Luffy literally reacts to the Minks by saying they're all like Chopper. Chopper has formed a familial relationship with a Mink, Carrot. Chopper is shown to be attracted to that reindeer Mink, the only character in the series he's shown attraction to at all.
So yes, Chopper's basically a Mink. All his life he's felt he was some in between monster that was too human to be animal, and too much of an animal to be a human. That was his entire character arc pre-skip, he's an anomaly. So a group of characters who, like Chopper, are a mix of both human and animal? He's closer to them than he is any other race.
So Choppers like a self made mink in a way you’re saying ?:kizabat:
Exactly, he's not explained it deeply, and as such has gave no reason why Chopper couldn't learn to utilise it.
Remember, Devil Fruits are also DNA based. And Chopper has already shown he's a genius when it comes to experimenting with DF's, because he's the only Zoan in the series with more than three forms.
I'm not the one throwing about headcanon as facts here. I'm talking about potential developments, none of which have been contradicted by the manga. And pointing out that even some things we thought as facts have later been proven wrong.