TO START THE CONVERSATION WITH US, PLEASE SEND US YOUR APPLICATION.

WELCOME

TO

Minuet Kittens Cattery

Home of very small Minuets and English Muffin Kittens

Please visit also our sisters BRITISH SHORTHAIR website

(We also breed British Shorthair Kittens and their short legged variation - English Muffins. )

TO START THE CONVERSATION WITH US, PLEASE SEND US YOUR APPLICATION.

WELCOME TO Minuet Kittens Cattery - the sister site of www.british-shorthair- kitten.com. Here you can see gorgeous Minuet /Napoleon kittens with beautiful doll faces, soft velvety coats, fantastic personalities, as well as dwarf English Muffin kittens.

We are TICA registered cattery ( ID 27606) and we breed British Shorthair Kittens (BSH) as well as their dwarf variation - English Muffins or Munchkin like BSH), and also Minuet Kittens - those little short dwarf Munchkins.  See our available British Shorthair kittens  by clicking here.

Confusion with MINUETS, NAPOLEONS, MUNCHKINS, PERSIANS, ENGLISH MUFFINS and British SH kittens explained:

We breed two breeds - Minuets and British shorthair. They both come in a short legs (munchkinlike) and regular legs vaRiation. These two breeds are in fact cousins, both are cross of doll face Persian cats.

- BSH were created by breeding a Persian cat with a British street cat.

- Minuets were created by breeding a Persian cat with a Munchkin. (Genetic mutation of street cat with short legs, which from time to time happens sponaneously.)

Most of the people are interested in the short legged kittens - English Muffins or STANDARD Minuets. Those are very cute dwarfs and THEY CANNOT JUMP ON YOUR TABLE OR KITCHEN COUNTER but they are really a good climbers.

All of our adult breeders have excellent pedigrees and health. Our goal is to produce small, healthy and loving kittens with warm personalities which you can welcome in your home as new family members. 

Note: We are receiving a number of MESSAGES, e-mails, texts, phone calls and inquiries lately. Many of them come from KIDS - 12-15 years old girls. Unfortunatelly we do not have a capacity to answer those.  For the best communication, please fill out our APPLICATION first, so that we have basic information about the home you can offer to our kitten  and we know that you are a serious customer and not a child. NOTHING HAPPENS WITHOUT your application. 100% off submitted Applications will be answered and adopting process can start. i hope you understand. 

Please do not send us short texts or text or phone messages without a name or phone number, asking : “How much is a kitten?”  “Is the gray one available?”   “Do you have available kitten”?   “Do you ship?”  “Where are you located?”  Those will most likely not be answered. We absolutelly cannot sell kittens via phone messages.  Thank you very much for your understanding !

If you have any questions for us, we will be very happy to answer them, after having your Application. It would actually help, if you read our Q and A page first.

In the past some people were concern about the health of these short legged cats. 

Than a really big research was finished - done by Dr. Solveig Pflueger, then TICA’S chief geneticist. She found out during 10 years of research that there are no health problems or complications connected with cats short legs gene, that these Munchkin kittens are totally healthy. Just the oposit is true - because these are cross between two breeds, there is no inbreeding involved and these kittens are very healthy.

Silver and Golden purebred Minuets are still our main interest and preference. But we also have the other solid colors, bicolor, even calicos.. YOU ARE WELCOME TO look at the gallery of our cats and kittens, because a single picture says more than a thousand words....

     Please browse our Available pages - computer is the better choice than just a phone.

You can reserve the kitten you are interested in by utilizing Zelle pay via your bank.

To reserve your kitten or you have any questions which are not answered on our Q and A page, please use our email :

Minuetkittens@gmail.com

Please visit our BRITISH SHORTHAIR website - click here.

If you haven’t already done so, please submit an Application. It is the very first necessary step.

Please note - NOTHING WILL HAPPEN WITHOUT YOUR APPLICATION.

We answer all your Applicatioins and it is the only way to start the communication about kitten. We cannot sell kittens via phone messages! Many messages from young girls with no name, no info are daily deleted.

Please fill out our very brief Application first - and following e-mails are the way of communication. We answer your phone calls, but you will not become the cuastomer based upon phone call. I thank you for your understanding. .

lAST AVAILABLE LITTERS - MINUET KITTENS

I am retiring and will not plan future litters.

50% of Minuets are born as STANDARD (dwarf Munchkin-like legs) and 50% as NONSTANDARD - regular legs. STANDARD Minuet kittens are cross between Persian and Munchkin cat or between Persian and Minuet/Napoleon cat. Now - after 30 years of developing the breed - also true breeding is allowed - a Minuet to a Minuet. It is a NEW TICA RECOGNIZED breed. Ours are mostly short hair, but sometimes we have those fluffy and cute longhaired too.

Last litters of Minuet Kittens available.

Please fill out our very brief Application first - and following e-mails are the way of communication. We answer your phone calls, but you will not become an adopting family based upon phone call. I thank you for your understanding. .

The pictures above show the difference between a regular legged and short legged kittens.

SNOW BALL

STANDARD Minuet male

DOB: 08/15/2024

CONTACT: Minuetkittens@gmail.com

NON-REFUNDABLE DEPOSIT: $ 400

TOTAL ADOPTION FEE: $ 2700

SNOW BALL is a very nice example of a standard Minuet - kittens with a dwarf short leggs.. He is a blue point and his eyes will stay blue in adulthood. These two siblings really bond together so much, that I would love to send them together to the same home. Two kittens are just the same amout of work as only one and you would have 10 times more fun with them. They will entertain you for hours.

If you want to adopt him with his sister Snow White, than the second kitten will be discounted $ 300. They are both wonderful examples of the breed. Very loving kittens, calm, love to be petted and seaking your lap. SNOW BALL is RESERVED for Mary. His NONSTANDARD sister SNOW WHITE is still AVAILABLE.

*If you have submitted an application, you may TEXT us for further communication or to set up a FACETIME 760-721-4242

If you want to contact us please send your Application in so that we have some information about you,

All the Applications will be answered.

*If you have submitted an application, you may TEXT us for further communication or to set up a FACETIME 760-721-4242

AVAILABLE BRITISH SHORTHAIR KITTENS

*You can visit our British Shorthair Website to view our BSH Kittens!     

 Click Here to Visit Website

You can reserve the kitten you are interested in by utilizing Zelle pay via your bank.

PLEASE USE THE EMAIL IN THE CONTACT INFORMATION:

MINUETKITTENS@GMAIL.COM

or

Text 760-721-4242

KITTEN CONTRACT

(website version)

This kitten/cat is being adopted as a pet, does not have the breeding rights and must be spayed or neutered before the age of 6 months. If desired, her CFA or TICA registration documents and pedigree will be forwarded to the new owner after the veterinary proof of spay/neuter is provided to breeder. This must be arranged prior to purchase. The kitten/cat is adopted in good faith and appears to be in an excellent health and age appropriate weight. This cat will NEVER be declawed, since such a surgery is a cruelty against the animal. The seller reserves the right to cancel any kitten adoption at any time prior to pick up.

It is expected that the purchaser will provide a loving home that cares for all the physical, medical and emotional needs of the kitten/cat.

Under no circumstances will this cat/kitten be sold, leased, given away to any pet shop, research laboratory, animal shelter or similar facility. Should purchaser be unable to keep cat/kitten, the seller is to be notified and a suitable new placement is to be approved by seller. Contract remains in effect with a new placement.

A nonrefundable $600 deposit is required to hold the kitten/cat. Balance is due prior to shipping. All vaccinations are current at the time of purchase. Purchaser is expected to provide further needed vaccinations.

The adopted kitten /cat is protected by a health guarantee against all life threatening genetic defects up to one year of age. Should it be found by a licensed veterinarian that this kitten/cat in fact has a life threatening genetic defect, upon written proof/necropsy, a replacement kitten/cat of comparable quality and value will be offered when available (within one year).

The purchaser has three business days to have a veterinarian exam performed should purchaser so desire. It is recommended the kitten/cat is quarantined from other pets for a minimum of two weeks. Failure to have the kitten/cat examined within the three days relieves the seller of any financial responsibility and renders this contract void. After that any expenses incurred by the new owner for the veterinarian or the treatment of the kitten/cat shall be the sole responsibility of the new owner. Should medical treatment be necessary within 3 days period, upon proof, the breeder will be responsible for half of the incurred bill for medication only.

Minuet Kitten Cattery maximum liability for this cat is the cat’s purchase price, less the cost of shipping.

. WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO CANCEL THE KITTEN RESERVATION OR PURCHASE AT ANY TIME WITHOUT GIVING ANY REASON OR EXPLANATION. 

  LITTER BOXES INFO

Our  kittens  come to your home litter box trained and with very nice clean habits. How to keep it that way ?

The rule is - use as many litter boxes  as you have cats, plus one.  Separated - in different quiet places, not together.

In our cattery we use only large open litter boxes with lower sides,  to make it easier for the kittens to jump in. Some cats feel trapped in covered boxes with only one opening,  so if you have covered litter box, keep it open for them - just for the first few weeks. We recomend you very much to watch SEVERAL U tube videos about litter boxes - Jackson Gallaxy : You’re Setting Up Your Litter Box All Wrong ! Please, please watch them !!!

We use fir saw dust pellets as a litter, which changes into saw dust when wet. For little kittens we first sprinkle a litter water over it, to make it soft. Your kitten will accept any material in a litter box, as soon as it is not too deodorized. But - to make the transition easier for them - we strongly recommend to start with the same,  as they have here.  Fir saw dust is probably better than pine but pet shops use pine.  In our kittens and cats rooms and in the sun room we have a hard floors and we use steamer  for easy cleaning and sanitizing. We steam clean the boxes too. ( In catios we have concrete floor but kittens  do not go out there. )

(And we compost the used saw dust with grass clippings and use it for our flower gardens. Not veggie garden,  please). 40 lbs bag of fir saw dust pellets cost about $ 6 in Lowe's,  more in pet shops.

Please place your two-three litter boxes on easily accessible places and introduce your kittens to them. Cats are very clean creatures and they come very well litter trained,  but if some mistake happens in a new home - it means correction is needed.

First - please forgive them,  they are just a babies and they are trying hard to please you.

Second - make the adjustment.  More accessible and quiet place, clean the box daily, make sure it has no odor,  no deodorant.  Do not bleach it! ( Bleach smell can repel  them.  You can use Accel/Rescue instead.)

Sometimes cat may develop an aversion to the elimination site because of its nature - smell, cleanliness, litter used,  feaces present,  size and color of the tray or location. The place may be noisy or associated with a stressful  event.  Our litter kittens are used to other cats and their elimination. But in time, later on, they may become more picky.

Sometimes  helps if you let them choose the litter box place and material. Offer them several boxes  in very different places -  disposable carton or paper ones are fine. They may choose right spot. Or offer a  different  litter material .  Again -  they will let you know.  Some cats want their own litter box. Some  prefer poop in one and pee in another one. They will let you know what they prefer. Some smell really provoke them to pee on it ( plasic bags). When they pee in some unusuall spot, place the box there to prevent another peieng there.

Spraying - our males - fathers -  do not spray,  even if they are whole cats. So we expect our boys to be the same. Neutering when 6-7 months old should help too. Female in heat can spray too.

Some cats develop a habit to pee on some kind of materials. Plastic bags are common or objects with a chlorine smell. You have to be observant. There are many artickles on Interrnet how to solve it. Spray with enzymes - to liquidate urine smell totally - it is the must.

Just use common sence. Think like a cat. Location, size and shape of the litter boxes, litter box material, noise, cleanliness, smell…

Do not expect your little kitten to run from your upstairs bedroom all the way to downstairs laundry room to pee. Adult cat will always do it. But - if the noisy washing machine just starts - it may scare the cat away from that place forever. Again - Internet will provide usful info. If your cat develop some elimination problems later - OBSERVE her carefully.

You have many ways to make a changes and make her happy again.

GOOD PLACES TO WATCH ON U TUBE :

Jackson Gallaxy: - You are doing cat litter wrong & here is why. Litter box issues: Why litter matters. - - Why should you have another cat ?

What is the best type of cat litter box?; The best cat litter box set up.; Cat litter box hacks that will save your life.

  NUTRITION INFO

NUTRITION INFO

FOOD

First  ask  yourself - What is the best food for a cat? Yes, you are right, it is a mouse.  That mouse is not cooked, it is not clean and it is not bacteria free.  If we love our cats, we should offer them the food as close to a raw mouse as possible. General comment:  For healthy cats, pick canned foods that are below 10% calories from carbohydrates, at least 40% calories from protein, and approximately 50% fat calories or less.

We love our cats, so we feed raw food in our cattery but we also understand  that making it is not for everybody, so we offer al so  some modifications.

The simplest and easiest for the owner would be:

 KEEP THE BEST DRY FOOD AVAILABLE  FOR 24 HRS AND  FEED THE BEST CANNED FOOD 2x per day.

Yes,  I know, some people have a problem with raw meat - so cook it. Cook it slightly only, to kill  the surface bacteria,  but still to save some nutritious values.  Taurin is the most important. If you cook the food, add Taurin powder, please  ( Can buy at Revival  animals.) Taurin is in raw red meat, hearts, liver.

You can get very good cat food info on the website of Dr. Lisa PIERSON - https://catinfo.org/commercial-cat-foods/ and https://catinfo.org/making-cat-food/ as well as Utube - Dr. Karen Becker : The Best and Worst Pet Food or Kitty Nutrition or several other Dr. Becker videos.

1/ DRY FOOD AS A SNACKS:

Our  kittens  have their  dry food available for 24  hrs - to nibble on, whenever they want.  In our cattery they use it a little, but we  feed raw food twice a day and some canned wet food. Dry  is just a snack.

At this time we use ROYAL CANINE for kittens,  Hills Science Diet for kittens and Wellness dry and wet food  for kittens - choice at least of three foods  -  available to them  ALL THE TIME. From time to  time we change one - not to develop picky eaters.

Please offer them the same dry food for the start ( transfer to a new home is very stressful,  so try to keep some important things the same,  at least for a few weeks - till they adjust.

There are some better cats foods available than we use,  but remember - here it is mostly just a snack.

If you plan to feed more  dry,  my advice would  be -  try to switch slowly to the best ones - Cats are carnivores. Choose dry  food with maximum of ANIMAL PROTEIN,  fat is OK,  but MINIMUM of carbs.  Wellness, Blue Buffallo and better. You will save on vet bills.

2/ MAIN FOOD - RAW MEAT 

We make our own raw  food for them and for many years we follow the recipe of Dr. Lisa Pierson - the Veterinarian.  She used  to  use frozen  rabbits.  We use chicken legs instead. Her websites was modified over years.  Here is one - catinfo.org

We get inexpensive chicken legs ( with bones) from Wal-Mart,  beef heart ( whole ones  from Starter Brothers),  chicken gizzards - heart and stomach,  chicken liver and beef liver, eggs with a shell,  grind turkey,  grind beef,  grind pork shoulder...)  and an electric grinder . Since you cannot grind raw chicken skin, we skin the legs and cook the skin first.  Than it is easy to grind.                                                            We  grind chicken legs with bones.

( There is much more taurin in legs than in breasts and also price is better,  but whole chicken should be just fine. ) We slice beef  heart and grind it ( even more taurin,  than chicken) or we use chicken hearts and gizzards instead.  We may add grind turkey or grind beef or  grind pork. You cannot feed cats by meat only,  without  bones,  because Ca to Ph ratio is important.  With meat only they would get too much  Ph and  no Ca.

Than we grind eggs  boiled with the shells,  half way only,  yolks still liquid - adding more Ca. (Never raw egg whites, please.) It is all mixed together, placed into smaller containers or plastic  bags and frozen.  Even if we wash all the meat before grinding very well, we hope that freezing it for some days or weeks would still help to kill Salmonella.  Before feeding this mixture, we still add  VITAMINS from Revival  or Alaskan  salmon oil and so on.

Cats stomach juice is so much more acidic than humans,  so Salmonella should not be a problem for them.  ( I think killed mouse would have more in it than only Salmonella and still - it is the best food for them. )  I know, it is difficult to go through all of that, when you have only one or two cats.                    But it is still possible,  if it is a little modified.

You might hear that pork is not best for cats. It is just a myth from the past. Today's raw pork is just as safe for cats as beef or chicken. Our cats love it for years

3/ RAW FOOD MODIFIED:

As I said, you just cannot feed raw meat only, since it would be too much of phosphorus and not enough of calcium and other minerals.  But you still can feed raw.                                                                                NO GRINDER :  Buy FRESH grind chicken, turkey,  pork, beef  meat  and freeze it in a little ice cube tray. Than mix it with the best wet food and  with the powder bellow.  No grinding meat at home.

 Look at the website of www.foodfurlife.com  from  NJ. You can get their powder,  buy your grind turkey or chicken or pork or beef,  as fresh as possible and mix it with their powder.  It will add the calcium as well as all other necessary ingredients,  which whole mice have but grind plain meat does not.  And read their articles too.  Very educational.  The package bellow is enough for  130 meals.  Of course - if you have problem  with raw, you can add this to your cooked meat.  It will never be as nutritious as raw would.  I do not have my own experience with it.

      .

4/ MORE MODIFICATION  

If your cat will not go really crazy after raw, mix it with canned  food.  Get Friskies from  Costco and add if to her food  for smell and water content.

You can also feed your cat sometimes  just with canned wet food.  Wet has 70% of water in it, so it is still important,  since cats never drink  enough.  It may save you money on vet bills, but your cat will not live as long as when fed raw.

WHAT  ELSE OUR KITTENS  AND CATS GET:

We use goat milk, fresh, evaporated or dry ( from Wal-Mart) which is much easier digestible for kittens and cats. Sometimes we mix it with Half & half - if mama cat does  not have enough milk.

Milk is safe to give till age of 12 -14 weeks.  After that,  SOME kittens  MAY become lactose intolerant.  Just the same like with people.  People from the North tolerate lactose very well.  They were used to raw milk for thousands of years,  since their milk stay fresh  longer.

People from Mediterranean have more lactose intolerance, since their milk  in hot weather was changed to yogurt or kefir and  all the lactose from it was digested by bacteria, so lactase was no more needed later in people's  lives.  It means -  your Persian cat  may not tolerate lactose, but your Russian or Norwegian will.  If your kittens will stop tolerating  goat milk after 12-16 weeks old,  you  may switch to yogurt.  Just plain yogurt,  no additives!!!  No pectin, starch or other thickeners, please. We feed probiotics.  In the past we used just powder from Revival,  but now we use a lot of yogurt too.

So - our younger kittens get goat milk, sometimes mixed with Half and Half and we  make our own yogurt from full milk in Instant  Pot for those who would have loose stools from milk later in their lives. Very easy. 

Than - the food is also used for  helping the digestion,  correcting stools,  please them or  bribe them.

With raw food their stools is firm and very small, not smelling bad. BIG difference than when feeding dry food  only.

Our cats  get sliced and cut raw chicken hearts and gizzards.  They get chicken or beef liver, sliced raw when constipated,  cooked and sliced when stool  is loose.  Sometimes they get a little of canned tuna - or mostly only a water from the can -  to make  their food smell better and increase the appetite.

The hit - specially  for young kittens,  just starting weaning - 4 -5 weeks old:  boiled chicken legs,  blended in blender with  broth.  It is something like a human Baby food in those little glass jars. EVERYBODY  LOVES  IT !  Nursing moms usually eat it before babies get the chance!

Alaskan  Salmon oil may be added to their raw food  for omega 3 and better coats - for those, who love fish  (some do not).  Not  plants based  omega 3 - they cannot digest it. They also love tiny shrimp.

But this is another  subject - and yes, we use many different food additives, like Probiotics, Taurin, vitamins, Forti flora ,  L- lysin and more.  If, This is what we order from Revival.  Please read their articles on the Learning Center.

Stories From Our Friends & Past Babies

"We love hearing from you & your kitten!"

With so many catteries to choose between, deciding on one can be an overwhelming task. It has been suggested to us that we offer a place where people can read stories & comments written by families that have adopted one (or more!) of our kittens.  We listened.
We asked and received the following, and have collected beautiful, heartwarming stories and photos over the years.  Please feel free to offer any comments and we will update as needed. We hope this offers the confidence and assurance that we are the place to come for your minuet (or BSH) darlings.

We recently reconnected with a family who adopted from us 11 years ago. This gorgeous Minuet girl is now 11 years old, and as playful as ever. Minuets = playful breed even as adults! You go Marmalade!!

Thank you Kevin for sharing with us, and we can’t wait for you to get her a new playmate in 2021!!

Fun fact about felines: they all loooooooove those cardboard boxes!!

So before you recycle them, let your furry friends play :-)

With Katie and Jack’s permission, we are sharing photos of Claire, who has grown into a gorgeous Minuet girl! You can follow her on Instagram, like many other of our past kittens @Claire_the_Minuet.

“Hi Lada,

Hope everything is going well!

I would like to share a few updates regarding Monty (aka. Jaja, -I got a name for him). He is doing great and enjoying his new home. He is such a cute boy.

Last week, he had his neuter surgery (big event in his life :) ) and now has recovered very well. Here are some of his recent photos.

Hope you will like them.

Thanks, Zhihan”

“Hi Lada,

Just wanna share to you all that Noel is doing well now! His playful, and sweet. He jump to my bed every morning ask for pet, and he likes to follow me when I walk in the room. Also, he could recognized his Chinese name I gave to him. He is so smart!

Other than that is all good!

Best,

Xuan”

“Hi hi! Just an update! Lex is adjusting well. Took him a couple days to get used to us but he's coming around. He had no issues with eating (dry food) or drinking. Though he hasn't really touched the Friskies we bought for him. He's not hiding and he is EXTREMELY vocal. Haha. Cute little baby cries for our attention and we love him so much. He is super cuddly and snuggly. He also had a stuffy nose but he is getting better! Thank goodness!! He seems happy and that makes us so happy! Thank you for everything <3

- Trinity and Ali”

“Hi Lada,

Barakats has blessed our life and our home and we tell everyone about you guys! As soon as we get a bigger place we're getting another kitten! We love Barakats (Lola) SO SO MUCH! It's unbelievable. And in these times, we need all the extra love. Stay safe, and we will be in touch.

Courtney & Erica”

“Hi Lada, 

Stumpy started coming out already and letting us pet him and today he was snuggled up while I was in the room on the computer. He's definitely getting more comfortable in the house, still a little skittish if someone moves to fast but overall becoming more social every day.

He loves getting pet and chasing around his toy mouse. He's very social and likes to follow you around the house, such a cutie! 

 Thanks again!

Respectfully, Sam”

Toulouse (formerly Emma), happy in her new home in Newport Beach. Adopted in June 2019

“Hi Lada, 

In about 2 days we will be celebrating Toulouse’s (we changed her name) first birthday! She is the sweetest and most adorable munchkin, I am so happy that I adopted her, she brings so much joy to me and everyone who comes to visit her. We spoil her plenty with toys and wet food. She has the best personality and I don’t think it could get any better than that! We love her so much and are so glad we got to locally adopt her from you. We are planning to get another munchkin just like her very soon from you. 

Thank you so much, and I feel so lucky,

in good health, Karen”

“Hi Lada.

Here is an update on Juliette: She’s adorable & rules our house. She likes to eat all the time, but we are controlling it and usually feeding her once a day. 

We have 2 small dogs. One, a chihuahua type named Tina (also a female) and they are best buddies and play and chase each other around the house. Tucker (male) our little mixed breed just kind of ignores Juliette most of the time. 

Val’s boss, Rich, lives up in California and we found out he got his cat from you as well. His name is Romeo.

Thank you for Juliette and we hope all is well with you.

Many blessings., Chris and Val.”

“Hi! Blizzard: oh my goodness he's been growing and is just beautiful. He's the most gorgeous kitten! He just got neutered a couple weeks ago and it's as if nothing ever happened to him, he's back to his usual self. My daughter Ashni, who's cat this is, decided to name him something she picked a day or two after we brought him home. She named him Kalea-Kalaka. It's an extremely cumbersome name and we tried to convince her to name him something fun and easy like Bunny but she firmly said that his name would be Kalea-Kalaka. We've finally gotten used to the ridiculous name and we find it funny now.

He's a very independent and sassy boy! He climbs up everything and reaches places that I would think he's too small to reach. He will bite when he doesn't want to be petted or handled; not something I like or was expecting but something that I've figured out must be a necessary thing when a 4 year old is in love with him! Our daughter rarely leaves him alone and we have to make sure he gets some alone time.

He loves our dog (who is 22 pounds and a really sweet disposition) and sometimes they will take turns chasing each other through the house. It's beyond adorable. Everyone adores him! I'm attaching photos so you can see how he's grown and also you can see his favorite two buddies.

I'm so happy we have him & would love to keep in touch so you can see how he grows up! (And of course we love seeing your new babies!!!)

Warmest wishes! Chandra & crew”

Blizzard, now Kalea-Kalaka, happy in his new home

“Hi Lada,

Gunter (Smokey) is the sweetest cat in the world. He is always so excited when I get home and loves sleeping next to me. He loves cuddles and is obsessed with cardboard toilet paper rolls. He is the 3rd cat we have gotten from Minuet Kittens Cattery, and I couldn’t be more in love!

Brady from San Diego”

Note from us: Brady and his girlfriend have 2 other kitties from us, and Smokey was adopted as a retired breeder.

Francine and Ted were adopted by Tim & his family. He loves them & holds the record for driving the farthest to pick them up. They hold the record for being road trip kitty champs & for the shortest amount of time to have a human wrapped around their little paw…

“To ANYONE looking for a new best friend? STOP looking! You found it! I drove from Minneapolis to Southern California to buy from these people (and would do it again). The lady I was dealing with was actually very responsive, she was busy with family the Sunday night we arrived so I didn’t actually meet her but dealt with her AMAZING Mother (whose house is where the cattery is) When Theodore Bear (Teddy, my British short hair) was brought out he climbed into my lap and started purring before I even touched him (which shows how much attention they give these kittens) he knew what was coming, anticipated it, and simply expected it. It was time for his full body massage. He had made an appt. and I was his designated masseuse. It was even more obvious how socialized these cats were on the way home. The trip was a lot more pleasant without any hissing. We drove straight thru and didn't use the carrier. We put a litter box, food, water, and toys on the floor and let them run. Once the car had been thoroughly explored (multiple times by Francine (my minuet) I pretty much had a cat either sleeping on me or next to me the whole trip home. When I introduced them to my other cats they never attacked. They only hissed if hissed at and would hold a paw up in defense but NEVER swing (even when my original two were being little jerks lol) Just another testimony to how well they socialize their kittens. Francine may be the most intelligent cat I’ve ever had (And I grew up on a huge Iowa farm. We had hundreds of cats at the different farm sites) She is affectionate, you can pet her all day. She trains me. She started bumping my hand when I fed treats. Setting me up for a Pavlov experiment. I didn't realize what she had done until I was walking down the steps to get her a treat after she bumped my hand in the bathroom. She was tired of me deciding when treat time was so trained me to get them when SHE decides its time! She also taught me to play “ winner gets treats “ hide and seek. She meows to get my attention then goes and hides. She knows if she stays hidden long enough I will shake the treat box and she can come out for her victory reward. Teddy should have been named Otis, or Bubba. He is either a little slow minded and just easy going or he is brilliant, has it all figured out and is just enjoying being a (SUPER) spoiled cat. I didn’t know this before I got him (I was originally just after Francine, Teddy just kind of happened) but British short hairs have unique fur. Almost chinchilla like. He is the softest cat I’ve ever petted. I could pet him all day! I could also add to this testimony all week long and still not say enough good about this place. Their cats are amazing, rivaled only by how amazing the humans that raised them are! If you want a cat (or two) that is already socialized, litter trained, and vaccinated you can find them a lot of places - but be careful. Even as careful as I was I was scammed for $1500 before I found Lada… But. If you want a kitten that is all that PLUS, one that will love everyone in your house (they even get along with my Rotweiller) then adopt from here. You will get the cat you paid for. And it will be AMAZING! Beyond your wildest dreams. We don’t know how we ever got along without these two! 

~ Tim B. in Minnesota”

“Hi Lada,

we just wanted to write to you and let you know Storm is doing great! She is such a cute kitten. We actually have an Instagram for her set up, her name is Sake.  The instagram is @officialsakecat.

Thanks again,

Michael” 

Follow Sake the standard Minuet on Instagram with us @officialsakecat

“Zane is literally my soulmate. I love him so much he is perfect and s’more then I could have ever asked for.

This past July I had a miscarriage and our baby’s name was Zane. I was 19 weeks.

I was torn apart over it.

A few months later ...

My boyfriend. has an accident, in this past November and he was in a coma and couldn’t work.

We decided we wanted a kitten since we were both going to be out of work. We came across your site and immediate saw “ZANE” and had to have him. It’s like he’s my baby in spirit.

Thank you so much for him. I am typing this out as my eyes get teary just thinking about how lucky we are to have him!

We are obsessed with him. We love him so much! ️️️️

~ Briza& Rickey”

The healing power of Zane (above), who was meant for Briza& Rickey. We still hear from them regularly & would like to thank them for sharing their beautiful story.

"Hi Lada,

Biggie (previously Zander) is such a handsome boy and we love him sooo much. He’s grown to be a very sweet and loving boy. Even though we named him Biggie...he’s still a tiny man at 6lbs! Lol He’s so adorable with his short little legs and round face. And his odd-eyes make him so unique! Everyone who’s ever sees him just adores him! Thank you for such a kind, loving, and handsome cat. Biggie is now a big part of family and with some luck I could convince my husband to get another one of your beautiful kittens to join our crew! 

Feel free to share his photos. We adore him - he is so gorgeous, and sweet and he loves to play! He actually comes running when I call his name!”

Thanks again, best regards, Joy”

Biggie, content and happy. He is our first odd-eye Minuet kitten ever. You can follow him on Instagram @biggiethemunchkin where he has adorable photos! Just look at those tiny short legs!

“We adopted Sprite from you about 2.5 years ago. Immediately he became my fur baby and the best companion ever. Just wanted to say thank you for this sweet boy. He is doing great. He is an absolute angel. Such a little fluff ball, haha. He is definitely my little boy forever.  I am hoping to adopt another Minuet in the near future and I hope I can adopt from you again. Thank you again and have a great day.”

~ Tanya in San Diego, CA

“Just wanted to drop you a note and let you know that Toby (originally Snickers) is doing really great; he's very spoiled and loved by all the family and friends. He has the greatest personality! He loves to be around everyone and is never shy. We couldn't love him more! Thank you!”

~ Pat in Sarasota, FL

“Hi Lada,

Hope you are well.  Tomcat - now called London :) - is doing well.  Even better the last few days.  

We made him a sanctuary in our guest bathroom and put all of his comforts in there.  the first few days he hid beneath the sink and refused to venture out.  After a few days he became a little curious and would peek at us from the door but run back in if we attempted to come close.

My daughter Annaka would sit with him and eventually he let her pet him and then eventually hold him.  He started purring and now they are fast friends and he will even nap with her for a little bit.

We love him so much and are so happy.  photos attached.

thank you again. we will keep in touch with updates.

very best,

Marci”

“Hi Lada!

Thank you so much for your response! Coco got a little brother named Hugo about a month ago. Hugo’s a standard white and silver shaded tortie boy that came from New Orleans. The introductions were tough for about a week but now they’re playing and sharing. She’s a great big sister!

If I add a third kitty it’ll have to wait until I have a bigger place - and I’d have to do more research on having 3. It’s in my plan but not for the next year probably. Thank you for following-up with me!

PS - Coco’s seeing a new doctor & even though she’s still leaking a little protein in her urine & her kidneys are small (whatever small kidneys means), her blood & urine tests are both normal so the doctor says she’s doing well & we have nothing to worry about. She weighs 5.5 pounds & turned 2 a couple months ago. Here are some pictures - enjoy!

- Patricia D”

“Hi Lada,

Thor is doing very well! He is our sassy little guy and we love him so much. He gets along great with our dog and our kids adore him. He loves to be with family all the time, especially tries to get involved with puzzles, computers etc.

I am sending a couple of pics of his shenanigans!

best, Tracey”

“Hi Lada,

Archie has grown a lot into a handsome boy. He is just perfect in every way.

~ George in San Dimas, CA”

“I have Chibi. He is doing pretty well. He is sooo sweet! Eating and drinking goat milk. Thank you very much for all of your help. He is tooooooo cute!”

~ Miracle in Boston, MA

Chibi, meaning “tiny”, is our standard medium hair lilac Minuet boy who is now happily living in the East Coast. He was adopted as a teenager and is doing great!

Thumper living up to his foodie title in Playa Del Rey, CA

“Hi Lada,

I’ve attached a photo of Thumper. He is a big foodie, makes funny meows (especially when he wants food), and is calm and sweet. He was shy the first couple days and had a mild eye issue, but adjusted in about a week. Now he will rub his face on our hands and waits at the door like a puppy. All our kitties also play with and groom each other (one thing that we’re all very happy to see). 

Thank you again,

Best,

Tianying” 

Mistletoe, now Sanma, has joined another British Shorthair boy from us, who is named Toro….

~ Madison, El Segundo, CA

Sadie, now Olive, the smallest and cutest of her standard minuet siblings is now living the Hollywood life in Los Angeles! We are delighted to get updates. Madison posts updates about Olive on Instagram sometimes. Check her out @Madisonlawlor

 QUESTIONS & ANSWERS/ADOPTION PROCESS

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS / ADOPTION INFO

Your ultimate resource to familiarize yourself with our cattery, the breed, and what to generally expect during the adoption process.

Q: WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO CONTACT US? A: FILL OUT OUR APPLIACTION or - EMAIL US: MINUETKITTENS@GMAIL.COM.

Q: Why do you love Minuet kittens? 
A: There are so many reasons. We adore their thick velvety coat, their sweet and loving personalities, their look, cuteness and their loyalty. They tend to also be amongst the least allergenic breeds and are growing in popularity. My breeders are imported from the best international lines.

Q: What is the health of Minuet kittens like?
A: I breed for health. Minuets are a healthy breed. They do not have any diseases related to breed. We tested all our adult breeders for PKD - Polycystic Kidney Diseases at UC Davis and they are all negative. When parents are negative, kittens cannot inherit PKD. Some health problems can be triggered or aggravated by inbreeding, and some cat breeds in the US were or are in-bred. It is not the case of Minuets, beacuse they are in between two breeds. Originally Persian and Munchkin cats were used to create Minuet (older name Napoleons ). As a Healthcare professional I vaccinate all our kittens myself and I use MLV Nobivac - triple vaccine that protects against feline rhinotracheitis, feline panleukopenia (FPV), and feline calicivirus (FCV), plus protects against feline Chlamydophila. My kittens are vaccinated at the age of about 6-7 weeks and again when 9-10 weeks old. They are also wormed trgularly. I use Revolution as a flea prevention.

Q: What are English Muffins kittens?

A: These are cross between British short hair cats and STANDARD Minuet cats. They look just like shorthair Minuets, but genetically they are British with short legs. They are new breed, still being developed but already very popular, specially in Califotnia. They have all the qualities of British cats with a cuteness of Munchkins. And they are significantly smaller than British. Their parents are registered with TICA. English Muffin is a British kitten with jumps around like a little bunny , loves to climb but does not jump on your table or kitchen counter to taste your food before you can eat it. :)

Q: Why do you recommend adopting two kittens?
A: I personally never had just one kitten. Getting two kittens at the same time is best for both your family and the kittens. You will have 10 times more fun with two kittens than with just one. It is a whole new world! The kitten will have his buddy with him when leaving his mother and our cattery, and the travel and transition will be so much smoother. All the crying (and meowing) of the first days will be eliminated, and stress from new environment will be cut in half.
Two kittens will keep each other company when you are not home. Each kitten needs at least one feline and one human companion. We also discount the second kitten and we charge only one shipping fee for both.  Unfortunately, your elderly cat is not a suitable companion for a young kitten. He can watch the kitten play, but will not interact much with him, so even if you do have a cat at home, you still need to consider two young kittens. 
Based on many years of experience of breeding, I know they miss feline to feline interaction, and suggest they get adopted together. A boy and a girl make the best combination. Two boys are still a better combination than two girls, unless raised together. Before you decide, listen please on U tube “Jackson Gallaxy : Why you should get another cat?” And many other his videos.)

Q: What if you do not have a kitten I want at this time?
A: I encourage you to fill out our brief application anyway, to let me know what kind of kitten you are interested in and to start communication. It also lets me know more about you and the potential home our kitten would be going into. No deposit is needed at this time unless you would like to inquire about our paid waiting list.

Q: What is a NON-REFUNDABLE deposit?
A: When a kitten is reserved for you, it is taken off the market, so to speak. It is your kitten now, you are just waiting for him to finish nursing and learning all necessary life skills from his mommy, and get ready for his or her new home. The kitten is now not available to others, who may also be interested. 
(Canceling suddenly triggers a large amount of new bathing, new grooming for photographing, cropping, publishing, advertising, new communication with a new possible families. There is a lot of time involved with it and all that makes the kitten more expensive.) The DEPOSIT is $400, but please be sure about your kitten before you pay, since as with all other catteries, the deposit is not refundable.

Q: What is the adoption fee of your kittens?
A: Our adoption fee is determined by the quality of the kitten, how much they meet the breed requirement, and other factors.  Adoption fees of our kittens may change and are entirely our discretion. The look, shape, quality of their coat or eye color and personality and disposition all influences their price. Our BSH kittens range between $1,800 - $2,500. Because we believe in 2 kittens being adopted together, we give preference to families who adopt two kittens.  Lastly, sometimes our older kittens, or teen kittens, are discounted.

Q:  Are you able to ship your kittens?
A:  We had over 15 years of a good experiqnce with cargo shipping all over USA. With Covid-19 airlines policies have changed so please inquire with me first about shipping.

1/We prefer and recommend to all adoptive families to pick up their kitten in person and take it in cabin. ( Check the policy of the airline you choose, please.)  It is the safest and most comfortable way for the kitten.  I will take your kitten to the San Diego airport to meet you there.

2/ We can use a PET NANNY service - again - I will take the lkitten to the airport and you will get it from her at your airport.

3/ We do use several airlines pet cargo programs, and even though they have temperature controlled and air pressurized pet cabins  - they are imperfect.  There is a weather restriction - only between 45 - 80-F airports temperature,  some smaller airports have day and time pet program limitation or are closed over weekends.  California Rabies vaccination is the last complication

Kittens are vaccinated in CA after 4 monnths old and than 4 weeks of vaccine waiting. Our average shipping cost is $ 550.

It coveres all the veterinary visits, health certificate and other veterinary documents required by the airlines, stating the kitten is healthy & able to fly, approved pet carrier, the cost of the airfare itself + taxes, and trip to the airport.  

We would like to recommend whenever possible that the new owner flies to pickup their kitten in person, and we would meet them at the airport for a nominal fee - $120. Or you may choose to Uber to our home from the airport (average cost $59-$87 each way, an hour plus each way). This is to ensure the highest safety of our kittens and the least amount of stress on them due to airline issues, layovers, etc.   You will need your airlines approved carrier and we provide our own Health certificate with proof of vaccination.  No other paper work needed.                           

Q: What if I live close to San Diego/ Los Angeles and do not need shipping?  
A: If you live in So CA - San Diego, Los Angeles, etc and you already RESERVED a kitten on our website, then you can pick up your kitten in our home, after they have been weaned, vaccinated, and prepared for a new home.  All the other rules are the same as for the customers who need shipping. During Covid-19 we follow all safety guidelines.

Q: How do I RESERVE a kitten? 
A: When our new kittens are about 3-4 weeks old, we place their first picrutres on our websites. With the Application, you can place $ 400 deposit on the kitten via your bank Zelle, using our e-mail) and it will be reserved for you.  Once the kitten is reserved, the deposit is not refundable and generally not transferable to another kitten. The deposit does apply toward the kitten adoption fee.  Please note kittens are reserved on a first come, first serve basis in terms of receiving your deposit (not your application). Some Applicant like to facetime the kitten before the deposit paid. It is possible.

Q: Can I come to choose a kitten? 
A: After some past unpleasant / disrespectful experiences we are not open to the public anymore. You cannot come into my home and see the little babies, because it disturbs the mothers, the nursing process, and our privacy. The rules are nearly the same as for any Internet purchasing. I used to welcome prospective families in my private home in the past, in spite of them coming sometimes in big groups, with kids, relatives and kids friends. It is not safe to invite into our home someone we met on the Internet and I believe most of you would be hesitant to do that as well. So thank you in advance for understanding.

Note: But the customers/families who have reserved a kitten, can visit/see THEIR RESERVED kitten after the first set of vaccinations are done at about 6-7 weeks old with mutual agreement.

Q: When is payment for the adoption fee for my kitten due? A: Full payment can be split in two. When the reserved kitten is 5-6 weeks old, the first half payment plus transport fee $550 (if needed), are due. For the first payment only, I can accept personal checks, or a Money Order / Cashier's Check. At this time I am not accepting Paypal or Venmo payments. Another option is Zelle.
The second half payment (less the deposit) is due shortly before shipping or at personal pickup time (same as above applies). If you are local and are picking up your kitten in person, I accept cash as well. The final contract is signed by us after you have completed full payment. You will also receive a Health Certificate with your kitten and their vaccination records.

Q:  At what age can the kittens go to their new home?
A:  The Cats Associations' answer is : at 12 - 16 weeks old. There is the earliest possible age, and then there is the optimal age. There are really many factors involved in this: size and maturity of the kitten, whether or not the kitten will need to be shipped, whether or not one kitten is traveling, or if two are going together, customer cat experienced or new cat owner etc.  Most of our kittens go home on the early side of this spectrum.
   

1. If the family lives locally, no shipping is involved, older children, adult at home (or working from home), taking two kittens at the same time, the kittens are average size, if experienced cat owners in the past:  In this case the answer is -  at the age of 10 - 12 weeks.

      2. If a single person, working long hrs, shipping across country, one really tiny kitten, if a first time cat owner: the time frame is closer to 13 - 16 weeks.  Our veterinarians do not want kittens weighing less than 2 - 2.5 lbs prior to shipping.
So - it all depends on the size and weight of the kitten, his independence from mother, life skills he already learned (newborn kitten for instance does not know how to retract his claws, and his mother and siblings have to teach him. Same with biting. You do not have the ability to teach them).

         An important fact is - that a kitten starts bonding with people when about 11 - 12 weeks old. ( Before that age they prefer the mother and siblings.) So it does not make too much sense to really push to get him younger than that. When to ship the kitten is strictly my decision, together with my vet. 
 

Q: How about the kitten's pedigree?
A:  All my breeding cats are pedigree cats, they are all registered with TICA.
Your kitten comes with a Contract and a Health Certificate and with a one year guarantee against a hereditary disease. You are not allowed to breed our kittens without breeding rights, which have to be agreed and paid for ahead of time.  Part of the Contract is, that the kitten has to be neutered at the age of 6-8 months. After you provide us with a veterinary proof that the kitten was spayed, and when arranged ahead of time, then we can forward you kittens registration documents and a small TICA fee will be due. This has to be arranged prior the adoption, because it is quite time consuming and 90% of families do not request registration. We randomly neuter some kittens.

Q: Are your kittens spayed or neutered before leaving the cattery?
A: Sometimes. Our decisions are made together with our veterinarian, who is very experienced and specializes in cats only.  Yes, in some catteries the kittens are fixed very young and since it is a major surgery for females, sometimes they die.  Some breeders do it -since they want to be sure the buyer will not breed the cat illegally. We have the statement in our CONTRACT and we trust our adoptive families, that they will abide by the contract and will not breed the cat illegally, without breeding rights.  :)

Q:  Which coat colors do you breed?
A:  We first started with golden and silver kittens, choosing the smallest golden and silver adults available. Then we added chocolate and lilac. And finally I have added those very beautiful and unusual colors - cinnamon and fawn. 

Q: How do I prepare for my kitten? A: I have two sections to read under More Resources (on my website): Preparing for your Kitten, and Kitten Nutrition. Please look at those, and it will give you a great starting point and answer nearly all of your questions.

WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO CANCEL THE KITTEN RESERVATION OR PURCHASE AT ANY TIME

WITHOUT GIVING ANY REASON OR EXPLANATION.