Munchkin vs Exotic Shorthair - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

Munchkin vs Exotic Shorthair - Breed ComparisonBoth Exotic Shorthair and Munchkin are originated from United States. Both Exotic Shorthair and Munchkin are having almost same weight. Both Exotic Shorthair and Munchkin has almost same life span. Both Exotic Shorthair and Munchkin has same litter size. Both Exotic Shorthair and Munchkin requires Low Maintenance.

Basic Information

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United States
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 - 17 Years
12 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
2 - 6
2 - 6
Other Names:
The Lazy Man's Persian
Sausage cat
Colors Available:
Lots of colors and patterns - chinchilla silver, bicolor, tabby, tortoiseshell
All colors and patterns
Coat:
Shortish and plush
Short and long haired
Shedding:
Minimal
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, 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

exotic shorthairThe Exotic Shorthair cat is such a sweet-faced cat that it is often referred to as the ‘lazy man’s Persian. This is because the face is also flat and pushed in like the Persian cat.

The Exotic Shorthair was in fact developed as a short-haired version of the Persian. It was in the 1950s that the Persian was used to mate with other breeds such as the Burmese.

The crossbreed gained recognition but some American Shorthair breeders produced a new breed standard that would disqualify American Shorthairs that showed any signs of crossbreeding.

It was in 1966 that the Cat Fanciers Association recognized the cat as a new breed and under the name Exotic Shorthair.

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

exotic shorthair kitten - descriptionDeveloped through crosses between Persians and American Shorthairs as well as other cat breeds, the Exotic Shorthair looks like the Persian but he has a short coat.

The coat is found in the same colors as the Persian cat – patterns and solid colors, ranging from chinchilla silver to tabby, tortoiseshell, black and white and bicolor. The eyes are large and round, the ears small and round and the tail fairly short and thick.

Temperament:

The Exotic Shorthair is a sweet, gentle, calm cat but a bit livelier than the Persian. They’re lively, friendly, and playful, but are also cats that like to sit in your lap and be stroked.

They get on well with children and other pets, being a loyal friend to the entire family. He quietly communicates with his human family with a soft voice. He is also quite adaptable to living conditions so long as his human family provides him with lots of attention.

He won’t want to be left for long periods of time on his own so he won’t suit living in a home where he is left alone all day.

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

exotic shorthair cat - characteristicsYour Exotic Shorthair is a loving cat and for those who prefer, it is a cat that is livelier than the Persian. While the Exotic Shorthair also has a mellow personality, because of its shorthair ancestors, it's more active.

This Exotic cat can live to be 15, 16, or 17 if you care for him well and that means you have 15 years to share with a most wonderful feline 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

exotic shorthair kittens - health problemsWith the Exotic Shorthair, some of the diseases are genetic while others can be encouraged by poor diet and lifestyle.

Obesity for instance is a major disease of cats and it contributes to many serious illnesses in cats. Excess weight shortens your cat’s life and contributes to arthritis and diabetes. The extra weight puts a strain on the cat's joints. Shedding just a little bit of weight can result in improved mobility.

Dental disease is a common chronic problem in pets. Make sure to check inside your cat’s mouth from time to time as serious dental problems can cause pain and interfere with the health of your cat’s important organs such as heart and kidneys.

All kinds of parasites can invade your Exotic Shorthair's body, internally and externally – worms, fleas, and ticks - and cause your pet a tremendous amount of pain and discomfort.

Brachycephalic Syndrome is a respiratory distress syndrome and it mostly affects what is known as brachycephalic cats – those cat with snub faces like the Exotic Shorthair.

The flattened features of the face make it that there is less space for the tissue to grow. The soft area at the back of the roof of the mouth hangs into the airway, obstructing it, and they can’t breathe normally. Sometimes the cats will require surgery to allow for more regular breathing.

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

Diet:

exotic shorthair cats - caringIt is important to understand the type of foods available to your pet and how often and how much to feed him.

Most cats prefer to eat several small meals a day as opposed to a couple of large ones. Make feed times interesting and provide food puzzles to have your cat ‘prey’ for food.

Always read and understand the labels on the cat food packaging and be sure to always feed your Exotic Shorthair with the very best food there is and to follow the portion guides.

If you’re in any doubt or your cat doesn’t want to eat his food, try something else or speak to your vet about how to be sure your cat is getting fed the best food there is.

Make sure to have your kitten vaccinated as required. Also, when you take your kitten in to be vaccinated, the vet will also perform a check-up to make sure your kitten is healthy as these cats are susceptible to bacterial and viral infections.

Your cat has a short, low maintenance coat. A brush once a week can get rid of loose hairs and you and your cat will both enjoy the therapeutic bonding between the two of you.

Check your cat’s inner ears for wax and debris as well as for signs of any infection, and if you don’t want to do that, professional cat groomers can do it for you.

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