If you’ve never actually seen a Munchkin cat in person, we need to warn you that when you do, you’re going to have a hard time “not smiling”.
This is because…
These cute little devils are absolutely adorable it a bit of an “odd” way. And while it is true that this cat, among the many different cat breeds, has stirred up quite a bit of controversy in recent times, we here at IndulgeYourPet are quite fond of these little guys and tend to agree with the International Cat Association in their decision to “officially” recognize this as a true breed in and of itself in late 1994.
And while…
The Cat Fanciers Association (CFA) and the American Cat Fanciers Association (ACFA) don’t officially recognize the breed as of yet, we feel that eventually, they too will come around. And if they don’t, that’s “OK” to because, at the end of the day, it doesn’t change the fact that these little guys are awesome cats!
But is a Munchkin…
The “right” cat for you? That’s the real question which is why in this article we want to take a moment and discuss what it’s like to own a Munchkin cat so that if you ever find yourself lucky enough to make one of these incredible little creatures your own, you won’t be disappointed six months later.
So, without further ado, let’s dive right in.
Munchkin Cat Breed Fast facts
Country of Origin: United States
Size: Medium in size, yet very short in stature
Weight: 8 to 10 pounds
Eyes: Walnut
Head shape: Round
Life Span: 10 to 13 years plus
Origin of the Munchkin Cat Breed
When it comes to the controversial “nature” of the Munchkin cat breed, most of the conflict centers around whether or not the breed is actually a true and defined breed in and of itself, or if it’s simply a “subset” of the breed affected by a mutated gene.
You see…
“Munchkin-ism” isn’t a new “trait” that has only been seen in Munchkin kittens within the United States. In fact, cats displaying short legs have been well documented throughout Europe as early as the 1930’s and had it not been for WWII, it’s quite possible that these guys would have made a much “bigger” splash on the world had they not been nearly wiped out during this time. They were so common during this time that they even earned the nickname “kangaroo cat”.
This is why…
Many “purists” argue that the Munchkin cat breed isn’t a true cat breed, rather just a subset of a domestic shorthair or a domestic longhair cat. Now the good news is that because we’re just a bunch of folks who really love animals and don’t particularly care whether one organization “recognizes” a particular cat or dog breed, we don’t really have to involve ourselves with any of this drama.
All we need to ask ourselves is…
Do these cats suffer as a result of their short legs?
Because if they did, it would be cruel to continue breeding them for this “trait,” which is something that we here at IndulgeYourPet simply wouldn’t be “OK” with.
But the good news…
Is that “having short legs” doesn’t seem to bother these guys one bit. In fact, we think you’ll find these guys to be very capable little runners making them quite the “urban hunter” definitely a lot of fun to play with.
For this reason…
It’s almost best to consider these little guys like some of the short-legged dog breeds that we’re all familiar with like the:
And you don’t hear anyone complaining about those great animals now do you?
Which brings us to…
The modern day “version” of the Munchkin which happened to be discovered by accident when a Louisiana music teacher by the name of Sandra Hochenedel found and rescued a “stray” Munchkin on the streets in Rayville, Louisana in 1983. (1)
And like most times…
When you choose to adopt a “stray” you’re usually rewarded shortly afterwards with a few puppies, or in this case kittens. And wouldn’t you know it, some of those kittens were “Munchkins” too!
Which brings us…
To today, where these little guys are causing quite the “stir” in the feline world, and why shouldn’t they? After all, no matter what your opinion may be, they are certainly UNIQUE!
Munchkin Cat Characteristics
Aside from the fact that all Munchkin cats and kittens are going to have shortened limbs, you’re generally going to find that they will look very similar to a domestic shorthair or longhaired cat (thus one of the arguments that the Munchkin isn’t a true breed of its own).
Which makes sense…
Since the Munchkin cat breed isn’t an ancient cat breed, it’s true origin stems from a spontaneous mutated gene which means that just about all “colors or patterns” will be acceptable provided that the short gene is present and dominant.
The good news is…
That because these cats so similarly resemble a domestic shorthaired cat, you can basically assume that their “grooming” needs will be pretty basic in the “shorthaired” variety and will usually only require periodic brushing with the “longhaired” variety.
It’s also safe to assume…
That these little guys are also going to be great with kids and quite affectionate despite the fact that they will also be full of energy as well. So if you do decide to purchase a Munchkin kitten, or better yet adopt a Munchkin rescue cat, be prepared for a cat that will love running around and playing while also enjoying a good afternoon with you on the couch!
Munchkin Cat Breed Health Issues
Another major reason why may “purists” have had a difficult time accepting the Munchkin breed a true and separate breed is because of concerns that these cats may be prone to suffer form certain spinal problems found in other cat breeds with “altered or mutated” genes.
Fortunately…
This doesn’t seem to be the case with Munchkin cats. In fact, the Munchkin cat breed does seem to be a pretty healthy breed overall. That said, we’ll be the first to admit that because this breed is so “new” we should probably “refrain” from declaring this breed as a “totally” healthy one for at least a few more decades so that we can get a true idea about the overall health of the breed as a whole.
Which bring us to…
The last point we want to make when it comes to deciding what kind of cat you should and shouldn’t adopt. You see, while it’s not all that uncommon for someone to spend days if not weeks researching what “kind” of animal they should purchase, few of these same people will spend any time researching where or not they should purchase a pet insurance policy for that same animal.
And while…
Purchasing a pet insurance policy isn’t always going to be the “right” choice for everyone, how will you know if getting one isn’t right for you unless you do a little bit of research in determining what these “kinds” of policies will and won’t cover!
Plus…
Knowing how much one would cost could go a long way in determining if you might like to know if your little guy gets sick or injured you won’t be on the hook for 100% of his or her medical bills.
This is why…
We chose to write our Best Pet Insurance Companies article so that you don’t have to do all the research on your own, and so that you can quickly determine whether or not a pet insurance policy is right for you.
this has helped me a lot thanks for making it
and this cat is so cute
Mr. Potato_Regi,
We’re glad you found our article helpful.
Thanks,
TermLife2Go
Bootiful cat breed. I want one of these now.vThis article was very helpful as is all your articles. Also I have a ragdoll and a little orange American shorthair.
“But the good news…Is that “having short legs” doesn’t seem to bother these guys one bit”
Seriously? Anyone who’s looked into this breed knows that they have a much higher risk of osteoarthritis and they can’t jump or run like normal cats? Don’t spread misinformation
But they can run faster than you think. But they indeed have a higher risk of health problems (especially osteoarthritis).
Having short legs isn’t a problem???? Complete lies. They are prone to having joints problems, spine problems, ribcage problems, urinary problems, kidney problems. They can’t properly jump, run, sit, climb, some even have problems with walking. It doesn’t seem to bother them because they have never known anything else!! They’re not the corgis of the cat world, they’re the pugs!