Munchkin: description of the breed of short-legged cats, photos, content

The Munchkin cat breed is one of the most unusual. Munchkins are short-legged cats. Because of their short legs, Munchkin cats are often called dachshunds. In this article you will find a description and photo of the Munchkin breed, learn the character of these cats, and also find information about the features of care and maintenance of Munchkin cats.

Origin story

Until the end of the 80s. Most experts believed that the short-legged animal was inferior and unhealthy. The Munchkin, as an independent variety, began to develop in 1983.

In Louisiana, Sandra Hochenedel picked up a street cat with abnormally short legs. The woman believed that this feature was related to her lifestyle: she ate poorly and could not develop normally.

However, the cat gave birth to kittens with the same short legs. The owner was very surprised and gave one female from the litter to her friend. After a while, she also gave birth to short-legged babies. Sandra thought about this amazing phenomenon and turned to a veterinarian.

Studies were carried out, after which the veterinarian concluded that the peculiarity of the structure of the animal’s legs was due to a mutation in the genetic code. It was found that this is not a defect and does not affect health.

The description of the Munchkin breed was compiled two years after the appearance of the first offspring. Many breeders continued to consider the animals inferior and ugly. However, in 1995 they began to be presented at exhibitions.

Munchkin cat character

The munchkin cat has a wonderful character. They are very peaceful, intelligent, affectionate and sociable. The friendly and patient nature of the Munchkin cat makes them one of the best cat pets. The Munchkin cat breed is very inquisitive; these cats get along well even with children. The nature of the Munchkin cat is very calm, but if necessary, they can quite stand up for themselves.

Munchkins' short legs do not prevent them from running and jumping quickly. These are very funny, nimble and curious creatures. Munchkin cats are energetic, agile and fast. Munchkins run quite fast and stomp their short legs very funny. Munchkins cannot jump high, but they are very active, so they will always find an alternative option to climb higher.

Munchkin cats are amazing creatures that are full of warmth and tenderness towards people. Munchkins adapt very easily and quickly to the regime of their owners. These cats love to take part in family gatherings, household conversations and always sense a person’s mood. Munchkins treat guests with friendliness and interest. The munchkin cat's docile nature allows it to get along well with other animals in the house. These cats can walk on a leash and love to travel.

There is one small flaw in the munchkin cat's character. They love to take possession of various small things. If a munchkin lives in your house and some little thing is missing, look for it in your pet’s favorite secret corners. As for Munchkin kittens, you often have to look for them yourself. Kids are very curious and often find themselves in difficult situations, climbing into hard-to-reach places. This is especially true for various hills, which, having climbed, they cannot get down themselves.

Distinctive features

The breed appeared relatively recently, so its standard has not yet been fully formed. However, the basic characteristics are already there:

Minskin

Unusual cats with short legs resemble sphinxes in their lack of fur. Not surprising, since Sphynxes, as well as Munchkins, Devon Rexes and Burmese, are the ancestors of the breed. Minskins have small patches of fur on the face, tips of the paws, tail and sparse hairs on the body. This breed of short-legged cats is also called “hobbits.”

Pets are curious by nature and love to climb onto high surfaces. Minskins often get along with dogs and become their true friends.

Nutrition

The number of meals depends on the age of the pet:

• up to four weeks - five times a day;
• from twelve weeks to one year - three or four times;
• adults - twice.

Up to four months it is necessary to give porridge, meat, and fermented milk products. The diet of adults includes vegetables and fish fillets.

Premium dry and wet food and holistic foods are recommended.

Required products on the menu:

• unsweetened fermented milk products without dyes and synthetic thickeners;
• dietary meat;
• sea ​​fish;
• cereals, excluding legumes;
• vegetables, except potatoes;
• chicken and quail yolks;
• meat by-products (for example, liver).

Fish and meat should be boiled and mixed into porridge. Vegetables are not fully digestible by animals. This must be taken into account when creating a menu.

Kitten in the house

In order for a munchkin kitten to appear in a family, you need to think about where you can buy a pet. When choosing a place of purchase, you should pay attention to nurseries and what breeders of this breed will offer, since Munchkin kittens in such places of sale will already be litter box trained and with the necessary vaccinations.

If you are not satisfied with the prices of breeders or kennels, you can use other places, such as exhibitions or online advertisements, but remember that there is a risk of buying a false munchkin.

A munchkin costs from 3 to 20 thousand rubles. The cost mainly depends on the color and age of the individual.

Summarizing all of the above, we point out that when the choice of pets is made, it must be conscious and made with maximum responsibility.

Hygiene

Munchkins come in long-haired and short-haired varieties. Pets should be combed with a slicker brush, comb, or brush. The movement is from head to tail. Done once a week.

Wash cats if necessary. A special shampoo is used, selected according to the type of coat and skin. After bathing, the pet is dried with a soft cloth or dried with a hairdryer.

Munchkin's eyes are treated with a cotton pad soaked in boiled water or tea. Teeth are brushed every two weeks with cat toothpaste. Wax and accumulations of dirt from the ears are removed with cotton swabs with a special solution or drops, Vaseline. The claws are trimmed as they grow with a nail clipper.

Keeping a pet

Despite the striking unusualness of the young breed, munchkins are called cats for beginners - keeping them is not at all difficult and does not require any special training.

Feeding

Every munchkin, by definition, is a gourmet and a glutton, his sense of satiety is dulled. Due to an oversight of the owners, animals often become obese, which has a bad effect on the functions of the cardiovascular system and musculoskeletal system. A correct, balanced diet must be strictly observed when feeding representatives of this breed.

Proper nutrition is especially important for the munchkin, who has a dull sense of fullness.

Short-legged cats have an excellent appetite; they are not capricious when it comes to food. The owner’s personal choice is how to build a menu for the munchkin: whether to base it on natural nutrition or on high-quality ready-made food. But if you create your pet’s diet yourself, follow a few simple rules:

• protein should account for up to 80 percent of the diet - this is the basis of a healthy munchkin diet;
• create a main menu of fresh lean meat, poultry and boiled fish;
• organize feeding in fractions - four times a day in small portions;
• foods and all sorts of “goodies” from the human table are harmful to the munchkin.

Hygiene and grooming

Caring for a Munchkin's coat is not particularly difficult. It is enough to brush a short-haired cat weekly, a long-haired cat somewhat more often, keeping the hair clean and tangle-free. During the period of seasonal molting, it makes sense to make combing a daily procedure.

For regular hygienic combing, a small fine-toothed comb will be enough. To keep the shedding coat in order and speed up its renewal, it is recommended to use a furminator.

Munchkins do not like to swim, however, they should be thoroughly washed with a special caring shampoo as their coat becomes dirty, but at least once every two months. Care for claws, ears and eyes is normal, as for all domestic cats.

Exercise

For these cats, it is especially important to maintain their body muscles in good shape. Active indoor games may not be enough, and physical inactivity is truly dangerous for munchkins - they love to eat delicious food too much. To prevent your pet from becoming overweight, teach him to take regular walks on a harness. Such exercise is very beneficial for the health and good physical condition of the cat and, in addition, will give her great pleasure: munchkins are incredibly inquisitive and love new experiences.

A sedentary lifestyle is contraindicated for the Munchkin.

Health

Munchkins are hardy and healthy. They have a strong immune system and no predisposition to severe genetic pathologies.

A hereditary disease to which the breed is susceptible is lordosis of the spine in the form of its stretching in the thoracic region.

The pathological condition provokes problems with the heart and lungs. Most often, the disease manifests itself in obesity or genetic characteristics. Therefore, it is important to monitor your pet’s diet and carefully choose a partner when mating.

Breed faults:

• convex chest;
• too round head and eyes;
• absence of tail, fingers, polydactyly;
• snub or elongated nose;
• “cow set”;
• short, very stocky body;
• curly hair;
• concave back, drooping croup;
• absence of testes;
• blindness and strabismus.

Also, a cat will be disqualified at an exhibition if it has a difficult character, cowardice, or aggressiveness.

Color of cats

Shorthair cats: list of popular breeds

There is no official color for short-legged cats. The development of the breed occurs according to a specific program “OUTCROSS”, where crossing with any animal of the cat family is allowed. For officially registered breeds, there are a number of specific characteristics that they must meet.

Minskins have a very interesting appearance

Advantages and disadvantages

The breed has many more positive aspects than negative aspects:

Price

When deciding to buy a kitten, you need to pay attention to the following:

• age of parents;
• number of matings between father and mother;
• diseases of parents, hereditary pathologies;
• features of pregnancy and childbirth;
• absence of individuals with extra toes in the litter;
• availability of certificates of vaccinations and deworming in accordance with age;
• sterilization and castration;
• behavioral characteristics of the kitten and its parents;
• food given to the animal;
• content rules.

A kitten without documents costs between 15-25 thousand rubles.
Purebred individuals - 40-60 thousand rubles. The price of animals in high-level nurseries is determined by experts. Lilieput – Shortest Cat Guinness World Records 2014 Photo Credit: James Ellerker/Guinness World Records 1111

General information

Munchkins are small animals. Males are larger than females. The weight of an adult cat reaches 3.5 kg. The average weight of a female in adulthood reaches 2.5 kg.

• The most common colors of longhaired munchkins are bicolor, smoke and silver.
• Among the shorthairs, individuals with Siamese, Minky, Celia, and Colorpoint colors predominate.