Welcome to our Minskin Cats page! Here you will find everything you could ever want to know about Minskin cats and a complete list of all the Minskin catteries we have located in the USA.

The Minskin is a unique breed originally formed from the mixing of the Munchkin and Sphynx breeds. It is distinguished by its short legs and its fur that only grows on its points.

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Minskin Cat Breed Information

General Information:

Height/Length: 7-8 in.

Weight: 4-6 lbs.

Lifespan: 12-14 years

Coloring:  Hairless, Pointed, all colors

Area of Origin: Boston, MA, United States

Similar Breeds: Munchkin, Sphynx, Devon Rex

Breed History and Origins:

In 1998, cat fancier Paul McSorley decided to breed a short-legged cat with hair that grew only on its points—that is, its face, ears, paws, and tail. To accomplish this, he took the dwarf Munchkin and crossed it with a hairless Sphynx cat. He supplemented the line with Devon Rex and Burmese, creating cats that have the short legs of the Munchkin while sporting a variety of fur lengths, including hairless. In July 2000, McSorley finally achieved a kitten that looked like his vision. He chose the name “Minskin” for his new breed to reflect its miniature stature and its hairless skin. By 2005, 50 cats had been bred to the Minskin standard.

The Minskin has been accepted by The International Cat Association as a preliminary new breed. As such, the breed has a standard but many of its characteristics are still in the process of being stabilized. Some information, particularly about the breed’s lifespan and health, may vary among individual cats.

Size and Physical Characteristics:

The Minskin is immediately recognizable with its sparse hair and short legs. The front legs of this breed are often shorter than the back legs, giving the impression that the cat is hunched over. This is not, however, a deformity, and in fact rarely keeps the Minskin from playing with its average-sized cousins.

The Minskin is often said to resemble the eponymous character from E.T., with its rounded head, large eyes, and wrinkled face. Their big, broad ears often swivel to the front as they maintain an alert expression. The ears are said to have “bell cups” or “jugs,” meaning that they have a wide, curved base. The Minskin’s muzzle is short and broad with conspicuous whiskers, but should never be snubbed.

They are very sturdy cats, with a semi-cobby frame and a straight back that, in the case of longer back legs, may rise slightly. They have a wide chest and hard, lean muscles.

The Minskin often appears hairless, but it in fact has very short hair all over its body. This fur should grow thickly at the points on its body. This includes the cat’s mask, ears, legs, and tail. While the Minskin’s belly may feel hairless, it is actually covered in an extra-fine downy fur. The feeling of this thin fur all over the Minskin’s body is often likened to the feeling of stroking a cashmere sweater. This fur can come in any variety of colors, including calico, tabby, and solids, but colorpoint coloring often emphasizes their furpoints.

Personality and Temperament:

Minskins are outgoing little cats that retain a kittenlike personality their entire lives. They love to play with their humans, cat-friendly dogs, and other cats. They are good companions for children who know how to treat the cat well. As highly intelligent cats, this breed will quickly figure out how to keep up with their larger buddies, whether those are feline, canine, or human. Their intelligence also means that they can calculate just which pieces of furniture to jump onto, and in what order, so that they can bask in the sunbeam that only hits the top of your highest bookshelf.

Minskins will gladly zoom after a toy thrown across the living room, but they are just as eager to crawl into a lap. This is a very affectionate breed, but they may still have some trouble adjusting to a new environment. Despite their intelligence, Minskins may find it difficult to adapt.

Nutritional and Exercise Needs:

Although the Minskin’s wrinkled body may give the impression that it is skin and bones, a healthy Minskin should be well-muscled. They do not have any particular dietary needs, but it is necessary to feed these cats an appropriate amount for their age and size. This means that the cat should only be fed at mealtimes, with an occasional treat in between. The Minskin is not terribly prone to overeating, but exercise is necessary to keep this cat in peak physical shape. As a playful and active breed, it should not be difficult to engage a Minskin in a couple games of chase-the-laser, or to entice its bright mind with a puzzle toy.

Grooming and Upkeep:

Since the Minskin lacks the thick coat that most cats naturally have, they require regular baths to wash off the buildup of oil and dirt. An unbathed Minskin will feel greasy and will leave grease marks on furniture and carpeting. Baths should be given once a week with a gentle shampoo.  Other than these baths, the Minskin is relatively easy to care for. It does not shed much, and is more tolerable to owners with cat allergies than other breeds. Minskins should also have regular upkeep, such as cleaning the ears, brushing the teeth, and keeping the claws trimmed. If these activities are begun at an early age, then the Minskin can grow used to the practices and will not fight a bath or a tooth brushing.

Characteristics Unique to the Breed:

While the proper, by-the-standard Minskin has fur only on its points, many Minskin kittens have either no hair or a full coat.

Health and Wellness:

The Minskin is a generally healthy breed, but its hairlessness can lead to a few health problems. Without fur, the Minskin is exposed to the harmful UV rays in sunlight, which can cause sunburn and lead to cancer. Fur also provides a barrier against injuries like scrapes, cuts, and bruises, so  Minskins need to be better protected than other cats. Hairless skin, when left uncared for, can also develop yeast infections. In cold weather, Minskins will need to have a blanket available for them—or, if it is comfortable and the cat does not object to it, some form of cat sweater. For all these reasons, as well as the Minskin’s small size, it is best to keep the cat indoors at all times.

Although the Minskin’s tiny legs may seem like a deformity, they are actually the result of a mutation that causes dwarfism. Their health is not affected by this mutation, unlike dog breeds with similar builds (for example, Corgis and Dachshunds) that have back, hip, and joint problems. Some dwarf breeds may be born with paws that curve backward, but this is not a deformity. Rather, it is normal, and the feet will straighten out soon.

Sources:

http://www.teacupcatsandkittens.com/minskin-cats/

http://catbreedsinformation.com/minskin-cat/

http://www.icatcare.org:8080/advice/cat-breeds/minskin

http://www.petguide.com/breeds/cat/minskin/

http://tica.org/images/pdf/standards/ms.pdf

http://tica.org/meet-the-breeds/item/339-minskin-introduction