Ukrainian Levkoy

Ukrainian Levkoy
Ukrainian Levkoy
Origin	Ukraine
	Domestic cat (Felis catus)

The Ukrainian Levkoy (Ukrainian: Український левкой) is a cat breed with inward-folding ears and little to no hair. The cats are of medium size with a longish body, appearing both muscular and slender. They have soft, elastic skin; an excess of which leads to a wrinkled appearance. The breed is not recognized by any major, international cat fancier and breeder organizations, only Ukrainian and Russian clubs.

The Levkoy's peculiar features are: special angular contour of its head and "stepped" profile (dog-face appearance), folded ears and large, but not wide almond-shaped eyes. The cats express sexual dimorphism.^[1]

Origin

The Ukrainian Levkoy is a cross between the Scottish Fold and Sphynx cats.^[2]

Personality

Ukrainian Levkoys are friendly, playful, and intelligent cats. Levkoys are very sociable, enjoying human or family company as well as the company of other domestic pets (e.g., dogs, rats, pigs). Unclothed Ukrainian Levkoys do not need brushing but do need special skin care to give protection against direct sun and particularly cold conditions.^{[citation needed]}

Development and appearance

From the top view the head of a Ukrainian Levkoy resembles a soft outlined pentagon that is a little longer than it is broad, where the muzzle length is only 1/3 the length of the head. The forehead is rather low and the skull is long and flat. Prominent cheekbones and eyebrows form angular outlines of the head. The profile of the cat head is "stepped" of two levels. The upper lines of the nose bridge and of the head are almost parallel. The whiskers are curly, may be shortly snapped, and then the neck is of medium length, muscular, and slightly arches from the shoulder to the base of the skull.

Its body is medium to long, muscular, and slender. The back line slightly arched with a broad, oval chest. Its legs are rather long with long mobile toes. The ears are large and set high and wide apart. 1/2 to 1/3 of each ear is roundly folded forward and down, without touching the head.^[a]

Defects and disqualification

Gene FD is evident in the organism of the cat in homozygous, both parents may serve as provocation of bone illnesses such as arthritis.

Disqualification results due to defects of the born structures, or crossed eyes. Other disqualify in accordance with the show rules. For example, too short or round of a head, round eyes, short "cobby" body, weak chin, or stressful behavior.

Litter

The average litter size is generally three to five kittens.

Half of the kittens in each litter will have folded ears, while the remaining kittens will be straight-eared.^[3]

Notes

^ When breeding according to the breeding guide, one of the parents must have normal straight ears. The other parent must have folded ears since their genotype has the dominant FD gene in its heterozygous form too. All straight eared kittens do not have any dominant FD gene. The straight variety of the Ukrainian Levkoy is the complemented and necessary partner of the breed. (See similar trait characteristics in the Scottish Fold)

References

^ RUI – Breed and colors
^ Englar, Ryane E. (2019-07-03). "Hypotrichosis and Alopecia". Common Clinical Presentations in Dogs and Cats. Wiley. p. 68. doi:10.1002/9781119414612. ISBN 978-1-119-41458-2.
^ "Ukrainian Levkoy". Retrieved 2 June 2024.

External links

[3] When breeding according to the breeding guide, one of the parents must have normal straight ears. The other parent must have folded ears since their genotype has the dominant FD gene in its heterozygous form too. All straight eared kittens do not have any dominant FD gene. The straight variety of the Ukrainian Levkoy is the complemented and necessary partner of the breed. (See similar trait characteristics in the Scottish Fold)

[1] RUI – Breed and colors

[2] Englar, Ryane E. (2019-07-03). "Hypotrichosis and Alopecia". Common Clinical Presentations in Dogs and Cats. Wiley. p. 68. doi:10.1002/9781119414612. ISBN 978-1-119-41458-2.

[4] "Ukrainian Levkoy". Retrieved 2 June 2024.

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