Munchkin

The Munchkin is the short-legged cat. Cats with unusually short legs have been noted in several places for decades, but the modern breed began in Louisiana in 1983 when a music teacher named Sandra Hochenedel found a pregnant short-legged cat under a truck. She named her Blackberry and kept her, and several of her kittens carried the trait.

The name comes from the little people in The Wizard of Oz. The short legs are the result of a natural, dominant gene, and the rest of the cat is a perfectly normal cat, with a normal body, a normal tail and a normal-sized personality.

Despite the legs, the Munchkin is not slow. It can run, turn and climb, and it is often described as moving like a ferret. It cannot jump as high as a long-legged cat, but it makes up for it with enthusiasm. Many Munchkins are known to sit up on their haunches, like a prairie dog, to take a better look.

The coat comes in both short and long versions, in every color and pattern. Munchkins are medium-sized cats with a sweet, rounded face and walnut-shaped eyes. They are playful and social and get on well with children and other pets.

One famous Munchkin habit is magpie behavior. Many are fascinated by shiny things and will carry off small objects, such as keys, bottle caps and jewelry, to a secret stash. It is the kind of cat that has a hiding place with a secret treasure.

The breed has been controversial. The gene can be linked to spinal and chest issues, and several large registries, including the CFA and the GCCF, do not recognize the breed. If you want a Munchkin, choose a breeder who health-tests and breeds responsibly, and keep the cat lean and well cared for.