv and the owner of the Lada cats cattery.

History of the breed

The original cats of the Ukrainian Levkoy breed were bred quite recently. The unusual breed originates in 2000. The breed got its name due to the unusual shape of the ears, which resembles a Levkoy flower, and the country of origin - Ukraine. Despite the rather recent existence of the breed, the Ukrainian Levkoy managed to fall in love with many people not only in Ukraine, but also far beyond its borders.

Description of the breed. Appearance. colors

The head is angular, flat and long, of medium size.
The ears are set wide apart, in folds they are rounded, and in straights they are straightened. The ears are quite large in relation to the size of the head.
The eyes are large, almond-shaped. Eye color can be any, but preference is given to cats that have blue or green.
The neck of the Ukrainian Levkoy is of medium length, muscular.
The body has a well-developed musculature, shortish, the chest is not wide. Cats of the Ukrainian Levkoy breed are much smaller than cats.
The limbs are long, strong, the paws are oval with graceful fingers.
The tail is long, very flexible, tapering towards the tip.
The skin is hot to the touch, folded. Preference is given to hairless representatives of the breed, but it is possible to have a uniform fluff throughout the body of the animal.
Within the standard, cats can be completely different colors.
The average weight of a cat is 5 kg.

The Ukrainian Levkoy is a unique breed in many respects. First of all, because the Ukrainian Levkoy cat breed is not quite a breed. In order to have this status, levkoy are not yet numerous enough (in order to be called a breed, there must be at least several thousand individuals). In addition, during their breeding at this stage, it is allowed to cross animals of one breed with representatives of others. The creator of the Levkoy herself, Elena Biryukova, recommends crossing these cats with Don Sphynxes and Scottish Folds that are suitable in terms of phenotype (their genes formed the basis of the Ukrainian Levkoy breed), as well as Peterbalds. Although levkoy already participate in exhibitions, their breeding is still at the experimental stage. So many people prefer to call the Levkoy population a breed group.

Levkoy - the only cats bred in Ukraine and named after the fragrant garden flower levkoy, he is mattiola. In addition, no other cat breed combines bare, folded skin with drooping ears. These are the mustachioed "flowers" - similar to many cats, but different from all.

Levkoy cat - what does he look like?

Ukrainian Levkoy are aristocratically graceful, flexible and strong cats with a long body of medium size.

The weight

According to the standard, the Ukrainian Levkoy should weigh about 5 kilograms. But these mustachios have a pronounced sexual dimorphism - that is, a male cat is much larger than a cat. The weight of males can reach 6 kilograms.

Physiology

Ukrainian Levkoy reach sexual maturity, like most cats, by 8-12 months. However, it is possible to objectively evaluate the appearance of an animal and decide whether it is suitable for breeding use only after a year, and sometimes even later. Like all hairless cats, Ukrainian Levkoy do not like the open sun and drafts, they need warmth.

Body type

The ideal Levkoy cat has a “model” body. Everything should be long for him - a slender body, strong paws, and even movable fingers. The tail of the Levkoy, although not excessively long, due to its flexibility and tapering tip, harmoniously complements the aristocratic silhouette of the cat.

Portrait

The portrait of the Ukrainian Levkoy is a portrait of an "alien", a representative of an extraterrestrial civilization in a cat's guise. The smooth elongated lines of the cat's body come into contrast with the deliberately angular head in the shape of an elongated pentagon. A “stepped” profile, atypical for cats, protruding cheekbones and superciliary arches, as well as ears - large, widely spaced and hanging (the tip should be bent forward by half or a third) give the appearance of left-handed people originality. Add to all this huge almond-shaped eyes, always mysteriously half-closed. Their color can be any, but the standard prefers green-eyed or blue-eyed cats.

Special signs

Due to the lop-earedness in combination with the bare folded skin of the Ukrainian Levkoy, it is difficult to confuse it with a representative of another cat breed. Although there are straight-eared straights among these cats. The latter, although they cannot participate in exhibitions, are invaluable for breeding. The presence of one such animal in the parent pair is necessary for the birth of healthy offspring.

Voice

Although Levkoy are very sociable and need constant company, they are not one of those cats who will annoy the owner with intrusive “chatter” or annoy them by meowing for food. The breeders of these exotic pets assure that the voice of the Levkoy is quiet and delicate. And they resort to the verbal method of communication only when they feel completely abandoned and abandoned.

Wool

The ideal Ukrainian Levkoy has no hair, and the skin forms folds: on the head - near the ears and eyes, and on the neck, and on the body - in the armpits and in the groin. But all levkoy cannot be born naked, because they occurred as a result of crossing naked sphinxes with "woolen" Scottish folds. Therefore, among them there are completely velvet individuals (they are also called brushes), and cats with hair on the muzzle and behind the ears, on the paws and on the tail.

colors

The "color" of the mustachioed "flower" can be very diverse. As the creator of the breed Elena Biryukova herself said, “any given by Mother Nature and the Lord God.”

Levkoy cats are a model of tolerance

Cats and Levkoy cats, as they say, know how to "keep themselves in their paws." Aggression, whims and vindictiveness are alien to them - they are not one of those who, holding a grudge, spoils the owner's slippers. Kindness is one of the obligatory traits that the creator of the Levkoys was guided by.

Character

Photo by Natalia Sidorova, Paraskeva Studio

Despite their innate intelligence, Ukrainian leftists are not weak-willed hoes. Still, these are cats, although artificially bred by humans. They love to be the center of attention and are in dire need of society. Thanks to this property of character, left-handed people are ideal for people who need in the house not a leaving-coming neighbor, but a true friend and ally who will always be there.

Intelligence

It is believed that the Levkoy inherited their intelligence from their sphinx ancestors. They maintain dignity in any situation and do not cause much trouble to the owners. And lefties are very trainable. They are happy to walk with the owner on a leash and they can be taught to follow simple commands - apparently, this is one of the most fertile breeds in terms of training.

Sociability

The sociability of the Levkoy allows them to build wonderful relationships with all the people in the house - these loving creatures do not deprive anyone of their attention and gratefully accept human affection.

Independence

Such a quality as independence, the Ukrainian Levkoy, perhaps, is completely deprived. It is bred by man and cannot live without man.

Obedience

Breeders claim that Levkoy cats are very obedient. Since they are very dependent on people, these cats will obey the owner in order to constantly hear praise and actively participate in family life.

Activity

Levkoy are active, but not excessively. They gladly take part in the entertainment that the owner offers them, but they will not spend their energy in dirty tricks. They also perceive minutes of rest next to a person as a blessing.

playfulness

Ukrainian Levkoy are happy to "hunt" even for a ball, even for a candy wrapper on a string. They will be happy to jump and hide - if only the game was shared by a "native" person.

The need for communication

Yes, yes, and a hundred times yes! The tailed “flower” needs communication in the same way as the namesake plant needs water or sunlight. Those who are thinking about getting a Levkoy should keep in mind that this cat needs attention, like a child.

Relationship with owner

The most tender. If you like to sleep, eat, watch TV, do housework in the company of a cat and at the same time you are not repelled by the exotic appearance of a left-handed cat, then this is your pet. Heat-loving owners will definitely appreciate such a live heating pad, because the skin of these cats is hot. “We hug each other to make it warmer” - this is about the Levkoy and its owner.

Relationships with children

Despite friendship with all people, Levkoy, perhaps, will prefer the company of adults. Nevertheless, a delicate treatment is closer to an aristocrat, and to serve as a toy for someone is “not a lordly” business. There will be no aggression towards the baby - the cat will simply delicately leave in search of another company.

Attitude towards strangers

In relation to strangers, Levkoy are very active and inquisitive, they will be happy to meet guests with you and get to know them. But to participate in noisy companies - thank you. Levkoy do not like noise and fuss.

Relationship with other animals

Lefties are tolerant of everyone. They easily get along in the same house with both other cats and dogs. The main thing is that the master's love is enough for everyone.

Ukrainian cat breed: care and health

Photo by Chepeleva Tatiana

Unfortunately, there are no objective data on the health of levkoys yet - their population has existed for too little time. How can we say that the average life expectancy of these cats is 15 years, when the first representative of the Levkoy was born only 12 years ago? We must not forget that in the blood of these cats there are two mutations at once - lop-eared and hairless, and representatives of sphinxes and Scottish folds have a number of hereditary diseases.

Content Requirements

Hair care

Ukrainian Levkoy should not have wool as such. But their bare skin must be carefully monitored - damage is dangerous for it. In addition, if the cat is not regularly bathed or wiped with special napkins, it will begin to “smell” in a very specific way and stain furniture and things.

Food

The nutrition of Levkoy should be closely monitored - their vaunted omnivorousness can play a bad joke on them. And it's not just about being overweight. An immoderate appetite makes the left-handed people chew everything in a row - even that which is not at all edible. So, if you have this unusual “flower” growing, hide away everything that it can swallow.

walks

As we have already said, Levkoy love to walk with their owners, but the latter should take into account the susceptibility of a naked cat to both cold and heat.

Attitude towards water

There is an opinion that Ukrainian Levkoy love to swim - of course, in warm water. However, left-handed people have to wash themselves, even if they don’t really like it, because of the excess skin secretions.

hunting instinct

Probably, few of the left-handed cats had the opportunity to show their hunting abilities - the owners, as a rule, take care of these rare and expensive cats. But there is still information that levkoy can catch mice and frogs. And the behavior of these cats in the game confirms this assumption.

Cons of Ukrainian Levkoy

The main disadvantages of the Ukrainian Levkoy are in their youth and the small number of their breed. They were bred relatively recently, the first registered left-handed kitten was born in 2004. Since there are very few purebred Levkoys, in order to avoid closely related crossing, they are knitted with representatives of other breeds and even with "nobles" - the main thing is that the cat looks like the one described in the standard. So when buying a kitten, the owner does not receive any guarantee that a standard Levkoy will grow out of him over time. The health of such a pet is also, as already mentioned, a big question. So the Levkoy cat is a “flower” with a surprise.