Minskin cats are small, short-legged felines with little to no hair that appeared in the United States two decades ago as a result of crossbreeding between munchkin and sphynx cats. Today, it is a fairly unknown breed, as there are only a few specimens. They are happy, affectionate, playful, sociable and loyal felines who adore the company of people of all ages, as long as they offer them activity and attention. But they are also somewhat delicate and require special attention and care to keep them he althy and provide them with a good quality of life.
Keep reading this article from PlanèteAnimal on the characteristics of the Minskin cat to learn more about its origin, its care, its he alth and where you can adopt one!
Origin
- Europe
- United States
Physical Characteristics
- Thin tail
- Big ears
- End
Size
- Little
Average Weight
- 3-5
Life expectancy
- 10-15
Character
- Active
- Extrovert
- Affectionate
- Smart
- Curious
Climate
- Temperate
Hair type
- Hairless
- Short
Origin of Minskin
The Minskin cat breed is quite recent, as as mentioned above, it is only two decades old. Boston breeder Paul McSorley decided to create a short-legged hairless cat around 1998. To do this, he crossed a hairless Sphynx with a short-legged munchkin cat. Breeds such as the Burmese and the Devon Rex also participated in this creation process.
The first cat of this breed, called Rory, was born in 2000. Gradually, more and more Minskin cats were born, reaching 50 in 2005. To this day, he is still considered a very rare cat to find and TICA has him in their new breed development program. It is recognized as an experimental breed by the International Cat Association.
Minskin Features
Minskin cats are magnificent felines. Their constitution is robust, they have short legs, some hair on the face and the members, but nothing in the other places, in particular on the belly which is hairless. They are small in size, with an adult weight of 2-4 kg. The main physical characteristics of Minskin cats are as follows:
- Round and wide head.
- Large triangular ears always erect.
- Round and large eyes in color matching the skin.
- Strong chin.
- Absence or some whiskers.
- Cheeks up.
- Short muzzle.
- Soft and well-developed neckline.
- Broad and strong chest.
- Hind legs short and practically identical or slightly longer than the front ones.
- Round feet.
- Medium length tail with rounded end.
Minskin colors
The skin of Minskin cats, as well as the hair that specimens of this breed may present, are found in different colors and patterns, since all are possible and all are equally accepted.
Minskin character
The Minskin is a small feline that is very affectionate and loyal to its human companions. In addition, he gets along well with children because he loves to play and the attention they give him. However, don't forget to teach the little ones in the house that a cat is not a toy.
They are also very intelligent, cheerful and energetic cats. They love to jump, climb and move as long as possible. Their short legs do not prevent these cats from having great agility or enjoying heights like any long-legged cat.In addition, they are very powerful cats.
On the other hand, they can be with virtually any kind of people, as long as they offer them attention, care, activity, and love on a daily basis. They also tolerate different species of animals well and adapt to different spaces.
Minskin Care
The lack of hair in these cats requires special care. Thus, they must always be kept at a good temperature in winter, while in summer their skin must be protected from the sun to avoid damage from direct solar radiation.
It is recommended to bathe them with a special shampoo and to clean secretions from their skin frequently. In the same way, their ears also need to be cared for, as they lack hair and are quite large. Indeed, they tend to accumulate a lot of earwax and are prone to infections. Another point of attention concerns their teeth, in order to maintain good hygiene that prevents infections and other uncomfortable disorders.In addition, by performing these actions, you can detect he alth problems that affect the ear canal or oral cavity at an early stage.
Their food must be of quality. If dry food is given, it is recommended to combine it with wet food and distribute both in several doses per day. On the other hand, preventive medicine is essential to keep this cat he althy. For this reason, vaccination and deworming are recommended. Additionally, the Minskin cat should have regular veterinary checkups to check on his condition and act early if he detects that something is starting to go wrong.
Minskin He alth
This breed has a life expectancy of 9 to 13 years. This breed is too recent to associate it with its own pathologies, but those of its parents can be taken into account, especially those of the Munchkin breed, which are distinguished by two important genetic diseases derived from the short length of their legs:
- Lordose: exaggerated curvature of the spine in the lower back that arches the back and lifts the back of the body. This can cause muscle pain, tension and stiffness in the lower back which will affect your Minskin cat's quality of life.
- Pectus excavatum: congenital malformation of the sternum that produces its concave deformation, causing sagging of the chest, which can lead to poor functioning of the heart or lungs, compromising breathing and proper blood circulation in the body of the feline. These specimens have limited survival.
As for Sphynx parents, they are more susceptible to dermatological problems such as allergies, parasitosis, trauma and fungus.
Where to adopt a Minskin?
These cats are extremely difficult to adopt due to the shortage of existing specimens in the world.One option may be to adopt a cat from its original breed, i.e. Sphynx or Munchkin. Either way, any cat, regardless of breed and condition, is worth it, so going to a local shelter or protector is the best idea for adopting a cat and making it happy.
Minskin Pictures
