The Minskin cat breed is a very unusual animal, to be sure. However, at the same time, they are distinguished by kindness, affection, they are able to make friends with almost any animal, they perfectly perceive children. In the face of this cat, you will find a true friend for the whole family, very sweet and touching.
Origin
Minskin is a rare and unique cat breed. Actually, it was created in order to stand out against the general background, having extremely unusual external features. Firstly, these are hairless cats, and secondly, they have very short legs. Because of these characteristic features, they are sometimes referred to as "hairless dachshund cat".
A breeder from Boston, USA, Paul McSorley, initially wanted to develop a breed that could surprise at first sight, and he undoubtedly succeeded in this. To achieve such results, Paul crossed the Sphynx and the Munchkin - the former, as you know, carry the gene for hairlessness, and the latter - the gene for short legs. As a result, such a non-standard breed turned out, and they called it Minskin.
The breeding program also used the Devon Rex and Burmese breeds. In fact, work on the Minskin breed is ongoing to this day. The first kitten appeared in 2000 and was named Rory. These are really rare cats - in 2012 there were about a hundred of these pets all over the world. Accordingly, you can imagine how much one such baby costs.
To date, the breed is recognized by the felinological federation TICA as experimental. Now TICA even has a special program that monitors the breeding and development of Minskin cats. Since 2008, this cat breed has been allowed to participate in exhibitions.
Character
The appearance of these animals is very unusual, it's true, but inside they are all the same affectionate and kind cats. They are very focused on the people they live with and try to spend as much time as possible with their owners. You can not leave alone for a long time, or, even more so, leave somewhere for a long time, leaving the pet in someone's care. For him, it may be too painful, and therefore, it is better to take your pet with you.
The Minskin cat breed loves to play a variety of games and willingly spends time with children. Of course, the child must be taught the correct handling of the cat, since the unusual structure of the body implies a number of restrictions. In particular, these cats should never be thrown to the floor, as they have short legs, and the correct landing mechanism only partially works, which may cause injury.
On the other hand, Minskin happily spends time in a cat house with various ladders and passages. Make sure that he also has ladders for some pieces of furniture, but tall cabinets are best avoided because of the danger of falling. The Minskin cat can make friends with almost any pet, as long as it does not encounter aggression.
Health
Since the breed is very new and also small in number, it is currently not possible to fully identify all genetic diseases. However, lordosis (curvature of posture - a strong bend in the lower back) and deformity of the chest were noted. In addition, do not forget about the susceptibility of hairless cats to skin irritations. Otherwise, they can even be called healthy cats.
Care
Since the cat does not have hair, it is not necessary to comb it. However, in the area of the folds, it is necessary to periodically wipe the pet with a damp cloth during the day, removing sweat and fatty deposits. Also, do not forget to brush your teeth every day, trim your nails about once every 10 days and keep your ears and eyes clean. When bathing, you will need to choose a shampoo with a suitable PH, as the skin of these cats is quite sensitive.
