The Skookum cat is one of the dwarf cats of which there are no less than thirteen breeds.
All are created by crossing cat breeds with normal legs with the founding dwarf cat, the Munchkin. The mutant gene that produces the dwarfism is dominant.
The Skookum is a cross between the Munchkin and the LaPerm cat breed. The LaPerm is one of the Rex cat breeds with a curly coat so it is no surprise that this cat, as the above picture clearly shows, is a short legged curly coated cat. The rex type fur is low shedding.
There is the notable disparity in leg length, the hind legs being noticeably longer than the forelegs.
An interesting subject is the naming of this cat breed. Roy Galusha created the Skookum in 1990s and he explains the naming of the breed on this page: The dwarf cat and the origin of the breeds.
License see note
In brief, the name Skookum was carefully considered by Roy and this an an extract from the story behind the name:
“……A local Native American word that comes from the Chinook language and was part of the Chinook Trade Language was Skookum (pronounced Skoo Kum). The word Skookum means mighty, powerful or great. It is also used to signify good health or good spirits. If someone really likes something, they might refer to it as being really skookum (“Boy that apple pie is skookum”) or if you really like a horse (“that is one skookum horse)….”
The middle cat is a Skookum kitten. I’ve lost the credit – please notify me. Unfortunately, the naming of this cat became a contentious issue with TICA. They thought that it could translated to mean “scary monster”.
The Skookum cat is registered with the Dwarf Cat Association and TICA as an experimental breed. This breed is also recognized by the Rare and Exotic Feline Registry and as a new breed by Catz Incorporated the New Zealand National Registry for Cats.
The dwarf cats generally are agile athletic cats despite their short stature. They have a cobby body conformation. If you wish you can read lots more about the dwarf cat breeds by clicking on this link: Dwarf Cats and Miniature Cats. There are links on that page to the other dwarf cats.
Here’s some more information on the cats that make the Skookum cat:
LaPerm cat
This is a well established curly haired cat that is either short or longhaired. The above link takes you to a comprehensive discussion on the breed.
Munchkin
The founding dwarf cat and a popular and well known dwarf cat. The link takes you to some fine Helmi Flick photographs and a full description.
Photo center of page: Permission granted by image author and owner of cat in photo, Beth Fillman, for the promotion of education.
P.S. This page has been re-dated to 14th Dec 2018. It was written in around 2008.
K I have a question. Skookum Cat bred with a munchkin and a la-perm if the have long legs what are they some please tell me. I have a litter but they all long legs. Are they still Skookum. Or what.
I think the desire to own rare and exotic animals is exactly the same as the human’s desire to own an expensive car or any other manufactured item. Purebred cats are “manufactured”. Many people just have not got the right attitude towards animals. Taken globally there are more people with the wrong attitude towards animals as those with the correct attitude. The wrong attitude is treating animals as non-sentient beings.
The Skookum is not that desirable. More cute and rare than exotic. The breed failed to be honest.
There’s so much desire to “own” something rare or exotic, or in this case “designer”. I wonder about this. I understand the attraction to a cute cat or other animal, as you’ve covered in other posts. But would a conscious cat lover be “dying” to have one, and to breed more? What’s the motivation?
I guess when money is no object, people buy what they want through whatever means. I think there’s a reason that this cat mutation isn’t so available.
I understand your concerns about dwarf cats. The cat associations have similar concerns. They are popular though.
I understand your goal for specific breeding, I show IGs and own both Iggys and cats. However I am concerned with what is done with the litters and cats that are born and do not meet the “new” breed standards and/or goals.As precious as the cat is, it is deliberate breeding of an abnormality, ie dwarfism, and if an irresponsible owner owned one and it was lost, would it be able to protect itself? I am concerned because there are so many puppy mills based on designer hybrid dogs and would absolutely be crushed if this happened to cats. Thank you for reading and your time. Blessings to you and your cats.
The best thing you can do, Margaret, is to contact the Dwarf Cat Association. Google “Dwarf Cat Association” and you will find their website.
I don’t think there are any breeders left and if there are it will only be a handful in the USA. Good luck.