Minskin

It was created by Paul McSorley in Boston, in the United States, from 1998. He began by crossing Munchkins with Sphynx to limit the hair to the extremities, and later added Burmese and Devon Rex. The first kitten that met the standard was born in July 2000, and by early 2005 there were about fifty. TICA, which publishes its standard, has listed it as a preliminary new breed since 2018; the other large registries do not recognise it. It is a small, short-legged cat with a broad, round head and large, wide-set eyes, an almost bare body and short hair only on the face, ears, legs and tail. Like the Bambino, it combines the Munchkin's dwarfism with hairlessness, and that has health consequences you need to know about before choosing one. In character it is affectionate, playful and sociable.

It needs warmth: a warm home, soft beds and clothing when it is cold. Clean its skin with wipes or the odd bath when oil builds up, keep its ears clean and protect it from the sun. Because of its short legs, ramps or steps to reach high places and a low-sided litter tray. Watch its weight carefully: every extra kilo loads its spine and joints.

Its short legs are due to chondrodysplasia, which can cause a small jaw, thickened joints, a curved spine and bowed legs, and increases the risk of arthritis. It also inherits the risks of the Munchkin (lordosis, pectus excavatum) and the Sphynx (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, skin problems). Ask the breeder for the parents' echocardiograms and spinal checks. Many vets advise against breeding dwarf cats.