New breed of hybrid cat wolf

Cats with special sparse fur, which can cross between cats and wolves but act like dogs.

Animal breeders at the University of Tennessee, USA, said the new breed is called Lykoi . This is the result of a mutation in the US short-haired cat breed.

Two cats of the Lykoi breed.(Photo: Lycoicat.com)

According to IBTimes, the name Lykoi comes from the Greek word meaning "wolf cat" . Unlike normal cats, Lykoi cats have dark gray fur, areas around the nose, eyes, ears and snout are hairless.

Lykoi are capable of hunting like wolves. Brittney Gobble, a member of the research team, described them as acting like often hiding in a corner, watching and scouring around and rushing towards what was supposed to be bait.

However, Lykoi cats are especially friendly, playful and very loyal to their owners. These characteristics are more like a dog than the characteristics of cats or wolves.

The first Lykoi was bred and was born in 2011. So far, experts have successfully propagated 14 children.

In 2012, the International Cat Association (TICA) officially recognized this as a new breed.