Breed of the Month - Munchkin

Named after the adorable, squeaky-voiced critters in The Wizard Of Oz, Munchkins may be short in stature, but these affectionate cats are certainly not short on charm.

While there are a few historical accounts and sightings of cats with short legs, the Munchkin was officially named in 1983, when Sarah Hochenedel, a music teacher from Louisiana in the US, found two ‘normal sized’ cats with extremely short legs and decided that ‘Munchkin’ fitted them just perfectly.

Both of the cats were pregnant, and Ms Hochenedel named one Blackberry and the other Blueberry, and while Blueberry went to live with another family she kept Blackberry for her own. When the litter of kittens was born (some with short legs, some with regular-sized legs) she gave one of the short-legged kittens to a friend who named him Toulouse. To this day, all registered Munchkins can be traced back to either Toulouse or Blackberry.

Good thing, small package
Initially, there was some concern and debate over whether or not the Munchkin would suffer the same health problems that occurred in short-legged dogs such as the Dachshund, but after a seven-year study into ‘Munchkin genetics’, it was found that the only mutation occurring in the Munchkin cat was a distinctly shortened leg bone, which did not inhibit or pain the cat at all. In fact, Munchkins can run just as well and jump just as high as any ‘regular’ cat.

The Munchkin cat owes its distinctive appearance to a dominant autosomal gene, which means only one parent needs to have the dominant gene in order for the offspring to be affected. Munchkins can have any type of colour or hair-length, and in addition to the novelty of their tiny legs (the front legs are always shorter than the rear), they are loving, intelligent and outgoing, and make wonderful family pets. It is often noted by Munchkin owners that they don’t seem to notice that they are shorter than other cats, and that their bold and adventurous natures seem more appropriate to a jungle cat than a domestic moggy!

Health issues
Controversy has always surrounded the Munchkin, and some registries and national bodies do not recognise the breed even today. However, unlike with short-legged dogs, there has been absolutely no human manipulation in its distinctive appearance. And because the feline backbone is different to that of a dog, Munchkins do not suffer from the same spinal problems associates with the likes of Dachshunds and Welsh Corgis.

The playful Munchkin can be expected to live to 15 years, and while a number of rare health issues have been associated with the breed, including lordosis and pectus excavatum, it should be pointed that these issues have also been found in other breeds.

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Images by bullwrinkle, Wikipedia and Agent Pepper