Munchkin cat: Nutrition and Characteristics
The Munchkin cat is an unusual looking cat breed from the USA. It differs from other cats especially by its strikingly short legs. Apart from that, the Munchkin cat is especially popular because of its affectionate and sociable nature.
History of the Munchkin Cat
Short-legged cats like the Munchkin cat have been known for about 100 years. However, these were initially only random, sporadically occurring mutations.
The targeted development into an independent breed was only started in the 1980s. At that time the US-American Sandra Hochenedel from Louisiana discovered by chance two cats with short legs, which inherited this characteristic partly also to their offspring.
At the beginning of the 1990s the Munchkin cat was first presented at an exhibition in New York's Madison Square Garden. The recognition by TICA followed in 1995.
However, the FiFé and many other large breeding associations do not recognize the Munchkin cat because of her short legs and the suspected susceptibility to health problems.
Appearance of the Munchkin cat
The Munchkin is a medium-sized cat. Its tail is about the same length as its body. Males usually reach a weight of up to four kilograms, while female Munchkin cats are somewhat lighter with up to three kilos.
The most striking external feature of the Munchkin cat is without doubt its extremely short legs. These are muscular and strong despite their short length compared to the rest of the body.
The Munchkin cat has large, upright ears with slightly rounded tips, a wedge-shaped head and a flat forehead. Their almond-shaped eyes are set at a slight slant and are set wide apart. There are no restrictions concerning the eye colour.
The coat of the Munchkin cat
Munchkin cats are available with a half-long as well as with a short coat. The short coat variety is characterized by a particularly fluffy texture, while the semi-long-haired variety has a silky feel.
The coat of the Munchkin cat can show practically every imaginable colouring and pattern. Accordingly there are for example red, white, grey or black Munchkin cats with monochrome or multicoloured fur.
Character of the Munchkin Cat
The Munchkin cat is characterized by a sociable character. It is sociable and usually proves to be very affectionate towards its two-legged fellow inhabitants. It is considered to be lively and playful, but at the same time it also appreciates cuddling together with its owner.
When interacting with children, the Munchkin cat usually proves to be gentle and friendly. This also applies to contact with other animals living in the household. As with all cats, however, it usually takes some time to get used to them.
Apart from that, the Munchkin is a very curious roommate, who always follows the events in his environment attentively. It is therefore not recommended to leave the four-legged friend alone the whole day. If this cannot be avoided due to professional obligations, the Munchkin should at least be kept together with a conspecific.
Keeping and care of the Munchkin cat
Although the Munchkin cat can jump quite well, it cannot keep up with other cats of the same species with normal leg length. Therefore it is only conditionally suitable for outdoor use. A cat-safe garden is nevertheless gladly accepted by the Munchkin Cat and used for smaller discovery tours.
Apart from that, it is especially important when keeping the Munchkin cat to pay a lot of attention to the sociable four-legged friend and to provide sufficient activity with suitable cat toys.
For grooming, occasional brushing is generally sufficient. Brushing helps to remove loose hair from the coat and to strengthen the bond between human and animal. If you have a long-haired Munchkin and during the cat's coat change, the grooming ritual may be scheduled a little more frequently.
Munchkin cat diseases
Da die Munchkin noch eine recht junge Katzenrasse ist, fehlen bislang verlässliche Daten zu rassetypischen Erkrankungen. Grundsätzlich geht man derzeit davon aus, dass die stark verkürzten Beine der Munchkin-Katze keine generelle Neigung zu Rückenproblemen oder eine nennenswert eingeschränkte Beweglichkeit mit sich bringen.
Since the Munchkin is still a rather young cat breed, reliable data on typical diseases of the breed are missing. Basically, it is currently assumed that the severely shortened legs of the Munchkin cat do not cause a general tendency to back problems or a significantly restricted mobility.
Nevertheless the short-legged quadrupeds suffer comparatively often from lordosis. This is a forward curvature of the spine. Munchkin cats affected by lordosis often die very early. However, a direct connection between leg length and lordosis has not yet been proven.
Apart from this, Munchkin cats can also suffer from various cat diseases and develop, for example, kidney insufficiency or hyperthyroidism, which is also quite common in older cats. Regular check-ups at the veterinary surgeon should therefore be a matter of course for every cat owner.
The life expectancy of the Munchkin cat
With good husbandry conditions, a Munchkin cat can easily live to be 16 to 18 years old. However, inadequate feeding and care can sometimes shorten the life expectancy considerably.
The right food for the Munchkin cat
Eine artgerechte Fütterung ist für das Wohlbefinden Ihrer Munchkin sehr wichtig. Achten Sie dabei nicht nur darauf, dass Sie Ihrer Katze die richtige Futtermenge zur Verfügung stellen, sondern dass die Katzennahrung Ihrer Wahl auch qualitativ überzeugen kann.
A species-appropriate feeding is very important for the well-being of your Munchkin. Do not only make sure that you provide your cat with the right amount of food, but also that the cat food of your choice is of convincing quality.
A high content of animal proteins as well as the renunciation of cereals and other ingredients unsuitable for the nutrition of a cat is essential in this context.
With cat food from I love my cat you can be sure that you are choosing high-quality products with a recipe that meets your needs. For the optimal care of your Munchkin, we recommend that you use a combination of our cereal-free dry and wet cat food.
In addition, it may be useful to supplement the diet of your Munchkin cat with the following products, if required:
- Dental powder as a digestible support for dental care
- Shiimun Immune with valuable nutrients for strong defences
- Vermal powder for Munchkin cats with worms or Giardia
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