Ukrainian Levkoy

Origin

The Ukrainian Levkoy is a cross between the Scottish Fold and Sphynx cats.

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.

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.

Defects and disqualification

The FD gene is responsible for folded ears in cats. It is inherited in a autosomal dominant manner, with homozygous FD/FD cats often resulting in extreme exostosis in the legs causing lameness, and other more severe struggles with osteochondrodysplasia. Heterozygous FD/fd cats may still struggle with similar bone defects & other issues, just to a less extreme degree.

Common reasons for disqualification includes birth defects, such as crossed eyes. Or, lack of accordance with the show rules. For example, too short or round of a head, round eyes, a short "cobby" body, weak chin, or aggressive behavior.

Litter

The average litter size is generally three to five kittens.

Approximately half of the kittens in each litter will have folded ears, while the remaining kittens will be straight-eared.

Notes

References

References

1. [http://rolandus.org/eng/breedncolors/LVF_ang.html RUI – Breed and colors]
2. Englar, Ryane E.. (2019-07-03). "Common Clinical Presentations in Dogs and Cats". Wiley.
3. Takanosu, Masamine. (2020-12-26). "Osteochondrodysplasia in Scottish Fold cross-breed cats". The Journal of Veterinary Medical Science.