Minuet (Napoleon)

It was started by Joe Smith in the United States in 1996, crossing Persians with Munchkins; Himalayans and Exotics have also been used since. At first it was called the Napoleon, after the emperor's reputation for being short, although he was in fact of normal height for his time, and in January 2015 TICA renamed it the Minuet. It entered TICA as experimental in 2001, moved to preliminary in 2011 and achieved championship status in 2016. The CFA, FIFe, the GCCF and the WCF do not recognise it, and the REFR still registers it as the Napoleon. The aim is a cat with a sweet, rounded face, the Persian's coat and the Munchkin's short legs. It needs saying plainly: it combines two traits with known health problems, dwarfism and, in the flatter-faced lines, brachycephaly. In character it is calm, affectionate and playful.

The longhair needs daily or near-daily brushing, like a Persian, to prevent knots; the shorthair, once or twice a week. Clean the tear ducts daily if it has a flat face. Ramps or steps up to the sofa or bed, a low-sided litter tray and no jumping down from great heights. Weight is key: an overweight Minuet suffers in its spine and joints.

From the Munchkin it inherits the achondroplasia that shortens the legs, with a higher risk of arthritis, lordosis and pectus excavatum. From the Persian, in the flat-faced lines, breathing problems (brachycephalic syndrome), watery eyes, eye and dental problems; and polycystic kidney disease (PKD), with a DNA test. Ask for the parents' test results and choose lines with a moderate face. In Australia, Victoria bans breeding animals with certain long-bone abnormalities and the Australian Capital Territory bans breeding malformed animals, Munchkins included.