Dwarf cats and miniature cats

I'm introducing this section on dwarf cats and miniature cats with a photograph (above) of a champion - Rosie Cotton Bar Maid from the KlassyKittens cattery owned by Deborah & Marc Mordente. The photograph is copyright Helmi Flick. Please respect copyright.

Below is a video I made on most of the Dwarf Cat breeds. It allows a quick skim through the breeds but there are links at the base of the page leading to more detailed descriptions.

Update 31-10-08: The first cat in the video, the Elf cat, is not a dwarf cat - sorry. I knew this when I made the video but suffered "brain fade".

Through the efforts of the Dwarf Cat Association and Terri Harris, Dwarf cats were exported to the UK and the Netherlands. On the 4th February 2008 Terri, who founded the Kinkalow dwarf cat breed, was in the UK (specifically Scotland) to deliver three Munchkins to be used in a breeding program by a TICA registered breeder.

Photo above: Munchkinlane Milton P. Hershey - Milton is a Solid Cinnamon, longhair, male Munchkin cat. He is a TICA champion.He is now in The Netherlands. Great expression on his face - very wise, seen it done it.

Dwarf cat breeders are, it seems, eager to develop and promote their breed and I am sure that they are pleased to see the UK involved for the first time. I believe that there is talk of breeding a bobtailed dwarf cat. Not sure if that is correct though.

Of course dwarf cats and miniature cats are small. But not all small cats are dwarf or miniature. munchkin dwarf cat

"The Singapura is the smallest cat in the cat fancy. All Singapuras have a ticked coat with a delightful cream underbelly, rather like the coloring of mountain lion here in the US. They are curious and extroverted, intelligent and insist on helping you with anything you are doing. They are loving and playful. Singapura is the Malasian word for Singapore where they are found as street cats. They weigh 5 to 8 pounds, females being slightly smaller." (quote & photograph by and copyright Helmi Flick)

The Singapura has another name, the "Drain Cat" reflecting the cat's ability, due to her small size, to hide in drains in Singapore where they appear to be less appreciated.

munchkin dwarf cat

Dwarf cats and miniature cats have a very endearing and unusual appearance making them popular and interesting. People can have strong views about their appearance. This is because some people think that this cat breed came about as a result of genetic engineering, which carries with it physical deficiencies. This is not true. The question is how to breed from the natural mutation or to breed at all.

There are a number of blogs and news stories on the internet in which people express their views on dwarf cats and miniature cats. There are also a number of advice websites where questions about dwarf cats and miniature cats are raised and answers given. Their views seem, on occasions, to be based on misconceptions about this breed.

For example, a number of Hollywood gossip writers have criticized Paris Hilton for acquiring a dwarf cat. They say she has too many pets already and say that the dwarf cat breed has too many health problems. They go on to say that they can't function like ordinary cats, e.g. can't jump properly because of short legs and can't land from a jump properly for the same reason. Although they agree that dwarf cats and miniature cats are cute.

Perhaps, not in defense but by way of demonstrating their goals and "mission", The Dwarf Cat Association says that they do not consider the gene mutation that brings about dwarfism a defect or result in a deformity. They say that the mutation shortens the all four legs, the front more than the rear legs.

When walking the portion of the rear leg below the hock (hock: the "elbow" half-way down the rear leg, equivalent to the ankle in humans) is more horizontal and, it seems, almost touching the ground along its length. More strain is probably placed on the front legs and shoulders.

The association makes it clear that they don't consider the cat's quality of life to be affected negatively.

Received wisdom in respect of the health of dwarf cats and miniature cats is that they are generally healthy. Please though click here for a full discussion on cat health issues for dwarf cats. Munchkin cat dwarf cat

Also, I think it would be worth your while to have a brief look at this page as it looks a condition that may be more prevalent in dwarf cats.

Dwarfism originates in a naturally occurring defective gene a dominant dwarfing gene that causes the legs to be shorter than usual.

Dwarfism occurs rarely as for humans. Some people liked the appearance (different I suppose and "cute") resulting in cat breeders (commercial businesses don't forget) breeding dwarf cats to increase their numbers. They also created different varieties by cross breeding with other breeds. Click here to read about dwarf cat genetics. Dwarf persian kitten

These are to be distinguished from "miniature cats" or "teacup cats" which have a normal "shape" and which have been bred small.

This is achieved by taking a small cat (small because its "normal genes" have created it small) and breeding it with another small cat to try and produce an even smaller cat. Some individual miniature cats may display health problems.

Here is a list of dwarf cat breeds. The majority are linked to full page descriptions and Helmi Flick photographs. The links open up to a new window.

Dwarf cat	Description
Munchkin	Foundation breed of dwarf cats from which other breeds have been developed. See a new page featuring a large format image and reference to TICA breed standard plus other views on the Munchkin cat
Bambino	A cross between a Munchkin and a Sphynx - short legged and hairless, what else!
Dwelf	A cross between a Munchkin, Sphynx and an American Curl - short, hairless with ears that curl at the tips.
Fantasy Cats	Across between a Munchkin, American curl, and a natural short tailed female domestic tortoise shell. Short tailed, short legged and curled ears
Genetta	A cross between Munchkin, Bengal, Savannah, Domestic Short Hair and Oriental SH. - exotic, spotted/marbled cat like a wild African Genet
Jaguarundi Curl	A cross between the Highland Lynx and Munchkin or other dwarf cat
Kinkalow	A cross between the American Curl and Munchkin - curled ears short legs
Knooks	A cross between a Kinkalow and LaPerm - Skookam like curly coat
Lambkin	A cross between a Munchkin and Selkirk Rex - cute looking with soft curlycoat
Meerkats	The result of an accidental mating in the Jaguarundi cat breeding program - see above. Short tailed, short legged, normal ears.
Minskin	A cross between Munchkin and Sphynx, Devon Rex and Burmese - fur pointed extremities and cashmere coat
Napoleon	A cross between a Munchkin and Persian. Appearance - long-haired cat with large eyes. Registered with TICA.
Skookum	A cross between the Munchkin and LaPerm. Appearance - short legs and curly coats and an interesting origin to the name

Do you live with a dwarf cat or feel strongly about them?

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Dwarf cats and Miniature Cats

Do you live with a dwarf cat or feel strongly about them?

What Other Visitors Have Said