Our four-legged tailed friends - dogs - are distinguished by a huge variety of breeds. Here are huge, on which you can ride, like on horses, and miniature, which are easy to put in your pocket. There are dogs with a long narrow muzzle, and there are dogs with a snub up and short nose. Next to us live short-legged dogs and long-legged ones, with and without a tail, with erect ears, hanging and lying.
But what about cats? They are also very different, but still size variations are weakly expressed compared to dogs. There are purr snubs, for example Persian, there are cats with drooping ears (Scottish folds). There are short-tailed cat breeds: Japanese
bobtail, Kuril bobtail. The first of these attracts the attention of potential breeders of these animals. They come from Japan, are actively bred there, and in Russia there are very few of them yet. As a result, the Japanese bobtail - a cat, the price of which reaches $ 2500, can be considered elite. After all, its breeding is not easy, as has already been said, you need to look for a couple in Japan, you can meet unscrupulous breeders with us.
In general, all the cats mentioned are quite similar in size and general body structure, differing only in the characteristics of the ears, tail, and muzzle. Not so long ago there was a cat breed with short legs, looking completely different. Which one? It is called munchkin.
Features of Origin
Unlike dachshunds - short-legged dog breeds - munchkins are not a breeding product. They appeared as a result of a natural mutation that occurs in cats.
In the USA in the
state of Louisiana, at the end of the last century, a short-legged cat was found on the street, which was pitied and taken home, because it seemed like an unfortunate animal with disabilities. What was the surprise when she, when crossing with a normal cat, began to give birth to kittens with short paws. Enthusiasts engaged in breeding unusual pets.
A brief description of the features of Manchkin
This breed of cat with short legs has a normal body length. The spine of this animal also has an absolutely natural structure. We studied this cat carefully, because when it appeared, animal defenders cried out with one voice that it was a mockery of the pet to support such a mutation. After all, everyone knows problems with the spine and joints that occur in dachshunds due to lengthening of the body and a shift in the center of gravity. However, the study of the Manchkins proved that they would not be affected in any way, the dynamics and statics of such a cat are absolutely natural.
Due to the structure of the hind limbs, the animal sits unusually, leaning on its hips and using its tail as a stand. The front legs do not reach the surface and fold on the chest. These pets are very jumping, capable of jumping up to 1 meter. They are very fond of high surfaces, and go down like martens, due to the non-standard structure of their front legs.
The rest of the cat breed with short legs is not much different from ordinary.
Any colors are allowed,
muzzle length too. Any eye color is allowed, but their shape should be round. Pets can be long-haired or have short hair.
How to care for animals
The breed of a cat with short legs - munchkin - is undemanding to maintain and care. If the animal is long-haired, he, like any other pet with long hair, will need regular combing and washing. Such a cat is not suitable for street maintenance; a fall from a height, for example from a tree, can result in serious injuries for it.