Did you know that a breed of cats exists that possesses the same gene that gives dachshunds, basset hounds, and welsh corgis their short legs? I found this out about a year ago. This breed is referred to as “munchkins”, named after the munchkins in the popular book and movie The Wizard of Oz. It isn’t too hard to guess why they earned that name. I became immediately fascinated with these creatures and their odd statures. How had I just found out about this breed? I know without a doubt in my mind that one day, I will own one of these cats.
The munchkin cat was introduced to the United States in 1995 after appearing on the front cover of the Wall Street Journal, but I do not think the trend to have these cats really took off. It has just recently become a trend to own these cats and breeders are hard to come by.
To breed them, you must have one munchkin and one normal sized cat. If two munchkins are bred together, on quarter of the litter dies due to the double dose of the abnormal gene. Other than that, you can breed your munchkin with any other breed of cat you want, resulting in different fur patterns, colors, and even coat lengths. I think that is what makes this breed so unique. You can basically have any type of cat you want, just in a miniature version! The possibilities of all of the different combinations is endless! If that is not enough, munchkins come in three different heights. There is a standard size, short, and rug-hugger. It is quite fascinating to watch the rug-hugger zip around a room chasing a laser light. However, because of the high demand and lack of qualified breeders, these cats are not easy on the wallet. These cats are a minimum of a few hundred dollars. If you choose to get a munchkin version of popular breeds such as Persians, Scottish Folds, or Bengals, it could even cost thousands to own one of these adorable pets.
These short legged critters may not look like much, but they are definitely not your average lazy house cat. These felines are full of energy and move quite like ferrets do, making them extremely fast. Having a bundle of energy makes them perfect for household with children. Both the child and the cat will be entertained all day! This breed is even dog friendly. They have very minimal health issues if bred correctly and are not prone to the same spinal problems as short-legged dog breeds due to a more flexible spine.
So why not own one of these cats? How envious would all of your friends be if you said that you owned a munchkin cat? I know if someone told me that they had one, I would be immediately jealous.
If you are skeptical as to if the pictures of these cats are photo shopped, check out the video below. This is Yoda, a popular little kitty on Vine.
