Dwarf cats

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Dwarf cats are domestic cat breeds which have the condition of dwarfism due to a genetic mutation.

The Munchkin is the founding breed of chondrodysplastic (short-legged)dwarf cat. Through outcrossing the Munchkin with a variety of normally proportioned cats a substantial number of dwarf breeds have been developed.

The major dwarf breeds as set out on the Dwarf Cat Association's website are as follows:

Bambino - A cross between a Munchkin and a Sphynx cat[[1]]
Dwelf - A cross between a Munchkin and an American Curl
Napoleon - A cross between a Munchkin and Persian cat[[2]]
Skookum A cross between the Munchkin and LaPerm cat [[3]]
Kinkalow - A cross between the Munchkin and the American Curl[[4]]
Lambkin - A cross between a Munchkin and Selkirk Rex[[5]]
Genetta - A cross between Munchkin, Bengal cat, Savannah cat , Domestic Short Hair cat and Oriental SH - exotic, spotted/marbled cat like a wild African Genet.
Minskin - A cross between Munchkin and Shynx cat, Devon Rex cat and Burmese cat[[6]]

The development of dwarf cats is at a fairly early stage (since the mid 1980s) and dwarf cat breeders are striving for recognition with the major cat registries. They are not widely accepted outside of the USA. They are potentially banned under the European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals (European legislation) and have been condemned in the British Magazine Cat World.

For example, an insight into registration problems [[7]] can be seen in respect of the Skookum as recited by the founder of this breed Roy Galusha.

In addition to chondrodysplastic dwarf cats, there are a number of normally proportioned dwarfed breeds. These are usually termed "mini-" or "teacup" to differentiate them from the short-legged dwarf cats. Some may be due to a condition similar to primordial dwarfism found in humans.