Munchkin Cat Health:
Munchkin Cats have no more health issues than any other breed of Cat. There has not been one single Scientific Study, which shows that Munchkin Cats have any health issues as a direct result due to being a Munchkin Cat. Many of the negative and ill conceived claims about Munchkin Cat Health, are anecdotal and fail to provide any study to support those claims. Some of these misconstrued health claims even base their conclusions using a sample of two Munchkin Cats, to support their claims. In fact on many of these sites, they make one claim then almost immediately contradict it in the next sentence; sorry that is not being factual.
Sadly, in this day and age with the internet and keyboard warriors, every know it all with an opinion suddenly is an expert in everything. These experts then feel compelled to impart their wisdom and research about Munchkin Cat Health, with out being requested to do so. Of course in most cases they do this anonymously, as they lack the courage of their convictions to reveal their real identities. Much of the research they provide is laughable and confirms just how obtuse these experts are.
For example this expert who claims to be a cat breeder, but would not reveal who they were; provided a number of links which they say supported their claim that Munchkins had health issues.
One site which failed to cite any scientific study, made a number of absurd statements, then contradicted their own claims by saying, “Although Munchkin cats, when taken care of, can live about 12 to 15 years on average” which is the average life span of most cats. So how has being a Munchkin affected their life span?
They also mention Lordosis and Pectus Excavatum, and state “Breeders are quick to point out that these conditions can also occur in normal-sized cats” That is correct these conditions can affect any breed of Cat, as a matter of fact as an actual Scientific Study A Case of Thoracic Lordosis in a Cat stated “Although it is seen in all cats, it has been reported that it is more common in Manx breed cats”
With regard to Pectus Excavatum “Although some researchers believe that some cat breeds are genetically predisposed to develop pectus excavatum, no cat breed is spared from the condition.” another site Sciencedirect, states “Siamese, Burmese, and related breeds are predisposed” Interestingly in all our years of breeding Munchkins, we have never had one single instance of either of these conditions.
This link also claimed, “Some worry that short legs limit Munchkin cats’ mobility” and “Munchkin cats may not be able to jump high, but they are surprisingly nimble and agile on ground level. Their mobility, for the most part, isn’t terribly affected by having shorter legs.”
Only someone that has never had a Munchkin would claim that they have mobility issues. I have seen our Munchkin babies do things that standard cats would not do. Most importantly no scientific proof which supported their ludicrous claim that Munchkins had any more health issues than other cats.
Another link they provided was from the RSPCA, which claimed the Munchkin suffered from health issues, along with “Persians and Exotic Shorthairs), and Manx, Munchkin, and Scottish Fold cats“. The RSPCA stated “This abnormality is associated with painful osteoarthritis” and cited a 2008 study Breed-related disorders of cats. This study had one sentence which stated “Munchkin cats with their chondrodystrophicshortened limbs and associated osteoarthritis” With no actual citation to any study which provided scientific evidence that the Munchkin alone suffered from osteoarthritis.
As a matter of fact, osteoarthritis impacts 70% to 90% of all cats, so how many of them are not Munchkins? According to one site, it is more prevalent in “Maine Coon cats, Persians, Siamese and other breeds) Patella luxation (dislocation of the kneecap) which has been reported more commonly in Abyssinian and Devon Rex cats” So again something that can happen in any breed of cat. Most of the links they provided were similar, they say many unsupported things but provide no actual proof. It is a concern when these sites compare Munchkins to Dachshunds or Corgis, heads up; a Cat has a different physiology to a dog. Or when you claim a study is relevant, it should have more than 6 cats and should not say that it is inconclusive. I could continue but sadly all the links the idiot sent were much the same as what I addressed above.
The end result is, contrary to what some anonymous breeder claims, Munchkin Cats Health is no worse than any other breed of Cat.
Please visit our Munchkin Kitten Photos page to see photos of some of the beautiful Munchkin Kittens and Cats,
that we have bred over the years as a registered Munchkin Kitten & Cat Breeder.
Munchkin Cats in Australia: Minnymees Munchkins home of the beautiful Munchkin Cat.