Minskin Cat: Breed Information, Characteristics and Facts

Ever seen a Minskin cat? They are just so cute right? There is no mistaking this breed of cats, as it can be obvious for those with a trained eye that they were created from a cross-breed with the Sphynx. Of course, when judging from the looks and physical attributes, they are often confuse the Minskin with the Sphinx or even the Bambino cat. No doubt, they make a very stylish and posh pet to keep. Continue reading to find out more about the characteristics of this breed of cats.

History of the Minskin Cat

The munchkin/sphynx mix is a relatively new breed of feline, dating back a couple of decades. The development process for the Minskin cat breed commenced in Boston, Massachusetts by Paul Richard McSorley in 1998. Just like the Siamese is endowed with color limited to the points or extremities, McSorley envisaged a feline with short legs and thicker fur, restricted to the points (in explanation, this means fur points) on the ear, mask, tail, and legs, with a significantly sparingly coated neck, torso as well as belly. In simple language, he just wanted to create that feline which will display related color pattern to the Siamese (on only the ears, tail, legs, as well as a pattern resembling mask on the face). The breeder also wanted the short limbs of the Munchkins reflected in his creation.

In a bid to accomplish this aim, the breeder crossed his already existing Munchkin cat with very short legs alongside a full coat of fur. To get a mix of the hairless traits, McSorley brought in as well as combined fuzzy Sphynx but with thicker fur limited to the extremities. This made for an immune system that is healthier. When united, the couple of healthy mutation genes won’t be able to recognize themselves, and thus won’t engender any impact that is likely to be detrimental. For other expected qualities like temperament, structure, and type, McSorley used the Devon Rex I alongside his Burmese cats (International award-winning feline) in the breeding project for his Minskin.

McSorley began to see positive results in July 2000 with the birth of Rory (Meaning TRT I Am Minskin Hear Me Roar). Five years later, in 2005, 50 kitties that met the Minskin dream were already in existence and were registered by TICA (The International Cat Association) and the feline breed earned recognition as PNB (Preliminary New Breed) in 2008. Presently, munchkin/sphynx mix is on the association’s list which is charged with the responsibility of supervising the development of all new breeds of cats as well as their advancement toward earning the title of ANB (Advanced New Breed). It is expected that whenever all the expected requirements are met, with BOD’s approval, the Minskin breed of feline will move forward in TICA with a complete acknowledgment (meaning a full recognition) in the Championship class. For reasons of ethical concerns, the FYI (Cat Fanciers Association) has not acknowledged the breed; thus, it is most likely that the Minskin may never be found on their breed list.

Quick Facts About the Minskin Cat

When it comes to looks, the Minskin breed of cat can best be described as true to type. In fact, its physical attributes are exactly what you would expect to see in a progeny that resulted from a cross between the cute Munchkin and a Sphinx. Below are some quick facts about this fun-loving cat.

• As a result of its limbs which come very short, the Minskin kitty sits very low on the ground with a small to mid-sized body.
• They have a tapering nose, large ears, rounded and wide eyes, as well as a coat with sparse fur. The fur comes very velvety soft and can occur at extremities or points like ears, face, legs, and tail.
• The fur has even shorter hair that is not evenly distributed on all parts of its body; there are some body parts that are practically devoid of hair.
• As is the norm, the Minskin’s hind limbs come longer than the fur limb, but the cat can still leap perfectly like its counterparts.
• People have always compared the breed to E.T, and you don’t need to look far to see why! The cutie’s wrinkly face, round head, and large eyes bring it very close in resemblance. But then, those large ears also make it look like Dobby!
• The most interesting fact about the Minskin is that, while it appears as hairless, the feline actually comes with hair scattered all over its body; the only thing is that the Minskin’s hair is rather very short as well as downy.
• McSorley’s vision really came to fruition with the breed, as it does come with the envisaged dense points of hair on its ears, mask, tails, and legs.
• The short legs of the Minskin are exactly what led to the kitty’s small to medium size. The quality of those short limbs is usually dominant in genetics, meaning that it prevails more often than not. However, we have also seen a few leggy descendants, but this belongs to the exception and not the rule.
• Though the coat is not distinctive, the Minskin breed does not come completely naked but comes with light and extremely soft down, and in combination with those short limbs, it led to the breed’s alternative name which is Hobbitkatze. Talking about the body, it is quite muscular, especially with the breast that is well pronounced and very attractive.
• A good look at the head shows a rounded shape, following the contours of the cat’s snout and cheeks that are rounded as well. Minskin’s ears and eyes give the kitty a very bright impression which in actual fact, is their personality trait.

Things You Should Know about the Minskin Cat

Health

Even though the Minskin breed is realized in small in size, the kitty has a life expectancy that extends up to 14 years. But the health issues with the breed is exactly where the so-called ethical apprehension comes to play, and this is the reason the breed will not be recognized by the Cat Fanciers. However, this is a relatively healthy breed, though they are yet to exist for one full lifespan of an average kitty which makes it even more difficult for one to predict what the future holds for them.

In conclusion, the breed doesn’t appear to be any more susceptible to serious health problems than its parents which are the Munchkin and the sphinx. In fact, the short-legged cat comes as healthy as the other members of the feline population. Potentially, any health issues the breed can experience will come from either of its parents and since they are relatively new, these conditions are yet to be fully witnessed.

Feeding

With the Minskin breed of cats, there is no special diet. What is recommended is the normal feline food rich in vitamins and the animal-based protein that is highly compulsory for the kitty to be hale and hearty. For more options, check out our detailed review of nutritional supplements for cats.

Care

The Minskin breed of cats is best described as extremely easy-care, thanks to its lack of fur. The kitty is averse to very cold temperature and thus, keeping it constantly indoors is the best option, to avoid colds and frostbite. However, during the summer season, you can allow your feline friend to spend some time outside as the breed is known to love exploring its vicinity. But then, pet parents should ensure that the cat is not exposed to too much sun as this might lead to sunburn, which can be quite uncomfortable for the kitty.

Grooming

While the back of the cute kitty may be sparsely populated with hair, the belly of the Minskin is completely without hair. However, the cat is not entirely naked even though it does not come with a distinctive coat. All these character traits make the breed very easy to groom, though there are some people who are of the opinion that grooming is not a necessity with the Minskin, thanks to its nearly hairless coat.

But recommendations are that the kitty should be exposed to baths from time to time, and when it is bath time for the cat, remember to use very mild baby shampoo. This is as a result of its almost nude body which needs a special form of protection; thus, the baths should not come as regularly as it would with other breeds that are densely coated. While on it, be sure to make use of a soft damp rag in order to maintain the feline’s smooth and supple skin.

Grooming for the Minskin breed does not just end with the baths; you should take care of other parts of its body like the teeth and ears. In the case of the cat’s teeth, regular brushing is recommended, but people who will not be able to accomplish the brushing sessions on a daily basis can make do with weekly sessions. As for the ears, regular cleaning should be observed from time to time. Brushing is completely ruled out thanks to the lack of hair.

Related Posts: Cat Toothbrushes and Cat Shampoos

Temperament

The character traits from the Minskin breed of feline came from a couple of original breeds Munchkin which endowed the cute cat with its friendly and loveable nature as well as the Sphynx, now that’s exactly where the Minskin got its natural inquisitiveness from. Since the cat is a combination of several breeds with numerous positive characteristics, Minskin inherited the affectionate and loving trait that makes the cat so snuggly and easy-going.

The breed is highly suitable to be used as a domestic pet as it is quite human-related. The kitty enjoys playtime, always happy to be on the move, and has confirmed prowess as a hunter. Its curious nature ensures that the feline is forever exploring the vicinity, and even when it is taken to an entirely new environment, the Minskin wastes no time in adapting.

Although the breed is born with rather short limbs, it displays a lot of self-confidence. Just in the same way as other cat breeds that are naturally endowed with long limbs, the Minskin move in a very fast and maneuverable fashion which gives it a close affinity with the ferret. The cat is a great climber that loves to have some playful time on treetops and other scalable heights. Thus, jumping onto the armchair, landing on the bed or even kitchen table come quite naturally to the Minskin.

The kitty is well suited to families where they have kids and even other animal pets like dogs, but this can only be possible if the dog is also friendly with the feline population. Thanks to its extremely social as well as friendly nature, the Minskin displays confidence in the presence of pets and children. As a cat that is very human-related, the feline is always on the lookout for some form of closeness and thus is averse to being left alone for a very long time, even in the company of other cats. Once a Minskin breed builds a bond with its parents, it is forever, as the cat rarely lets go. It knows how to communicate its need but never too loudly.

In the same way as parents, this cute cat comes with significant feline smartness and loves to keep its family on their toes. They may appear small, but the breed is endowed with a big brain (figuratively speaking) which aids them in accomplishing all that their bigger counterparts can achieve.

Though the breed is generally known to easily adapt to new environment, some of them still have a hard time adapting to some forms of changes. Families that are continually in flux should take note of that. Because of the kitty’s constant urge to be on the move, pet parents should do well by providing it some form of employment; this can be accomplished with the provision of a scratching post. Besides, having a scratching post handy and getting your kitty to always use it will save your household furniture and several other surfaces that the cat would normally scratch in the absence of a scratcher. The general belief is that the Minskin is good for the settled life and not for a life that is constantly changing.

Sources:

1. Minskin – international cat care
2. Minskin Breed – TICA