Minuet cat

The Minuet[1] (formerly known as the Napoleon) is a hybrid mix of Persian and Munchkin cat breeds. Categorized by The International Cat Association (TICA) as a domestic hybrid, "developed from a deliberate cross between two existing domestic breeds, incorporating characteristics of both parental breeds into the new mix."[2] The Minuet cat is characterized by its short legs, as a result of the dwarfism-mutation similar to the Munchkin cats.

Minuet
Example of a long-haired Minuet cat.
Origin United States
Foundation bloodstockMunchkin, Persian
Breed standards
TICAstandard
Notes
Not recognized by other registries than TICA
Domestic cat (Felis catus)

According to TICA's official standards, these breeds represent the only permissible outcrosses one may use to create the Minuet.[3] This includes the combinations Minuet × Minuet, Minuet × Munchkin, and Minuet × one of the Persian-type breeds (including Persians, Himalayans and Exotic Shorthairs). Minuets come in both long-haired and short-haired varieties.

Origin

The mix was created by Joseph B. Smith, a Basset Hound breeder and American Kennel Club (AKC) judge. He was inspired by the Wall Street Journal's front-page feature of the Munchkin on June 12, 1995. He was a fan of the Munchkin, but felt that the unavoidable long-legged versions were indistinguishable from similar mixed cats, commonly seen in animal shelters. Smith decided that something had to be done to create a cat unique in both short- and long-legged versions, something that looked purebred. He chose the Persian breed group as an outcross to the Munchkin for two reasons: beauty and boning. The original Napoleon standard was written with this in mind.[1]

In January 2015, TICA's board of directors voted to change the name of the mix to the Minuet.[1]

Breeding ban

Apart from TICA, the other major cat registries do not allow the registry of the Minuet breed, nor recognise it, due to concerns about the animal's welfare. Among others, the breed is not recognised by:

Description
A long-haired white and gray Minuet cat named Rhubarb.

The Napoleon inherited its distinctively short legs from the Munchkin, which are caused by a naturally occurring genetic mutation. From the Persian group (including Persians, Exotic Shorthairs and Himalayans) the Minuet has inherited its short snout, round face, dense coat and substantial boning. The boning provides a good support system for its uniquely short legs.

Care

Overall, Minuets have few health problems, but there are specific genetic conditions to look out for as with any species. Because of their Persian lineage, Minuets are prone to polycystic kidney disease (PKD). Breeders regularly screen parent cats for PKD prior to breeding. Other shared problems with the Persian lineage include epiphora (excessive formation of tears) due to nasolacrimal duct obstruction and thick coats prone to matting in absence of regular grooming.[8]

Like Munchkins, Minuets can develop osteoarthritis,[9] but this is much less common than it is in dog breeds that share the dwarfism phenotype (Dachshund and Corgi breeds, for example).[8]

See also
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Minuet cat.

References
  1. "Welcome to TICA - The International Cat Association, TICA cats, TICA pedigreed cats, pedigreed cats, pedigreed cats registry, household pet cat registry, domestic cat registry, Savannah cat, Bengal cat, Persian cat, Maine Coon cat" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-09-12. Retrieved 2015-06-06.
  2. TICA Registration Rules TICA Registration Rules, page 4 Archived 2013-10-22 at the Wayback Machine
  3. TICA Minuet Standard TICA Minuet Standard Archived 2015-06-10 at the Wayback Machine
  4. "Breeds – The Cat Fanciers' Association, Inc". cfa.org. Retrieved 2023-04-01.
  5. Fédération Internationale Féline (2023). "Breed standards". fifeweb.org. Retrieved 2023-04-01.
  6. Governing Council of the Cat Fancy. "Cat breeds".
  7. World Cat Federation. "Recognized and admitted breeds in the WCF". wcf.info. Retrieved 2023-04-01.
  8. "Animal Planet: Cats 101, Season 3, Episode 1".
  9. "Munchkin - Limb Deformity".
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