Munchkin: description of the breed of cats, types and contents

Munchkin breed cats have a pronounced difference from their relatives - short legs. Due to this feature, animals are often compared with a dachshund. Dwarf cats are considered a fairly young breed of cats, so it is still not widely used in Russia.

Unlike many breeds of the cat family, munchkins were not bred in a selective way. They are not much different from other breeds. A characteristic difference between animals is their short legs. This type of cat became famous in Europe about 100 years ago. Short-legged pets with an unusual genome aroused great interest in people. Often you could find news about cats with short paws on the front pages of newspapers.

But interest in animals quickly faded, and the breed was not patented. The reason for this was World War II. During this period, there was a sharp decrease in the number of short-faced cats.

But animals with a similar mutation continued to be born, breeders could not help but pay attention to this phenomenon. Specialists began to cross dwarf cats with other breeds that had the usual limb length. The experiments had amazing results. After such a cross, most kittens were born with short paws.

Due to the peculiarities of the removal of munchkins, they have a diverse appearance. You can often notice that animals are dwarf analogs of any particular breed of cats. Therefore, when crossing, it is sufficient that only one parent has this feature.With high probability, the offspring will be born with the same mutation.

As a result of the increase in the number of representatives of short-footed cats, the breed received its recognition. Officially, the Manchkins were introduced to the general public in America. It happened in New York, the event dates back to 1991. The International Cat Association recognized the short-toed feline a few years later - in 1995. In Russia, these animals were introduced only at the beginning of the XIX century, so they are still not popular enough in the domestic market.

These exotic animals often evoke positive emotions in people who see them for the first time. Their short legs give a lot of originality to the appearance of cats. This limb length does not prevent the animals from functioning normally. Today, there are no specific breed standards, but the basic criteria for the appearance of the Manchkins have already been identified.

• The head of a short-footed cat is medium in size, its silhouette resembles a wedge. Despite the characteristics of this breed, the head and torso are proportional to each other.
• The nose of the animal is medium in size, has a slight deflection.
• The ears are located quite high and wide, to the tips have a rounded shape. The wool on them is fluffy.
• Large eyes are located wide at a certain angle to the ears. The color is usually saturated and plain, it does not depend on the shade of the coat.
• The massive neck of the animal is of medium length.
• Manchkin’s body is proportional, not counting the limbs. Forefeet slightly shorter than hind legs. The skeleton of animals cannot be called lightweight, but it is not heavy. The muscles of cats are well developed. The length of the tail is equal to the length of the body; in the process of movement, it always has a vertical arrangement.
• Paws of dwarf cats are considered their most important feature. They are shorter than other cats, but they are straight. Some representatives have a slight curvature. This mainly concerns the forelimbs.
• The weight of males can reach 4 kilograms.
• The weight of females is usually 3 kilograms.
• There are no specific criteria for the fur of cats. Longhaired representatives are distinguished by the presence of a thick collar and a silky finish. Due to the high level of density, the cat’s coat can protect it from various damages. Shorthair munchkins have a dense and shiny coat.
• The color of dwarf cats can be varied: red, black, white.

Like many domestic animals, munchkins have individual characteristics in character. It is worth noting that these cats are not suitable for keeping on the street, since short limbs do not allow them to hunt. The rest of the kittens are not inferior to their relatives. They delight their owners from the very first minutes of being in the house. All things located on small hills will not be touched by the pet. Therefore, the owners should not worry about the integrity of the interior.

However, this feature does not prevent the animal from being energetic. Pets run very well, but do not know how to jump high. Often kittens are called kangaroos because of their inherent posture. Animals can sit on their hind legs, while the tail serves as a support. The forelimbs are not involved in this process and just hang down.

Small items are best kept away from munchkins. Pets love to drag them away and hide them from the eyes of households.

These cats are considered very friendly, they quickly get used to people and are not afraid of guests in the house. A dwarf cat will become the best friend for its owner. For all their activity, pets are considered quite calm and unperturbed. They have a strong psyche and are not prone to stress.Mobility is moderate compared to many long-legged representatives of the species. Munchkins are very kind animals, they like to play with children and do not show aggression towards them. The intelligence of cats is very well developed, these pets will be in time everywhere, they definitely need to know everything.

Usually these cats are started by people who like animals that are exotic and original in their appearance and character. These pets can easily dispel boredom in your home.

The life expectancy of the Manchkins largely depends on the proper care of them. On average, they live from 12 to 16 years. This indicator is much lower than that of other representatives of the species. But with proper maintenance of the pet, it becomes possible to extend his life to 20 years.

In order to recognize diseases in time and to know about genetic abnormalities, if any, Manchkin should be made an appointment with a veterinarian. Such trips need to be arranged twice a year.

The key to good animal health is the right diet and active lifestyle. To do this, it is desirable to provide the pet with the necessary number of toys. Then he will have where to spend his energy. Walking in the fresh air can also extend the life of your pet. Although manchkins and couch potatoes, they are not averse to spending some time with their owner in the fresh air. The apartment should also create a pleasant microclimate. To do this, regularly carry out wet cleaning and ventilate the rooms.

If you adhere to the proposed rules, you can significantly extend the life of your pet.

At the first stages of breeding of short-toed feline representatives, they were crossed with different breeds. Therefore, the appearance of animals is quite diverse.

By deviation from the standard, a separate species is distinguished - the lop-eared munchkin. It is distinguished by the structure of the ears. The appearance of such a munchkin is very similar to the Scottish cat breed. This is due to a deviation at the genetic level, which is associated with the structure of the ears and skeleton. As a separate species, such cats cannot exist, since due to a similar mutation in the offspring of fold cats, health problems can arise.

According to the length of the coat distinguish such species.

• Longhaired munchkin. These fluffy representatives of dwarf cats have a half-long dense coat. Its structure is silky. Such munchkins have a small undercoat. The collar zone stands out markedly. The color of the coat can be varied: from snow-white to black.
• Shorthair munchkin. The hair length of these cats is average. The coat has a plush structure. The animal has a small undercoat. Color can also be different.

Munchkins are also distinguished by the size of the legs:

• dwarf;
• super short-legged;
• standard.

Despite the original structure of a dwarf cat, its appearance is practically no different from other breeds of this species. Munchkins became the ancestors of new breeds, they are often called gnomes. By crossing a short-legged cat and a Canadian sphinx, breeders got a variety called bambino.

Another popular daughter breed is oppression. She appeared after crossing munchkin with a Bengal cat.

Before you get a dwarf cat, you must choose a place to sleep your pet. This can be an ordinary couch or a cat house. In addition, you should buy all the necessary items for caring for animals. The content of the Manchkins does not present huge difficulties; it is enough to adhere to the basic rules.

• Bathing. Like many cat breeds, dwarf pets have a negative attitude to water procedures. Therefore, you do not need to bathe them often and without good reason.In the year, the bathing day is arranged no more than 6 times. To avoid getting water in your ears, insert cotton swabs into them. For wool, you must purchase a special shampoo. Apply it in the direction of hair growth. Shampooing is not advisable. It’s best to just moisten it a little with water. Rubbing with a towel is not recommended. It is necessary to get him wet.

• Hair care. Comb your pet at least once a week. For this purpose, a comb with closely spaced teeth is suitable. Hair can be collected from the surface with silicone gloves. To keep the coat shining, wipe it with a suede or silk cloth. If the pet has a long coat, then the procedure should be repeated more often - once every two days. First you need to untangle the wool with a scallop, after which unnecessary undercoat is removed. It is necessary to lay the coat with a massage brush.

• Eye and ear treatment. Short-footed cats rarely suffer from problems associated with these organs. If discharge appears in the corners of the eyes, they should be treated immediately. To do this, it is enough to use a wet swab on a gauze basis. Ears should be monitored carefully and cleaned once a week. They are cleaned of various contaminants using a cotton pad, pre-treated with a cosmetic product.

• Paw care. Pet's nails are quite sharp, so to avoid injury, you need to trim them. It is recommended to purchase a cat scratching post. It will help grind off the upper horny layer of nails. The procedure for cutting nails should be carried out at least once a month. All irregularities are preferably treated with a nail file.

• Oral hygiene. Dwarf cats have very strong gums, they rarely have inflammation. Teeth should be brushed twice a week. To do this, you need to buy toothpaste and a brush for a cat.

• Restroom. Owners rarely have problems educating their pets in the tray. It is enough to show the Munchkins their new toilet only once, after which they will relieve themselves only there. It is not necessary to observe certain requirements when choosing a toilet, the main thing is that it fits the cat in size.

• Walking. These pets are pets, so they do not need frequent walking. It is not recommended to let cats out into the street without supervision. It is better to walk them using a harness.

The number of meals and the volume of servings directly depends on the age of the munchkins. Newborn kittens must be fed at least 5 times a day. From 4 months, the number of meals should be reduced to 3 times a day. Their diet should consist of meat, cereals and low-fat fermented milk products. At the age of one, a pet usually has to eat 2 times a day. In the diet of an adult cat, you can add fish, boneless, and vegetables. Often, pet owners resort to the use of feeds that contain all the necessary nutrients. It is preferable to buy premium food.

Products that should be included in the daily diet of manchkin:

• natural dairy products;
• lean meat;
• fish (herring, trout, salmon);
• vegetables (except potatoes);
• egg yolk;
• offal (preferably liver).

Before serving food to a pet, it is recommended to boil vegetables, meat and fish and add any of these products to porridge. Munchkins hard to absorb food of plant origin.

You should know that food from the human table is not suitable for these pets. We bring to your attention a list of undesirable foods in the diet of munchkins:

• canned foods;
• bakery products;
• Beans
• salty and fatty foods;
• pasta.

The daily rate can be calculated by the weight of the animal.

Cats with short legs have no predisposition to serious diseases. Even genetic diseases are not afraid of the munchkins. They have very strong immunity and, with proper care, practically do not get sick.

The characteristic and only genetic disease of short-footed cats is presented in the form of lordosis of the vertebral part of the skeleton. With this defect, pets can suffer a sprain in the chest. This pathology can also provoke additional diseases. Usually they relate to internal organs. The most vulnerable are the heart and lungs.

At risk are animals with various genetic abnormalities. Also, lordosis can affect an obese cat. For this reason, you need to carefully monitor the diet of the animal. It is strictly forbidden to overfeed him and depart from recommendations related to food.

It is interesting to know that munchkin cats should be much larger than cats. Their muscles are usually much better developed than those of the opposite sex. The disadvantages of the breed can be expressed in cats with too big and round eyes. A very large head is also a defect in the species of cats with short legs. The protruding thoracic region is also not an advantage of the breed. Manchkins should have a short nose.

Snub-nosed is already considered a deviation, the same can be said about too long a nose. Another deviation from the breed standard is a stocky body. A cat with curly hair will never be able to get the title.

On domestic sites, you can find some reviews about pets of the breed munchkin. This is because these animals were introduced to Russia only 18 years ago and have not yet been widely distributed. Owners of such cats emphasize that it is best to purchase a shorthair manchkin. All because caring for them is not difficult. With long hair you still have to tinker a bit and spend a lot of time combing and untangling it, as well as bathing the animal.

Many owners buy a clawcloth for their pets in order to spend less time caring for them. But still it happens that their nail plate grows too fast.

As mentioned earlier, it is necessary to carefully monitor the diet of the animal. In the choice of products, the owners came to a common opinion and usually buy dry food or natural products of first freshness for their pets.

It is necessary to carefully monitor the volume of servings of animals and give adult cats food no more than 2 times a day. Some owners have faced obesity of their pets, which was provoked by a violation of diet. Munchkins have very good health and slight deviations from the norm for them are not dangerous, which can not be said about obesity. It can cause lordosis, which, in turn, can adversely affect the heart muscle.

Mostly on the Internet you can find a few, but positive reviews about the breed of short-footed cats. They are rather picky in their care, you only need to adhere to the main recommendations on their content.

For more information about munchkin cats, see the next video.