Munchkin vs American Wirehair - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

Munchkin vs American Wirehair - Breed ComparisonBoth American Wirehair and Munchkin are originated from United States. Both American Wirehair and Munchkin are having almost same weight. Both American Wirehair and Munchkin has almost same life span. Both American Wirehair and Munchkin has same litter size. Both American Wirehair 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:
12 - 16 Years
12 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
2 - 6
2 - 6
Other Names:
None
Sausage cat
Colors Available:
Any color or pattern
All colors and patterns
Coat:
springy, coarse and wiry
Short and long haired
Shedding:
Moderate
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, 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:
Moderate
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
No
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

american wirehairThe American Wirehair started as a spontaneous mutation so that somewhere along the line, an unusual litter with this unique wiry type of fur was born.

The cat hails from New York and it was in 1966 that a couple of barn cats had a litter of kittens, some of which were born with this peculiar wiry hair. Only one kitten survived – a male – and later it was discovered that the gene responsible for the wirehair coat was dominant so that only one parent required the gene to produce Wirehair offspring.

Today, all American Wirehairs are descendants of this one surviving male kitten. Today the breed is still fairly rare. It is, however, recognized by the four largest North American cat associations.

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 wirehair kitten - descriptionThe American Wirehair is a medium-sized cat, strong and powerful, and can weight 5, 6 or 7 kg.

The head is in proportion to the body and the cat has a strong muzzle and chin. The ears are medium-sized and are rounded at the tips while the eyes are large, round, and set well apart.

It’s the coat that draws attention as unlike a regular cat’s silky fur, the fur of this cat is springy, coarse and wiry to the touch. The coat can be any color or pattern. It is the cat’s very coat that distinguishes it from all other breeds.

With this coat, the less grooming the better. Brushing or combing can damage it, so unless he is shedding heavily, leave it alone.

The only other care he needs really is nail trimming, to check inside his mouth for bad teeth and to also check inside his ears for redness. Both the teeth and the ears can be a source of pain for your pet.

Temperament:

The American Wirehair may have a harsh coat but there is nothing harsh about his personality at all. He is amicable and loving, getting on well with all members of his human family.

He is an independent cat and while he loves spending time with his family, he is quite capable of spending time on his own as well.

The American Wirehair is a playful cat so you want to give him some toys to entertain himself for when you’re not around.

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 wirehair cat - characteristicsThe American Wirehair makes a splendid pet, and while he isn’t the best breed for children, he can make a good pet with those children who have been taught kindness, gentleness and respect for animals.

He is calm, quiet, dependent, and sociable and by providing him with a good home, he’ll prove to be a wonderful pet and companion.

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 wirehair kittens - health problemsThe American Wirehair is a healthy type of cat but any cat can develop health issues.

Be aware of Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy – a common form of heart disease in cats where there is the thickening of the heart muscle.

Be careful of overfeeding your cat as obesity is a major contributory disease to many illnesses that a cat gets. Excess weight can contribute to diabetes and arthritis and put pressure on your cat’s joints. Certainly, carrying extra weight can shorten your cat’s life. Make sure your cat gets smaller, healthier meals and that he is active and exercised.

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

General:

american wirehair cats - caringBrush the cat gently once a week. Your cat will love the connection you and he has. While you brush him, make a point of checking inside his ears and inside his mouth as well. It is also time to trim his nails. If you are hesitant to do this, ask you vet for suggestions or you can make use of a pet groomer too.

Make sure your pet cat is free from parasites such as fleas, ticks and heartworm. Your vet can recommend a treatment and it is also a good idea to talk to your vet about vaccines for your cat.

No unwanted kittens:

Have your American Wirehair spayed or neutered to prevent unwanted kittens and to promote better health for your cat.

Diet:

Always choose healthy food for your pet, bearing in mind that cats are carnivores, which means that you need to choose cat-food for your pet that has fish and meat in it. It can be difficult making good homemade food for your cat but there are excellent commercially prepared cat foods to ensure your cat gets the correct balance of nutrients and calories. Bear in mind that your cat's nutritional requirements change through their different stages of life.

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 Wirehair vs Abyssinian - Breed Comparison
  27. American Wirehair vs Aegean - Breed Comparison
  28. American Wirehair vs African Serval - Breed Comparison
  29. American Wirehair vs Chausie - Breed Comparison
  30. American Wirehair vs American Bobtail - Breed Comparison
  31. American Wirehair vs American Curl - Breed Comparison
  32. American Wirehair vs American Keuda - Breed Comparison
  33. American Wirehair vs American Longhair - Breed Comparison
  34. American Wirehair vs American Polydactyl - Breed Comparison
  35. American Wirehair vs American Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  36. Applehead Siamese vs American Wirehair - Breed Comparison
  37. Ashera vs American Wirehair - Breed Comparison
  38. Asian vs American Wirehair - Breed Comparison
  39. Asian Semi-Longhair vs American Wirehair - Breed Comparison
  40. Australian Mist vs American Wirehair - Breed Comparison
  41. Balinese vs American Wirehair - Breed Comparison
  42. Bengal vs American Wirehair - Breed Comparison
  43. Bicolor vs American Wirehair - Breed Comparison
  44. Birman vs American Wirehair - Breed Comparison
  45. Blue Russian vs American Wirehair - Breed Comparison
  46. Bombay vs American Wirehair - Breed Comparison
  47. Brazilian Shorthair vs American Wirehair - Breed Comparison
  48. Bristol vs American Wirehair - Breed Comparison
  49. British Longhair vs American Wirehair - Breed Comparison
  50. British Shorthair vs American Wirehair - Breed Comparison