A long little loaf on tiny short legs, it scampers so funny wherever it begs, and it’s never a crybaby. What breed could it be?
The Munchkin, friends! Were you thinking of something else? These adorable cats are also called “sausage cats” or “dachshund cats,” so your guess was close. So which traits make Munchkins cats, and which make them like dachshunds?
History of the Breed
The Munchkin comes from the United States. It all began in 1983 with Blackberry. That’s the name a kind-hearted Louisiana woman named Sandra gave a half-wild, half-starved cat living under an abandoned truck.
Sandra assumed the poor animal’s legs hadn’t grown because of the hardships it had been through. Full of pity, she took care of Blackberry and was very surprised when Blackberry’s kittens turned out to have short legs too. One of Blackberry’s sons was named Toulouse, and essentially all “dachshund cats” count Toulouse and Blackberry as their ancestors. The breed was introduced to the public at a TICA show in New York in 1991.
Munchkin Breed Description
The way a Munchkin looks always stirs the same mix of feelings in people meeting one for the first time: first surprise, then pity, and then, inevitably, delight and joy. Short-legged Munchkin cats are a smile in its purest form! A black, white, gray or red smile, depending on the cat’s color.
The breed standard is still evolving, but the main criteria are already in place.
- The head is broad with smooth contours, shaped like a modified wedge. It’s medium-sized and in proportion to the body. Adult males have more developed heads than females:
- the nose is medium length; a slight bump isn’t a fault;
- the ears are set high and wide apart. They’re well and noticeably furred, wide at the base and rounded at the tips;
- the eyes are shaped like walnuts. Big walnuts! They’re set wide apart, at a slight angle toward the ears. IMPORTANT! Eye color doesn’t depend on coat color; what matters is that the color is rich and even;
- the neck is thick, muscular and of medium length.
- Per the breed standard, the body is semi-foreign, meaning fairly average size and proportions (with one obvious exception). The hind legs are slightly longer than the front legs, so the back rises slightly from the shoulders to the hips. The bones are neither heavy nor light, but Munchkins have well-developed muscles, as every review of the breed notes. The tail is as long as the body. Both Munchkin kittens and adults carry it upright as they move.
The legs are the four main things that set Munchkins apart from other breeds. They’re short. But straight! A slight inward curve of the front legs is allowed, though. As noted, the hind legs are longer than the front ones. Males weigh about 6.5–9 lb, and females about 4.5–8 lb.
- Per the standards, the coat can be short (Shorthair) or long (Longhair). The shorthair coat is glossy and plush to the touch; solid-colored “little kangaroos” may have a heavier coat. The longhair coat has excellent protective qualities: it’s dense and silky, with a lordly ruff.
- Color. You could start describing the colors now and never finish, since any color is allowed. And the same color looks different on shorthaired and longhaired “little kangaroos.”
Personality
The Munchkin’s personality has its quirks. Since their short legs rule out hunting, these cats shouldn’t be kept outdoors. Home, sweet home!
Otherwise, Munchkin kittens delight their owners from the moment they arrive. Their tiny legs keep them from climbing onto tables and knocking over crystal vases and antique porcelain figurines, but they don’t stop them from being active on the “lower floors” of your home. They run well; they just can’t jump very high.
They’re also great at sitting up on their hind legs like a kangaroo, leaning on their tail. All Munchkins are famous for this pose, with their short front legs dangling at their sides, and it’s truly hilarious.
And what fun awaits you when you go looking for valuables your sausage cat has stashed away! Munchkins love to quietly carry off small objects to a hiding spot.
Overall, these cats are calm and friendly. They easily make friends with new people, aren’t neurotic, are moderately active, immoderately curious and very kind. Every owner of a short-legged cat mentions this in their reviews.
In personality and looks, Munchkins suit lovers of the unusual, people who appreciate a clever cat, and big families, where these funny cats will defuse occasional tension and boredom.
Health
The main problem Munchkins and their owners may face is obvious: the back. More precisely, lordosis, a condition in which the spine dips down into the chest. And this isn’t just about looks: a sunken spine presses on internal organs, and the consequences can be unpredictable.
Some experts believe lordosis is a genetic flaw typical of the breed. There’s no proof of that yet, and the condition occurs in other breeds too. No other breed-related diseases have been observed, so the Munchkin’s average lifespan is the same as most cats’: 12–16 years. There are exceptions, and a Munchkin may celebrate its 20th birthday with you!
Care and Living Conditions
Munchkin kittens are very clean from the start, so a litter box with high sides, or even a covered box, is recommended. Because of their boundless curiosity, move anything you’re not ready to part with out of your pet’s reach. It’s best to put away the things your cat plays with at night, since darkness doesn’t stop a Munchkin from carrying its favorite little treasures around.
Even though Munchkins don’t climb very high, you still need a scratching post! TIP for kittens who aren’t used to one: rub the post with catnip!
Brush a shorthaired Munchkin weekly, and a longhaired one more often (2 or 3 times a week). How do you figure out how often? Purely by trial and error, based on how fast mats form. The breed has no other special care needs.
Feeding
Experts recommend feeding Munchkins a quality commercial food that contains all the necessary vitamins and nutrients. But the final decision is the owner’s, who should honestly assess whether they have the time to manage a proper homemade diet. Either way, Munchkins aren’t picky eaters, aren’t known for overeating and can’t steal food from the table because of their build (they can’t reach!).
Photos
The Munchkin, a cat with short legs, is like a creature from a fairy tale. At least, it owes its name to one. Munchkins (the people, not the cats) first appeared in “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.” For some reason, the image of the little fairy-tale folk inspired breeders to give the short-legged cats this name. And why not? Ever since Dorothy’s house landed on the Wicked Witch of the East, who ruled the Munchkins, a golden era began for them, an era of love and universal admiration (we’re talking about the cats now). Photos of these happy, tailed little folk prove it!
Where to Buy a Short-Legged Munchkin Kitten
Finding a good short-legged Munchkin can still be a challenge. Since some kittens in every litter are born with normal-length legs, many breeders aren’t keen on the complications of breeding them, so the number of catteries is limited.
In the US, a Munchkin kitten from a registered breeder typically costs about $1,000–3,500, with most priced around $1,500–2,500. Be careful: dishonest sellers may try to pass off rejected kittens of other breeds, or even random-bred cats, as Munchkins. Price isn’t the same as quality, but a fair price and good references from a Munchkin cattery or breeder are your best guarantee of a good purchase.
Finding a Munchkin cattery:
- TICA breeder listings: choose “Munchkin” (TICA recognizes the breed; the CFA doesn’t).
Ask for TICA registration papers and a written health guarantee.
The Munchkin: short-legged, calm in character and shaped like a smile!
