If You Love the Devon Rex, Don't Support Minskin Breeding

The Devon Rex is an established pedigree breed with a distinctive appearance, extraordinary temperament and a genetic heritage that responsible breeders have spent decades trying to preserve.

It should not be used as an ingredient in designer cats created by deliberately combining multiple mutations.

That is why we do not support Minskin breeding and why we believe buyers should think carefully not only about purchasing a Minskin, but also about supporting breeders who produce them or knowingly supply cats to these programs.

First, This Is Not an Article Against Munchkins

An important distinction needs to be made: this article is not arguing that Munchkins themselves are inherently unethical. This is an article about using that breed to stack multiple mutations for financial gain, and not for the betterment of any of the breeds involved. Because it is most relevent to Devons, we are focusing on the MINSKIN.

Munchkins have one defining structural mutation responsible for their short legs. When bred responsibly, knowledgeable breeders can manage that mutation by making appropriate breeding choices rather than breeding two short-legged cats together.

But that also illustrates why genetics matter.

Research suggests that while one copy of the dwarfism-associated mutation produces the short-legged phenotype, inheriting two copies may be lethal. That means this is not a gene that should be bred casually or without understanding how it is inherited.

Research:Struck et al., A structural UGDH variant associated with standard Munchkin cats — PubMedBuckley et al., A new domestic cat genome assembly and identification of a gene for dwarfism — PubMed

So even with Munchkins, the issue is nuanced: responsible breeding requires understanding the mutation, selecting appropriate pairings and avoiding combinations that increase genetic risk.

The Minskin raises a different ethical concern.

Instead of responsibly managing one known mutation within an established breeding population, Minskin breeding deliberately brings dwarfism together with additional mutations and characteristics from other breeds to manufacture a particular novelty appearance.

In fact, the Minskin founder's own 2019 report to TICA described it as a “double-mutation breed.”

That distinction matters.

One mutation carefully managed by knowledgeable breeders is not the same thing as deliberately stacking mutations for novelty.

No one can truthfully say that combining any two mutations automatically produces an unhealthy animal. Genetics is more complicated than that. But the more abnormalities breeders deliberately introduce and combine, the more important it becomes to understand their inheritance, interactions and potential welfare consequences.

That concern becomes especially serious when the breeding objective is not improved health, genetic diversity or preservation of an established breed but simply producing an increasingly unusual-looking cat.

And this is not merely our philosophical objection. Major cat organizations have specifically addressed the deliberate combination of structural mutations.

Minskin Short Legs Are Dwarfism

The short legs used to create Minskins originate with the Munchkin phenotype. This is not simply a small cat or unusual body type.

A peer-reviewed genetic study identified a structural variant involving the UGDH gene associated with the short-legged phenotype and concluded that it likely causes the chondrodysplastic phenotype in Munchkin cats.... in other words, disproportionate dwarfism involving skeletal development.

Researchers also found no cats carrying two copies of the mutation, with the evidence suggesting that inheriting two copies may be lethal.

Research: Struck et al., A structural UGDH variant associated with standard Munchkin cats — PubMedBuckley et al., A new domestic cat genome assembly and identification of a gene for dwarfism — PubMed

The issue is not that every short-legged cat will necessarily live in pain. Current research does not establish that.

The issue is that humans are deliberately selecting abnormal skeletal development because they like its appearance.

Minskins Add Another Concern: Stacking Mutations

Minskins were intentionally developed using multiple breeds and mutations to combine dwarfism with other unusual physical characteristics.

In fact, the Minskin founder's own 2019 report to TICA described it as a “double-mutation breed.”

Combining two mutations does not automatically mean an animal will be unhealthy. But deliberately stacking structural and cosmetic mutations without strong evidence establishing the welfare consequences is difficult to justify—especially when the objective is novelty rather than improving an established breed.

Major cat organizations have reached similar conclusions (CFA, ACFA, FIFE etc.).

TICA Specifically Acted Against This Practice

TICA once permitted Minskins and several similar designer cats within its development system.

But TICA later reconsidered the practice.

In 2014, a proposal titled “Stop combining of Structural Mutations” sought:

“to stop the creation of new breeds based on combining structural mutations simply because it's possible.”

TICA subsequently changed its Registration Rules.

TICA defines shortened legs as a structural mutation, and Rule 33.2.1 states:

“Breeds that have a structural mutation as a breed characteristic must not be used as source breeds.”

Then, in 2025, TICA unanimously terminated the Experimental status of numerous older designer breeds that did not comply with its newer rules, including Bambino, Dwelf, Kinkalow, Lambkin, Skookum and others.

Sources: TICA 2014 Annual Meeting Agenda — “Stop combining of Structural Mutations”TICA 2014 Annual Meeting MinutesTICA Registration RulesTICA 2025 Annual Meeting Minutes — Motion 8

But Aren't Minskins TICA Registered?

Yes, and ONLY by TICA - no other association has done so. but this is frequently presented without important context.

Minskins historically obtained Registration Only status before TICA adopted its newer restrictions. That is not the same thing as Championship(full breed recognition), and Minskins are not eligible for TICA Championship competition.

Historical registration should not be presented as proof that TICA currently endorses creating cats by combining structural mutations.

Other Major Registries Go Even Further

TICA is not alone. And in fact, most other organizations have outright refused to consider it for breed recognition because of ethical concerns.

FIFe prohibits cats affected by dwarfism—or with such cats in their ancestry—from breeding, registration and exhibition. Its show rules state plainly:

“Dwarf cats are not admitted to FIFe shows.”

GCCF states that it has “no intention to recognise Munchkins or any other dwarf breed.”

Its breeding policy also specifically warns against stacking abnormalities for novelty:

“Doubling or tripling such anomalies for the appeal of novelty or oddity is likely to increase greatly the risk of a deleterious impact.”

And in North America, CFA, ACFA and CCA do not recognize the Munchkin, much less designer breeds created by combining dwarfism with additional mutations.

Sources: FIFe Health & Welfare RulesGCCF Welfare PolicyGCCF Breeding Policy

This Is Not Responsible Devon Rex Outcrossing

You might be wondering, how this is fundamentally different from ASH and BSH outcross programs that are common and officially sanctioned in all major associations for the Devon Rex. The Devon Rex has historically benefited from carefully controlled outcrossing to broaden its gene pool.

The objective of legitimate outcrossing is to improve and preserve the Devon Rex, with subsequent generations bred back toward the Devon Rex standard.

Using a Devon Rex to produce Minskins does none of those things.

It does not improve Devon Rex genetic diversity.

It does not produce healthier Devon Rex.

It does not preserve the Devon Rex.

Instead, desirable Devon characteristics are being extracted and combined with dwarfism and other mutations (sometimes hairlessness, sometimes ear curls etc) to manufacture a different designer animal.

Calling both practices “outcrossing” does not make them so.

Your Purchase Matters

A Minskin kitten can be adorable, loved and capable of having a good life. That isn't the point.

The question is whether we should deliberately produce more animals with abnormal skeletal development and combine that mutation with others simply because the resulting appearance is marketable.

We don't believe we should. It's pretty clear.

And consumers ultimately determine whether these breeding programs continue. If you purchase that kitten, unfortunately that is your "vote", you allow people to continue these practices, and defacto are supportive of them.

Don't buy a Minskin or other multi-mutation designer dwarf cat.

Just as importantly, don't financially support breeders who knowingly produce them or supply breeding animals to these programs.

There are plenty of breeders working to preserve healthy, genetically diverse and structurally sound cats without stacking mutations to create the next novelty animal.

Support them instead.

If You Love Devons, Protect Devons

The Devon Rex already faces genuine breeding challenges: maintaining genetic diversity, screening for inherited disease, monitoring cardiac health, preserving correct structure and temperament, and using legitimate outcross programs responsibly.

Creating dwarf designer cats is not one of those goals.

Scientific research identifies Munchkin-type short legs as chondrodysplasia. FIFe prohibits dwarf cats from breeding and exhibition. GCCF refuses to recognize dwarf breeds and explicitly warns about stacking abnormalities. TICA changed its rules to restrict structural-mutation breeding and later removed numerous older experimental designer breeds that no longer complied.

Those facts deserve more weight than a cute photograph on social media.

If you love the Devon Rex, protect the Devon Rex.

Don't turn it into an ingredient for designer dwarf cats.

Sources & Further Reading

1. Struck, A-K., et al. (2020). “A structural UGDH variant associated with standard Munchkin cats.” BMC Genetics, 21, 67.Establishes the association between the UGDH structural variant and the short-legged Munchkin phenotype, identifies it as chondrodysplasia, and discusses evidence suggesting homozygous lethality. PubMedPubMed — A structural UGDH variant associated with standard Munchkin cats

2. Buckley, R.M., et al. (2020). “A new domestic cat genome assembly based on long sequence reads empowers feline genomic medicine and identifies a novel gene for dwarfism.” PLOS Genetics, 16(10), e1008926.Independently identifies a structural variant disrupting UGDH in cats with dwarfism and provides additional genomic evidence for the genetic basis of the phenotype. PubMedPLOS Genetics — Full peer-reviewed study

3. The International Cat Association (TICA). “Structural Mutations” — Registration Rules proposal.TICA's proposal explains that the rule was intended to stop combining established breeds with structural mutations to create new breeds, particularly where combinations of bone and cartilage mutations could create unpredictable dysfunction or pain. It specifically defines shortened legs as an example of a structural mutation. TICA - The International Cat AssociationTICA — Structural Mutations proposal and Registration Rule amendments

4. TICA — Review of Experimental Breeds with Structural Mutations.TICA's later rulemaking explicitly notes that experimental breeds violating Rule 33.2.1 could never advance to Registration Only status. The cited rule states that breeds having a structural mutation as a breed characteristic cannot be used as source breeds. TICA - The International Cat AssociationTICA — Experimental Breeds with Structural Mutations proposal

5. Fédération Internationale Féline (FIFe). Health & Welfare Rules.FIFe specifically addresses (pseudo-)achondroplasia causing dwarfism and shortened limbs, using the Munchkin as its example. Cats affected by it—or with such a cat in their ancestry—cannot be used for breeding, registered, exhibited, promoted or advertised within FIFe. Fédération Internationale FélineFIFe — Health & Welfare Rules

6. Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF). General Breeding Policy.Particularly relevant to the multi-mutation argument: GCCF warns that “doubling or trebling” structural anomalies for novelty or oddity is likely to substantially increase the risk of harmful effects. Its policy specifically includes shortened limbs among structural anomalies on which it will not base recognition of new breeds. The Governing Council of the Cat FancyGCCF — General Breeding Policy (PDF)

7. Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF). Welfare Policy — Cats with Foreshortened Limbs.GCCF states directly that there is “no intention to recognise Munchkins or any other dwarf breed” and explains its broader opposition to breeding physical structures that may compromise welfare. The Governing Council of the Cat FancyGCCF — Welfare and breed-recognition policy

8. GCCF. “Unrecognised Breeds.”GCCF currently lists Munchkin, Minuet and other dwarf breeds as ineligible for recognition because of reported health concerns. Importantly for your article, the same resource specifically identifies some designer cats as “multi-mutation” breeds when explaining why they are ineligible. The Governing Council of the Cat FancyGCCF — Unrecognised Breeds