Ukrainian Levkoy vs Farm Cat - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

Known also as the Barn Cat, this domestic cat is of a mixed breed. The very name ‘farm cat’ is referring to a general kind of cat that lives in an almost wild state on farms and agricultural properties.

Possibly, their role in keeping rodents at bay was how they came about – domesticated to keep rodents away from grain crops.

When you do research you find that there is archeological evidence to suggests that these farm cats have been around since about 7500 BC. Most barn cats fall under the domestic shorthair or domestic longhair categories.

These cats live in a variety of conditions and some of them get their food solely from the rodents they catch. Others are tame with access to supplemental cat food as well as veterinary care.

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.

Farms cats are also members of domestic cats but it’s just that they are usually not socialized and they run away from people.

Farm cats have different histories and there is really no one-size-fits-all description of them.

They can weigh anything from 2 to 8kg. They can live to be anything between 10 and 20 years of age. Some of them are large, some small, some are solid colored while others are bi-colored and patterned. Their coats differ too and you can find short- and long-haired varieties among your farm cats

Their eyes and ears will also be in any shades and sizes and these cats are usually not spayed or neutered and can produce kittens that nobody is sure how they’ll turn out.

Temperament:

If you were to stumble across a farm cat born of unknown parents, there is no knowing what the small feline will behave like. Socialization and lifestyle play a big role in determining how a kitten will turn out but farm cats left to their own devices could be quiet, aggressive, loving, naughty, reticent, reserved, playful, lazy, shy or nervous.

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.

Temperament:

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.

Farm cats are such wonderful animals – they just need a good chance in life like other domestic cats.

Many of them have had a hard life and it can be marvelous to open your home and heart to one or two of them and see the pleasure they bring.

They’re full of character and if you provide them with good food and a warm bed and promise to love them, you’ll no doubt be starting a solid and meaningful friendship that can enhance your life.

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.

Farm cats left to fend for themselves can suffer from a host of illnesses. Eye infections are one. The cause of these eye infections is usually a virus, of which herpes, chlamydia, and Calicivirus are the most common.

Your vet will certainly prescribe you some antibiotics for your kitten to help against secondary infections.

Check your farm kitten over as he is likely to have a nose full of snot as well and may even be sneezing. Take the kitten to the vet who can give him a good once-over and put him on the road to recovery.

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.

Barn cats or farm cats are not likely to have been neutered or spayed and they are just adding to the overpopulation of farm cats that can become feral cats.

The average fertile cat can produce three litters every year, and with as many as 6 kittens in a litter, you can imagine how a small colony of cats can get out of control.

Sometimes cat rescue programs do a steri-drive and spay and neuter cats like this to curb the numbers. Of course, spaying and neutering can prevent many diseases as well.

If you have farm cats that have been spayed or neutered, provide them with good food and water. You can put out wet, canned cat food or dry kibble – they’ll be so pleased as most times these cats don’t even know where their next meal will come from.

You see them drinking out of puddles of water. Unfortunately, these pools are often filled with contaminants and this can also make the cats sick.

Every cat just wants a soft, warm place to sleep, and if you can, provide some warm dry hay for these farm cats. Even a cardboard box can be a haven for a cat that has never known a bed.

If you have managed to catch a farm cat kitten and you want to offer it a home, make sure to start off with veterinary care and vaccines.

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.