Cats with short legs are often the subject of social media posts because of their cute appearance. Their body is of standard size, and their limbs are 2–3 times shorter than those of ordinary cats.
The most famous representative of this group is, of course, the munchkin. A distinctive feature of these animals is the ability to stand on their hind legs for a long time: the cat crouches, rests its tail and can remain in this position for quite a long time.
Breeds of kittens with short legs are quite expensive because they are rare.
Munchkin
Country of origin:
USA
Height:
15 cm
Weight:
3–4 kg
Age:
10–15 years
The Munchkin is one of the most famous cat breeds with short legs. They were the ones who appeared first. The standard of this breed is still in its formation stage. The colors are very different, the length of the coat can be short or long.
The peculiarity of these pets is their incredible activity. Munchkins are very active and playful. Their favorite pastime is chasing a ball.
Munchkin has a high level of intelligence. If properly raised, the cat will be able to bring small toys and even slippers to the owner.
These pets do not behave overly intrusively. Such a cat will not follow the owner around all day and demand attention. Munchkin is able to find something to do on his own.
He gets along well with children and has a lot of patience. He behaves friendly with other pets.
Such kittens with short legs can be purchased in our country. There are official nurseries for this breed in Russia.
Health
Representatives of this breed are in good health, but despite their excellent physical condition, they are plagued by back problems: lordosis, a disease expressed in the deflection of the spine due to weak muscles.
In addition to changing the position of the spine, this disease affects the heart and lungs - death is possible. To keep your cat healthy, you need to take it to the veterinarian and get the necessary vaccinations to prevent diseases.
It is possible to crossbreed only long-haired and short-haired representatives of the species in order to exclude deaths during the birth of kittens, as well as the transmission of life-threatening diseases.
Napoleon (Minuet)
Country of origin:
USA
Height:
up to 15 cm
Weight:
2–3.5 kg
Age:
10–12 years
The Napoleon is considered an experimental breed. He appeared as a result of crossing a Munchkin and a Persian cat. The process of breeding this breed was difficult: very often kittens appeared with serious developmental defects. This cat breed can have either long or short hair. It needs to be brushed once or twice a week.
The character of these cats is calm, even phlegmatic. They will never impose themselves on the owner and will not demand his unlimited attention. They often behave independently and independently.
They get along quite well with other pets and children. They are not prone to conflicts. Dogs are treated calmly, provided that the dog is properly trained and behaves unobtrusively towards the cat.
Napoleons are very fond of active games. They will be happy to chase the ball.
Kinkaloe
Country of origin:
USA
Height:
up to 16 cm
Weight:
3 kg
Age:
10–15 years
The Kinkalow is a cat breed created by crossing a Munchkin and a Curl. Their distinctive feature is the special shape of their ears. They are slightly curved back. This breed is classified as experimental; its standard has not yet been developed. The Kinkaloo's coat is very thick. It can be either long or short. The breed is considered rare and small in number.
The prices for such kittens with short legs are quite high; males are always cheaper. There are currently few official nurseries - they exist only in the UK, USA and Russia.
These cats are very affectionate and friendly. Personality: cheerful and sociable. They can get along well with children and other pets. Even an adult of this breed is playful and mischievous. Representatives of the breed are very curious - they like to watch what is happening in the house.
Kinkalows prefer to be the center of attention; noisy companies of strangers do not bother them at all.
thediscerningcat.com
Interesting Facts
Cats with short limbs have one funny “trick” - they like to sit on their hind legs, like meerkats, watching what is happening . To maintain balance, they rest their tail on the floor.
Experts value animals with a long body more, but there must be a balance between the length of the body and legs to maintain a healthy spine.
In short-legged Munchkin kittens, the front limbs look at each other , and the hind limbs are spread out on the sides of the body, like a frog.
Munchkins have a magpie complex . Cats often steal objects they consider attractive and hide them in a secluded corner. Then, alone, the “thieves” play with their finds.
Munchkin is a cat and a dog rolled into one . The animal loves to proudly walk next to its owner on a leash and follow simple commands.
Lamkin
Country of origin:
USA
Height:
up to 16 cm
Weight:
2–4 kg
Age:
12–16 years old
Lamkin is a dwarf pet bred in America. The breeders' goal was to create a cat with small paws and curly hair. Two breeds took part in the crossing: the Munchkin and the Selkirk Rex.
The breed is classified as experimental; its standard is in the process of being formed. Improvement work is still underway - not all offspring are born with a full set of necessary characteristics. Some individuals are born with a standard leg length, others with fur without curls.
Lamkin has a cheerful and perky character. Despite their short limbs, these cats are very active and are able to jump on sofas and chairs. Such animals can get along with all family members, including small children. They treat other pets calmly.
The level of intelligence in such animals is very high. This short-legged cat breed is easy to train. At the moment it belongs to the category of rare and expensive.
www.petguide.com
Minskin
Country of origin:
USA
Height:
17–20 cm
Weight:
1.8–3 kg
Age:
12–15 years
Minskin is a pet with small patches of fur on its skin. At the moment, this breed of cats with short legs is not officially recognized. Its representatives have a clear resemblance to other animals - bambino.
The character of these pets is easy-going, they are calm and balanced. They get along well with both small children and other pets. They can find a common language with dogs.
Minskins love active games. They often strive to jump onto something high, but they do not always succeed. The owner needs to ensure that this cat with short legs does not damage its spine during the jump. The best option is to help him and lift the pet in his arms.
Minskins become very attached to their owner. If the separation lasts for a very long time, the animal will feel sad.
This breed does not require special care. There is no need to comb fur spots very often. Experts recommend purchasing combs and mittens for such animals.
Caring for a short-legged pet
Representatives of short-legged breeds need regular brushing; hairless cats require daily bathing. Ear cleaning and eye rinsing procedures are required.
Cats do not like water, but hairless breeds should be taught to use water. Sweat and dust accumulate on the animal's body and must be removed. These cats can get sunburned or freeze in cold temperatures. It is important to monitor your pet's exposure to air.
Singapura cat
Short-legged cats do not need walking, but they will happily walk on fresh grass. Cats are not good at climbing and jumping, so it is recommended to ensure that your family pet does not fall and get injured.
Kittens should be fed 6 times a day, and adults up to 4 times a day. The diet should include protein. It is not recommended to feed raw fish. Kittens are fed special food.
Be sure to read:
Sizes and weight of a Bengal kitten by month: table, norms and what to feed to gain weight
Skokum
Country of origin:
USA
Height:
15 cm
Weight:
1.5–3.2 kg
Age:
12–16 years old
Skokum is a dwarf cat breed with curly hair. She appeared as a result of crossing a Munchkin and a Laperm. Currently considered experimental. It is believed that this breed of cat has the shortest paws - Skokums are very miniature. The color of such animals can be any, and the fur is always curly, especially on the collar.
The character is characterized by good nature. Skokums are not only cute on the outside, but also on the inside. They are playful and good-natured. They become attached to the owner quickly and for a long time.
They are very curious and eager to explore the territory. That is why the owner should hide his things in hard-to-reach places. Otherwise the cat may ruin them. Despite their short legs, skokums can jump onto chairs and sofas. They love to run around the house. They meow very rarely.
They do not require special care. Your pet's fur should only be washed when it gets dirty. To keep it fluffy and healthy, it needs to be sprinkled with plain water from time to time. The curly collar must be combed regularly with a special brush.
Character traits
The short-legged Munchkin cat has a friendly disposition and always finds a common language with other pets: the cat’s dogs will not see her as a rival.
The pet respects its owners and easily adapts to the mood. Strangers also quickly establish contact with the kitten after seeing its feline charm and kindness.
Walking around the room, they stomp their feet like hedgehogs, which also lifts the mood. The cheerful, playful, easy-going nature of the munchkin will not leave anyone indifferent.
These cats are curious and friendly, love to play and easily tolerate the “squeezing” of children, do not show aggression towards other pets, but can catch smaller animals: birds and rodents.
The presented description of the breed shows that understated Munchkin cats can easily make friends not only with an adult owner, but also with a child.
Bambino
Country of origin:
USA
Height:
about 15 cm
Weight:
2–4 kg
Age:
12–15 years
Bambino is one of those breeds that does not cause allergies in people. This cat with short legs was the result of crossing a Munchkin and a Sphynx.
The character of these pets is good natured. They are very playful and active. Bambino loves to explore the apartment where he lives. These cats with small paws run quite quickly. They jump onto low surfaces with ease.
Such pets become attached to their owner once and for all. If the owner is away from home for a long time, the cat will begin to feel very sad. Bambinos are ready to accompany their owner everywhere. You can take this pet with you on a trip. It handles the road well.
These cats get along well with other pets. They feel comfortable around dogs, other cats, rodents and even birds. Bambinos treat small children with love and affection - they are ready to play with the child around the clock.
The lack of fur makes these cats with small paws very sensitive to cold. During the cold season, it is necessary to purchase special clothing for them.
Genneta
Country of origin:
USA
Height:
10–30 cm
Weight:
1.8–3 kg
Age:
12–16 years old
Genneta is a breed of cat with small paws, currently recognized as experimental. A distinctive feature of such pets is their spotted coat. Various shades are acceptable: blue, silver, brown, etc. Genneta is a hybrid of a domestic cat and a wild exotic animal. The fur hardly sheds.
These cats are very energetic and active. They are able to play “dog” types of games with their owner - they can bring a toy in their teeth. They love to be the center of attention. They get along well with other pets, especially if they grew up with them.
These cute cats with short legs constantly need attention from their owner. A long separation from him is experienced quite painfully. It is not recommended to have such pets for people who are often not at home.
The grooming requirements for this breed are minimal: once a week it is enough to brush the animal with a special brush. You should bathe your cat only when dirty.
Origin story
It is difficult to say where cats with short legs came from, but rumors about such animals have been circulating since the 18th century. Most often, such animals were considered underdeveloped for a number of reasons.
The Munchkin breed appeared in the thirties of the last century, but the war completely destroyed the animals bred by breeders, which stopped the experiments.
The ancestor of the real short-legged munchkin cat was Brambleclaw, Sandra Hochenedel's pet. A music teacher took in a stray cat and assumed that the short legs were the consequences of a hard street life.
When Ezhevichka had the same “low” kittens, Sandra turned to felinologists. It turned out that the cat and her offspring are carriers of a rare spontaneous mutation, the achondroplasia gene, that’s what the DNA section responsible for tiny limbs is called. The peculiarity of the breed is that it is highly dominant, so the selection of animals was not difficult.
In 1995, the breed was officially recognized.
Today the munchkin Albert is considered the most popular in the world. This cat has his own Instagram with half a million followers.
