The Munchkin, also less commonly known as the Sausage cat is affected by a natural genetic mutation that causes them to have short legs.
The gene responsible for this genetic phenomenon is recessive, meaning a kitten with average length legs can be born in a litter of Munchkins. Short-legged Munchkins cannot be bred with another short-legged cat as their offspring won't survive. Munchkin kittens with long legs still carry the gene, and can still produce short-legged kittens.
History
The breed gets its name from the munchkins, the inhabitants of Munchkinland/Munchkin Country in The Wizard of Oz.
There are records of short-legged cats all around the world until WWII when thousands of cats were killed.
There were a few spottings of cats with short legs in Russia around 1965, the United States in 1970, and some in England in the 1930-1940s.
The Munchkin originated in Rayville, Louisiana in 1983 when a music teacher named Sandra Hochenedel found two pregnant cats hiding under a pickup after being chased by a dog.
She kept one of the cats who was later named Blackberry. It's unclear whether or not she had short legs.
Not long upon bring the cat home, Blackberry gave birth. Half of the kittens in the litter had short legs and the other half did not.
One of the short-legged kittens was acquired by a woman named Kay LaFrance in Monroe, Louisiana.
The kitten was named Toulouse after Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, a French painter whose legs failed to grow after he had broken them as a teenager due to an unknown genetic condition.
In 1995, the breed was recognized by TICA, then was given TICA championship status in May of 2003.
Due to controversy surrounding the breed and its overall health, only two cat registries fully recognize the Munchkin. These are TICA, and SACC (Southern Africa Cat Council).
Appearance & Physical Traits
The Munchkin's legs are about 3 inches shorter than the average cat's.
They're one of the smallest cat breeds with males weighing around 6-9 lbs. (3-4 kg) and females 4-8 lbs. (1.8-3.6 kg).
Munchkins can be either long or shorthaired. The longhaired version is called a Munchkin longhair.
The breed comes in a great variety of colors and patterns. Eyes can be of various colors as well.
Personality & Behavior
The breed is affectionate, friendly, and sociable. They love spending time with their owners and don't mind being held. They are considered to be lap cats.
Munchkins are active, energetic, and playful. Despite their short, stubby legs, these kitties still run and jump just like other cats.
Munchkins are intelligent and curious.
They're known to be "hoarders" among Munchkin owners. The breed has a tendency to collect and hide small items left out around the house.
These sociable cats are good with other pets and children.
Health & Care
It's still undetermined whether or not the Munchkin's short legs affect their health, but they seem to be a generally healthy breed.
Just like any other cat, they can develop urinary tract infections, congestive heart failure, pancreatitis, lymphosarcoma, hyperthyroidism, uremia, and osteoarthritis.
There have been a few cases of lordosis, and pectus excaratum in Munchkin cats.
The breed typically lives from 12-15 years.
Longhaired Munchkins require grooming daily, and shorthairs only once a week.
Just like any other cat breed, the Munchkin's teeth should be brushed daily.
An occasional bath is ideal to keep your cat clean and healthy.
Works Cited
Cosgrove Nicole, "8 Common Munchkin Cat Health Problems," Hepper, 16 January 2022,
Fawcett Kirstin, "7 Short Facts About Munchkin Cats," MentalFloss, 3 June 2016,
Guthrie Claudia, Braaksma Hilary, "Munchkin Cat Breed Information & Characteristics," DailyPaws, 25 April 2021
"Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec," Wikipedia,
"Munchkin Cat Breed Profile," PetFinder,
"Munchkin Cat," Wikipedia,
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