The conversation has been brought up numerous times by pet owners…”I wish I could keep my dog or cat as a puppy.” They imagine how amazing it would be to maintain that cuteness for the pet’s entire life. There is something that everyone loves about the innocence of a kitten or a puppy. Maybe it’s those little tufts of fluffy hair on their heads, or the clumsy way they walk.
Well, wish no more…if you are a cat lover and you’ve longed to keep you cat frozen in time with its kitten exterior, your dream has come true. A new breed, known as a “Munchkin Cat,” will stay miniature for its lifetime. Because it is born with really short legs, it will stumble around clumsily in its first couple of months of life, but, as they get just slightly taller, they end up looking more like a normal kitten. And they will stay that way for life!
Apparently, this munchkin cat breed was very popular back in the nineties, but they seem to be making a comeback. And why wouldn’t they, with their ridiculous cuteness. They are so tiny that they can hardly be spotted walking through a house, so the one downfall is that you always have to be on the lookout so you don’t step on them.
The breed is still relatively new and it’s characterized by its very short legs, which are caused by a naturally occurring genetic mutation. As with all the new “designer breed pets,” much controversy erupted over the breed when it was recognized by The International Cat Association in 1995. The majority of concerns were voiced over the potential health and mobility issues due to the short legs of the breed.
In the defense of the munchkin cat breeder, short-legged cats have been documented several times since the 1940s and these were occurrences that were discovered all over the world. In Russia a breed similar to the munchkin cat earned the nickname “Stalingrad Kangaroo cat, due to its short legs.
And the best part is that they come in multiple colors, so you can choose your own color combination to get your “dream kitten.”
The naysayers of the munchkin breed has voiced their opinions…
“This is wrong to try and breed certain types when there’s any possibility of sickness or death. It even says in the article that breeding 2 short legged muchkins is indeed death of the litter. Why would anyone do this? Trying to breed toy versions of dogs is just as bad. Lots of health problems. Let amimals be normal and natural. They are cute but it’s cruel to force it.”
“Unfortunately people don’t care that if they breed animals, they might be born with illnesses. All they care about is money. If the breeders know that there’s a demand for this or any other breed, they’ll continue to do it. It’s really sad.”
“I sometimes wonder if we go too far. They are adorable but I would never forgive myself if I supported any breeding that causes the animals to suffer.”
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