The Munchkin is a charming breed of cat with short legs. Munchkins - cats with short paws Cats with small paws

Perhaps everyone knows short-legged dachshund dogs, but few pet lovers know that among the representatives of the cat family there are individuals with short legs. This unusual and funny breed of cats also has a name and is called munchkins. Unusual cats with short legs and pretty faces have recently appeared more and more often in various nurseries, and cat lovers are happy to purchase this “miracle of nature.” Peace-loving and docile munchkins quickly win the hearts of all household members and become real family members. So where did this unusual breed of cats come from? short paws?

The history of the origin of munchkin cats

In Russia, this breed of cat is still little known, but in Europe these short-legged cats are the most common. Munchkins are pretty young breed and they appeared in the 80s of the last century. In the United States, a woman named Sandra Hochenedel adopted a cat with short crooked legs into her home. Sandra picked up the kitty, who was soon to lamb, on the street and gave her the nickname “Blackberry.”

It is from the day of birth of the Ezhevichka kittens that it is customary to count the history of the Munchkin breed. All the cubs of the short-legged cat had the same paws of non-standard length, but their health was not a cause for concern. Thus, the emergence unusual breed cats with short legs did not occur as a result of the painstaking and lengthy work of breeders, but because natural mutation. Exactly dominant gene provided many generations of Munchkin cats with short legs.

Thanks to the dominance of this gene, short-legged cats could be crossed with cats with limbs of normal length and, as a result of such mating, most of the kittens with short legs could be obtained.

Funny name the cats were given in honor of the tiny people who lived in the fabulous Blue Country, whom he described in his book "The Wizard of Oz", Lyman Frank Baum.

There is an assumption that short-legged cats appeared in the 30s of the last century in Great Britain, but local felinologists were unable to preserve the unusual breed of cats because of the outbreak of World War II. But nevertheless, some representatives of this breed survived in the Soviet Union. This is evidenced by references to short-legged cats by a German author who visited the USSR in the 50s. But, nevertheless, no official documents confirming the appearance of short-legged cats before the 80s were found.

The munchkin cat breed was officially registered in the 90s, and at the same time the short-legged pets received recognition from the International Cat Association.

Appearance and varieties of cats with short legs

Munchkin cats are divided into subspecies based on the length of their limbs. So, short-legged munchkins are:

• dwarf;
• standard;
• ultra-short.

The color can be varied, and according to the length of the coat, munchkins are divided into short-haired and long-haired. At the same time, the short-haired representatives of the breed have a “plush” short coat, while the long-haired ones have an elongated, silky coat with a well-developed undercoat. Cats have almond-shaped eyes of any color.

In some cases, short-legged cats will give birth to one or more kittens with normal limb lengths. But such kittens are not discarded from breeding, since they are also carriers of the gene and their offspring will have short legs.

Munchkin variety

Munchkin character

Despite the short legs, these cats are very mobile and active. They, just like them, love to jump onto various high surfaces, and do it quite deftly. And the tail actually serves as a “fifth paw” for munchkins. If the cat needs to look around, he sits on his hips and, stretching out, leans on his tail. The pet presses its short front paws to its chest.

Munchkins are friendly and docile in nature.. Kittens love active games and never show aggression towards small children. They quickly adapt to a new home and find mutual language with all household members and other pets, they love to spend time with the owner. Easy to learn and therefore the owner, if desired, can teach his short-legged pet various simple tricks.

Munchkins differ from other representatives of the cat family not only in their short legs, but also in several more unique features. Funny munchkins, for example, love to make hiding places. This feature furry pet in a sense, disciplines its owners. So, it’s better for them not to scatter their things all over the apartment, otherwise they will have to look for them in places they couldn’t even think of.

Another feature of munchkins, more characteristic of dogs, is the arrangement of their own place. Short-legged cats find a certain place and “attach” to it, considering it their personal refuge. It is better for the owner to buy a special house for cats for the munchkin if he does not want the pet to appropriate the owner’s chair for himself, “equipping” it with handy tools found in the house.

Short-legged pets love walks fresh air . They can be trained to a leash as early as early age that in the future you can calmly walk with your cat in the park.

Representatives of this breed are quite easy to care for. The care is standard and consists of the following:

When choosing a tray for a munchkin, it is worth considering that representatives of this breed like to cope with both needs at the same time and therefore it is desirable that the “toilet” be larger. The sides of the tray should be low so that short-legged pets can easily climb into it.

Feeding

Representatives of this breed are under no circumstances can't feed plant foods , because cats' stomachs cannot digest them. The diet of a short-legged cat must consist of high-quality dry industrial feed and lean meat dishes. In small quantities, occasionally, you can also give sea ​​fish, and once every couple of weeks feed the cat a chicken egg.

Munchkins should not be overfed as they tend to become obese.. Don’t forget that your pet’s water bowl should always be in the public domain. The water should be filtered, not running. It must be renewed every day, and the bowl must be washed thoroughly.

Average duration The lifespan of short-legged cats is about 15 years, given that proper feeding and compliance with all rules for care and maintenance.

Price of short-legged kittens

In the United States and Europe, short-legged cats are very popular among numerous felinologists. She also gains fame in Russia, still remaining a rather rare breed cat. Due to their low prevalence, the price of munchkins is quite high. The price depends largely on the exterior and starts from $250, rising in some cases to $800.

Today it is very difficult to find a person who would be indifferent to animals. This is probably why, according to statistics, about 70% of houses or apartments have pets. They help a person brighten up your loneliness and give love that even living people cannot give. One of the most desirable animals in the house is a cat. Since ancient times, there have been beliefs that it was these mustachioed friends of man who possessed supernatural powers.

For example, they could take the pain of their owner for themselves, see some otherworldly activity and protect the house from it. And it is also known that it is human nature to choose everything extraordinary for themselves, and even cats can ideally fit this description.

Now we are talking about one of the most unusual representatives of the cat family, namely cats with short legs. The munchkin cat breed, also known as the dachshund cat, has gained wide popularity around the world due to its extraordinary appearance. Their main trump card is considered to be paws that are unusually small for our eyes. Despite their defect, if you can call it that, these “gnomes” are more active than any other cat. They move around like ferrets and don't actually sit in one place for a second.

Origin story

These cats got the very name “munchkin” from the little mythical men from fairy tales about the Land of Oz. . The history of these unique animals begins in 1983, in the USA. One evening, a resident of Louisiana, Sandra Hochenedel, found under an old, abandoned van small lump wool It was a dirty, hungry cat with unusually short legs. The woman thought that the animal was crippled due to the harsh conditions in which she had lived before, and took her to her home.

It soon turned out that the cat was expecting offspring and absolutely all newborn kittens adopted their mother’s defect. The day when Brambleclaw's babies (that was the cat's name) were born is considered the moment when the Munchkin breed was born, and the babies inherited short legs as a result of a natural mutation.

Description of the breed

Contemplation of representatives This breed evokes in everyone a whole palette of different emotions - starting with pity and ending with pure delight. It is very difficult to hide your smile at the sight of such a charming creature. And even despite the fact that the breed standard has not yet been fully decided, you will recognize a munchkin out of a thousand. A wide head, a medium nose with a slight deflection, confident, high-set ears, a tail like a flowing feather, and beautiful eyes, shaped like a walnut, and each color is deep and unique.

Paws are main feature of this breed, separating them from all other cats. They are short but straight. And in terms of their activity, munchkins are no different from ordinary ones. domestic cat. The weight of short-legged animals ranges from 2 to 6 kilograms, and their shiny and smooth coat is famous for its different colors.

Since species of any animal are divided into subspecies, It is also worth highlighting three main varieties of munchkins:

• Dwarf.
• Standard.
• Ultra short.

Varieties

Today, in addition to purebred munchkins, there are already many targeted selections, that is, a symbiosis of two breeds, one of which is the short-legged one. This crossing of these animals can be combined into a small rating:

Character of four-legged animals

It's clear to everyone that the owners of their pets will never speak of them in a bad light. Munchkin owners are included in this list and respond particularly well to their companions. Munchkins are considered one of the most gentle and affectionate cats. Despite their minor defects, they are self-sufficient, intelligent and cheerful. Don't expect these cuties to make a mess in your house and... broken dishes- they are simply incapable of this. They easily get used to new people in the house and also do not suffer from neuroses.

Unusual habits of cats

Like all earthly creatures, even cats have their quirks. They will help you overcome your laziness and disorganization, since they will drag away all the scattered things away from human eyes. Also, this little prankster respects his personal space and asks this of you. So you'll have to get a small one, a cozy home for him.

Health Features

The only problem of little charmers is called lordosis, namely weakening spinal muscles, due to which it descends into the chest. It is difficult for the cat to move due to the pressure on the spine internal organs. This disease is rare, but it is very difficult to treat because it is not sufficiently developed. Therefore, experts recommend regularly visiting the veterinarian with your animal.

The love we receive should also be given to others. And munchkins are, first of all, cats that have their own specific needs. This baby requires attention and care. So be prepared for gentle combing of the fur, complex manipulations of washing the cat and also caring for the ears, eyes and claws. The most important point is the toilet - the sides should be low to suit your pet's needs. These animals are not special gourmets, but they also need to carefully monitor their diet. A little dry food will be enough for them. feed or natural meat. If you follow these tips, your munchkins will be very grateful to you.

Price range

There are few representatives of this breed, but they are extremely popular. The price range starts from $250, and depending on the exterior, can reach the figure of 800. There is a possibility that due to the uniqueness of these fluffy animals, getting animals will be somewhat problematic. But, believe me, after this little miracle crosses the threshold of your home with its paws, you will never regret it.

The Munchkin cat breed is one of the most unusual. Munchkins are short-legged cats. Because of their short legs, Munchkin cats are often called dachshunds. In this article you will find a description and photo of the Munchkin breed, learn the character of these cats, and also find information about the features of care and maintenance of Munchkin cats.

The description of the Munchkin breed should begin with a consideration of the most unusual feature of these cats - their short legs. Munchkin paws are several times shorter than those of a normal one. domestic cat. However, this does not stop them from leading full image life and does not affect mobility. Otherwise, the appearance of munchkins is no different from other cats.

The Munchkin cat breed comes in long-haired and short-haired varieties. These cats have smooth, shiny and silky fur. It is very dense, with moderate undercoat and good protective properties. On the lower part of the body the hair is longer than on other areas, and fur collar stands out mainly in long-haired munchkins. Munchkin cats can come in a variety of colors and color combinations.

Munchkin cats have large expressive eyes, a round head, an elongated body, short legs and a long tail. The eye color of these cats is not related to color and can have different colors. The Munchkin's wide-set ears are medium in size. The hind legs of these cats are longer than the front ones. The munchkin's weight varies from 2 to 5 kg. Cats larger than cats. The average life expectancy of munchkins is 12 years.

The description of the Munchkin breed includes another unusual feature of these cats. Munchkins love to sit on hind legs, keeping vertical position body and hanging its short front legs on the sides. In this pose they look especially cute and are very reminiscent of kangaroos. Short-legged animals can remain in this position for quite a long time and often sit for hours in front of the window, watching what is happening on the street.

The history of the Munchkin breed originates from the state of Louisiana. In 1983, one of its residents picked up a cat with short legs on the street. The woman took pity on the animal, took it home and surrounded it with care. The family loved the cat very much and named it Blackberry. The hostess even found a mate for Ezhevichka.

The resulting offspring created a real sensation. The kittens that were born had short legs, although Ezhevichka was paired with a cat with legs standard size. As it turned out later, Brambleclaw was a carrier of a natural mutation. The Munchkin breed did not arise as a result of selection, but due to spontaneous mutation. Munchkins have the achondroplasia gene, which is responsible for short legs. If at least one of the parents has such a gene, then the kittens will definitely be born with short legs.

The same gene is responsible for short stature at dachshunds Short-legged cats have gained recognition all over the world. Munchkins appeared in Russia only in the early 2000s. The breed was named after munchkins (on English language"munchkins") - little people from the book about the magical land of Oz.

The munchkin cat has a wonderful character. They are very peaceful, intelligent, affectionate and sociable. Friendly and patient character Munchkin cats make them one of the best cat pets. The Munchkin cat breed is very inquisitive; these cats get along well even with children. The nature of the Munchkin cat is very calm, but if necessary, they can quite stand up for themselves.

Munchkins' short legs do not prevent them from running and jumping quickly. These are very funny, nimble and curious creatures. Munchkin cats are energetic, agile and fast. Munchkins run quite fast and stomp their short legs very funny. Munchkins cannot jump high, but they are very active, so they will always find an alternative option to climb higher.

Munchkin cats are amazing creatures that are full of warmth and tenderness towards people. Munchkins adapt very easily and quickly to the regime of their owners. These cats love to take part in family gatherings, household conversations and always sense a person’s mood. Munchkins treat guests with friendliness and interest. The munchkin cat's docile nature allows it to get along well with other animals in the house. These cats can walk on a leash and love to travel.

There is one small flaw in the munchkin cat's character. They love to take possession of various small things. If a munchkin lives in your house and some little thing is missing, look for it in your pet’s favorite secret corners. As for Munchkin kittens, you often have to look for them yourself. Kids are very curious and often get into difficult situations, climbing into hard-to-reach places. This is especially true for various hills, which, having climbed, they cannot get down themselves.

The content of Munchkin is quite simple. Munchkins are clean and tidy cats, quite unpretentious in care and do not have serious problems with health. The only one weak point This breed has a back. Munchkins are genetically predisposed to a disease such as back lordosis, a weakening of the spinal muscles. This disease causes problems with the heart and lungs. This disease occurs in other cats, but munchkins are more likely than other breeds to suffer from it. Therefore, you should definitely visit your veterinarian regularly.

Keeping a munchkin requires a balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals. These short-legged cats can be fed as homemade food, and premium dry food. Munchkins are unpretentious when it comes to food. The main thing is that the food is varied and healthy. Ready-made feed cover all needs essential vitamins and provide good nutrition munchkin.

When feeding natural products The basis of the diet should be lean meat. In addition, it is necessary to give dairy products, cereals and vegetables. A couple of times a week you can add fish and eggs. IN percentage optimal diet looks like this: meat – 60%; vegetables – 30%; cereals – 10%. Munchkins tend to set excess weight, which leads to health problems, so do not overfeed your pet.

Caring for munchkins is quite simple and does not require special effort. You will need to purchase various toys, a tray, bowls and install a scratching post. Don't forget to arrange a corner in the house for your pet where he can relax and be alone. If you have big house, you can place a basket or a couple of boxes in different parts of the house.

Munchkin care includes a set of standard procedures, such as: cleaning ears and teeth, combing, trimming claws, etc. The coat needs to be brushed at least once a week; long-haired munchkins will need to be brushed more often. To do this, you should purchase special combs. The munchkin should be bathed only with specialized shampoos and no more than 3-4 times a year.

If you liked this article, subscribe to site updates to be the first to receive only the latest and interesting articles about animals.

Since their debut in 1995, the Munchkin cat has been a source of controversy among experts. It was assumed that due to their short legs and skeletal development, cats would have a shorter lifespan than other animals. But time has proven that short legs are not a physical defect, but distinctive feature. Ironically, the discussions around the new breed contributed to the growth of its popularity.

In the article we will tell you what the munchkin breed is, whether there are consequences for unusually short legs and where to buy a short-legged kitten.

Origin story

Munchkin cats are not the result of a dubious experiment created by human hands, their original appearance they are due to an autosomal recessive mutation.

Even at the beginning of the 20th century, cats with characteristic short legs were found everywhere on the European continent. However, the breed known today originated in the USA, in the state of Louisiana.

In 1983, Sandra Hochenedel adopted a cat with short legs who was expecting offspring and named her Blackberry. Kittens born after a certain period inherited the characteristics of their mother. From the Blackberry offspring, using ordinary domestic cats, the targeted breeding of the breed began, which was named munchkin in honor of the munchkin - a small people from the fairy tale “The Wizard of Oz”.

In the early 1990s, a group of breeders applied to the International Cat Association (TICA) to register the breed. In the fall of 1994, after much controversy, the organization accepted the Munchkin into the development program, which tracks the pedigrees of animals involved in the breed's selection and breeding statistics under the supervision of the Genetics Committee. The CFA still does not accept the Munchkin breed, considering it genetically inferior due to its abnormally short legs.

Description of the Munchkin breed

Apart from shortened limbs, the munchkin is visually no different from ordinary cats, with short or long hair. The outcross program under which the breed is developing provides for genetic diversity, for this purpose, as well as to obtain necessary features in offspring, in addition to ordinary domestic animals, other breeds are used. At the same time, the task of breeders is to ensure that the result of selection does not resemble a miniature copy of a purebred pet.

Standard

The Munchkin breed standard is established by the International Cat Association (TICA). In addition to the characteristic shortened paws and slightly rounded chest, the exterior responds following criteria:

• Head: relatively wide, is a modified wedge with slightly rounded contours. High cheekbones, moderate muzzle with a firm chin, flat forehead and nose middle length, in which a slight deflection is permissible.
• Ears: triangular are relatively large, vertically located, wider at the base with rounded tips.
• Eyes: large, in shape walnut , located widely and at a moderate angle to the base of the ears. The cat's color does not affect their color, but it should be clean and expressive.
• Torso: of medium length, with pronounced muscles, strong thighs. Due to the more elongated hind limbs, it is noted smooth rise of the body from withers to croup animal. The tail is of medium thickness, tapers to a rounded tip, and is carried vertically when moving.
• Limbs: short, the rear ones are slightly larger than the front ones. Forelegs in length are approximately 7.5 cm. The four paws are set straight, without bending in or out.
• average life expectancy Munchkin's is 14-16 years old, which corresponds to the typical age of cats of other breeds.
• Standard weight adult cats is from 2 to 4 kg.
• The breed allows both short and long thick and soft wool, with a developed undercoat, no restrictions regarding color.

Health

When the registration of the new breed was considered, some experts were against it because they believed that cats were genetically inferior and would have the same health problems as dogs with short legs, such as dachshunds. However, research shows that the Munchkin breed is different good health and doesn't have much specific diseases.

Only occasionally in pets lordosis is diagnosed. The disease consists of a curvature of the spine that bends inward into the body due to shortening of the muscles that support it. correct position. This puts pressure on the trachea, lungs and heart. Lordosis - relatively rare disease and cats of other breeds are prone to it. In addition, Munchkins are predisposed to pectus excavatum.

Character

These unusual short-legged cats are distinguished by their cheerful disposition and friendliness, which makes them ideal companions. Munchkin social by nature, gets along with children and pets who live in the house. They need constant communication, which means they cannot be left alone for a long time.

Cats are easy to train, so early childhood pets easy to teach tricks. Short legs are not a deterrent for climbing curtains, bookcases or sofas. They are amazingly fast and flexible when needed.

Munchkins are observant. You can often see standing on hind legs a cat that is trying to see what has attracted its attention. For this manner they are even called "kangaroo cats".

Photos of colors

The munchkin color, as mentioned earlier, can be absolutely any color.

black shorthair white with brown markings sand white chinchilla brown tabby tortoiseshell

Care

Cats are easy to keep and do not require complex actions from the owner. To keep your pet healthy and beautiful, you need to follow the recommendations given.

Wool

Cats are characterized by high cleanliness, however, the owner must systematically carry out grooming, which includes two mandatory hygiene procedures:

• Bathing. Cats do not like to take baths, but they should be bathed at least once every three months. At the same time, using specially designed shampoos without strong odor.
• Combing wool. Munchkins need to be brushed systematically to remove dead and matted hair. For cats with short hair, the procedure is carried out at least once a week, and long-haired pets need daily brushing.

Nutrition

It is important to stick to a predetermined feeding schedule to help avoid digestive problems. The frequency of feeding directly depends on the age of the pet:

• up to 3 months - 5 times a day;
• from 4 months to a year - 3 or 4 times;
• from 1 year - 2-3 times a day.

The diet must be of high quality and appropriate to the age of the animal. The basis of cat nutrition is lean meat, which is combined with vegetables and grains. Before serving the meat, it is boiled or scalded with boiling water. The cat is provided with access to fresh water. Ready-made commercial food is best given to adult munchkins.

Walking your pet

Due to their compact size, Munchkins are suitable for keeping in apartments and country houses. They, like other cats, in addition to living quarters, are drawn to explore the surrounding nature, walk on green grass and run after birds.

For this purpose, to avoid dangerous situations, the owner walks the pet using a special harness. If the territory of a country house is fenced, then the cat is allowed to explore the yard without a leash.

Munchkin cats travel easily, so the owner can not part with his pet, but take it with him on a trip out of town or on vacation.

Breed card

Characteristics of a cat		Notes
General information	Characteristic looking cat, great companion
Character	Friendly, calm cat
Appearance	Short-legged cats are otherwise similar to regular domestic cats.	Comes from an ordinary street cat
Behavior at home	Affectionate, moderately active, can run quickly if necessary	Jumping on short legs is quite difficult, so that your things lying on the shelves will remain intact
Care	Just like any other cat. Longhaired Munchkins have a silky coat, making them easier to care for than many other longhaired breeds.	Shorthaired Munchkins require less maintenance when it comes to grooming.
Health problems	Special problems no health problems noted	Fears that munchkins, like dachshunds, may suffer from spinal problems have not been confirmed

How to choose a kitten

It is better to buy a Munchkin kitten from a professional breeder. The age of the future pet is allowed from 3 months. Before purchasing, the future owner needs to pay attention to the following points:

• Kitten behavior and activity;
• Compliance of the exterior with the breed standard;
• Signs of illness, such as pus-filled eyes or nasal discharge.

Important! When purchasing a kitten from a nursery, the new owner must be presented with the following documents:

• Purchase and sale agreement, which will stipulate important conditions transactions.
• Pedigree for the Munchkin.
• Veterinary passport, which contains notes about the vaccinations given.
• Instructions for keeping a kitten.

The cost of a kitten varies from 40 to 50 thousand in Moscow nurseries, in other regions of Russia, the price fluctuates from 20 to 30 tr. At the same time, a munchkin with an excellent pedigree will cost much higher, and kittens with minor defects sell cheaper.

Breeding

An unusual fact in the development of long-haired and short-haired forms of the breed is crossing with outbred cats. As a result solid color is less common compared to tabi color.

When munchkins mate with each other, all kittens have short legs. But in the first generation, when munchkins mate with ordinary cats, no results.

Until recently, it was difficult to purchase a munchkin kitten in Russia. Today you can buy a purebred pet from a breeder in almost every big city countries.

Thus, there are several nurseries in Moscow, the largest of which are

Short-legged cats (the Munchkin breed) have admirers all over the world. And no wonder - these cute creatures with short legs look very unusual and interesting. Many people believe that kittens of this breed have family connection with dachshunds, but of course this is not the case. Our conversation today will focus on how to properly care for such unusual pets.

History of the breed

Short-legged pets come from America; they were first mentioned in the early 19th century. There is talk about the origin of their family interesting story, which says that the ancestor of the clan was cat named Blackberry, which means blackberry. For some unknown reason, she had very short legs. Most of her kittens were born with the same paws.

Popularity in America this breed typed after the publication of a magazine, on the cover of which there was a photograph of a short munchkin. The breed was officially recognized in 1991 in New York.

These animals arrived in Russia only 10 years later. The first Munchkin breed exhibition took place in America in 2003.

There is a lot of controversy surrounding this breed. Some find this breed touching and sick, while others believe that working on breeding and maintaining such a breed is inhumane and immoral.

Short legs are result gene mutation , which did not affect the spine and back formation. The spine has retained its shape, so munchkins have the same flexibility as other cat breeds.

Munchkin cat has another one interesting feature- she is very likes to stand on its hind legs, pressing the front ones to the body. This looks very unusual and is typical only for cats of this breed.

Character of short-legged cats

Breed of these cats is friendly and playful. The most important thing for them is attention; the munchkin cat has a hard time withstanding loneliness. A pet This breed will try by any means to be played with, caressed, stroked and hugged. Munchkins get along well with children, but the child must know how to behave with the animal so that they do not harm each other. Many people note that short-legged cats are smart enough to follow commands, so you can spend some time training and teaching some commands.

Cats of this breed are very sociable and always welcome guests. They get along quite well with other pets. Moreover, it is more difficult to get along with cats than with other pets, for example, dogs.

Absolutely not aggressive, but if it comes to self-defense, they can stand up for themselves. Quite active and mobile, they love to walk in the fresh air. They run quickly and jump well, deftly climb high furniture and curtains, so from the first days kittens should be taught order.

They respond well to training; there are usually no problems with litter box training. They are patiently able to endure a long move or transportation. They settle into a new place quite quickly.

Munchkins are very easy to care for. Important remember a few simple rules:

Nutrition

This breed of cat is not picky when it comes to nutrition. In principle, the nutrition of the Machkin is not very different from the nutrition of other purebred cats.

It is worth noting that the diet must include a large number of squirrel, preferably of animal origin. Protein will strengthen muscles and this will help avoid problems with the spine. To do this, owners add boiled meat (avoid pork and lamb) and fish, cereals, vegetables, liver and egg yolk. The main thing is that the diet is balanced, because this is the key to the health of your pet.

If you feed your pet dry food, then you need to choose those that contain sufficient amounts of protein. It should be holistic or premium or super premium food.

IN free access should always be pure water . The pet should drink bottled or simply well-purified liquid. You should not give your munchkin water containing silver.

Health

Overall, we can say that this is healthy breed cats Problems with the spine are extremely rare, unlike short-legged dogs.

Sometimes there are cases of obesity, so you need to control that your pet does not overeat; for this you need to determine daily norm feed, depending on age, and feed at the same time.

Munchkins live quite a long time. The average life expectancy of cats of this breed is approximately 13-15 years. To ensure that your new pet will delight you for many years to come, you should carefully monitor the vaccination schedule.

Crossbreeding

You cannot cross two short-legged munchkins, otherwise most of the litter will die. Crossing is usually carried out with ordinary purebred cats, or long-legged munchkins. One gene will be enough for kittens to be born with short legs, although some of the litter may turn out to be babies with long legs.

If you decide to start breeding munchkins as a business, then you will have to carefully monitor the purity of the breed, sometimes giving the opportunity to crossbreed with cats of other breeds - this way you will protect yourself from the death of most kittens, and expand color scheme their pets.

Average price of munchkin kittens - 20-30 thousand rubles, however, the cost of a breeding cat can reach up to 50 thousand.

Munchkin - cats with short legs