Cat breed with short legs: origin, features, care

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Our four-legged tailed friends - dogs - are distinguished by a huge variety of breeds. There are huge ones, which you can ride like horses, and miniature ones, which are easy to put in your pocket. There are dogs with a long narrow muzzle, and there are dogs with an upturned short nose. Short-legged and long-legged dogs live next to us, with and without a tail, with erect ears, hanging and lying.

But what about cats? They are also very different, but still the size variations are mild compared to dogs. There are also snub-nosed purrs, for example, Persian ones, there are cats with hanging ears (Scottish folds). There are short-tailed cat breeds: Japanese Bobtail, Kurilian Bobtail. The first of them attracts the attention of potential breeders of these animals. They come from Japan, they are actively bred there, and there are still very few of them in Russia. As a result, the Japanese Bobtail - a cat whose price reaches up to $ 2,500, can be considered elite. After all, its breeding is not easy, as alreadyit was said that you need to look for a mate for a pet in Japan, here you can meet unscrupulous breeders.

In general, all the cats mentioned are quite similar in size and general body structure, differing only in the characteristics of the ears, tail, and muzzle. Not so long ago, a breed of cat with short legs appeared, looking completely different. Which? It's called the Munchkin.

Peculiarities of origin

Unlike dachshunds - short-legged dog breeds - Munchkins are not a product of selection. They are the result of a natural mutation that occurs in cats.

In the US in the state of Louisiana at the end of the last century, a short-legged cat was found on the street, which they took pity on and took home, because it seemed to be an unfortunate animal with disabilities. What a surprise it was when, when crossed with a normal cat, she began to give birth to kittens with short legs. Enthusiasts started breeding unusual pets.

Munchkin Features Brief

This breed of cat with short legs has a normal body length. The spine of this animal also has an absolutely natural structure. This cat was studied carefully, because when it appeared, animal advocates screamed with one voice that it was a mockery of a pet to support such a mutation. After all, everyone knows the problems with the spine and joints that arise in dachshunds due to lengthening of the body and a shift in the center of gravity. However, the study of Munchkins proved that their spine is in no way affected, the dynamics andthe statics of such a cat are absolutely natural.

Due to the structure of the hind limbs, the animal sits unusually, leaning on the hips and using the tail as a stand. The front paws do not reach the surface and fold over the chest. These pets are very jumpy, able to jump up to 1 meter from a place. They are very fond of high surfaces, and go down like martens because of the non-standard structure of the front paws.

The rest of the cat breed with short legs is not much different from the usual.

Any colors are allowed, muzzle length too. Any eye color is allowed, but their shape must be round. Pets can be long-haired or short-haired.

How to care for animals

The cat breed with short legs - Munchkin - is undemanding to maintenance and care. If the animal is long-haired, it, like any other long-haired pet, will need regular brushing and washing. Such a cat is not suitable for outdoor keeping, falling from a height, for example from a tree, can result in serious injuries for it.