The Munchkin cat shares its name with those lovely characters from the Wizard of Oz and with just one look at them it is easy to see why. The hallmark of this breed is their short little legs. Some say it is the feline version of the canine Dachshund. They are not yet recognized by all of the major international cat registries, but they are increasing in popularity.

The Munchkin cat is known for its easy manner and charm. They may be small in size, but they are definitely large in personality! This cat loves children as well as other cats and dogs as well. They are happy in a very sociable environment and are a cat that loves to be held and doted on. Though this cat does have shortened limbs and does not appear as other cats in general this does not hinder it in anyway from displaying normal cat behaviors, and if anything these behaviors are increased. If you are one of those people looking for a cat who will retain its kitten like qualities then this is the cat for you. They are extremely playful and although countertops may be a little bit out of their league their jumping and climbing abilities are that of any other cat and in fact they are able to corner sharper and scramble faster than most cats.

The Munchkin cat gets its shortened legs from a dominant mutation, which shortens both their fore and hind limbs. The forelimbs are shorter than the hind limbs reaching a height of no more than three inches. This is the only distinctive feature about this cat. In all other aspects they have the same body build as most other cats. Though their body may not be in proportion to their legs they do not show any back problems as a result. Coat color is inconsequential as you can find the Munchkin in a variety of different colors as well as a variety of different coat lengths. In the longhaired Munchkins their coats are all weather and do not tangle or matt easily.

This dominant mutation with the shortening of the legs in cats has been recognized a few times throughout history. England saw this cat emerge in the 1930s and Russia in the 1950s. Their most recent appearance has been in the United States, primarily in the Louisiana area in 1983 beginning with a stray cat who had unusually short legs. Despite its obvious uniqueness many major breed associations do not yet recognize them for competition. As of May 2002, however, the Munchkin is now accepted for Championship Competition in TICA (The International Cat Association).

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