Munchkin Mis-conceptions
Our sweet Munchkin cat Honey, two weeks before giving birth, easily accessing 7 feet of height!
Can Munchkins Jump? Can Munchkins Run? Can Munchkins Climb?
These are questions we hear all the time around Munchkin cats.
Let me be the one to assure you, all of my Munchkin cats have never had any issues in jumping, running, and climbing, in comparison to their longer legged counterparts. Munchkins as a breed have only been around for 40 years or so but short legged cats have been reported to exist all the way back in the early 1900s. Some believe that Germany wiped out the original breed during WW2.
Anecdotally, our wall shelves easily clear 7 feet or so at the tallest. All of our Munchkins have been able to jump, explore, and lounge on those shelves whenever they can. Another surprising time was when we caught our first Munchkin ever on top of our refrigerator. We still have NO idea how she got there because even our long legged cats were never there! I read someone say online that Munchkins cannot jump upwards.. so why do all of mine? Lol.
Ask any Munchkin owner, and they’ll tell you that their Munchkins run like little ferrets, jump like they can fly, and climb like monkeys. Even in older years.
But.. let’s get into the nitty gritty. Are Munchkin Cats a healthy breed?
When people see Munchkin cats, they often compare them to Dachshunds or Corgis—dog breeds known for health struggles due to their shorter stature. However, cats are fundamentally different in their anatomy.
A closer examination of Munchkins reveals several unique physical traits that set them apart: their back legs are slightly longer than their front legs and tend to be thick and strong, giving them powerful kicking ability (we named Usagi after “bunny”, for these legs). Cats have spines that are highly flexible, a natural feline advantage, and their overall proportions—including feet, tail, spine, and skull—remain unaffected by their shorter leg bones.
A common misconception is that Munchkin cats experience pain or suffering due to their short legs, often labeled as a "deformity." However, there is no credible evidence to support this claim. I’ve read a lot of things online that source from studies or topics that aren’t about Munchkin cats. They infer things like human experiences, dog skeletons, and cat arthritis related to old age (not breed specific). Neither breeders nor long-term owners have observed Munchkins in pain solely due to their stature.
TICA accepted the Munchkin cat, stating that “years of research have validated that there are no debilitating genes associated with this breed”. They maintain strict standards that ensure the Munchkin cat is structurally bred right.
Most purebred enthusiasts (even those who are not breeders or even have Munchkins of their own) who have educated themselves on Munchkins and Minuets often agree that the breed is relatively healthy. Sarah Hartwell of MessyBeast (one of the best resources possible and most up-to-date comprehensive look at cat genetics) notes that any potential defects, such as lordosis, are uncommon within the breed, and that “offspring have few, if any, health issues”.
Historical evidence further supports the breed’s health. In 1995, early Munchkin breeders had their oldest cats X-rayed and evaluated for joint or bone issues. The results? No abnormalities were found. Moreover, anecdotal evidence from Munchkin owners consistently highlights long-lived, healthy cats—some reaching 15 to 20 years old without any joint issues.
Unfortunately, much of the criticism surrounding Munchkins comes from individuals who have never encountered one in practice, creating unnecessary fear and misinformation about this breed.
While there is no published study yet (hopefully soon), they are currently studying the health of dwarf breed cats (Munchkins and Minuets) at the University of Missouri. These tests and studies have been going on for years now. These studies, which involve advanced joint scans and evaluations through the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA), have so far revealed minimal health concerns. Among many well-bred Munchkins aged 1 to 10 years, only one showed signs of very mild arthritis.
To compare this with others statistics, Hip Dysplasia runs in about 20% of Maine Coons, IVDD shows up in 25% of Dachshunds, and more than 90% of all domestic cats will get arthritis in their older years (12+ years old).
The current findings suggest that Munchkins are comparatively healthy within their breed and even against some larger, more common breeds.
On top of everything, Munchkins are one of the breeds in TICA that are allowed to outcross with regular domestic cats, meaning they have one of the biggest genetic pools out of the majority of purebred cats. Things like HCM and PKD are less of a concern with Munchkins.
For me, I fell in love with the breed because of their quirks and personalities. I love the nonstandard babies as much as I love the standard ones. If it means taking some extra steps in their care - X-raying periodically, joint supporting supplements, and high quality raw food high in collagen then so be it.
With everything I know and have researched, Munchkins are a very healthy breed and I believe the breed has so much more potential to it. I can’t wait to see how it evolves as the years go by.
