Minskin

{{Use mdy dates|cs1-dates=l|date=January 2024}} {{Infobox Catbreed   |recognized |cfastd= |otherstd= |fifestd= |gccfstd= |acfstd= |ccastd= |ticastd=https://tica.org/phocadownload/ms.pdf |acfastd= |aacestd= |country=United States |nickname=Teddy Rex |altname=Teddy Rex |imagecaption=Female Minskin kitten |image=Minskin Kitten Female blue tabby color-pattern.jpg |name=Minskin |stock=Munchkin, Burmese, Sphynx, and Devon Rex |note=}} 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. {{Citation needed|date=June 2024}}

==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.<ref name="TICA">{{cite web |title=Minskin |date=2024 |url= https://www.tica.org/minskin-breeders?view=article&id=894:minskin-breed&catid=79 |website=TICA.org |publisher=The International Cat Association |access-date=January 27, 2024}}</ref>

==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.<ref name="TICASTD">{{cite web |title=Minskin Standard |url=https://tica.org/resources/our-publications/breed-standards/file/264-minskin-preliminary-new-breed |website=The International Cat Association |access-date=January 20, 2024}}</ref>

===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.<ref>{{cite book | last=Scott | first=Harry | title=Feline Orthopaedics | publisher=CRC Press | publication-place=Boca Raton | date=2021 | isbn=978-0-429-09153-7 | page=296}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |title=Minskin |url=https://icatcare.org/advice/minskin/ |website=International Cat Care |access-date=January 20, 2024}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.basepaws.com/blog/feline-dwarfism/ |title=Feline Dwarfism |date=March 6, 2019 |website=Basepaws |language=en-US |access-date=September 14, 2019}}</ref> The shortened legs make the Minskin more susceptible to feline osteoarthritis.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Genetic Welfare Problems of Companion Animals, Munchkin - Limb Deformity |url=https://www.ufaw.org.uk/cats/munchkin-limb-deformity |access-date=July 15, 2020 |website=Universities Federation for Animal Welfare (UFAW) |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Ettinger |first1=Stephen J. |title=Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine |last2=Feldman |first2=Edward C. |last3=Bennett |first3=D. |last4=May |first4=C. |publisher=Saunders |year=1995 |isbn=978-0721667959 |edition=4 |location=Philadelphia |pages=2053 |chapter=Joint diseases of Dogs and Cats}}</ref>

Munchkins have a higher incidence of lordosis and pectus excavatum.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Hubler |first1=M. |last2=Langley-Hobbs |first2=S.J. |date=2009 |chapter=Hereditary and congenital musculoskeletal diseases |title=Feline Orthopedic Surgery and Musculoskeletal Disease |doi=10.1016/B978-0-7020-2986-8.00010-0 |editor1-first=P. M. |editor1-last=Montavon |editor2-first=K. |editor2-last=Voss |editor3-first=S.J. |editor3-last=Langley-Hobbs |pages=41–53 |isbn=978-0-7020-2986-8 |publisher=Saunders Ltd. |quote=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.}}</ref>

== References == {{Reflist}}

==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20100613031844/http://tica.org/public/breeds/ms/intro.php Minskin Breed Introduction] The International Cat Association.

Category:Cat breeds Category:Cat breeds originating in the United States Category:Cat breeds and types with short legs Category:Hairless cat breeds