Cute – or cruel? Meet the Munchkin cat
THEY are the ultimate in designer pets: cute, cuddly cats with legs so short that they have been dubbed the dachshunds of the feline world.
Known as Munchkin cats, they have become a sought-after pet, with demand fuelled by online videos of their antics, and by high-profile owners such as Paris Hilton, who named hers Shorty.
But their distinctive appearance is down to a defective gene which means they cannot run or jump properly, and which can lead to other serious health problems.
Vets say that to breed cats with such a physical deformity is cruel and have urged animal-lovers not to add to the growing trade.
Andrew Prentis, of Hyde Park Veterinary Centre in Central London, said: “Why would you want to breed a cat that effectively doesn’t have any legs? If you want to see a short-legged cat go and watch a cartoon. Leave the cat alone.”
The governing council of The Cat Fancy, the leading body for registering cats in Britain, has refused to recognise the breed. Director Rosemary Fisher said: “It is distressing to see kittens and puppies bred simply for the cuteness factor, or following the trend for designer breeds kept as a fashion statement.”
Other experts insist the deformity does not create worrying health risks, although they acknowledge that the breed has an odd way of walking. Named after characters in The Wizard Of Oz, the Munchkins originated as a mutation in a litter born in Louisiana in 1983. – Mail on Sunday