Cat Owners Thought Their Foster Kitten Was Sick, Only to Find Out She Was Actually a 'Wolfcat'
Some kittens look a little unusual at first, but Gracie’s foster family had a much bigger mystery on their hands. The tiny cat had bald patches, odd fur, and a look that made her stand out from her litter right away.
What started as concern about her health turned into a surprising discovery about a rare natural mutation called Lykoi, or wolfcat. Her foster owner, Bree, shared the kitten’s story online as Gracie grew up alongside her siblings and the rest of the foster family.
And once people saw how Gracie changed, the comments and reactions came fast.
"I decided to foster two pregnant cats found at a colony site together," foster owner Bree said. "They each had their babies six days apart, and after a week..."
"The two moms joined together and started to raise all twelve babies as one big family. They took care of each other’s babies as if they were all their own."
"I noticed one was looking a little frail and losing hair, so I immediately took her to the vet to be seen, where I was told she might have had a fever coat previously, but otherwise, she was fine and healthy," she continued.
"We were so concerned about her well-being, but she made small improvements shortly after and started to grow her hair back."
"As she started to grow, I really couldn’t get over how odd she looked and how she looked nothing like her siblings or parents," Bree said. She also went on to explain a bit more about herself.
"I am a full-time professional photographer! I do weddings as well as births!" she said.
"I actually photographed Gracie’s birth too! I have an amazing partner who also loves Gracie and the other fur babies - I love where I live in central Maine!"
"I came across a cat that looked similar, but I didn’t think much of it. As she grew, I tried to Google different kinds of cats with black and white peppered hair and bald faces, and eventually, I figured out she was indeed a wolfcat, or more appropriately named, a Lykoi," Bree explained.
"Based on my own research, I have found that a wolfcat, formally known as a Lykoi, is a regular domestic cat that results from a natural genetic mutation among feral cat colonies, which is what her moms came from. She only has one coat of fur and will molt about every six months," Bree explained.
"Her fur can be brushed forward and backward, kind of like a wolf’s coat. She has sensitive skin and will need extra attention to monitor her grease and oil buildup around her face and feet."
It also echoes North Shore Animal League America’s hunt for “Glory,” where a lost black cat reunion led to adoptions of other matching black cats.
"My favorite thing about Gracie is when she was a little bald baby, and I loved to kiss her and breathe her in. She has a certain smell about her that made me love kissing her."
"Sometimes I still get a small whiff of her old baby scent, and I love it. It’s probably one of those weird mom things, haha! I love kissing her, but she always pushes my face away - I adore her huge, beautiful eyes!"
"She is just like every other house cat, except she looks like a werewolf. After some research, I learned that she only has one coat of fur and will shed often throughout her life," Bree says.
"I learned that she came as a natural genetic mutation from the feral colony her mom was part of. I recently shared her story in videos on TikTok, and she has now gone viral."
"She now has 42k followers as well, so that’s pretty cool! We also found out that wolfcats are actually valued at around $3,000, so getting an expensive cat for free is also pretty epic!"
So, how is Gracie doing these days? "She is doing wonderfully and is in perfect health! She likes to nap and play!" says Bree.
"Her favorite toy is her laser pointer, whether she’s chasing the red dot or playing with the pointer itself. Gracie rides in the car now and visits her grammie's house!"
"She has a bubble backpack that her grammie bought her that she rides in! When Gracie is not adventuring, her bubble backpack is her playhouse."
"She is not very talkative at all. She loves to come up to my feet when I’m sitting and rub against them, almost hugging them."
"Gracie does not sleep with me; she typically sleeps on the couch. She loves to chase her own tail and sit in the window. Gracie enjoys scratching on her scratching boards, and she loves to nap."
Bree also owns other animals. "I have one of her moms, which I do not think is her biological mom."
"I think her biological mom was the black one who unfortunately got very sick and passed away a few months ago. I also have my 14-year-old mini dachshund too - they love each other and get along great!"
She wasn’t sick, she was a “wolfcat,” just like the rare “werewolf cat” seeking adoption in this adoption story.
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