home Folk remedies The Munchkin is a breed of cat with short legs. Description and photo of the Munchkin cat breed. Breeds of cats with short legs Breed of short-legged cats name

The Munchkin is a breed of cat with short legs. Description and photo of the Munchkin cat breed. Breeds of cats with short legs Breed of short-legged cats name

Munchkins are enough rare breed short-legged cats. People often call them dachshund cats. However, this definition is not entirely accurate. The body is elongated, but munchkin cats are constitutionally no different from their counterparts, with the exception of the length of their paws. These cats do not belong to selective breeds; they appeared as a result of a spontaneous mutation.

These cats are born thanks to the presence dominant gene achondroplasia: when one of the parents has such a gene in the genotype, there is a high probability of short-legged cats among the offspring.

History of the breed

Since the 40s of the twentieth century, short-legged cats began to appear. In 1944, a British veterinarian wrote about four generations of such cats, which were absolutely healthy and differed from their counterparts only in the length of their limbs. Later, in 1983, in Louisiana, an American woman found a pregnant cat hiding under a truck from a bulldog that was chasing her. The woman took pity on her and took her to her home. When a cat gave birth to kittens, half of them... Such an accidental mistake of nature gave impetus to the beginning of the formation of the munchkin breed.

This species was introduced to the general public only in 1991 at the exhibition of the International Association of Cat Fanciers in Madison Square Garden. Skeptics of that time argued that breeding short-legged cats could lead to deformities and spoil the health of the animals, causing problems with the spine and paws. In protest, one of the judges resigned right at the show, calling the breed “an insult to breeders.” But after medical research at the University of Kansas, it turned out that short legs do not limit the mobility of cats and do not affect their vital functions. Also, no matter how they studied the unfortunate cat, the researchers did not notice any problems with the spine, which are characteristic of short-legged dog breeds - corgis and dachshunds.

Video about cats with short paws

The Munchkin was officially recognized as a breed by TICA in 1995. However, many world associations still do not consider munchkins to be a separate breed. Therefore, in Europe, kangaroo cats, or dachshund cats as they are also called, are quite rare. There are only a few nurseries that breed munchkins. But all the controversy surrounding the “professional suitability” of munchkins does not in any way prevent them from arousing feelings of deep tenderness in people. They are very good-natured.

Not all associations officially recognize munchkins.

Habits and character

Many owners clearly see canine traits in their pets - munchkins love to walk on a harness, are peaceful with other animals, and easily adapt to new surroundings. These cats are excellent companions and can easily endure travel and trips. They are quite mobile, quite capable of jumping onto high surfaces, but they descend completely from there. in an unusual way- like a marten, due to the non-trivial structure of the body. At the same time, a fall from a height can cause serious damage to munchkins, and it is not advisable to keep these purrs outside.

The munchkin (also known as the understated cat) got its name in honor of the short characters from the children's book "The Wizard of Oz."

The habits of this breed are especially interesting. For example, to look around, cats sit on their hips and use their tail as a kind of support to maintain balance. This adds to their resemblance to meerkats. Moreover, tailed animals can remain in this funny position for quite a long time. Naturally, short legs do not help munchkins to be good hunters, however, these purrs have a funny feature - like magpies, they love to collect small things and hide them in secluded places.

The spine of cats is not affected by the mutation and is flexible.

Wool and coloring

Munchkin cats are divided into semi-longhair and shorthair. Types of colors can be completely different. In short-haired cats, the most common variations are Siamese, minky, sepia, color-point and other types of color with a pattern (spots, stripes). At the same time, on longhaired dogs the same colors will look different. On the long coat of munchkins, smoky, silver, and .

The breed of cats with small paws is the Munchkin. This is an unusual dachshund cat, which has a standard body length, but its small paws are 2 or even 3 times shorter than those of its relatives. Besides external features, the animal also has behavioral originality.

So, in order to look around, representatives of the breed, instead of standing on their hind legs, sit on their hindquarters and are firmly fixed in this position, resting their tail on the floor. Cats can remain in this position for a very long time. The front legs, which at this time hang helplessly along the body, give the pets a resemblance to a kangaroo. If you look at the photo, you can see how funny the cat looks in this case.

Origin story

The breed was developed based on animals that had a random mutation that made their legs short. Special cats were discovered in Europe in the 30s of the 20th century. However, at that moment the breeders were not interested in them. Munchkins began their development as a breed in 1983 in Louisiana. In Russia, representatives of cats with small paws appeared only in 2001.

The name of the breed is taken from the popular children's fairy tale "The Wizard of Oz", where little people were called munchkins.

The mutation causing a decrease in the length of the legs is very strong and persists even if special cat meets a cat with paws of normal length. If you wish, you can find photographs of such special cats.

Breed standards

Since munchkins (a breed of cats with short legs) were bred on the basis of a random mutation of ordinary mongrel cats, their breed standards have a fairly wide framework. They are allowed:

any even colors;
any length of wool;
any combination of wool colors;
colors of any designs, including medallions.

Mutational changes affect only the cat’s small paws and do not affect the spine, which is why the cat remains quite mobile and can survive even in outdoor conditions.

This character domestic cat, which has small paws, is very cuddly. He is sociable and friendly, and is also highly intelligent. Find with them mutual language very easy, and therefore animals quickly become favorites of the whole family.

Despite all its peacefulness and affection, the animal can perfectly stand up for itself, if necessary, using its teeth, which are particularly strong and can easily cause serious damage. This compensates for the fact that short legs are not as strong in defense as long legs. This should be taken into account and not leave a child alone with an animal if he does not understand when the cat wants to take a break from communication and when it is possible to continue playing with it.

Body composition standards

The general standards for the body structure of a cat that has small paws as a breed characteristic are as follows::

medium-sized head with a long nose;
the ears are large, rounded, with pronounced pubescence;
the neck is quite long and graceful;
elongated body middle length, with well-developed muscles. Its size is like that of an ordinary cat;
the tail is proportional to the body;
paws are short, of equal thickness throughout their entire length;
the undercoat is developed quite well;
wool is high protective properties from unfavorable weather conditions and akin to that experienced by cats forced to live outside.

Appearance Munchkin cats are quite diverse, and therefore everyone, if desired, can choose an unusual pet of exactly the type they dreamed of. The description of cats is very attractive. They actively conquered the world. If you really want to, you can always find at least one nursery for breeding such cats.

Features of the breed

Representatives of the short-legged Munchkin cat breed have their own unique features, which in many ways equate them with dogs. Observing their behavior, you can decide that a cat is sometimes called a dachshund not only because of the structure of its limbs, but also because of its dog-like habits. The main habits that the Munchkin cat has, unusual for other cats, are the following::

Love for hiding places. The cat hides in them not food, but various objects that he liked as toys. Small paws drive them into inappropriate places on purpose. The cat deliberately hides its prey there so that the owner does not take this property away. Considering this feature of the pet, when it appears in the house, it is worth putting some things, including socks, out of the reach of the cat. Otherwise, some things simply will not be found, since it would never even occur to a person to look for a lost item in the most secluded corners of the apartment.
Arrangement of the nest. The cat, which has small paws, is distinguished by a pronounced genetic memory, and like its ancient ancestors, it diligently arranges dens for itself in what it considers a secluded place. Munchkins can make a nest for themselves in drawers and on cabinet shelves, in other furniture and other inappropriate places. The older the animal gets, the more attached it becomes to its shelter. In order for the cat’s peculiarity not to complicate the life of the owners, he must immediately buy a house in which he can relax in the same way as a dog does in his kennel.
Craving for walks. The Munchkin is not indifferent to being in the fresh air and strives with all his might to have a free exit from the room. Small paws don't make him a couch potato. To ensure that nothing happens to the animal, it must be constantly monitored during walks. This is due to the fact that they have small paws and munchkins will not always be able to quickly run away if necessary.

The easiest way to do this is to accustom your pet to a leash in the same way as a dog. The animal will be very happy to go to Fresh air in any weather, easily adapting to it due to the characteristics of its coat. Don't be surprised if your pet starts bringing a leash and collar in his mouth. A cat with small paws is very smart and will always be able to show that it wants to go for a walk.

The owners also note the cheerful disposition of their unusual pets. Munchkins, cats with short legs, are very willing to join children in fun activities, but only if they know the limits and do not cause him discomfort. The cat will not tolerate anything unpleasant for itself out of love for children and will quickly retire to its lair if it is offended. It will be very difficult to remove it from there, since the animal will begin to defend itself, first of all using its teeth, and not its small paws, since due to their short length The munchkin is not capable of actively using its claws in defense.

Caring for a short-legged pet

A cat with small paws is kept the same as an ordinary one, and therefore there are no special complex rules for caring for it. For a pet to have a comfortable life, you need to take care of it proper care, the same as what would be required if a cat with paws of normal length entered the family. The main recommendations for caring for a munchkin include the most necessary for many other breeds.

Thus, it becomes clear that the Munchkin, despite its special paws, requires the same care as an ordinary cat.

Diseases of cats with small paws

In general, munchkins have high immunity and do not suffer from frequent illnesses. Their average duration life is 15 years, like most cats who have ordinary paws.

As a cat ages, however, lordosis (curvature of the spine) may occur, but this health disorder can also appear in other breeds over the years. With lordosis, there is a significant change in pressure on the internal organs animal, from which they begin to malfunction. If the cat’s pathology is detected in time, its progression can be stopped and the pet’s active life can be extended.

The price of cats that have short legs is quite high, and they are also rare and quite difficult to find. Having decided to get such a pet, you will need to put in a lot of effort to find a kitten whose paws resemble a dachshund. However, every owner of a unique cat with unusually short legs will say that all the efforts to find a kitten and the financial expenditure on its purchase are worth it. However, it is worth remembering that even ordinary basement murks and murziks, having become members of the family, turn out to be the best and irreplaceable for their owners, and it does not matter at all how long their paws are.

The Munchkin is a relatively new breed of cat, characterized by very short limbs with normal other skeletal bones. This feature- not a consequence of selection work, but the result of natural genetic mutation. Their paws are 2-3 times smaller than those of a normal medium-sized animal, which is why they are often called dachshund cats.

Munchkins got their name in honor of the fairy-tale little people from the children's book by Lyman Frank Baum, "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz", whose representatives were distinguished by their cheerful disposition, sociability and friendliness.

Funny animals with short legs have another unusual feature - unlike other representatives cat family, dachshund cats, when they want to look at something, do not stand on their hind legs, as their relatives do, but sit comfortably on their hips, using their tail as a reliable support to maintain balance. This comical position in addition to the short front legs hanging along the body completes their funny image, which bears a striking resemblance to a kangaroo. They can stay in such a funny pose for quite a long time, which is bound to touch them and attract everyone’s attention.

The first mentions of munchkins date back to the 30s. XX century - in this period In different parts of Europe, reports appeared about unusual short-legged animals. In Germany, they were given the name kangaroo cat, thanks to their habit of inspecting their possessions while sitting in a “column”. In 1944, British veterinarians documented four generations of healthy, short-legged animals that were exactly like regular cats except for the length of their limbs. Second World War dealt a serious blow to this line, however, in the 1950s. shortlegged were seen in Russia, and in the 1970s - in the United States. Russian munchkins have received the nickname "Stalingrad kangaroo cats."

The modern history of the breed dates back to 1983, when a music teacher from the town of Rayville, Louisiana (USA), Sandra Hochenedel, found two pregnant cats under an old truck. The woman took one of them into her care and named her Blackberry. She attributed the non-standard length of her legs to hard street life and the consequences of illness. Imagine Sandra's surprise when Brambleberry's offspring inherited their mother's unique trait. As it turned out, the found cat was a carrier of a natural mutation that made it possible, when crossed with normal animals, to produce kittens with shortened limbs. Sandra gave one of the newborn cubs, a boy named Toulouse, to her close friend, and soon he gave birth to a large offspring of short-legged animals. It was these representatives of the Munchkins who gave birth to a new breed, which is still developing all over the world to this day.

American scientists, interested in the characteristics unusual cats, began researching the Blackberry offspring. They determined that the short legs of these animals have absolutely no effect on their health, in particular on the mobility of the spine, limbs and joints, which is characteristic of dog breeds with short legs, such as corgis and dachshunds.

Munchkins were introduced to the general public - felinologists and other cat lovers - in 1991 at the TICA show in Madison Square Garden. Then critics greeted the breed without much enthusiasm, complaining about the possible occurrence of health problems. Throughout the history of their development, cats with short legs have regularly been criticized by various experts.

In 1993, munchkins set foot on European lands, namely France. Around the same period, they appeared in Japan, where for several years they had the status of one of the most popular breeds domestic cats. In 1995, the International Cat Fanciers Association recognized the Longhaired Munchkin, and at the same time their first standard was developed.

Dachshund cats appeared in Russia in 2001. Their first registered representative was a beautiful semi-longhaired cat named Mimi Mee Pocket Herkules, who arrived at the Alexander-Fred cattery from South Africa. From the very first exhibitions, he attracted a lot of attention, and after a while he became the founder of the “Chapter Zero” nursery.

In 2014, a munchkin named Lilieput from Napa, California, was included in the Guinness Book of Records. as the shortest cat in the world. His height at the withers is 13.34 cm.

The birth of cats with short legs depends on the presence of the dominant achondroplasia gene in their genotype, and if one of the parents was a carrier of this gene, then short-legged babies will certainly appear among the offspring. Despite gene mutation, munchkins have retained the characteristics of their long-legged counterparts - their spine is flexible and has a similar shape, and the length of their legs has no effect on mobility and ability to survive.

Munchkins are medium-sized cats, males weigh 3-4 kg, females - 2-4 kg. Their body is elongated, wide, with a rounded chest and well-developed muscles. The neck is thick and muscular. The head, proportional to the body, has a wedge shape with rounded contours, the muzzle and nose are of medium length. There is an easy transition from the flat forehead to the nose. Munchkins' almond-shaped eyes are widely spaced and may have medium or big sizes. Medium or large ears are slightly rounded at the tips, proportional to the head, wider at the base. The presence of tassels on the ears is permissible only in long-haired animals. The tail is not too thick, tapers towards the end, and is positioned vertically when moving. The legs are short, the hind limbs may be longer than the forelimbs, which creates a slight slope from the sacrum to the shoulders.

There are two types of cats of this breed: short-haired and long-haired. Representatives of the first type have plush fur of medium length, while the latter have semi-long, silky hair. The colors of munchkins can be very diverse - all possible combinations are allowed. The most common colors in short-haired cats are variations of Siamese colors (minky, selia, color-point) and all types of patterned colors. Long-haired representatives are rarer, but elegant silver, smoky and bicolor colors are popular among them.

Cats of this breed can be praised endlessly - they have a wonderful character: intelligent, sociable, good-natured, cheerful, inquisitive, playful, affectionate, completely people-oriented. At the same time, they are self-sufficient, endowed with high intelligence, strong in spirit and able to stand up for themselves. They easily get along with cats and any other pets, without being embarrassed by their small stature.

Munchkins are incredibly curious animals, constantly wanting to get the maximum amount of information about an object that interests them. They are calm and balanced, it is almost impossible to get them angry. The kindness, calmness and tenderness hovering around these cute short-legged creatures always charges the atmosphere with positive energy.

Loving dachshund cats are not characterized by bright manifestations of aggression, but if necessary, the animals are able to defend their honor in a duel with yard cats. Thanks to their inherent mobility, munchkins lead their opponents into a dead end, because... It is extremely difficult for him to predict the next step and speed of an agile opponent.

Loyal munchkins love their owner more and more every day; they are always happy to make contact with him, sharing his mood, habits and character. New acquaintances and unfamiliar places are not a problem for these open-world animals, so they will become wonderful companions for people whose lives are filled with travel and relocation. Cats with short legs enjoy playing with toys and taking part in children's activities, even if it is burying in the sand, swaddling or riding in toy cars.

Despite the short length of their limbs, munchkins are agile, active and flexible cats. The short-legged animals are perfectly oriented in space and run quite quickly, moving their paws funny, like hedgehogs. They are able to climb onto low sofas, chairs, tables and beds, as well as conquer curtains and trees, deftly and quickly, just like ordinary cats. The movements of munchkins while jumping, running and conquering heights look harmonious and beautiful, reminiscent of the movements of a weasel or a mongoose. However, they cannot jump as high as their long-legged relatives, but they are quick to think alternative path to the target, lying through lower objects. Another funny feature of Munchkin dachshund cats is their tendency to take and hide small things they like in their “stash”.

Caring for representatives of this breed involves a standard set of procedures necessary for the well-being of the cat. A Munchkin with short hair only needs to be brushed once a week to remove dead hair. It is advisable to comb individuals with long hair more often - 2-3 times a week. Water procedures Munchkins do not like, however, they should be carried out several times a year as the animal gets dirty, using special shampoos for cats. The pet's eyes should be regularly wiped with a paper napkin or cotton pad soaked in tea leaves or plain water. The ears also need care - they need to be cleaned once a month using a piece of cotton wool or cotton swab. Every two weeks it is recommended to trim your pet's claws. This procedure should be carried out using special forceps. In addition, it is advisable to have two scratching posts in the house - a floor-mounted one and a wall-mounted one.

Cats of this breed need personal space - they often create their own kind of nests where they can retire and feel safe. Therefore, the owner is recommended to provide his pet with special place and put a basket or house there.

Munchkins love to spend their leisure time playing with a variety of toys. They prefer small objects for games in the form of balls or mice, which they can catch and proudly carry in their teeth, like some kind of trophy. Perky dachshund cats will be happy to start having fun, both with paper candy wrappers and with special educational toys. Munchkins easily get used to a leash and happily walk outside with their beloved owner.

Like all pets, cats of this breed need proper nutrition, whether artificial or natural food. The basis of the diet natural feeding- lean meat, seafood white fish, cereals, vegetables, offal, and in specialized cases - premium and super premium dry food. You should know that munchkins love to eat, which is why it is important to control the amount of food your pet eats in order to avoid obesity. Dachshund cats are not picky when it comes to food; the main thing is that the diet is balanced and includes everything important vitamins and microelements necessary for proper development animal.

The cost of Munchkin kittens can vary from 10 to 30 thousand rubles.

It is difficult to find a person who would be indifferent to kittens. After all, these defenseless, gentle creatures are full of incredible energy and excitement. For lovers of small animals, there are the smallest cat breeds. Almost all of them were bred by crossing the Munchkin breed with representatives of other breeds.

Rating of miniature domestic cat breeds

10. Bambino

Hairless cats with short legs were created by crossing munchkins with Canadian sphinxes. The name of the breed comes from the Italian word bambino, which translates as “child”. This breed was developed in the USA. Distinctive feature in addition to short legs and lack of hair, tassels on the tips of the ears are considered. Average weight the animal is 2200–4000 grams.

The bambino breed has a habit of sitting on hind legs. They got it from the munchkins.

9. Napoleon

This breed was created by crossing short-legged cat breeds called munchkins with Persian cats or exotics. The animals turned out to be very fluffy with short legs. They are often also called dwarf Persians. Representatives of the Napoleon breed weigh on average 2300–4000 grams.

The cats were named after the French Emperor Napoleon, who was short. The most interesting thing is that he had a phobia towards cats.

Representatives of this breed are often called “lambkin” or “dwarf rex”. The name comes from the English word lambkin, which translates as “lamb”. A distinctive feature of this breed is its weight from 1800 to 4000 grams and curly hair. The breed was created by crossing Selkirk Rex cats with Munchkins. On this moment it is considered experimental.

7. Munchkin

The Americans named this breed of cats munchkins in honor of the small people in Frank Baum’s work “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.” In the Russian version of the fairy tale, which is called “The Wizard of the Emerald City,” the author, A. Volkov, calls these people “munchines.”

Cats with short legs and elongated bodies are called munchkins. This breed was not artificially bred. It appeared in the 40s of the twentieth century. The reason for its appearance was a natural mutation. For the first time this breed began to be born in the UK and the USA. There is also information that miniature short-legged, but healthy cats were seen in Stalingrad. The average weight of males is 2700–4000 g, females – 1800–3600 g. Representatives of this breed love to sit on their hind legs.

The shortest cat in the world, listed in the Guinness Book of Records in 2014, is considered to be a Munchikin named Liliput. His height at the withers is only 13.34 cm.

6. Skookum

Cats with short legs and long wavy hair belong to the Skookum breed. They appeared as a result of crossing LaPerm cats with Munchkins. On average, Skookum cats weigh 2200–4000 grams, and male cats weigh 1800–3600 grams. A distinctive feature is that representatives of this breed have longer front legs than their hind legs.

Skookum cats should not be crossed with representatives of another breed, as this will result in kittens with deformed paws.

By crossing the Munchkin with the Canadian Sphynx and the American Curl, short-legged hairless cats with folded back ears were created, which were called Dwelfs. The weight of representatives of this breed ranges from 1800–3000 grams. At the moment, this breed does not yet have official status and is under the supervision of specialists. There are several dozen individuals around the world. The first representative of the Dwelfs appeared in 2009.

Dwelfs do not tolerate temperature changes well, as they are heat-loving animals.

Small short-haired cats with an unusual golden-cream color were discovered in the city-state of Singapore. Representatives of this breed lived mainly in ditches and drainpipes. That is why they are also called “child of the gutter.” Another name that is no less common is “love cat.” In the 70s of the twentieth century, cats were brought to the United States, and in the 80s they were brought to Europe.

Average weight adult cat is 2000 g, for a cat – 2500–3000 g.

American breeders, as a result of crossing Munchkins with Canadian Sphynxes, obtained a breed of cats called Minskins. The animal reaches 19 cm in height and has an average body weight of 1800–2700 g. Minskins have shorter front legs than their hind legs, and a long and thin tail. The fur may be partially present or completely absent.

The result of crossing Munchkins with the American Curl was a breed of cat called Kinkalow. The first representative of this breed was born in 1997. At the moment, the number of representatives of this breed reaches several dozen. On average, the body weight of cats ranges from 1300–2200 g, and that of males – 2200–3100 g. Wool can be of different lengths and colors.

The first place in the ranking is occupied by cats of the Scythian-Tai-Don breed, which weigh between 900–2500 grams. For comparison, this is what a typical three to five month old kitten weighs. domestic cat. This breed is also called toybob, which translated into Russian means “toy bobtail.” Their body is short but strong with well-developed muscles. The tail is straight, short, about 3–7 cm long or in the form of a spiral. The color is the same as Siamese cats. Skif-Tai-Dons can be either short-haired or semi-long-haired. A distinctive feature is that the front legs are shorter than the hind legs. This breed appeared in the 80s of the twentieth century in Rostov-on-Don.

Scythian-Tai-Don cats are not afraid of open fire. Therefore, they should not be left alone near a gas or electric appliance that is on.

Munchkin cats are distinguished by their very short legs, which developed as a result of a natural mutation. Moreover, their body and head are the same proportions as those of ordinary cats. There has been a lot of controversy surrounding the breed, as many believe that these cats are “defective”.

In fact, they are healthy and happy animals that have no health problems due to short legs like some dog breeds. Not only munchkins healthy cats They also love to run, jump, climb and play just like other breeds. Plus, they are very sweet and love people.

Cats with short legs have been documented since 1940. A British veterinarian reported in 1944 that he had observed four generations of short-legged cats that were similar to normal cats except for the length of their limbs.

This line disappeared during World War II, but there were reports of similar cats in America and the USSR. Cats in the USSR were even observed by scientists, and were called “Stalingrad kangaroos”

In 1983, Sandra Hochenedel, a music teacher from Louisiana, was driving home when she saw two pregnant cats that had been chased under a truck by a bulldog.

Having driven the dog away, she saw that one of the cats had short legs, and, feeling sorry for it, took it with her. She named the cat Blackberry and fell in love with it.

What a surprise it was when half of the kittens she gave birth also had short legs. Hochenedel gave one of the kittens to her friend Kay LaFrance, who named her Toulouse. It was from Ezheviki and Toulouse that the modern descendants of the breed came.

Toulouse grew up free and spent a lot of time outside, so soon a population of cats with short legs began to appear in the area. Thinking it was a new breed, Hochenedel and LaFrance contacted Dr. Solveig Pflueger, a judge at TICA.

He conducted research and made a verdict: the cat breed appeared as a result of a natural mutation, the gene responsible for the length of the paws is recessive and the breed does not have the back problems that dogs with short paws have.

Munchkins were first introduced to the public in 1991, at a national cat show held by TICA (The International Cat Association) in Madison Square Garden. Critical fanciers immediately branded the breed as unviable, as it would have health problems. After much debate, in 1994, TICA included munchkins in the program for the development of new breeds. But even here there was a scandal, as one of the judges protested, calling the breed a violation of the ethics of felinologists. Munchkins received champion status at TICA only in May 2003.

In addition to TICA, the breed is also recognized by AACE (The American Association of Cat Enthusiasts), UFO (United Feline Organization), Southern Africa Cat Council and the Australian Waratah National Cat Alliance.

Several organizations still do not register the breed. Among them: Fédération Internationale Féline (reason: genetically ill), Governing Council of the Cat Fancy and Cat Fanciers’ Association.

In 2014, a cat named Liliput was included in the Guinness Book of Records as the smallest in the world. Height is only 5.25 inches or 13.34 centimeters.

Like many new breeds, munchkins met resistance and hatred that continues to this day. The debate over the breed is especially intense because it raises questions of morality. Is it worth breeding a breed that is deformed as a result of mutation?

However, they forget that the mutation was natural and not created by man.

Fans say that these cats do not suffer at all from their unique paws and cite the example of the jaguarundi, wild cat with a long body and short legs.

Description

Munchkins are similar to regular cats in everything except the length of their paws. Body of medium size, with a wide chest, oblong. The bone structure is well defined, the animals are muscular and strong.

Mature cats weigh from 3 to 4.5 kg, females up to 2.5-3 kg. Life expectancy is 12-13 years.

The legs are short, with the hind legs slightly longer than the front ones. The tail is of medium thickness, often as long as the body, with a rounded tip.

The head is broad, shaped like a modified wedge, with smooth contours and high cheekbones. The neck is medium length, thick. The ears are medium in size, wide at the base, slightly rounded at the tips, located at the edges of the head, closer to the top of the head.

Eyes average size, nut-shaped, placed quite widely and at a slight angle to the base of the ears.

There are both short-haired and long-haired. Long-haired Munchkins have a silky coat, with a small undercoat and a mane on the neck. Thick fur grows from the ears, and the tail is heavily plumed.

Shorthairs have a plush, soft coat of medium length. Cats can be of any color, including point ones.

Crossing with other breeds of short-haired and long-haired cats is allowed. Kittens with long legs resulting from such crosses are not allowed to show, but can be used in the development of the breed if they have interesting colors.

Since the breed is still very young and is constantly crossed with cats of other breeds, the coloring, shape of the head and body, even character, can vary greatly.

It will be years before specific standards are developed for the breed, similar to those that exist for other breeds.

Character

The character is different, since the gene pool is still wide and purebred and ordinary cats are used. This affectionate cats, cute cats.

Munchkin kittens are friendly, sweet, and love people, especially children. This is a great choice for large families, as munchkins remain playful kittens throughout their lives. Its appearance and habit of rising on its hind legs to look at the world around will not leave anyone indifferent. They are curious and climb hind legs, in order to consider something.

Despite their short legs, munchkins run and jump just like regular cats. These are normal and healthy cats with a peculiarity in paw length. Yes, they won’t jump from the floor to the closet in one jump, but they compensate for this with their energy and activity, so much so that you will only be amazed.

They can even catch mice, but you shouldn't keep them outside the house. There is a risk of losing, because these koloboks attract the eyes of different people.

Munchkin cats that not everyone gets to meet, but if you fall in love with her, you will never be able to stop loving her.

Completely unaware that they are different from their long-legged relatives, they live and rejoice, remaining funny, curious, and cheerful.

Care

Munchkins do not need special care; it is enough to comb their coat twice a week, for short-haired cats and one.

The remaining procedures are standard for all breeds: ear cleaning and nail trimming.

Health

None special diseases they do not suffer, which is due to the youth of the breed and the wide variety of cats taking part in its formation.

Some veterinarians are concerned about the spine of these cats, or more precisely, lordosis, which is severe cases may affect the cat's heart and lungs.

But to find out whether they suffer from excessive lordosis, a lot more research needs to be done, since the breed is still young. Most fanciers deny such problems in their pets.

There is also a suspicion that the gene responsible for short legs could be fatal when inherited from two parents at once. Such kittens die in the womb and then dissolve, although this has not yet been confirmed by tests. But, this feature is definitely found in cat breeds and, however, is caused there by the gene responsible for taillessness. Scientists hope to track the process to develop lines of cats prone to the disease.

Partly because of their uniqueness, partly because of their popularity, munchkin kittens enjoy in great demand. Usually there is a queue for them in nurseries. Although they are not that rare or expensive; if you are flexible in matters of color, color, gender, then the queue will be significantly shorter.

The problem when breeding munchkins remains the question of what to do with kittens that have normal paws.

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