Skookum
The Skookum crosses the Munchkin with the LaPerm, producing a short-legged cat with a curly coat and curled whiskers.
It was developed in the United States in the 1990s by Roy Galusha and takes its name from a Chinook word meaning mighty or great. It is very rare.
It weighs 1.8 to 3 kilograms, with curls that can be loose waves or tight ringlets, and a notably full ruff in longhaired individuals. Temperament is reported as lively, inquisitive and affectionate — the LaPerm side is known for being outgoing. The LaPerm's rex gene is dominant and, unlike some coat mutations, carries no associated health problems; the Munchkin side brings the usual dwarf considerations.
2 skookum photos, newest first
Living with a skookum
Handle the coat lightly. LaPerm-type curls are best maintained with occasional gentle combing rather than brushing, which straightens them. Many owners simply let the coat do what it does.
LaPerms and their crosses often moult dramatically, sometimes going nearly bald before regrowing a fuller coat. It looks alarming and is normal.
Short legs mean low-entry litter trays, steps up to anything high, and food, water and resting places reachable without jumping.
Ask about lordosis and pectus excavatum, which are screened for in short-legged kittens, and note that two short-legged cats are never bred together.
The breed is small in number, so choose a breeder who will discuss outcrossing and health testing in specific terms.
General guidance, not veterinary advice. Individual cats vary, and anything about a specific animal is a question for a vet who has seen it.
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