Minuet Cat, A Short-legged Furry
With a sweet expression and a rounded doll face, the Minuet cat stands out for its Persian cat features and short paws. But he is also characterized by being extremely cute and loving home life. We will tell you all the details of this relatively new breed.
A cross between Persians and Munchkins
The breeder of these kittens, Joe Smith, seems to have an obsession with short legs. He was once a basset hound breeder .
But when in 1995 he saw a picture of a Munchkin cat in the newspaper, he was happy that dwarfism was finally manifesting itself in the cat world.
He soon discovered that, unlike dogs, the short leg gene is not as dominant in cats. So, he set to work to design a Felis catus that would meet his expectations.
Thus was born the cat Minuet, originally called Napoleon. Resulting from the combination of the Persian and Munchkin races, it inherited many characteristics from the first and short legs from the second.
Man insists on creating these so-called “projected” specimens, without bothering to deliberately reproduce conditions such as achondroplasia.
And there’s no doubt that the resulting kittens are beautiful. But the question that many of us ask ourselves is: if there are so many homeless animals, we should start to ‘manufacture’ new breeds and expose the animals to possible health problems due, in this case, to their short legs.
In any case, nature prevails and not all Minuets are dwarfs. Of course, they have unique characteristics that distinguish them from other breeds and, above all, from the mongrel cat.
This breed also has different colors and different coat lengths (they can have short or long coats).
Physical characteristics of the Minuet cat
In addition to being short, it is noteworthy that the hind legs of this kitten are longer than the front ones. And that all four ends are muscular and have rounded and medium claws.
Other characteristics of the also called Napoleon cat are :
- Average size
- Weight: between four and five kilos (males) and between two and three kilos (females)
- Body: rounded, muscular and strong
- Neck: short and strong
- Head: round, medium, with short muzzle and firm chin
- eyes: large and round
- nose: short and wide
- Ears: Small, with a wide base and rounded tips
- Tail: Sized in proportion to the body and erect when the cat is moving (reminiscent of a squirrel)
- Coat: dense, soft, silky and shiny, both in short and long versions
A cute and balanced kitten
Loving, sociable and relaxed, the Minuet cat adapts well to homes and apartments. Furthermore, it is ideal for socializing with small children, as it is very docile, patient, balanced and tolerant.
However, although they get along very well with other pets, it is not recommended that they live with aggressive or jealous cats or dogs.
The fact is, his small paws put him at a disadvantage if he needs to defend himself from an attack.
Active and playful, like all kittens, he is curious and loves heights as much as pampering and, besides, he loves to spend hours in the company of his humans.
It’s worth noting that it’s not a good idea to leave him alone too much time, a fact to consider for those who decide to own a cat of this breed.
Care required by Minuet
In the short-haired Minuet variety, a weekly brushing will be enough to keep your coat well groomed. However, in specimens with long hair this routine should be followed two to three times a week.
In addition, he must receive quality nutrition, which ensures that his bones remain strong. Thus, their short legs will be able to support the rest of the body better.
As with all pets, periodic visits to the veterinarian, vaccinations and deworming are necessary, as indicated by the professional.
It ‘s also important to make sure your short paws aren’t causing any health problems such as back pain.
