Munchkin vs Birman - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

Munchkin vs Birman - Breed ComparisonBirman is originated from France but Munchkin is originated from United States. Both Birman and Munchkin are having almost same weight. Both Birman and Munchkin has same life span. Both Birman and Munchkin has same litter size. Birman requires Moderate Maintenance. But Munchkin requires Low Maintenance

Basic Information

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France
United States
Weight Male:
3 - 6 kg
6 - 14 pounds
3 - 4 kg
6 - 9 pounds
Weight Female:
3 - 6 kg
6 - 14 pounds
3 - 4 kg
6 - 9 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 15 Years
12 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
2 - 6
2 - 6
Other Names:
The Sacred Cat of Burma
Sausage cat
Colors Available:
White, cream, chocolate
All colors and patterns
Coat:
Medium-long, silky and shiny
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:
Moderate Maintenance
Low Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
No
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

birmanThere isn’t clarity as to this exquisite cat’s origins. Many people believe they originated as the companions of temple priests in northern Burma.

The cats somehow found their way to France, and it is believed that they have been in France since the 1920s.

The cats nearly disappeared during World War II, but luckily the remaining Birmans that survived were crossed with Siamese and Persians to strengthen the breed. In the early 1950s, pure Birnam litters were produced. It was in about 1959 that Birmans were brought to the United States.

The cats were also recognized in Britain in 1965 and in 1966 by the CFA. The first Birman cats were seal point but later other colors were brought in such as red, chocolate, and tabby.

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

birman kitten - descriptionThese are medium-sized cats which can become fairly large. They can weigh up to 4, 5 or 6kg. They are fairly heavily boned with a broad face and ears that are widely spaced.

The round eyes are deep blue. The cat’s fur is medium-long and should be silky to the touch with no undercoat. Ther cat is a moderate shedder.

The base color is whitish to cream, but the kittens are always born white. Coat color, whether red, cream, or chocolate is always pointed and the cat always has the white paws.

Temperament:

The Birman isn’t as outgoing as some of the other cat breeds and its a quiet, docile intelligent cat that attaches itself to one particular family member. They can actually become jealous of their human companion and demand their attention.

These friendly cats are wonderful choices for families with children and dogs. They are calm and affectionate, and softly spoken, quietly letting you know when it’s dinner time and enjoying just being around his human family.

He is able to get along well with kids and other pets in the home. He can become quite playful too and because he is so intelligent, you can buy him some toys that require him to think.

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

birman cat - characteristicsThe Birman cat has to be one of the most beautiful cats there are, but the cat isn’t only a beautiful cat, it has wonderful characteristics as well.

It is a loving, affectionate cat with his human family, loving to spend time around them. Playful and healthy, when you bring this most wonderful cat into your home, it will be as though an angel has come to stay.

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

birman kittens - health problemsWith good health your Birman can reach up to 13 years of age. With the Birman, the most serious illness is feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy which also happens to be the most common heart disease in cats.

It’s a progressive disease and can result in heart failure. The cats are also at risk of developing feline infectious peritonitis.

Also, because this is a larger cat and a stocky kind of breed, it can easily put on weight and then become overweight. Strict attention will need to be given to diet as well as daily exercise.

Also, look out for Corneal dermoid - skin and hair on the surface of the cornea in one eye or in both. Luckily this is an eye problem that can be surgically corrected.

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:

birman cats - caringThe Birman has a silky coat that sheds moderately so you want to give him a gentle brush once or twice a week to keep the coat of his soft and silky.

The Birman has a full topcoat, with no undercoat which means that you won’t have the coat matting or tangling.

He’ll need his nails trimmed and his teeth checked regularly. Your vet or professional groomers can do this for you and clean his teeth and check that there are no bad teeth making your pet sick.

Diet:

The Birman cat has access to some great commercial cat food as there are some seriously good quality ones.

Many cat lovers choose cat foods that are AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) approved. It at least provides minimum standards for pet foods.

For your Birman you want to avoid artificial flavors and preservatives. Choose quality foods high in meat protein. As a carnivore, a cat has a huge need for meat protein. Get to know your pet food labels and choose foods with added taurine and vitamin A.

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