Ukrainian Levkoy Cat Breed Information

Group

Hairless

Weight

3.1-5.4 kg

Length

20-25 cm

Lifespan

14-20 years

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About the Ukrainian Levkoy Cat

Reviewed by:

Dr. Cristina Alice Vulpe

Veterinarian

The hairless and distinct appearance of a Ukrainian Levkoy cat may lead you to believe its story dates back centuries. However, this adorable bald feline is one of the newest cat breed types! With a short history that dates back to just 2004, the Ukrainian Levkoys aren’t even 100% Eastern European – they’re half Scottish!

Being so new and so unusual in origin, Ukrainian Levkoys are very rare – so rare, in fact, that they’ve yet to be recognised by any major cat register or breed association.

If you come across a Ukrainian Levkoy cat at a cattery, you may want to jump at the chance to add this strange rarity to your family. However, there’s not a lot of information currently online about them, so you may not know what you’re getting yourself in for – we’re here to help! This Ukrainian Levkoy breed guide will help fill you in on this unusual crossbreed.

What Is the History & Origin of the Ukrainian Levkoy?

The story of this hairless cat breed begins not so long ago in Ukraine. In 2004, Elena Biriukova decided to do something that had never been done before: cross-breed a Russian Donskoy cat with a Scottish Fold. From this, the Ukrainian Levkoy cat was born, combining domestic shorthair and oriental cat traits.

The ‘Levkoy’ part of their names was given to them due to their inward folding ears. This reminded early breeders of the levkoy plant, which has inward folding leaves.

Although even today, the Ukrainian Levkoy is recognised as an experimental breed, the cat has been given some degree of official titles in both Ukraine and Russia. In 2005, the breed was recognised by the ICFA RUI (Rolandus Union International) in Ukraine, and then in 2010 by the CFA WCA in Russia.

In Ukraine, the cat is now recognised as a champion breed.

What Is a Ukrainian Levkoy Breed?

Ukrainian Levkoys is a hairless cat breed that features soft yet wrinkled skin. They are affectionate cats who love being stimulated mentally by their owners and enjoy uncovering hidden treats. They don’t take themselves too seriously and enjoy making their owners laugh.

Levkoys are currently extremely rare and difficult to find outside of Eastern Europe.

Who Is a Ukrainian Levkoy Best For?

Ukrainian Levkoy cats are good for anyone looking for a laid-back yet interactive cat. Ukrainian Levkoy cats love being part of a large family and are highly kid-compatible. If you’ve got children who are looking for a cat that’ll always be in the mood to play, the Ukrainian Levkoy could be what you’re looking for.

Unlike other bald cat breeds, Ukrainian Levkoy cats can be quite affable towards strangers, whether it be new people or other pets. They’ll certainly hold strong love for each member of the family they get familiar with and will go out of their way to make friends with other cats or dogs.

This cat breed can grow somewhat anxious when left alone for extended periods of time. For this reason, it’s best to get them another cat companion if you work away from home for most of the day.

What Does a Ukrainian Levkoy Look Like?

The most distinct features of this bald cat breed are their muscular yet slender build, their large inward-folding ears, and their long, whip-like tail. Their big eyes tend to be slanted and almond-shaped. Both their coats and their eye colour come in a range of colours.

Coat

We’ve already made clear that these felines don’t have a coat, although some may come with a very light fuzzy coating. Their skin is visible in all cases, so they don’t need to worry about grooming themselves.

Colours

One of the most interesting aspects of the Ukrainian Levkoy is that, despite their hairlessness, they can come in almost any colour.

Patterns

Given their baldness, Ukrainian Levkoy cats don’t really form patterns on their skin. Although, slight colour shade changes may occur, particularly around their muzzles and belly.

Ukrainian Levkoy Grooming & Shedding

Ukrainian Levkoy cats do not shed and don’t groom themselves, as they have no hair! For this reason, you don’t have to commit any time grooming them. However, the time you save in grooming is replaced by cleaning, which you have to do more regularly than a coated cat.

How Do Ukrainian Levkoys Behave? A Look at Their Temperament and Personality

They enjoy playing, full stop – they don’t mind if their playmate is someone they’re familiar with or a stranger! This extends to petting, as they enjoy hopping on the laps of both old and new friends. They tend to have a lot of time for high-energy children who can keep up with their fast-paced personalities.

Their curiosity rarely wanes throughout their lives, and they’re always happy to learn new tricks or play new games. They particularly like fetch and laser-point chases.

They enjoy having their owners around as much as possible and should not be left alone for longer than 8 hours. If left in the house themselves for too long, they grow anxious, which could easily develop into depression.

Living Needs

Ukrainian Levkoys can’t regulate their body temperature well, meaning they struggle to keep warm when it’s cold. For this reason, you need to make sure their living quarters are sufficiently hot at all times.

You’ll definitely need to invest in good scratching posts for a Ukrainian Levkoy cat, as they love to scratch! Regular scratching promotes good nail health and keeps a Levkoy cat’s claws at a good length.

What Are Common Habits and Activity Levels of Ukrainian Levkoys?

Habits

They tend to get silly and often cause trouble around the house by pulling things down and climbing up items of furniture that they shouldn’t. This can sometimes be a source of entertainment for some but may become tiresome for other owners. Either way, they can be trained to curb their curiosity levels somewhat through positive reinforcement.

Activity Level

Ukrainian Levkoys have plenty of stamina and like to use it in both exercise activities as well as mental stimulation games. They enjoy climbing and need a few safe ledges around the house where they can perch themselves from. They enjoy games involving their owners but can also play independently with a puzzle toy or ball.

Vocalness

They are generally considered to be quite vocal cats, particularly when hungry. They could also be using the power of their meows to let you know that they’re too cold.

What Is the Weight, Height, and Size of a Ukrainian Levkoy?

Height

Ukrainian Levkoy cats tend to be between 20cm and 25cm in height.

Weight

The average Ukrainian Levkoy cat weighs between 3.1 and 5.4kg.

Size

The Ukrainian Levkoy is classed as a medium-sized cat.

Are Ukrainian Levkoys Easy to Train?

Ukrainian Levkoys respond particularly well to clicker training, which is encouraged as it helps to keep them mentally active. They can also easily learn how to walk on a leash, play fetch, as well as a number of other tricks.

Does the Ukrainian Levkoy Have Any Common Health Issues?

Although generally considered to be a healthy breed, there are a number of health issues that can affect hairless cats, the Ukrainian Levkoy cat included. They are particularly at risk of developing skin cancer due to the high sensitivity of their bare skin. If over-exposed to the sun, they can easily develop sunburn, which could lead to skin cancer.

Another skin-related concern is their inability to distribute the oil evenly. Other cats can use their coats to evenly distribute the oil from their skin around their bodies; however, without hair, a build-up of oil can easily occur on a Levkoy. This can develop into skin infections.

Lastly, a build-up of dirt and wax can occur in the cat breed’s inward folded ears, which could also lead to infections as well as hearing issues for the cat. For this reason, a Ukrainian Levkoy cat’s ears need to be regularly cleaned.

What Is the Lifespan of a Ukrainian Levkoy?

The lifespan of a Ukrainian Levkoy is difficult to determine as they’ve only existed for a short while. However, the average lifespan is said to range from 14-20 years.

How Much Does a Ukrainian Levkoy Need to Be Fed?

A Ukrainian Levkoy cat requires more food than a bigger cat. They need as much food energy as possible to keep themselves warm so that this extra food won’t be turned into body fat. Speak to your vet about the specific dietary requirements of your cat, as they’ll be able to accurately judge the amount of food your Ukrainian Levkoy cat requires.

How Much Can You Expect to Pay for a Ukrainian Levkoy in Australia?

You may struggle to find a Ukrainian Levkoy cat in Australia, as most of the main registered breeders are found in Eastern Europe. For this reason, it’s difficult to say how much they’d sell for in Australia. Given their rare breed status, it would help if you prepared to budget $2,500 upwards.

Ukrainian Levkoy FAQs

Are Ukrainian Levkoy cats rare?

As far as hairless breeds go, Ukrainian Levkoys remain amongst the rarest. This descendant of Scottish Fold cats is only bred in a few locations throughout Eastern Europe and in other select locations around the world.

Are Ukrainian Levkoy cats hypoallergenic?

Ukrainian Levkoys are more hypoallergenic than other cat breeds, given their hairlessness. However, no cat is 100% hypoallergenic as they all produce an allergy-triggering protein in their saliva.

Do Ukrainian Levkoy cats get along well with other household pets?

Ukrainian Levkoys get along surprisingly well with other pets, as long as they are trained to be sociable during their infancy. A well trained Levkoy cat can ever become best friends with a dog.