The Munchkin is a breed of cat characterized by its very short legs, which are caused by genetic mutation. Compared to many other cat breeds, it is a relatively new breed, documented since 1940s[1] and officially recognized in 1991.[2] The Munchkin is considered to be the original breed of dwarf cat.
Much controversy erupted over the breed when it was recognized by The International Cat Association (TICA) in 1997 with critics voicing concerns over potential health and mobility issues.[3] Many pedigree cat associations around the world have refused to recognize the Munchkin cat due to the welfare of the breed and uncertainty of the health issues,[4] including the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF).[5] Breeding of Munchkin cats is prohibited by law in several countries due to these genetic health concerns.
Short-legged cats have been documented a number of times around the world since the 1940s. A British veterinary report in 1944 noted four generations of short-legged cats which were similar to normal cats except for the length of the legs. This line disappeared during the Second World War but other short-legged cats were spotted in Russia during 1956 and the United States in the 1970s.[1]
In 1983, Sandra Hochenedel, a music teacher in Rayville, Louisiana, found two pregnant cats who had been chased under a truck by a dog.[9] She kept one of the cats and named her Blackberry and half of her kittens were born short-legged. Hochenedel gave a short-legged male kitten from one of Blackberry's litters to a friend, Kay LaFrance of Monroe, Louisiana, and she named the kitten Toulouse.[9] It is from Blackberry and Toulouse's litter that today's Munchkin breed is descended.[9]
Registry history
The Munchkin cat was first introduced to the general public in 1991 via a national network televised cat show held by The International Cat Association (TICA) in Davis, Oklahoma.[10] However, the breed would not be officially recognized at that time. Critics predicted that the breed would develop back, hip and leg problems similar to those that plague some dachshunds.[11] For many years, the Munchkin breed was not accepted in feline competitions due to the controversial breeding.[9] Solveig Pflueger, a show judge, geneticist, and chairperson of TICA's Genetics Committee was a strong advocate for the official recognition of the breed. Pflueger was also a breeder of Munchkin cats herself, having been initially sent two cats from Hochenedel.[11] Amidst much controversy, the Munchkin was proposed as a new breed by foundation breeders Laurie Bobskill and Robert Bobskill of Massachusetts and accepted by TICA into its new breed development program in September 1994. Veteran show judge Katherine Crawford resigned in protest, calling the breed an affront to breeders with ethics.[9][12] The Munchkin breed achieved TICA championship status in May 2003.[1]
Several[quantify] countries and territories have prohibited breeding with Munchkins, including the Netherlands (2014), which prohibits breeding of all animals with genetic defects,[20] and Victoria (Australia).[21] The Australian Capital Territory (a territory of Australia) government considers the Munchkin breed to be "malformed animals" and the deliberate breeding of them "unacceptable" because of the "genetic health problems associated with such breeding".[22]
Munchkin cross-breeds like the bambino have also been subject to legal restrictions.
Characteristics
Munchkin kitten, 7 months old
Some sources state that the shortness of their legs does not interfere with their running and leaping abilities,[23] while others state their ability to jump is limited by their condition.[4]
The Munchkin has similar characteristics to normal domestic cats, due to their frequent use as outcrosses. It is a small to medium-sized cat with a moderate body type and medium-plush coat. Male Munchkins typically weigh between 6 and 9 pounds (2.7 and 4.1 kg) and are usually larger than female Munchkins, which typically weigh between 4 and 8 pounds (1.8 and 3.6 kg). The hind legs can be slightly longer than the front which creates a slight rise from the shoulder to the rump. The legs of the Munchkin may be slightly bowed, although excessive bowing is a disqualification in the show ring. Cow-hocked legs are also penalized.[1][10]
The Munchkin comes in all coat colors and patterns. It also comes in a long-haired variety, which is shown in a separate Munchkin Longhair category. The short-haired variety has a medium-plush coat while the long-haired has a semi-long silky coat.[1] TICA rules for outcrossing allows the use of any domestic cat that does not already belong to a recognized breed. Similarity to other breeds is grounds for disqualification. Non-standard Munchkins are not allowed to be shown.[24]
In 2014, Lilieput, a Munchkin cat from Napa, California, was named the shortest statured living cat in the world by Guinness World Records. She stands 5.25 inches (133 mm) tall.[25]
Health
It is not fully known how the mutation impacts the health of the breed. Having only been officially introduced in 1991, the breed is still considered young.[2] There were early speculations that the Munchkin would develop spinal problems commonly seen in short-legged dog breeds.[26]
The genetic mutation causing the short-legged trait in Munchkins is referred to as achondroplasia,[18][27] the genetic disorder that results in dwarfism and is typically associated with an enlarged head as well as short legs but can also involve symptoms that include undersized jaw, thick-looking joints, curved spine, and a bow-legged or knock knee posture.[28] The condition has sometimes been referred to as hypochondroplasia or pseudoachondroplasia.[29][30]
However, there appear to be two conditions with increased incidence in the Munchkin breed: lordosis[31] and pectus excavatum (hollowed chest).[32] Both conditions are commonly seen in humans with pseudoachondroplasia.[29]
Munchkin cats are known to be at a higher risk (than other feline breeds) for severe osteoarthritis because the shorter limbs affect their activity levels and behavior.[4][33] Diagnosis of osteoarthritis and the assessment of its severity for a cat may require radiography.[4]
Many pedigree cat associations around the world have refused to recognize the Munchkin cat due to health concerns.[4]
Punnett squares, in which the M represents the dominant Munchkin gene and the m represents the recessive normal gene, may be used to illustrate the chances of a particular mating resulting in a short-legged cat.
Mating two standard Munchkins
M
m
M
MM
Mm
m
Mm
mm
For each kitten conceived from this mating, there is a 25% chance it will fail to gestate, a 25% chance it will be normal, and a 50% chance it will be short-legged.
Mating a standard or non-standard Munchkin with a normal cat
M
m
m
Mm
mm
m
Mm
mm
For each kitten conceived from this mating, there is a 0% chance it will be homozygous for the Munchkin gene, a 50% chance it will be normal non-standard (long legged) Munchkin, and a 50% chance it will be a standard (short legged) Munchkin.
Derived breeds
The popularity of the Munchkin[34] has led to the crossbreeding of the Munchkin with other breeds, to try to establish new, derived breeds, most of which are unrecognised by any major registry. Some named experimental crossbreeds (all of them dwarf cats) include:
Dwelf, a cross between the Munchkin, Sphynx, and American Curl, with the defining traits of all three breeds: shortened legs, hairlessness, and curled ears. It is recognised by REFR.[38]
Genetta, a cross between Munchkin, Bengal, and sometimes Ocicat breeds, with a spotted, striped, or marbled coat. It is recognised by REFR.[38]
Kinkalow, a cross between Munchkin and American Curl, with short legs and curled ears. It is recognised by REFR.[38]
Minuet (or Napoleon), a cross between Munchkin and Persian (or sometimes Himalayan or Exotic Shorthair), with short legs and brachycephaly ("peke-face", characteristic of the latter breeds). Coat length and coloration depend on the bloodline. It is a fully recognized breed by TICA[41] (experimentally since 2001).[42] It is still recognized under the Napoleon name by REFR.[43]
Skookum (or LaMerm), a cross between Munchkin and LaPerm, with the short legs of the former and curly coat of the latter. It is recognised by the REFR.[38]
Welsh Corgi, a dog breed with a similar stature and health issues.
References
^ abcde"Munchkin Breed". The International Cat Association (TICA). August 13, 2018. Retrieved May 20, 2019.
^ ab"Munchkin breed". Fitzroy Vet Hospital VIC. July 23, 2015. Archived from the original on December 4, 2020. however the breed is young, having only been introduced to the public as an official breed in 1991.
^"Achondroplasia". Genetics Home Reference. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
^"Feline Dwarfism". Basepaws. March 6, 2019. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
^ abWedderburn, Pete (October 2008). "Cat breeds–Trophies with hidden problems". Journal of Small Animal Practice. BSAVA Companion. 49 (10): 7–9. doi:10.1111/j.1748-5827.2008.00680.x. This selection for an albeit naturally occurring mutation, resulting in pseudoachondroplasia, has resulted in a breed which appears to have an increased incidence of pectus excavatum and spinal lordosis, both problems commonly seen in human patients with pseudoachondroplasia.
^ abScott, Harry; Marti, Juan M; Witte, Philip (August 2021). Feline Orthopaedics. Boca Raton: CRC Press. p. 355. ISBN978-1-4987-6497-1.
^Hubler, M.; Langley-Hobbs, S.J. (2009). "Hereditary and congenital musculoskeletal diseases". In Montavon, P.M.; Voss, K.; Langley-Hobbs, S.J. (eds.). Feline Orthopedic Surgery and Musculoskeletal Disease. Saunders Ltd. pp. 41–53. doi:10.1016/B978-0-7020-2986-8.00010-0. ISBN978-0-7020-2986-8. There may be a familial tendency to thoracic wall deformities (pectus excavatum, unilateral thoracic wall concavity) in Bengal kittens, and chondrodystrophic Munchkin cats may also have an increased incidence of pectus excavatum and spinal lordosis.
^Ettinger, Stephen J.; Feldman, Edward C.; Bennett, D.; May, C. (1995). "Joint diseases of Dogs and Cats". Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine (4 ed.). Philadelphia: Saunders. p. 2053. ISBN978-0721667959.
