Canada has officially been blessed with its very own “Werewolf Kitty”, and the little guy’s name is Atchoum!
Atchoum is a 1-year-old Persian who lives with his Mama Natalie in Quebec, Canada. Atchoum caught the eye of media outlets everywhere when his photos were shared online, depicting an animal that looked more like a tiny Shih Tzu than a cat.
You see, Atchoum has a rare hormonal condition called hypertrichosis.
Hypertrichosis is very rare and usually occurs in people. The condition is nicknamed “Werewolf Syndrome” in the literature because it causes individuals to grow hair all of their faces and bodies, resulting in a werewolf-like appearance.
Although hypertrichosis has been documented in humans, Cosmopolitan says this is the first time it’s been seen in a cat. Because of the condition, Atchoum’s hair grows fast and continually, giving him his adorably eye-catching appearance.
Between his furry face and penetrating gaze, Atchoum has collected a large following on social media sites. He has such a peculiar look and attitude that people just can’t get enough of him.
Atchoum describes himself as ‘hairy not scary’, and if “his” interview answers are any indication, he has quite the personality too. Here are a few excerpts from Atchoum’s interview with Cosmopolitan Magazine… You’ll soon see what I mean.
How does it make you feel when people laugh at you or call you scary?
I take it in stride. When I rule the world, it will be me who is laughing.As a cat with werewolf syndrome, are you better at getting along with dogs than other cats?
I get along with everyone. Dogs just as much as cats have accepted me as their superior.What do you do when you are having a bad hair day?
Look at me. Can you really tell the difference between a “bad” hair day and a “good” hair day?
Despite Atchoum’s interesting appearance, Mama Natalie says, for the most part, he’s just a typical cat. He loves cuddling, watching TV, and playing kitty games on Mom’s iPad.
Even though Atchoum looks delightfully different, he has his head on straight and is going for his goals.
“My goal is to help the world understand that it’s okay to be different. Being different is what makes us all special.”
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