Weird Cat Breed: The Munchkin

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The Munchkin is a relatively new cat breed characterized by its very short legs, which are caused by a genetic mutation. There was controversy arose over the breed when it was recognized by The International Cat Association in 1995 with critics expressing concern over possible health and mobility issues.

The name "munchkin" originated from writer L. Frank Baum's little inhabitants of Munchkin Country, originating in the 1900 novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

The Munchkin is a small to medium-size cat weighing from 5 to 9 pounds. The Munchkin’s most known feature is its legs, which are bow-legged and usually half as long as a regular cat’s limbs. The cat resembles any other cat, with a short or long coat, either of which can be just about any color or pattern.

There were documented sightings of short-legged feral cats before in the UK, Russia, and New England in the 20th century. But it was not until the 1980s that people officially began breeding the “Kangaroo cat,” which some people called the kitty because its forelegs were shorter than its hind legs.

The modern-day American Munchkin cat was descended from a short-legged pregnant stray, rescued in Rayville, Louisiana in the early 1980s by Sandra Hockenedel. The cat gave birth to similar-looking kittens, and Hochenedel gave one of them to her friend, Kay LaFrance. Since LaFrance let the cat roam around outside, her property was soon filled with short-legged cats.

Hochenedel and LaFrance believed they had a new breed on their hands. In 1990, the two contacted Solveig Pflueger, a cat show judge and chairperson of The International Cat Association's (TICA) genetics committee. Pflueger and other experts examined the cats to evaluate them.

The geneticists were worried that the Munchkin would have problems with its spine, similar to short-legged dog breeds. They never found any deformities in the cats’ joints or backbones, but, since the breed was so new, some critics did not believe that these studies were definitive.

The Munchkin is an energetic extrovert, ready and willing to play with kids, other cats, and friendly dogs. The Munchkin is adaptable to any home with people who like to take care of pets. Keep this cat indoors to protect it from cars, diseases spread by other cats, and attacks from other animals and it can live 13 years or longer.

Video by Break Time

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Sources: https://howlingpixel.com/wiki/Munchkin_cat
http://mentalfloss.com/article/80011/7-short-facts-about-munchkin-cats

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