Minuet Cat Breed Description

Active: Minuet cats have a moderate - high activity level. They love playing and being with people and their curiosity can sometimes get them into trouble. They are also highly affectionate by nature and will happily curl up in a lap to relax and cuddle.

Size: Minuet cats, though they have short legs, are a medium-bodied, strong cat. They typically weigh between 5 - 9 pounds.

Characteristics: When you see the sweet face of the Minuet you will be immediately fall in love with the breed. Their round head has large, round eyes that will instantly melt your heart. They have a long nose, a trait they inherited from their Persian ancestors. They have small-medium ears that are quite distinctive. They have round cheeks and a round muzzle and, when combined with their other features, gives them an open and endearing little face. The body of the Minuet cat is compact and sturdy, with a low-slung appearance. It has a round, cobby appearance so if you have not yet noticed the trend - almost all of the features of the Minuet tend to be somewhat round. Their short legs are courtesy of their Munchkin ancestors and are a signature trait of the breed though they can also have regular length legs. The Minuet's coat can be short or long and comes in a wide array of colors and patterns. It is very soft and does not easily mat.

Temperament: If you haven't yet fallen in love with the sweet face and adorable stature of the Minuet cat, the minute you experience their personality you will. They are sweet, affectionate, energetic and very good-natured. Because they are generally people-oriented, they tend to follow their humans around to see what they are doing. They are also a very curious cat breed so don't be surprised if you find them climbing, jumping or getting into mischief to satisfy their curiosity. They get along with just about anyone but do not enjoy rough play so young children should be supervised when playing with Minuets. Their energetic spirit loves to play games or with toys and puzzles and don't be fooled by their short legs, they love to race around with a speed that is sure to amaze you.

Care: Because their coat does not easily mat they are a relatively easy cat for which to care. The amount of necessary grooming will depend on the Minuet's coat length. For longer coats, they will need brushing or combing twice per week. For shorter length coats, the amount of care they need will be reduced significantly because this breed takes good care of itself. As with any other cat, they will need routine ear cleaning and nail trimming to look and feel their best.

Coat: The coat of the Minuet cat can be short or long and can be any color or pattern.

Origin: The Minuet cat breed is a hybrid cat breed that is relatively new. The breed is a cross between the Munchkin cat breed and the Persian cat breed. The Minuet cat breed also goes by another name - Napoleon cat breed. The story of the Minuet cat begins with breeder Joe Smith of the Blueline Cattery in 1998. Smith was a Basset hound breeder and became intrigued by the Munchkin cat breed's short stature and set out to create a new breed of cats that was loveable and intriguing, regardless of leg length.

In the program, Smith focused on Persian cats with doll-like faces and bred them with Munchkin cats which resulted in the first litter of Minuet cats. These small-in-stature cats are named after the also small-in-stature Minuet Bonaparte. In 2001, having established a new breed, Smith contacted TICA (The International Cat Association) and TICA granted the breed experimental breed status. In 2002, TICA granted the Minuet cat breed Registration Only status and over the next few years, Smith moved on to other ventures while other Minuet breeders persisted on in further advancing the Minuet breed. Sam Tate and Margie Gardner were breeders that helped advance Minuets but one of the biggest influences in the Minuet breed's status and recognition is Teri Harris. In 2011, thanks to Harris, TICA granted Minuets Preliminary New Breed status which meant that they could begin to compete. The Cat Fanciers Association (CFA) recognizes the breed but they recognize it under the name "Napoleon" and the breed is not currently recognized by other associations.