Munchkin cat breed: the dachshund of the cat world, one of the most controversial breeds

The Munchkin lives its life on really short legs, but this does not prevent it from being a cheerful, good-natured and playful kitty. However, many people are extremely divided by the breed's existence, as its breeding raises many ethical questions.

The breed was developed from domestic cats that had unusually short legs due to a genetic mutation. This special note was perpetuated by breeders in the 1980s. Today, the Munchkin is not recognized by all cat organizations.

History

The development of the breed can be said to be the work of chance. Cats with particularly short legs were recorded in the UK as early as the 1940s. Dr. H. E. Williams-Jones described four generations of short-legged cats, including an 8-year-old black female, who lived remarkably healthy lives. According to the report, her mother, grandmother and offspring are all similar and the only difference between them and normal cats is the short legs. This line disappeared during World War II. The trait also appeared in Stalingrad in 1956, New England in 1970, and Louisiana in the 1980s.

In 1983, Louisiana music teacher Sandra Hochenedel found two pregnant, short-legged females chased by her dog under a vehicle. One of them was named Blackberry, which she kept. She was looking for a loving owner for the other kitty, Blueberry. When Blackberry’s kittens were born, half of the litter had short legs. (The short legs are caused by a dominantly inherited gene in the breed.) One of them, a male, Toulouse, was given by Sandra to a friend, Kay LaFrance. The two kittens were crossed with domestic cats to ensure a diverse gene pool. Because they liked these small-legged pets so much that they decided to create a breed out of them.

At first, these cats only spread among friends, until in 1991, a short-legged individual entered the domestic cat category at a TICA exhibition. Critics predicted that the breed would have back, hip and leg problems similar to some dachshunds. For many years, the Munchkin was not accepted in cat competitions due to its controversial breeding. Dr. Solveig Pflueger, show judge, geneticist and president of the TICA Genetics Committee, was a strong advocate for the official recognition of the breed. Pflueger himself was a breeder of Munchkin cats, initially two individuals were sent to him from the Hochenedel cattery. Amidst much controversy, the Munchkin was proposed for registration as a new breed, and TICA accepted it into its New Breed Development Program in September 1994. One of the veteran show judges, Katherine Crawford, resigned in protest, calling the breeding of the breed a violation of breeder ethics. The Munchkin achieved TICA champion status in May 2003.

Currently, the two cat registry that fully recognize the breed are TICA and the Southern Africa Cat Council. There is debate among breeders about which genetic mutations are abnormal and potentially harmful to kittens. Katie Lisnik, director of cat protection and policy for the Humane Society of the United States, said:”Breeding animals for exaggerated physical characteristics, particularly when it compromises overall health, is irresponsible.” Many cat registry do not recognize the Munchkin to this day, as they consider it unacceptable to breed an animal with such characteristics.

Breed standard

The Munchkin is a medium-sized breed. Except for the length of their legs, they are like an average cat in all respects, bearing the characteristics of their particular breeding line. In general, the Munchkin’s coat is soft and fine to the touch, and can be short or long.

Character

In general, the Munchkin is a cheerful and particularly playful cat. They are mobile and active cats despite their short legs. They like to observe from above just like other cats, they like to sit on the cat tower and look around, and they also climb on the furniture. They are a loving and friendly pet who love to play with their owner.

Ideal environment

As we mentioned, it is also important for them to have the possibility of climbing, like a scratching post and, of course, lots of toys. They usually get along well with other cats, dogs and children. They have a curious and active nature, for whom it is important to be able to participate in the family’s everyday life.

Care

Their care also depends on the length of their fur, but all individuals should be brushed once a week. Their eyes and ears must be kept clean, and their claws must be cut if they grow too long.

Common health problems

The gene that causes the Munchkin short legs is autosomal dominant, meaning it is not linked to sex and appears if it is inherited from one or both parents. However, it is fatal if the genes are inherited from both parents by kittens (embryos die in the womb). As a result, Munchkins are only bred with regular domestic cats, not with their counterparts. The offspring of Munchkin-domestic cat pairings are equally likely to be short- or long-legged.

The breed standard states that permissible crosses can be made with domesticated longhair or shorthair cats that are not purebred. Munchkin crosses with recognized breeds result in short-legged versions of that breed.

There is an ongoing debate about whether it is ethical to recognize the Munchkin as a breed due to its abnormal mutation. According to opponents, a genetic mutation that could have bad health consequences for the cat should not be passed on. Supporters point to evidence that Munchkins don’t seem to have breed-specific health problems, and the cats live full lives on shorter legs.

The gene responsible for the breed’s short legs has been compared to the gene responsible for the short legs of dachshunds and corgis. However, because a cat’s spine is physically different from a dog’s, Munchkins do not suffer from the spinal problems that are sometimes associated with certain dog breeds. The studies conducted on older individuals did not find any condition that would result from their short stature or possible structural problems. These kitties can expect a similar lifespan to their longer-legged counterparts.