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Minuet at a Glance

An endearing baby-doll face set upon a low-slung body ensures that the Minuet will quickly capture your heart. Originating from the ‘doll faced’ Persian and the short legged Munchkin, the Minuet shares the gentleness of a Persian and the energy and curiosity of the Munchkin. They are medium-sized, but don’t let their short legs fool you, they can navigate the curves of their self-defined race-track through the house at breakneck speed. They make great family pets and require regular brushing. Find out more about this breed and if a Minuet is right for you and your family.

• Temperament:Laid-back, playful, curious.

• Size: Medium-sized with short legs. Adults weighing on average 7-to-8 pounds.

• Colors: The Minuet comes in every color and pattern of cat and can be found in both the long or short hair varieties.

• Life Expectancy: 15 + years depending on many factors including environment and nutrition.

About the Minuet

Derived from the combination of its two parent breeds, Persian and Munchkin, the Minuet has the Munchkin to thank for its short legs but claims the majority of its traits from the Persian Group (Persians, Exotic and Himalayan). In addition to its small size, this breed is recognized by its roundness, from its face and its large, round eyes, to its body and strong muscles.

Known for their charm, the Minuet is an extremely affectionate and people-oriented cat. Their big eyes and sweet faces give them a look of complete innocence, while their inquisitiveness can land them in all kinds of trouble!

Minuets make very good companions for families and older people. Aside from chasing a ball or swatting at a wand, their next favorite activity most certainly is lap warming.

Activity Level

The Minuet is very Persian-like in its level of activity, but not a total couch potato. If you feel more activity is a good idea, make it a playful time and you will find the Minuet to be very cooperative. Many also love to chase a ball down the entire length of a long hallway.

Care

Grooming: 
The coat of the Minuet, both in its long- and short-hair varieties, is a plush coat consisting of an undercoat as well. The coat should not be as thick or heavy as what you would see on a Persian, but again, this will vary among individual cats.

The TICA Minuet Breed Committee recommends a steel comb (with close and more distant teeth) as the best grooming since it easily reaches down to the skin. Daily, or even every other day, combing will keep the coat from tangling or matting, and will provide an enjoyable experience for you and your Minuet. Make sure and get to the hard to reach areas such as behind the ears, tummy, and between the front and rear legs.

Bathing, depending on environment, may be optional. With a heavier coated long-haired Minuet, you may want to get your kitten used to bathing and blow-drying early on. Done slowly and gently, many do seem to totally enjoy the whole process.

As with all cats, regularly trim their nails and brush their teeth with a vet-approved pet toothpaste for good overall health and fresh breath. Schedule regular veterinary check ups and dental cleanings.

Nutrition:
Cats, as with people, may vary in how they metabolize their caloric intake. Being at the lower end of the activity scale, Minuets should be watched to make sure there is a minimum of excess body fat.  The Minuet should feel firm and solid, not excessively flabby.  Many do well on self-feed dry.  With the food constantly there, the tendency to gorge or eat too much at once is eliminated.  The cat will ingest small amounts throughout the day. It really is a matter of observing and getting to know your own cat's requirements and habits. Choose your foods (wet and dry) wisely.  Treats should be just that, occasional goodies, not taking up a significant part of the total diet. 

As with all cats, it is important to give your cat fresh, clean water daily so cats don’t hesitate to drink. If you worry about your cat drinking enough water each day, here's a tip from some cat behaviorists: place the water bowl at least three feet away from any food. Cats’ noses are sensitive, and an overwhelming smell of food may cause them to drink less. Filtered drinking fountains can also be used in place of a water bowl.   

Health
The Minuet is considered an overall healthy breed. With their heavy Persian background, all Minuets should come with a certificate stating that their parents have been checked and cleared for PKD.  Also, when shopping for your kitten, make sure the parents do not have teary eyes or excessively narrowed nasal passages.

History

The Minuet "journey" began on June 12, 1995 with an article in the Wall Street Journal about the Munchkin.

Breed founder Joe Smith saw this article and was immediately enamored with this short-legged cat. Having been a Basset Hound breeder for many years, he was delighted that the short-legged (dwarf) gene had finally appeared in the cat world. Read the history of the Minuet and the road the breed took to be accepted as a TICA championship breed in 2016.

Did You Know?

• Known for being distinctively short, the breed earned its name from emperor Napoleon ‘Minuet’ Bonaparte. The Minuet was originally known as the Napoleon Cat, but in 2015 was renamed the Minuet by TICA.
• To achieve the classic Minuet doll-faced look, breed founder Joe Smith used a doll-faced Persian, known for their sweet expression and longer nose than the current Persian.
• Despite her short legs, Minuets are fast-moving cats that like to “zoom” around the house.

Similiar Breeds

Persian, British Longhair/Shorthair, Exotic Shorthair.

Opposite Breeds

Oriental Longhair/Shorthair, Sphynx, Devon Rex.

From the Breed Standard

The Minuet is a hybrid of the Persian Breed Group and the Munchkin Breed Group. The desired result is a cat that should be medium in size and strong, with noticeable boning and musculature. This cat should have a very open and round face with a sweet expression and large eyes that do not tear. The ideal Minuet is an active yet laid-back cat with a playful attitude.

Read the full TICA Minuet Breed Standard.

Additional information and an introduction to the breed can be found in the links below:

Accepted For Championship in TICA in 2016

• Minuet Breed At a Glance
• Breed Introduction
• Minuet Breeders
• Breed Standards 
• Breed Committee

Photos used courtesy of © Helmi Flick Cat Photography.