Minuet / Napolean

Appearance and features:

The Napoleon inherited its distinctively short legs from the Munchkin, which, in that breed, were caused by a naturally occurring genetic mutation. The short legs do not hinder the cat’s agility. They are able to run, jump, and play easily. From the Persian group (including Persians, Exotic Shorthairs and Himalayans) the Napoleon has inherited its round face, eyes, dense coat and substantial boning. The boning provides a good support system for its uniquely short legs. The Napoleon is not merely a short-legged Persian nor a hairy Munchkin. It is a unique combination of these two groups, making it easily distinguishable from any other breed of cat.

Size:

This is a small-medium size cat weighing 5 to 9 pounds.

Family:

Minuet/Napoleons are a deliberate cross between   the Munchkin and the Persian.

Coloring:

Minuet/Napoleons are found in a similarly broad range of colors and patterns as their relatives, the Munchkins, and Persians, in which they were created. 

Origin:

The breed was created by Joseph B. Smith, a Basset Hound breeder and American Kennel Club (AKC) judge. He was inspired by the Wall Street Journal’s front page feature of the Munchkin on June 12, 1995. He was a fan of the Munchkin, but felt that the unavoidable long-legged versions were indistinguishable from similar mixed breeds commonly seen in animal shelters. Smith decided that something had to be done to create a cat unique in both short- and long-legged versions, something that looked purebred. He chose the Persian breed group as an outcross to the Munchkin for two reasons: beauty and boning. The original Napoleon standard was written with this in mind.

Temperament:

The Minuet is a very enthusiastic, affectionate, and people-oriented cat. They have a good temperament and lots of playful energy.

Health:

The Napoleon has very few health issues, however, because of the incorporation of the Persian bloodline, they can suffer from polycystic kidney disease (PKD).  Napoleons cats should be bred away intentionally from other common Persian cat problem, such as epiphora (excessive formation of tears), stenosis (narrowing and blockage) of nasolacrimal ducts, flattened facial features, and coats prone to matting.

Breed Characteristics

Here is a helpful guide for the different characteristics of the breed.  On a Scale of 1-5.  1 being very low level to 5 being high level.

Adaptability
5/5
Energy Level
5/5
Extra Grooming
1/5
Affection Level
5/5
Social Needs
5/5
Shedding
2/5
Kid Friendly
3/5
Friendly to Strangers
5/5
Health Concerns
2/5
Dog Friendly
4/5
Intellegence
5/5
Vocalization
3/5

Hypoallergenic: No

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