Felis catus
Minuet Longhair
Featured photominuet-longhair.jpgThe Minuet Longhair is the long-coated form of the Minuet (formerly Napoleon), a TICA-recognized breed combining Persian conformation with the Munchkin's shortened-leg trait. The breed was developed in the United States by Joe Smith in 1996. The long-coated form retains the same rounded Persian-type head, compact body, and short legs as the shorthaired Minuet but displays a full, silky Persian-type coat. TICA recognized the Minuet under its current name in 2015.
Quick facts
- Origin country
- United States
- Origin period
- Breed developed 1996; TICA recognition as Minuet 2015
- Coat type
- Long
- Coat colors
- All Persian colors and patterns accepted, Solid, Tabby, Bicolor, Smoke, Shaded, Colorpoint (Himalayan-type pointing)
- Size category
- Small
- Average lifespan
- 9-15 years
- Recognition
- TICA 2015
Origin
The Minuet was developed in 1996 by breeder Joe Smith in the United States through deliberate crosses of Persian cats with Munchkin cats. The Munchkin carries a dominant mutation causing shortened leg bones (disproportionate achondroplasia/hypochondroplasia); the Persian contributes the rounded head, flat profile, plush coat, and gentle disposition. The resulting kittens combined the Persian's round, sweet face with short legs. Smith initially called the breed Napoleon; TICA registered it under that name in its new breed program. The breed was renamed Minuet in 2015 by vote of the breed council.
Shorthair vs Longhair
The Minuet breed is recognized in both shorthaired and longhaired forms within a single breed standard. The longhaired form inherits the Persian-length coat and is the more commonly seen variety in shows and breeding programs because of its striking visual impact. The shorthaired form has a plush but shorter coat from the Munchkin contribution. Both forms have the same rounded head, short legs, and compact body. The longhaired standard calls for a coat of Persian length and quality: long, silky, and flowing with a heavy ruff and frilling.
Appearance
The Minuet Longhair is a small to medium-sized cat with a very round, domed head; a flat to moderately flat facial profile from the Persian ancestry; large, round eyes; small, wide-set ears; and short legs from the Munchkin gene. The body is compact and rounded. The coat is long, full, and silky with a plush undercoat, a heavy neck ruff, and frilling on the chest and legs. All colors and patterns accepted in the Persian standard are accepted in the Minuet Longhair. The breed appears as a miniature, rounded, plush-coated cat with the look of a living stuffed animal.
Sources & further reading (2)
- registry-breed-profile — accessed 2026-05-07
- encyclopedia — accessed 2026-05-07
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a Minuet and a Napoleon?
Minuet and Napoleon are the same breed. The breed was developed by Joe Smith in 1996 as the Napoleon (after Napoleon Bonaparte). TICA registered it under that name. In 2015 the breed council voted to rename it Minuet, and TICA updated its official name accordingly. Older breeding records and some breeders still use the Napoleon name.
Is the Minuet Longhair's short leg harmful?
The Munchkin mutation producing short legs in the Minuet is a heterozygous dominant: cats carry one copy of the mutation. Homozygous kittens (two copies) do not survive, so all short-legged Minuets carry only one copy. Veterinary studies to date have not found evidence of spinal problems specifically caused by the short-leg trait in the Munchkin or Minuet; however, the flat-faced Persian facial type in some Minuets may carry the respiratory concerns associated with brachycephaly.
When did TICA recognize the Minuet?
TICA officially renamed the breed from Napoleon to Minuet in 2015. The breed had been registered in TICA's new breed program under the Napoleon name from approximately 2002. Full championship recognition followed after the breed passed through the required stages of the new breed development process.
