The Munchkin: the short-legged cat
Munchkins paws are amazing. These are indeed very short compared to the body. They are considered the trademark of this breed. They are big ears cats. However, the Munchkin's legs are still powerful and well-muscled.
Breed Sheet: The Munchkin
Size : from 30 to 35 cm, short on legs
Weight : from 2 to 4 kg
Hair : short or mid-long
Coat : all colors accepted
Life expectancy : 12 to 15 years.
The Munchkin comes from the United States where short-legged cats have been selected. It is not the result of human creation, but of a genetic mutation that appeared spontaneously in an alley cat. Collected by a family and baptized BlackBerry, she will subsequently have a litter with half of the kittens with short legs, like her.
Specific characteristics
His ears are disproportionately large, slightly rounded at their tips, and stand erect on his head. His head is angular and his forehead is flat. Her eyes are almond-shaped, relatively far apart and slightly slanted. Short legs, large ears and a muscular body are characteristic of the Munchkin. The Munchkin is medium to large in size, and its body is very muscular. On their cute little paws, the female Munchkin weighs 2-3.5 kg, while the male displays 3-4 kg on the scale.
Munchkin colors and appearance
The two variants of hair length in the Munchkin are short and medium length. Semi-long haired Munchkins are called Longhair Munchkins.
The Munchkin comes in every fur color imaginable: from black and white, to red, to gray, with different accents. We find the same diversity in the colors of the eyes. There are subspecies of Munchkins. One of them is the tiny Mei Toi. There is also an even shorter legged variant called "super short" Munchkins.
Living Conditions
The Munchkin is a cat that likes to explore its environment . He doesn't hesitate to stray slightly from home to discover and meet new people, but he doesn't stay out for long. He will systematically seek to find the comfort and security of the home , with his family. He can therefore very well live in an apartment , even if the ideal would be for him to have a secure outdoor space.
Does this cat have any health issues?
According to The International Cat Association (TICA), and contrary to what people criticize about the breed, the Munchkin's short legs do not reduce its ability to move. This physical specificity is linked to a spontaneous genetic mutation, and therefore has a natural origin.
Feeding the Munchkin
The Munchkin has the same needs as other cats, it is a carnivore, with the only particularity being the length of its legs! However, this has an impact: being overweight, which is not good for any cat, is even more harmful for this breed. It therefore needs quality food . So don't choose supermarket croquettes, too rich in carbohydrates and too low in animal protein.
A mixture of premium quality kibble and high-end pâtés may seem more expensive at the time, but will prove to be more economical in terms of veterinary costs in the medium and long term.
The croquettes bring their practical side, the pâtés, the humidity which allows a good hydration, favorable to the kidneys and the urinary system. In addition, he must benefit all day from a special cat fresh water fountain or a bowl which you will renew the water every day.
Our advice for choosing the right Munchkin
It is important to meet the breeder to make sure he is serious. Indeed, even if this animal does not have any particular health problems, it is advisable to check several points in the breeders.
The feet: the legs must be straight and not turned outwards
The rib cage: it should not be too narrow or have a wishbone;
The line of the back: it must not be deformed.
In addition, in one litter there are born kittens with short legs and others with regular legs. This is normal, since this particularity comes from a gene that does not appear in all kittens. However, we must not make you believe that those with normal legs will only grow from the body, which will give them a Munchkin look later on. No. Their particularity can be seen from the kitten. So select your breeder from the list of a serious association, which will give you the guarantee of his seriousness.
