As early as 1944, munchkin
cats were spotted in the cat population. In the 1940s, a veterinarian described
four generations of cats with short limbs that moved in a ferret-like
fashion. These munchkins seemed to disappear during WWII
and weren't
spotted again until the 1980s. The munchkin cat occurs in every cat body
type,
head type and coat type. The only distinguishing feature of
this cat is its obviously short legs. Since munchkins
occur in most cat breed types their personalities will vary
depending on its pedigree, taking on the characteristics of
its particular breed of cat.
With its
short legs there are some concerns that the munchkin cat may
suffer from back or spinal problems, however current research
doesn't indicate that short legs in cats will lead to any spinal
issues. The front legs of munchkin cats are bowed but
this doesn't prevent the munchkin cat from climbing activities,
although they may be limited in their jumping capabilities.
