Ukrainian Levkoy vs Machbagral - Breed Comparison

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.

This is an experimental cat breed – a wildcat hybrid. It seems as though this cat was also developed in the United States like many of the other hybrid cats.

Also known as Bagral, Tthe Machbagral came about by crossing the wild Fishing cat – also known as the Asian Fishing cat and a Bengal cat or melanistic tabby spotted domestic cat.

Once again, humans wanted a cat that would look like a wild cat but that could be domesticated.

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.

The Machbaral is a medium to large-sized cat and can weigh up to 7kg. It is described as a stocky cat. The head is large with fairly small ears. The fur of the Machbagral will be dense and medium length with a thick fluffy tail. The color is black with lighter tips.

Temperament:

The Machbagral cat is very friendly and intelligent and like so many hybrid cats he loves playing in water. If you have an outside cage for him, it should have a small pool.

He is a cat that loves his human family and behaves much like a dog. You can teach this cat to walk on a leash.

You need to bear in mind that because of the wildness in the Machbagral, there will no doubt be some aggression. They can also be quite solitary by nature and may never adjust to being in a social setting. These cats are also not 100% predictable.

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.

The Machbagral, just like some of the other hybrid cats there are, can be wonderful to own. But sadly these hybrids should be discouraged as pets.

They can make wonderful pets no doubt, but there is always that unpredictable behavior with them.

There are so many cats in shelters today, many of them are hybrids because people had no idea that the wild side of the hybrid such as the Machbagral is always lurking there, ready to come out.

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.

You need to know that interbreeding wild cats with domestic cats still has wildness in a cat.

The truth is, there are behavioral complaints from owners of these hybrid cats.

No matter how wonderful the Machbagral seems to be as a pet, at some time or other he will display aggression and also failure to use a litter box.

These hybrids usually mark their territory by urination and spraying and often can’t learn to use a litter box. Unlike with a proper domestic cat, neutering or spaying a hybrid cat won’t really change their behavior of urinating inside your house.

Also, because hybrid cats such as the Machbagral are unnatural breeding, there can be health issues. One of the more common illnesses among hybrid cats include digestive issues, of which IBD is one. This is a bowel disease and it can cause chronic diarrhea with your cat.

Another medical issue is Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. Also, another concern is that while regular cat vaccines protect your regular cat from some deadly cat diseases, they may not be approved for use in hybrid cats, and if they are approved, they may not be effective.

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.

Most cat owners with basic cat care knowledge will be able to take care of their Machbagral. You could say that there is a little bit more specialized care with these hybrid cats as they will require an outside cage as they are cats with a wild side.

Feline hybrids are larger than domestic cats and can exhibit a wild temperament, so you have to bear in mind they require careful and different handling to a regular cat.

A diet of commercial pet food may not be sufficient for a hybrid such as the Machbagral and your vet may well be able to advise you on the feeding requirments of these hybrids.

Since cats are carnivorous, they will need to be fed food that is high in protein. You need to understand how to read labels on commercially manufactured cat foods and to avoid those that have more carbohydrates in them and less meat. Feeding you cat such a diet will ensure health issues later on.

Provide your pet with all the things needed to make him content as can be. Food and water bowls, paddling pool, toys, sleeping area. You want to surely invest in collar and tag as these cats often try to get away.

You want to make sure you have an outdoor enclosure for your Machbagral. These hybrids are indoor- and outdoor cats. Because they often don’t learn to use a litter box they need to be outside in an enclosure for some of the time. They are certainly not indoor cats.