Munchkin cat breed: facts, temperament and care

About the Munchkin

The Munchkin is a short-legged cat. Short-legged cats were reported in Britain as early as the 1940s, but the modern breed goes back to a litter found in Rayville, Louisiana, in 1983. The name comes from the small people in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. TICA accepted the breed into its development programme in 1994 and has since recognised it. Several other registries, including the ACF and the World Cat Federation, accept it. The CFA, FIFe and GCCF do not.

The body is the usual cat body on legs that are much shorter than usual, and coats come short or semi-long in every colour and pattern. The legs are short because of an autosomal dominant gene for chondrodysplasia, a bone-growth condition. Cats that inherit two copies of the gene do not survive, so breeders cross a Munchkin with a standard-legged cat.

Temperament and living with one

Munchkins are lively, curious and social. Many run and chase at floor level, and a short-legged cat can move faster than you expect. Owners often describe them as friendly with visitors, other cats and dogs. Because the legs are short, a Munchkin cannot jump to high places. Use low steps or ramps to couches and beds, and provide low perches. Keep play on the floor. Pick up the cat with support under the chest and hips, as pulling by the front legs can strain the joints. Most do well in flats and with children who handle them gently.

Care: coat, food and play

A short coat needs a weekly brush, and a semi-long coat two or three times a week, more often when it is shedding. Check the ears, trim the nails and clean the teeth if your vet advises. Feed measured meals of a complete adult diet and keep the cat lean, since extra weight adds load to the spine and joints. Provide a shallow litter tray, interactive toys, tunnels and a scratching post at floor level.

Health

The gene that shortens the legs is linked to skeletal problems. Munchkins have a higher rate of lordosis, a dip in the spine, and of pectus excavatum, a hollow chest, and they carry a raised risk of severe osteoarthritis. Critics say that deliberately breeding dwarfism harms welfare. Some countries and states ban or discourage the breeding of dwarf cats, and several large registries refuse to register them. Others say that many Munchkins live active lives. Ask your vet to check the spine and joints, and ask a breeder what screening they do.

Is it right for you?

Choose a Munchkin only if you accept the health debate and can find a transparent breeder. It suits a calm indoor home with ramps and low furniture. If you want a small, playful cat without the skeletal concerns, look at a breed with normal proportions.