Breed of cat
| Minskin | |
|---|---|
 Female Minskin kitten | |
| Other names | Teddy Rex |
| Common nicknames | Teddy Rex |
| Origin | United States |
| Foundation bloodstock | Munchkin, Burmese, Sphynx, and Devon Rex |
| Breed standards | |
| TICA | standard |
| Domestic cat (Felis catus) | |
The Minskin is a breed of cat derived from intentional cross-breeding between the Munchkin and Burmese cat breeds, with the addition of Sphynx and Devon Rex. It is a mostly-hairless breed of cat
History
Origin
In 1998, Paul McSorley began developing the breed in Boston. Paul wanted a breed with the short legs of the Munchkin but a similar appearance to the colour point pattern of the Siamese; however he only wanted fur on the extremities of the cat. To achieve his desired breed he bred the Munchkin with the Sphynx to try and restrict hair to the points. He later added in Devon Rex and Burmese stock into the breed. The first cat that met the desired standard was born in July 2000. By early 2005, roughly 50 cats met the criteria.
Appearance
The Minskin is notable for its short stature caused by achondroplasia and the hairlessness or near hairlessness. The head of the Minskin is rounded and wide. The ears have slightly rounded tips. The eyes are large and round, set wide apart. The body is semi-cobby giving it a fubsy appearance.
Coat
The coat of the Minskin is short and the fur-points cover the mask, ears, legs, tail, and scrotum. Fur-points are where the fur is more densely coated compared to other areas where it is sparser such as the torso or temple. The cat may or not may not possess whiskers (vibrissae).
Health
The Minskin's short statute is a form of chondrodysplasia. Due to having the hairlessness of the Sphynx and the dwarfism of the Munchkin, the Minskin is susceptible to several health issues of those breeds. The genetic disorder responsible for the breed's shortened stature can result in an undersized jaw, thick-looking joints, curved spine, and a bow-legged or knock-kneed posture. The shortened legs make the Minskin more susceptible to feline osteoarthritis.
Munchkins have a higher incidence of lordosis and pectus excavatum.
See also
References
- "Minskin". TICA.org. The International Cat Association. 2024. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
- "Minskin Standard". The International Cat Association. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
- Scott, Harry (2021). Feline Orthopaedics. Boca Raton: CRC Press. p. 296. ISBN 978-0-429-09153-7.
- "Minskin". International Cat Care. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
- "Feline Dwarfism". Basepaws. March 6, 2019. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
- "Genetic Welfare Problems of Companion Animals, Munchkin - Limb Deformity". Universities Federation for Animal Welfare (UFAW). Retrieved July 15, 2020.
- Ettinger, Stephen J.; Feldman, Edward C.; Bennett, D.; May, C. (1995). "Joint diseases of Dogs and Cats". Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine (4 ed.). Philadelphia: Saunders. p. 2053. ISBN 978-0721667959.
- Hubler, M.; Langley-Hobbs, S.J. (2009). "Hereditary and congenital musculoskeletal diseases". In Montavon, P. M.; Voss, K.; Langley-Hobbs, S.J. (eds.). Feline Orthopedic Surgery and Musculoskeletal Disease. Saunders Ltd. pp. 41–53. doi:10.1016/B978-0-7020-2986-8.00010-0. ISBN 978-0-7020-2986-8.
There may be a familial tendency to thoracic wall deformities (pectus excavatum, unilateral thoracic wall concavity) in Bengal kittens, and chondrodystrophic Munchkin cats may also have an increased incidence of pectus excavatum and spinal lordosis.
External links
- Minskin Breed Introduction The International Cat Association.
