Munchkin

Photo: adult cat of Munchkin breed
© MDavidova / Shuttesrtock
Photo: adult cat of Munchkin breed

Munchkins are built for speed and agility. They run around all over the place and sneak into the tightest of corners. They are also notable for their exceptional ability to turn on a dime despite their peculiar shape. These little bundles of joy are by no means troubled by their small size. Their tiny legs don’t hold them back, and although they tend to graze the floor as they move about, these cats are quite capable of jumping. They may not reach the height they’re aiming for in one leap, but they will find the right detours to get there in one piece! Their name comes from the film ‘The Wizard of Oz’ whose population of tiny humans had the same name!

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Life expectancy

The Munchkin has a life expectancy of between 13 and 20 years

Adult size

Female Between 8 and 9 in
Male Between 8 and 9 in

Adult weight

Female Between 4 and 7 lb
Male Between 7 and 9 lb
Coat colour
Black Brown White Red Cream Blue
Type of coat
Short Long
Eye colour
Blue
Green
Yellow
Odd-eyed

Purchase price

The Munchkin costs approximately 200£

Good to know

Interestingly, contrary to what you might think, Munchkins don’t generally suffer from back problems, like Daschunds and Basset Hounds do. Their vertebral column is similar to that of other cats, and just as flexible, meaning they don’t tend to suffer from herniated discs.

It’s also interesting to note that cats of this breed can have one of three different leg lengths:

  • Standard: when upright, this cat would be around 10 cm shorter than another ‘normal’ cat
  • Super short: legs are between 2 and 3 inches long (there is no precise norm)
  • Rug hugger: these are the shortest legs of the three categories, measuring less than 2 inches!

More details about the Munchkin

Munchkin: Origins and history

The mutation that gave rise to the Munchkin breed is not a recent one. It appeared spontaneously in a moggy and since 1944, many cats with the ‘short leg’ mutation have been identified around the world. That said, it was in the 80s that a lady found a cat under her car with abnormally short legs, which she named Blackberry. Blackberry got pregnant and gave birth to several kittens, many of which carried the same mutated gene. One of them, called Toulouse, was used as a breeder and between the two of them, Blackberry and Toulouse produced the breed as we know it today - thanks to this mixing with moggies to diversify the gene pool.

Munchkin: Purchase price

On average, the purchase price of a Munchkin kitten is approximately £200, with price varying according to lineage, breeding, age and even sex. For your monthly budget you should allow an average of £30 per month to meet their needs by providing quality food and keeping them in good health.

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