Napoleon Cat Breeders | Characteristics and Personality
Personality and Temperament
The Minuet cat, formerly known as the Napoleon cat breeders, is a dwarf cat breed created by crossing Munchkin cats with Persian cats, Himalayan cats, and Exotic Shorthairs. The Minuet’s short legs come from the Munchkin. The Persian breed group contributed the Minuet’s abundant coat and rounded head, eyes, and ears.
When the breed was first being developed, it was called the Napoleon cat, named for Napoleon Bonaparte, the short-statured French general with a notoriously big personality. However, the The International Cat Association (TICA) voted to change the breed name to Minuet in 2015, just before the breed achieved full championship status.
Minuet cats inherited a mix of wonderful traits from the parent breeds the were used in the breed’s development. They are gentle and sweet like the Persian, but can also active and curious like the Munchkin. Minuets are very friendly, loving, and become very bonded with their people. They enjoy cuddles and get along well with people and other pets.
The Minuet comes in short-haired and long-haired versions; both have an abundant and dense coat, which may be any color or pattern. The breed has a semi-cobby, well-rounded body and very short legs. Though the body is medium sized, adult Minuets weigh just 7 to 8 pounds.
Some Minuet kittens have the gene for short legs and others do not. Minuets with long legs are referred to as “nonstandard.” These Minuets have all the same wonderful attributes as standard Minuets, but they have long legs like a regular cat. Nonstandard Minuets cannot compete in cat shows—these kittens are sold to pet homes. For this reason, a nonstandard Minuet kitten might cost a bit less than a standard Minuet kitten.
Although Minuets can’t climb up quite as high as cats with long legs, they can get around easily. They can run surprisingly fast, especially when they get a case of the zoomies, and their low-to-the-ground body is agile, taking turns with ease. If your Minuet has trouble jumping or climbing onto the couch or your bed, you can provide pet stairs or a pet ramp to make it easier for them.
History
Short-legged cat breeds are a relatively recent development in the pedigreed cat world. The Munchkin, the first dwarf cat breed, originated in the 1980s from a cat born with a spontaneous genetic mutation for short legs. The Munchkin was recognized by TICA in 2003. The Minuet, which was called the Napoleon cat early on in its development until 2015, achieved TICA championship status in 2016.
The Minuet was created in the United States. The Minuet breed founder was a man named Joe Smith who was originally a Basset Hound breeder. Smith read an article about a new breed of cat called the Munchkin and he was intrigued, but he dreamed of a short-legged cat with a more distinctive look.
In the 1990s, Smith worked with a Persian cat breeder named Deb Kenny, and together they helped to create a new breed bringing attributes from the Munchkin cat and the Persian cat. Doll-faced Persians were used in the Minuet’s development, and today’s Minuet retains the doll-face look. The breed was originally called the Napoleon, but in 2015, TICA voted to officially change the breed name to Minuet. The breed achieved full championship status with TICA in 2016.
Care
Minuet cats have no specific nutrition requirements, but like all cats they should eat an age-appropriate complete-and-balanced diet. Cats are obligate carnivores, which means the majority of their nutrition should come from meat.
If your cat is prone to overeating, feed measures meals twice a day to prevent excess weight gain. Always ensure your Minuet has access to clean, fresh water. If you’re worried your cat is not drinking enough, consider using a pet fountain, which can encourage cats to drink more.
