Munchkin vs American Shorthair - Breed Comparison

Munchkin vs American Shorthair - Breed ComparisonBoth American Shorthair and Munchkin are originated from United States. Both American Shorthair and Munchkin are having almost same weight. American Shorthair may live 5 years more than Munchkin. Both American Shorthair and Munchkin has same litter size. Both American Shorthair and Munchkin requires Low Maintenance.

Basic Information

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United States
United States
Weight Male:
5 - 7 kg
11 - 16 pounds
3 - 4 kg
6 - 9 pounds
Weight Female:
5 - 7 kg
11 - 16 pounds
3 - 4 kg
6 - 9 pounds
Life Span:
15 - 20 Years
12 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
2 - 6
2 - 6
Other Names:
Domestic Shorthair
Sausage cat
Colors Available:
Many colors and patterns
All colors and patterns
Coat:
Shortish hair
Short and long haired
Shedding:
Moderate
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Sweet, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Responsive, Social, Sweet, Territorial
Grooming:
Low Maintenance
Low Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
No
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

american shorthairOften sailors of old would keep cats onboard to protect their stores from mice and rats, and so it was when settlers sailed from Europe to North America.

They had cats onboard and once onshore they interbred. But in the 20th century, a selective breeding program began to bring out the best qualities of these cats.

The American Shorthair is one of these cats – a pedigreed cat that is accepted by all North American cat registries. At first, the cat was known as the Domestic Shorthair but it was renamed in 1966.

munchkinInformation about the short-legged Munchkin cat has been around since the 1940s. A British veterinary report in 1944 noted these short-legged cats.

During the 2nd World War, the cats disappeared but other short-legged cats were seen in Russia during 1956 and then the United States in the 1970s.

The cat was introduced to the general public in 1991 but for many years it wasn't accepted in cat competitions. Eventually, the Munchkin was proposed as a new breed by foundation breeders and accepted by TICA into its New Breed development program in 1994. The Munchkin breed achieved TICA Championship status in May 2003. The Cat Fanciers Association doesn’t recognize the Munchkin.

Description

american shorthair kitten - descriptionThe American Shorthair is a large, sturdy cat with a round face and short ears. Their coats can come in many different patterns and colors. They shed so the fur will need to be brushed from time to time.

They stand at about 20 – 25cm in height and they weigh between 5 and 7kg.

Temperament:

The American Shorthairs are easy, no-fuss cats. They’re also low maintenance, healthy, amicable cats, ready to even be friends with strangers and your dogs.

He is an intelligent cat too so it will be important to provide him with toys that challenge him to think. These good-natured cats make perfect famiy companions.

munchkin kitten - descriptionThe Munchkin is a small to medium-sized, muscular cat with a thick coat that comes in all colors and patterns. In fact, color, pattern, and coat length will vary.

There is also a long-haired variety. It usually weighs between 3 and 4kg. It has short, stubby little legs and a torso that hangs fairly low to the ground. The cat’s back legs are somewhat longer than the front legs. The legs of these cats can be slightly bowed. The eyes can be any color.

Temperament:

The Munchkin is such a social, outgoing cat that just loves being petted and pampered by his human family. He is sociable and friendly as well as intelligent and is easy to train. While he is an amicable cat and can get on well with everyone in the family, it isn’t a good idea to have such a cat as a playmate for children as they can become injured.

An interesting feature with this cat is the way he doesn’t really sit like other cats but has a way of sitting up on his legs, much like a rabbit.

Characteristics

american shorthair cat - characteristicsThe American Shorthair is a playful cat and is quite capable of amusing himself, but will welcome your games too. He’s a big cat so make sure he gets enough exercise to avoid him becoming obese.

He is a low maintenance cat and you don't have to be worrying about him too much as he just likes to get on with life. He loves being well-fed, getting your attention and lying in the sun.

This is one cat that doesn’t need a lot of attention so being easy to care for, independent, playful, and affectionate, you’re going to have one of a kind companion and friend.

munchkin cat - characteristicsThe Munchkin may be short and stock but he is just as active and playful as any other cat. When you have him in your home, you'll discover that his short little legs don't stop him from trying out everything other cats do.

He is ready to show you what he's made of. He is a confident, social cat and is friendly, intelligent, and loving towards his human family. He makes a devoted companion and he will get along with other cats in the family as well as dogs.

He may be a bit odd to look at but if you want an excellent companion, the Munchkin is well worth your consideration.

Health Problems

american shorthair kittens - health problemsWith good nutrition and a loving caring lifestyle, the American Shorthair can live to be 15 – 20 years of age and even longer.

Their flattish faces also make the American Shorthair prone to respiratory issues.

munchkin kittens - health problemsBecause this is a fairly new breed, it's still not too clear about its health. It was once thought that the Munchkin cat could develop spinal problems because of its short legs.

It was in 1995 that some breeders had some of their older Munchkins x-rayed to see if there were any signs of joint or bone problems, but none were found.

The Munchkin cat should also be vaccinated as a kitten and be treated for parasites. To ensure the good health of your sweet little Munchkin cat, give him the best diet possible.

In fact, if you take good care of your Munchkin and you make sure to get all the necessary vaccines for him and get him to the vet when he shows signs of illness, your munchkin can reach 12 to 15 years of age.

Caring The Pet

american shorthair cats - caringYour American Shorthair will benefit greatly from regular brushing and he looks forward to this grooming period and being pampered by you for a few minutes.

It helps to remove the dead hair from his coat and this is important so that he doesn’t ingest the loose hair. While you’re brushing him, you can also run your fingers over him to make sure there are no unusual lumps. Anything odd or any sign of illness you should take your cat to see the vet immediately.

Diet:

Make sure your American Shorthair has access to the best quality food there is. There are many commercially manufactured cat foods available and your vet can advise you on the best one to choose.

Cats are carnivores so aways choose food that is high in proten. Food must be provided in accordance with the cat’s age and energy levels. Certainly a generic cat or one with a medical condition will need a certain type of food than a young, frisky kitten. Make sure your cat always has access to fresh, cool water.

Make your cat comfortable:

Make sure your furry feline friend has everything he needs to ensure he is comfortable. This includes feeding bowls, toys, a litter box, soft bedding, nutritious food as well as scratching post and climbing equipment.

Desex your cats:

Have your pet neutered or spayed if you don’t want kittens from your cat. These procedures have enormous health benefits for your pet and it prevents even more kittens coming into a world that already has far too many unwanted pets.

Vaccines:

Make sure your cat is up to date with all his vaccines because without being vaccinated your cat can succumb to any one of the life-threatening cat illnesses there are. Kittens need to have their first vaccines at 8 weeks of age.

Transporting your cat:

If you have to take your cat to the vet you need a carrier basket so that your cat feels comfortable and safe inside it.

You can’t just put your cat on a leash and take him to the vet as inside the car he will lurch around and cause you to lose attention. A transport box that is familiar to your cat will be the best way for you and your cat to travel.

munchkin cats - caringEvery cat is unique and the Munchkin is a unique cat, This little cat is a carnivore just like any other cat and his diet must be made up mostly of protein.

Speak to your vet about the best food for your Munchkin because a kitten will require a different diet to a senior Munchkin. Also, you don’t want your Munchkin to put on too much weight as this can be detrimental to his joints.

Not only that, being overweight comes with all kinds of health issues. The manufacturers of commercially manufactured cat foods have made sure that they have brought out foods for every stage of a cat's life and age.

Munchkin cats will need to have their fur brushed at least once a week. Trim the claws at the same time.

Provide your sweet little Munchkin with a litter box and keep the litter box immaculately clean, removing the feces every single day.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Munchkin vs Abyssinian - Breed Comparison
  2. Munchkin vs Aegean - Breed Comparison
  3. Munchkin vs African Serval - Breed Comparison
  4. Munchkin vs Chausie - Breed Comparison
  5. Munchkin vs American Bobtail - Breed Comparison
  6. Munchkin vs American Curl - Breed Comparison
  7. Munchkin vs American Keuda - Breed Comparison
  8. Munchkin vs American Longhair - Breed Comparison
  9. Munchkin vs American Polydactyl - Breed Comparison
  10. Munchkin vs American Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  11. Munchkin vs American Wirehair - Breed Comparison
  12. Munchkin vs Applehead Siamese - Breed Comparison
  13. Munchkin vs Ashera - Breed Comparison
  14. Munchkin vs Asian - Breed Comparison
  15. Munchkin vs Asian Semi-Longhair - Breed Comparison
  16. Munchkin vs Australian Mist - Breed Comparison
  17. Munchkin vs Balinese - Breed Comparison
  18. Munchkin vs Bengal - Breed Comparison
  19. Munchkin vs Bicolor - Breed Comparison
  20. Munchkin vs Birman - Breed Comparison
  21. Munchkin vs Blue Russian - Breed Comparison
  22. Munchkin vs Bombay - Breed Comparison
  23. Munchkin vs Brazilian Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  24. Munchkin vs Bristol - Breed Comparison
  25. Munchkin vs British Longhair - Breed Comparison
  26. American Shorthair vs Abyssinian - Breed Comparison
  27. American Shorthair vs Aegean - Breed Comparison
  28. American Shorthair vs African Serval - Breed Comparison
  29. American Shorthair vs Chausie - Breed Comparison
  30. American Shorthair vs American Bobtail - Breed Comparison
  31. American Shorthair vs American Curl - Breed Comparison
  32. American Shorthair vs American Keuda - Breed Comparison
  33. American Shorthair vs American Longhair - Breed Comparison
  34. American Shorthair vs American Polydactyl - Breed Comparison
  35. American Wirehair vs American Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  36. Applehead Siamese vs American Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  37. Ashera vs American Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  38. Asian vs American Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  39. Asian Semi-Longhair vs American Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  40. Australian Mist vs American Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  41. Balinese vs American Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  42. Bengal vs American Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  43. Bicolor vs American Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  44. Birman vs American Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  45. Blue Russian vs American Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  46. Bombay vs American Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  47. Brazilian Shorthair vs American Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  48. Bristol vs American Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  49. British Longhair vs American Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  50. British Shorthair vs American Shorthair - Breed Comparison