The Ukrainian Levkoy is a distinctive looking cat with its folded ears. This is a new breed of cat, only being developed recently early in the 2000s.
The cat was first developed by Elena Biriukova in Ukraine, by crossing the hairless Donskoy cat with the Scottish Fold. Also, Oriental and domestic cats were also brought into the mix.
This particular cat breed was recognized in 2005 in Ukraine and recognized in Russia in 2010. The cat isn’t recognized by any of the major international cat organizations.
With his distinctive appearance, the medium-sized, muscular but slender Ukrainian Levkoy cat weighs in the region of 3 to 6kg.
He has these inward-folding ears with very little hair. These are two distinctive features of this cat. The skin is soft and wrinkled, the eyes large and almond-shaped while the ears are also large and set wide apart and high on the wedge-shaped head.
He has long, slender legs and a narrow tail. The litter size of these cats is generally 3 to 6.
Friendly and playful, the Ukranian Levkoy is also intelligent and enjoys having human companionship.
He is social and will make friends of other pets in the house. He is also compatible with children.
The Ukrainian Levkoy, even though he is fairly docile, is a very sociable cat that thrives on human interaction. He is able to get on well with children as well as with other pets. He is also quite a vocal cat and will let you know when he is hungry or wants to play. Some call them ugly and others call them sweet - whatever you make of the Ukranian Levkoy, he needs your love and care to be the best pet he can be.
These cats are generally considered to be healthy cats. Having said that, they can be predisposed to the same conditions that the Donskoy and Scottish Fold breeds face.
It is always beneficial to know and recognize some of the symptoms of a sick cat - lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, heavy breathing and lack of appetite. Then it's time to schedule a visit to your local vet.
While there aren't any breed-specific health problems associated with the Ukrainian Levkoy, it is imperative to have him vaccinated against the deadly cat diseases that there are.
As with all cats, it's important to keep up your Ukrainian Levkoy's regular veterinary checkups. This means you can get to any health concerns early so that your vet can come up with a treatment plan for your pet.
Some cat lovers make a point of scheduling yearly wellness visits with their vet, and this can be a good thing. Cats are natural scratchers so make sure you invest in a scratching post for him.
The inside of the Ukrainian Levkoy's ears should be examined regularly for signs of dirt and wax build-up. It can lead to infection. Speak to your vet about your cat's ears if yourself.
The Ukrainian Levkoy is an active cat and if he is an indoor cat, he will definitely need a climbing tree or some kind of cat perch to leap up onto.
The Ukrainian Levkoy is a hairless cat, so you won't brushing your cat's hair but he will need to have a bath. The skin can become oily and attract dirt. Diet is absolutely important. You'll need to make sure you're feeding your cat a high protein diet as every cat is a carnivore. A cat like this needs to stay in shape to avoid cat diseases related to being overweight.
Most Ukrainian Levkoys need to be kept warm, so you might well have to invest in a jacket or jersey to keep him warm on a cold day.