Breed History:

The Minuet, formerly known as the Napoleon, is a modern cat breed developed in the United States during the 1990s. The breed was created by crossing Munchkin cats with Persian-type cats, including Persians, Himalayans, and Exotic Shorthairs.

The breed was developed by American breeder Joe Smith, who wanted to combine the Munchkin's naturally short legs with the Persian family's rounded head, expressive eyes, and plush coat. The result was a small, low-slung cat with a distinctive rounded appearance.

The breed was originally called the Napoleon, but the name was changed to Minuet in 2015. The International Cat Association (TICA) granted the breed championship status in 2016.

Minuets can have either short or long coats and may have either a traditional or more extreme Persian-style facial structure.

Today, the Minuet is valued as an affectionate, gentle, playful, and adaptable companion known for its short legs, rounded face, expressive eyes, and plush coat.

Gender	Height	Weight
Male	15 to 20 cm	2.5 to 4 kg
Female	13 to 18 cm	2 to 3.5 kg

Size: Small

Life Expectancy: 12 to 15 years

Breed Appearance:

The Minuet is a small, compact, and rounded cat with short legs and a distinctive Persian-like appearance.

The breed commonly features:

• Rounded head

• Short to medium muzzle

• Full cheeks

• Large, expressive eyes

• Small to medium ears

• Short, thick neck

• Compact body

• Short legs

• Rounded paws

• Medium-length tail

The breed's most distinctive features are its short legs and rounded facial structure.

The Minuet can have either a short or long coat.

The coat may be:

• Soft

• Dense

• Plush

• Silky

• Semi-long to long

Common coat colours and patterns include:

• White

• Black

• Blue

• Red

• Cream

• Chocolate

• Lilac

• Silver

• Golden

• Tabby

• Tortoiseshell

• Calico

• Smoke

• Shaded

• Bi-colour

• Colourpoint

Eye colours can include:

• Green

• Gold

• Copper

• Blue

• Hazel

The combination of its short legs, rounded head, large eyes, and plush coat gives the Minuet a distinctive teddy-bear-like appearance.

Breed Type – Companion / Family Cat:

The Minuet is an affectionate, gentle, playful, and social companion breed.

It is known for being:

• Affectionate

• Gentle

• Playful

• Intelligent

• Social

• Curious

• Calm

• People-oriented

The breed generally forms strong bonds with its family and enjoys spending time with people.

Minuets are usually good with children and other pets when properly socialised. They can be playful and energetic but generally have a relatively calm temperament.

Training:

The Minuet is intelligent and responds well to positive reinforcement.

Training should focus on:

• Early socialisation

• Positive reinforcement

• Basic handling

• Harness training

• Recall training

• Interactive games

• Mental enrichment

The breed can learn:

• Basic commands

• Tricks

• Fetch

• Harness walking

• Puzzle toys

• Interactive games

Short, reward-based training sessions are ideal for keeping the Minuet engaged.

Health & Care:

The Minuet can be predisposed to health concerns associated with its Munchkin and Persian ancestry.

Potential health concerns include:

• Lordosis

• Pectus excavatum

• Osteoarthritis

• Joint problems

• Mobility problems

• Polycystic kidney disease

• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

• Brachycephalic airway problems

• Dental disease

• Tear staining

• Obesity

The short-leg trait results from a form of dwarfism, while Persian ancestry can increase the risk of respiratory, eye, dental, and kidney problems, particularly in cats with very flat facial structures.

Responsible breeding and appropriate health screening are important.

Routine veterinary examinations, regular dental care, eye and facial care where necessary, a balanced diet, appropriate exercise, and maintaining a healthy body weight help support long-term health.

Living Conditions:

The Minuet is well suited to indoor living.

Ideal environments include:

• Apartments

• Houses

• Urban or suburban homes

• Families with children

• Homes with other cats

• Homes with cat-friendly dogs

Because of its short legs, low climbing structures and easily accessible resting areas are preferable to very high furniture.

Scratching posts, tunnels, low cat trees, window perches, and interactive toys provide useful enrichment.

Cats with flatter faces should also have access to a cool, comfortable environment, particularly in warm climates.

Exercise:

The Minuet has low to moderate exercise requirements.

Recommended activities include:

• Interactive play

• Wand toys

• Chasing games

• Puzzle feeders

• Tunnels

• Low climbing structures

• Fetch

• Short training sessions

Around 20 to 30 minutes of active play per day is generally sufficient for many Minuets.

Regular activity is important because the breed can gain weight easily.

Play should encourage movement without requiring excessive jumping or climbing from significant heights.

Grooming:

Grooming requirements depend on the coat type.

• Brushing two to three times per week for short-haired cats

• Daily brushing for long-haired individuals

• More frequent brushing during seasonal shedding

• Regular facial and eye cleaning when necessary

• Occasional bathing

• Regular nail trimming

• Routine ear cleaning

• Regular dental care

Long-haired Minuets require more frequent grooming to prevent mats and tangles.

Cats with flatter faces may also require regular cleaning around the eyes and facial folds.

Advantages:

• Affectionate and gentle temperament

• Playful and social

• Distinctive short-legged appearance

• Rounded, teddy-bear-like facial features

• Good with children and other pets

• Well suited to apartment living

• Generally moderate exercise needs

• Enjoys human companionship

• Available in many coat colours and patterns

Disadvantages:

• Short legs can be associated with skeletal and joint problems

• May develop mobility issues

• Persian ancestry can contribute to respiratory and eye problems

• Requires responsible breeding

• Long-haired individuals require regular grooming

• Flat-faced individuals may experience breathing difficulties

• Can be prone to dental disease

• Can gain weight easily

• Relatively rare breed