Minskin cats are small felines with short legs and little or no hair that emerged in the United States two decades ago as a result of the cross between munchkin and sphynx cats. Today they are a fairly unknown breed, since there are few specimens. They are happy, affectionate, playful, sociable and loyal felines that love the company of people of any age, as long as they offer them activity and attention. But they are also somewhat delicate and need special attention and care to maintain good he alth and quality of life.
Continue reading this article on our site about the characteristics of the minskin cat to learn more about its origin, its care, its he alth and where you can adopt a copy.
Origin of the minskin cat
The minskin cat breed is quite recent, since, as we have advanced, it is only two decades old. Boston breeder Paul McSorley decided to create a short-legged hairless cat around 1998. He bred a sphynx, which lacks hair, with a munchkin, with short legs. Breeds such as the Burmese and the Devon Rex were also involved in this creation process.
The first cat of this breed, called Rory, was born in 2000. Little by little, more minskin cats were born, reaching 50 copies in 2005. Today it is still considered a very rare cat to find and the TICA has it in its development program for new breeds. It is recognized as experimental breed by the International Cat Association.
Features of the minskin cat
Minskin cats are very striking felines They have a stocky build, short legs, some hair on their faces and on their extremities, but nothing in other locations, especially on the belly, which is always hairless. They are small size, with an adult weight of 2 to 4 kg. The main physical characteristics of minskin cats are as follows:
- Wide round head.
- Large, triangular ears always upright.
- Large round eyes in a color that matches the skin.
- Strong Chin.
- Missing or few mustaches.
- Embossed cheeks.
- Short snout.
- Flexible and well-developed neck.
- Broad and strong chest.
- Hind legs of short length and practically the same or slightly longer than the front ones.
- Round feet.
- Tail of medium length with a blunt tip.
Cat colors minskin
The skin of minskin cats, as well as the hair that specimens of this breed may have, is found in different colors and patterns, since all are possible and all are equally accepted.
minskin cat character
The minskin cat is a very affectionate small feline and loyal to his handlers. In addition, it gets along well with children because it loves to play and the attention they give it, but it is also always necessary to educate and teach the little ones in the house how to treat a cat.
They are also felines very intelligent, happy and energetic. They love to jump, climb and stay active for a long time. Their short legs do not prevent these cats from having great agility or enjoying heights like any long-legged cat. Also, they are very strong.
On the other hand, they can be with practically all kinds of people, as long as they offer attention, care, activity and love to daily. They also tolerate different species of animals well and adapt to different spaces.
minskin cat care
The lack of hair of these cats makes them require some special care Thus, they should always be kept at a good temperature in winter, while that in summer you have to protect your skin from the sun to avoid damage from direct solar radiation.
It is recommended to bathe them with a special shampoo and clean the secretion from their skin frequently. In the same way, you also have to clean their ears, which, being hairless and large, tend to accumulate a lot of earwax and are predisposed to infections. Another point of attention is your teeth to maintain good hygiene that prevents infections and other uncomfortable disorders. In addition, by carrying out these actions we can detect he alth problems that affect the ear canal or the oral cavity early.
Your food must be of quality. If you give him dry food, it is recommended to combine it with wet food and distribute both in several feedings a day. On the other hand, preventive medicine is key to maintaining your he alth. Therefore, vaccination and deworming are recommended. In addition, the minskin cat must go to regular veterinary check-ups in order to check its condition and act early if it is detected that something is starting to go wrong.
Cat he alth minskin
This breed is credited with a life expectancy of 9 to 13 yearsIt is still too common to associate it with its own pathologies, but those of its parents can be extrapolated, especially those of the munchkin breed, which stand out for two important genetic diseases derived from the short length of their legs:
- Lordosis: Exaggerated curvature of the spine in the lower back that arches the back and lifts the back of the Body. This can cause pain, tension and muscle stiffness in the lower back area, which will worsen the quality of life of our minskin cat.
- Pectus excavatum: congenital malformation of the sternum that produces its concave deformity, causing the chest to sink, which can lead to a poor function of the heart or lungs, compromising breathing and the correct circulation of blood through the feline's body. These specimens have limited survival.
With respect to sphynx parents, they are more susceptible to dermatological problems such as allergies, parasites, trauma and fungi.
Where to adopt a minskin cat?
These cats are extremely difficult to adopt due to the scarcity of cats around the world. One option may be to adopt a cat from its original breeds, that is, sphynx or munchkin. In any case, any cat, regardless of its breed and condition, is worth it, so approaching a shelter or a local protector is the best idea to adopt a cat and make it happy.
