A Short Bundle Of Sweetness

It’s hard not to spot a Munchkin cat.

- Yvette Tan

The breed is characterized by stubby forelegs that are shorter than its hind legs. The Munchkin came around as a result of a genetic mutation, and though short legged cats have been around since the 1930s (with sightings in England and Russia), the first official Munchkin cat was a pregnant stray called Blackberry that was found underneath a car in Louisiana, USA.

The breed became popular because who doesn’t love a tiny cat? That said, there’s been a bit of controversy surrounding the Munchkin, with some people saying that it shouldn’t be considered a breed because its particular genetic mutation can be dangerous and others saying that the Munchkin is no different from other recognized breeds. According to this Munchin owner, her babies are just as adorable and active as any cat out there.

Animal Scene sat down with Mannix Chua to find out more about this unusual breed.

Q: Can you give us a basic introduction to the Munchkin cat and how it came to be in the Philippines?

A: The Munchkin cat is a medium-sized cat with a long body. The Munchkin’s most distinguishing feature is its legs, which are short and stubby, typically half as long as a regular cat’s limbs. Aside from its stubby appendages, the Munchkin looks and acts exactly like a normal-legged cat and comes in a variety of patterns, colors, and fur lengths.

As far as I’m concerned, my Munchkin cat was imported from the United States of America.

Q: How well does it adopt to our weather? Does it need air conditioning, coat trimming, or other measures to deal with the heat and humidity?

A: They adapt well to our climate. There’s no need for air conditioning, though you can provide them with an electric fan and give them cold water or an ice pack to help keep them cool.