Munchkins

acarper21

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Oh my gosh I have never heard of a such kitten until on this forum. They are so cute. How big do they normally get if anyone knows? I am just still in shock. I thought it was a cats name had to read it twice. Man I am learning all kids of stuff on here. I serached and only found pictures. They are awesome
 

sharky

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I am not an expert but I beleive they are on the small Ave size
 
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acarper21

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Wonder if they stay the size of kitten between 0-1years old. That would be so cute. I know I hear everyone when they see a kitten that they would have a house full if they stayed that size. Maybe there is such a cat. I thought I knew a little about cats but I am finding on here there is more breeds other than, persian, siamese, ragdoll and the cat thats skinny with no hair forgot there name.
 

imagyne

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Munchkins range from 6-8 lbs, at least our latest breedings have. You can expect males to be larger, but not by a whole lot. The thing is that we don't want them too small, otherwise they wouldn't be what they are suppose to be. By that I mean, they are domestic cats with short legs. They aren't hindered by that at all, in fact we have a little girl whose 10 weeks old who's already jumping from counter to desk, albeit a low counter top, but the distance is about 2 feet or so. The continue to have magpie tendencies, ie. they steal things and hide them for later all they're lives. You might also be interested to know that since the gene that causes this can't be forced, you don't always get munchkins, ussually about a 60/40 - 50/50 split. so essentialy we get regular domestics out of each litter, but, they have the same traits as thier munchkin siblings. Oh, and they are also very good standers, like the prairie dog. You can expect to find them priced anywhere from $300.00 - 1200.00 depending on the breeder and the quality of the line,
the lower priced ones, are usually from a satelite (for lack of a better word) breeder, that's where a large breeder will farm out the breeding stock to people deal with and sell, but the larger breeder directs the matings etc.
Anyway, if you have any more questions just feel free to ask!
 
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acarper21

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Wow thanks for all your information. I am just amazed of how those little guys look. I think they are cute. I'll never find them around here. I can't even find Bengels. Thank you for your help with letting me know there traits. i like how they hide stuff.
It sounds between a kid and a dog
 

imagyne

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Your Very welcome! While we don't ship our babies, we have a few who own humans in the D.C. Area, we really aren't that far away..
 

cyberkitten

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Someone more knowledagble than I in breeding cautioned to be very cautious that you get truly munchkins. (And if you hear the wordTeacup to run!!! There is no such breed.) Actually, I am not sure if munchkin - I know Scottish Fold Munchkins are not conisdered a breed by some fanciers - is recognized. I checked - they are being shown experiementally by some shows. They are cute but make certain they are healthy and that the breeder is reputable. There are prob reputable breeders on this site that can help you with that. I recently saw someone with a Scottish Fold Munchkin - and anticipating the spinal problems et al (I myself have spinal issues so cannot imagine anyone deliberately breeding defects!!) and was appalled to see them bragging about it. I think it';s fine to rescue such a cat and love it dearly but to actively breed or look for one is a moral problem.

The main problem is lordosis - it comes with kitties who have the short legs. I myself have lordosis (among other spinal issues - very long story) and have had many painful surgeries as a result. As a peditaric oncologist who deals with and tries to heal problems daily, a cat lover and someone who suffers the chronic pain related to the same problem these cats have, I cannot advocate breeding a cat with known medical issue. I hesitate to use the word "deformity" with munchkins specifically but they will have more pain as they age. They are wonderful cats but even I have opted never to have children with my own problems. The jury is still out on how much pain they will experience as they age and whether like dashounds , they will develop hip displasia or other problems but those are concerns you should think about.

I guess I am saying just know what you are getting into and do not go to an inscrupulpous breeder!

Here is some food for thought and good discussion on the topic:
http://www.messybeast.com/shortlegs.htm
http://www.messybeast.com/twisty.htm
http://non.primate.net/phonebooth/20...ht-talking.php
 

imagyne

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I am soooo glad you brought this up!!!!!!
When we started breeding Munchkins, we wanted to do a couple of things.
One was to make sure that we kept them as they are suppose to be...
Domestic cats with short legs period! It has taken us a long time to make sure that happens, as most all munchkins 7,8,9 or more generations back have been breed with some recognizable breed. We no longer have to worry about that, and we did it by using domestic cats to get back to the original "type", and to widen our gene pool.

the other was to educate people that Munchkins cannot be compared to the daschund as far as spine problem are considered. Munchkin are at no greater risk of spine problems than any other cat simply by virtue of the fact that feline spines are much more flexible. Munchkins are no different, in fact really the only difference is the bone length in the front and rear legs, muscle composition is the same, as well as the muscle length, it's just more compact.

While I do not agree with breeding munchkins to ANY other breed other than domestic cats, I cannot speak to the health problems that may or may not be present in those outcrosses.

And yes there are many reputable breeders on this site that breed many different breeds, as always, I tell people to go and check them out, ask questions, see where your kitten is coming from...

Personally, if someone doesn't want/need to come and see where they are getting their cat from are not getting one from us... thats one of the reasons we don't ship.
 

imagyne

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Originally Posted by CyberKitten

The main problem is lordosis - it comes with kitties who have the short legs. I myself have lordosis (among other spinal issues - very long story) and have had many painful surgeries as a result. As a peditaric oncologist who deals with and tries to heal problems daily, a cat lover and someone who suffers the chronic pain related to the same problem these cats have, I cannot advocate breeding a cat with known medical issue. I hesitate to use the word "deformity" with munchkins specifically but they will have more pain as they age. They are wonderful cats but even I have opted never to have children with my own problems. The jury is still out on how much pain they will experience as they age and whether like dashounds , they will develop hip displasia or other problems but those are concerns you should think about.
I don't know where your getting your information from, but clearly you haven't the right info. Lordosis isn't just a short legged cat thing, it can occur in any breed, in fact there have been extremely few cases of lordosis in Munchkins and the majority of those were propigated by a breeder who thought as you do.
If the only information you're getting about Munchkins is from Messybeast, then your confused between twisty cats and Munchkins... totally different genetic occurance. Achondrapalsia is the "proper" term for it, and if your calling this a deformity, then I would hate to see what you would do at a little people convention. It's an anomoly, not a defect. FYI the jury isn't out on "how much pain they will experience as they age and whether like dashounds , they will develop hip displasia or other problems" It simply isn't possible for the problems that daschunds have to occur in Munchkins. As i've stated earlier Feline spines are completely different than canine spines, and umm exactly how long have you studied Munchkins? I will tell you that from the statements you make, apparently not very long, as I've personally talked to Kay LaFrance, the owner and breeder of the modern Munchkin, her cats and numerous others, including our own, have shown NO adverse effects in old age due to being a Munchkin. Perhaps you should take a look at some current data before you start warning others about a breed that you really know nothing about. And just so I don't have to go through, what inevitably be the next dissent about the breed..... This is not a man made trait, it occurs in nature, all by itself. Perhaps the problem occuring are due to breeders breeding with other breeds that have inherant genetic faults, and don't consider things like blood type mixture, lethal genes..etc.

Originally Posted by CyberKitten

I guess I am saying just know what you are getting into and do not go to an inscrupulpous breeder!
I agree that you should know what you're getting into with any breed, but your second part of that sentence either says that Munchkin breeders are unscrupulous, or just some are...

Originally Posted by CyberKitten

Here is some food for thought and good discussion on the topic:
http://www.messybeast.com/shortlegs.htm
http://www.messybeast.com/twisty.htm
http://non.primate.net/phonebooth/20...ht-talking.php
Not sure about the "good" discussion topics in those pages, as most of the info is either wrong or way out of date. The blog is just an opinion, and he's welcome to it as are you, but he had it right, "Weiner dogs with back troubles. And what about stupidity? Is it cruel to purebreed a dog, knowing how dumb it will be? At least it will never notice! At least midget cats suffer no disabilities,........"

And for the record, do us a favour, and answer a post with a post, not just revise one after someone has posted to it.
 

cyberkitten

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And for the record, do us a favour, and answer a post with a post, not just revise one after someone has posted to it.

Not sure what you mean - I never quote an entire response, simply what I am referring to so am unsure of what you mean.

I stand by my concerns - as a cat lover not so much as a scientist tho I bet my life on that too. I was referring to Scottish Fold Munchkins - not sphynx (have 2 of these here, I know all about their speciefic needs) and I simply added the MessyBeast because I did not have mega time to find what I had read previously. My vet agrees with me and she is one of the BEST vets I know and I am tremendously picky.

I am sure there are good munckin breeders - all I am saying is to be cautious. I have seen some so called breeders advertising teacups and Scottish Fold Munchkins and I shudder at the thought. I know what Twistycats are - it was a joke started by some MIT students and I am not as stupid as you seem to think I am, sighhhhhhhhhh!!! (But I won't get into that! I'll just leave this topic - it is too emotional for me. I know what lordosis is, believe me!!! I have treated it!! And I have lived it! So pls do not leacture me about something that causes pain that I feel phsyically at this moment!! You have no idea about it unless you have lived it!!!
 
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acarper21

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I appreciate everyones info. I came here to find information on several breeds before I decide to do anything. I want to know the ends and outs before buying something i have never had. I know some cats may have special needs and I believe that any cat can develope health problems but with some time and love they can be fixed. I am kind of finding info about the munchkins so I know what I would be getting into. thanks everyone was very helpful!
 

lostangl

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Hi, I own a Munchkin. He is the size of a full grown cat, but just has short legs. He is able to jump up on my kitchen chairs and anything else he wants to. I have seen no sign that he is in pain or any indication that he will be in pain later on in life. Good luck with your search.
 
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acarper21

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Wow they are awsome little kitties. lostangl- do you have pictures? I'd love to see them
 

cher&boo

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I too own a Munchkin but mine does not like to jump as much. His favorite thing to do is run as fast as he can. He loves to run. Run run run run. He will climb up to tall perches and "sing", but he would much rather be chased around.

The only pain he seems to experience is when he wants attention and doesn't feel like we're giving him any at that particular moment.

I have been searching for another breeder (for a 2nd cat) and things have changed since I aquired my first one. I have tried email corespondance with a few different ones, and have had limited results. One stopped responding when I asked her for her price, two of them never bothered to reply, and another seems to have gone MIA mid-conversation. I've only been sucessful so far with 1 breeder. If my original breeder hadn't retired then I would of gone to her, but when she changes her phone number and her new one is unlisted, it makes it difficult to get in contact with her


It seems that some Munchkin breeders do it because the cats look different. They get finished with their fad and then move onto something else. I guess that can hold true for any breed of cat

*edited for web address, no p in http.
 

imagyne

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Ummmm okay... Most Munchkin Breeders do it to enhance the breed, make it stronger than it currently is, or to improve the conformation of the breed. There are quite a few that breed just cuz it's a cool cat, realize how hard it is, (not to mention expensive), don't make the wads of money they thought they were and stop. IMO those who did it for those reasons, don't belong breeding... anything. As a matter of fact, I really don't know anyone who actually makes a profit in breeding. There ARE good breeders who will get back to you, but more than likely, you're going to have to be on a waiting list. This would be true especially of smaller catteries, although alot of times people will want a certain type, and the person on the bottom of the list ends up being on the top a few days after the little is born. Hope you find what your looking for!!!!!!
 
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acarper21

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cher&boo I hope you find another. Is the white can in your pictures a munchkin. OMG it is one the prettiest cats I have ever seen. I love the long white hair and blue eyes. Now does all of them have long hair? I really enjoyed the pictures. I bet you do regret your breeder retiring. Thats a beautifuuuuuuuuul cat
 

cher&boo

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Thank you


No, not all Munchkins have long hair. It depends on the genetics of the parents of course. Boo's dad was a *huge* brown persian and his mother was a black & white munchkin. Apparently she also carried an all white/blue eye gene since his brother was also a black/white mix like his mother.

I should of bought his brother when I picked Boo up...
I wouldn't be looking for a 2nd if I had listened to his breeder, but I didnt think I could afford it at the time.

Any long hair cat is going to take some maintenance. Boo somehow gets his fur into knots even though I comb him every day. It's not that much different for Munchkins, even though their fur almost reaches the floor due to their short legs.

I've seen some breeders refer to long hair Munchkins as "napoleons", as though they were a different type of cat breed. I don't see the point in that since their main trait is the short legs, not the length of their fur.
 
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