Munchkin

Munchkin cats are small to medium-sized cats with a very sweet appearance and a lot of energy. They may have short legs, but these little cats have good speed when playing interactive games with their owners. They are confident and sociable cats who thrive in human company, loving nothing more than being in a home environment. Therefore, the Munchkin is better suited to families where someone stays home when everyone else is out, so they always have company.

Short-legged cats have existed for some time, with a report describing them written by Dr. Williams-Jones in 1944. However, these short-legged cats disappeared during World War II, but other cats existed in Stalingrad during the 1950s. Others were seen in New England during the 1970s, and in the 1980s, short-legged cats were spotted in Louisiana. That said, a breeder discovered a short-legged cat that became the foundation for all the Munchkins we see today. The breeder named the cat Blackberry, and she gave a male kitten to a friend who then used it to develop the breed, thus ensuring a broader genetic pool.

It was only in 1994 that the Munchkin was accepted by TICA into their New Breed development program and, through careful and selective breeding, ensured that these charming short-legged cats continued to be bred responsibly. Studies have found that the gene causing short legs in cats is very similar to the gene responsible for short legs in dogs like the Dachshund and the Corgi. The Munchkin was awarded full Championship status by TICA in 2003, and other international breed clubs soon followed suit. However, the Munchkin is still not recognized by the GCCF, and not many well-bred kittens become available in the UK each year. Therefore, anyone wishing to share their home with a Munchkin should register their interest with breeders to have the pleasure of doing so.

The Munchkin is just like any other cat, with one very distinct difference: its legs are short. This characteristic is the result of a spontaneous autosomal dominant mutation. Its legs are slightly curved, but aside from that, the fact that the legs are short does not affect the health and overall well-being of the cat in any way.

Munchkins can have either long or short fur, both acceptable according to the TICA breed standard. Their heads have a modified wedge shape with well-rounded contours, proportionate to the body of the cat. They have well-defined cheekbones, with male cats being slightly larger and heavier than females. Their ears are proportionate to the head, wider at the base and slightly rounded at the tips. Long-haired cats have lynx tips on their ears, while short-haired cats do not.

They have almond-shaped eyes, well-spaced on the cat’s face and slightly angled towards the base of the ears. Munchkins have an open and alert expression in their eyes, which can be any color and do not necessarily need to match the color of the cat's coat. The chins are firm and well-aligned with the cat’s nose. The muzzles are moderately long and well-defined, in good proportion with the cat’s head. Munchkins may have prominent cheeks, acceptable according to their breed standard. Viewed in profile, the cats have a slight stop and their foreheads are flat. Their necks are firm and well-muscled, especially in males and slightly less so in females.

The Munchkin has a sturdy body that appears rather semi-foreign. Its back slopes gently upwards from the shoulders to the tail. They have well-rounded chests and firm hips. The shoulder blades can be quite angled, and the legs are short, well-spaced both in the rear and front view. The upper and lower legs are of equal length, and the cat’s hind legs may be slightly longer than the front legs. The feet are compact and rounded, well-proportioned with the cat’s body. The tails are carried high when the cats move and taper to a rounded tip.

Regarding the coat, the Munchkin can have either medium-length or short fur, referred to as MK, or semi-long fur, called MKL. In short-haired cats, the fur is not very dense, is semi-soft and shiny with a moderate undercoat, while in long-haired cats, the fur is long, flowing, and silky with a moderate undercoat. Long-haired cats have a moderate ruff, with females having a more ruffled coat. Their tails are well-feathered, and both long-haired and short-haired cats boast coats that are extremely weather-resistant. Cats can be of almost any color, all acceptable according to the TICA breed standard.

Like many other breeds, the Munchkin loves a routine and doesn't particularly enjoy when it changes for any reason. They like to be fed at the same time each day and do not appreciate when furniture is moved around the house, which can often stress cats. That said, they are energetic, active, and intelligent cats that thrive on human contact. They may have short legs, but a Munchkin can show a quick burst of speed and can be surprisingly agile when necessary. Their curving abilities are quite exceptional, which is very fun to watch.

They form extremely strong bonds with their owners, which means that Munchkins can be quite demanding and do not particularly like being left alone for extended periods. Therefore, they are better suited to families where at least one person stays home when everyone else is out, so they usually have company around. Munchkins love to be involved in everything that happens in their environment and will happily follow an owner from room to room to see what they are doing and stay close to them.

Munchkins are very social by nature and love playing interactive games. They enjoy the company of other pets, including cats and dogs, as well as other animals they have grown up with. They also pride themselves on being incredibly curious and have been seen sitting on their hind legs just like rabbits, to get a better view of what is happening around them. Being so intelligent, Munchkins always manage to figure out how to reach a high vantage point, even if they cannot reach it in one jump due to their short legs.

Munchkins are known for being very intelligent and quickly learning new things, including how to reach a higher vantage point to view the world below and how to open cabinets to check what's inside. They can be taught to do all kinds of tricks, including playing "fetch," a game they enjoy greatly and will happily play for hours. They thrive being close to the people they love and, as mentioned, will follow them from room to room just to be with them. And, being so intelligent, Munchkins know exactly what to do to attract their owner's attention.

Munchkins, with their affectionate and sociable personality, are the perfect choice for families with children, including young kids. They might have short legs, but they can be surprisingly fast on their feet and thus know when to stay out of reach of younger children when they become too lively or noisy. However, care should be taken when very young children are around cats, and any interaction should always be well-supervised by an adult to ensure everything remains calm. That said, it is important to teach children how to behave around cats and when it is time to leave them alone.

They also get along well with dogs and other cats, especially if they have been raised together in the same environment. However, care should be taken when introducing a Munchkin to dogs they do not already know, in case the dog does not get along with its feline counterparts. They are sociable by nature and have been known to get along with pet birds and small animals, but it is always wiser to keep an eye on any cat when they are around small pets, particularly when meeting for the first time, just to be safe.

The average lifespan of a Munchkin is between 12 and 14 years if properly cared for and fed a high-quality diet suitable for its age.

The Munchkin is known to be a healthy breed and, therefore, does not seem to suffer from spinal issues. However, being a relatively young breed, more time is needed to determine if they are prone to inheriting any disorders, such as:

• Lordosis: Excessive inward curvature of the spine, leading to a swayed back.
• Pectus Excavatum: Malformation of the chest causing a hollowed appearance.
• Osteoarthritis: Degeneration of joint cartilage and bone, causing pain and stiffness.
• Limb Deformities: Abnormal bone development resulting in leg deformities.
• Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM): Thickening of the heart muscle, potentially leading to heart failure.

As with other breeds, Munchkins need to be brushed regularly to ensure their coat and skin are kept in excellent condition. Additionally, cats should be fed high-quality food that meets all their nutritional needs throughout their lives, which is particularly true for kittens and older cats.

Munchkins can either have short close lying coats or they can have semi-long coats. Shorter coated cats are lower maintenance on the grooming front as they just need to be brushed once a week to keep things tidy whereas longer haired cats need to be brushed more frequently to prevent knots and tangles from forming in their coats. Like other breeds they tend to shed the most in the Spring and then again in the Autumn when more frequent brushing is usually necessary to keep on top of things bearing in mind that longer haired cats shed that much more than their shorter coated counterparts.

It's also important to check a cat's ears on a regular basis and to clean them when necessary. If too much wax builds up in a cat’s ears it can lead to a painful infection which can be hard to clear up. In short prevention is often easier than cure with ear infections. Cats often suffer from ear mites which can be a real problem which is another reason why it's so important to check their ears every week or so.

Munchkins boast having a ton of energy and love playing interactive games that include activities like "fetch," which they will do for hours if they can. They adore receiving as much attention as possible and thrive on being the center of attention, which contributes to their affectionate yet demanding personality. They love exploring the great outdoors, but cats should be allowed to roam outside only if it's safe to do so. The good news is that Munchkins adapt very well to being kept as indoor cats, provided they receive plenty of attention and have things to do; otherwise, boredom may set in.

Indoor cats also need plenty of places to curl up for a nap whenever they feel like it, because if there's one thing Munchkins are good at, it's taking a few naps during the day in a warm, cozy favorite spot.

If you get a Munchkin kitten from a breeder, they will provide you with a feeding schedule, and it is important to stick to the same routine, offering the same kitten food to avoid stomach problems. You can change a kitten's diet, but this should be done very gradually, always ensuring that they do not develop digestive issues; if this happens, it is better to revert to the original diet and discuss it with the veterinarian before attempting another change.

Older cats are not known for being picky about food, but this does not mean they can be fed a lower quality diet. It is better to feed an adult cat multiple times a day, ensuring that the food is of good quality and meets all their nutritional requirements, which is particularly important with age. It is also essential to monitor the cat’s weight, as gaining too much weight can seriously impact their overall health and well-being. Like all other breeds, Munchkins need to always have access to fresh, clean water.

If you are looking to purchase a Munchkin, you should be prepared to pay over £200 for a well-bred kitten and you should register your interest with breeders and accept being put on a waiting list because not many well-bred kittens become available each year. The cost to insure a 3-year-old male Munchkin in the North of England would be £15.92 per month for basic coverage, but for a lifetime policy, it would cost you £25.29 per month (quote updated as of February 2018). When insurance companies calculate the premium for a pet, they consider various factors, including where you live in the UK, the age of the cat, and whether it has been spayed or neutered, among other things.

Regarding food costs, you need to purchase the best quality food, both wet and dry, ensuring that it is suitable for the different life stages of a cat. This would cost you between £15 and £20 per month. Additionally, you need to consider veterinary costs if you wish to share your home with a Munchkin, which includes initial vaccinations, annual boosters, the cost of spaying or neutering when the time is right, and annual health checks, all of which quickly add up to over £600 per year.

As a rough guide, the average cost to maintain and care for a Munchkin would be between £40 and £60 per month, depending on the level of insurance coverage you choose to purchase for your cat, but this does not include the initial cost to purchase a well-bred kitten.