Because of the risks and health consequences related to dwarf cats, most national and international feline groups such as the International Cat Association do not recognize or support breeding dwarf cats. Many of the designer dwarf cats are created by breeding a cat with desirable traits with another purebred mate.
Certain feline breeds have reported a higher incidence of the metabolic or chondrodystophic forms, specifically Abyssinians and Scottish Folds , respectively. Dwarfism that results from a hormonal imbalance, such as low thyroid, requires life-long treatment. The body needs hormones for not only growth, but day to day function as well.
Parents of dwarf pets need to be prepared to administer medications daily. Blood tests and monitoring must also need to be performed regularly, so a good relationship with your veterinarian is essential. Normal life-span for cats ranges from years in most cats, but dwarf cats can have a significantly shortened life-span. In hormonally normal dwarf pets, the major health issues stem from their abnormal limbs and proportions. Part of what makes these pets cute is their short legs under a normal-appearing body, or trunk.
Dwarfism in cats causes a variety of health concerns, including an increased strain on the joints and limbs. However, this results in a higher strain on their joints and limbs. Over time, these pets can develop osteoarthritis , strains and sprains, and orthopedic conditions such as torn ligaments. Diagnosing these health issues may require x-rays and other tests.
These conditions may require surgery, support, and long-term medications to keep your pet pain free. Another common condition in dwarf cats is obesity. Cats need regular exercise and stimulation in combination with a well-balanced diet.
Dwarf cats may have reduced or limited mobility, which can lead to weight gain. Unfortunately, this can start a vicious cycle, as increased weight can put more strain on the limbs and accelerate the development of osteoarthritis and joint degeneration. Back and neurological problems can also develop in cats with dwarfism. In some cats, this can lead to disk disease and even paralysis in severe cases. Each cat has their own set of unique traits, which is what makes them endearing and special family members.
Dwarf cats and kittens certainly appear even cuter than most, with their short legs and unique physique. But pet parents need to be prepared for the consequences of these traits and the treatments that come with them. Adult felines can range from a petite 5 pounds up to massive pound specimens. If you are able to see the mother and father of a kitten, the parental size is the best prediction of growth and mature weight. There are many cats looking for a home, and the rescue and shelter agencies will help you find the best fit for your family.
No matter the size, cats can give an unlimited amount of love! It depends. If there are significant hormone abnormalities, a dwarf cat may not be able to become pregnant. Even if they do become pregnant with kitten, a dwarf cat may have difficulty giving birth due to the confirmation of the kittens and the birth canal and pelvis.
Breeders sometimes intentionally breed these deformities into kittens to cash in on their cuteness. Dwarfism in cats is technically a genetic mutation, and not one that is simply cute. There are three types of feline dwarfism: osteochondrodysplasia, pituitary dwarfism, and selective dwarfism. Each of these types of dwarfism can produce the sought-after stout legs and smushed face you commonly see in munchkin cats. However, all types of feline dwarfism come with potential health hazards, as well.
Osteochondrodysplasia is a condition in which the growth and development of both bone and cartilage is abnormal, resulting in a lack of healthy bone growth as well as skeletal deformities. Often, this abnormal bone growth will produce a dwarf cat with short limbs and a normal sized body.
Munchkin cats with osteochondrodysplasia can have curved spines, bow-legged stances, and slightly-bigger-than-usual heads. Dwarf kittens or cats with this type of dwarfism have the potential for other health problems.
These include neurological issues, mobility issues, heart and lung defects, and other physical abnormalities, such as the aforementioned curved spine, that can be severely limiting to a dwarf cat. Some may be due to a condition similar to primordial dwarfism found in humans. There are several lines of Teacup and Toy Persians currently being bred, with some due to a spontaneous mutation and others due to consistently selecting and breeding the smallest individuals from each generation to progressively downsize the breed.
Teacup cats are simply small "miniature" cats meaning a size smaller than the category of cat called "miniature cats".
Smaller than usual cats occur for several reasons - some genetic, some hormonal and some environmental. Miniature cats are usually about one third to one half the size of normal size cats of the same breed. A genuine Teacup Cat however, is born with a genetic dwarfism that, instead of making just the legs short, causes the cat to be proportionally small all over. The discovery of this genetic mutation has caused popularity of the teacup cat to spread like wildfire.
Many breeders will agree that most "teacup" cats are, in fact, scams. Usually these cats were runts, born too early, or severely emaciated when they were a kitten. When buying "teacups" of any animal, take caution, as most primordial dwarf cats are born with severe health problems.
Some common health problems of "teacup" cats include:. Due to their very, very small size it is impractical to take them home before they are at least five months old. Cat experts encourage you to take care when acquiring these very small cats, as miniature kittens are much more vulnerable than normal sized kittens. Be careful when choosing a miniature, because not all teacup cats are in fact miniature cats or dwarf cats.
In some cases, a cat's normal size is around pounds; therefore some normal cats at the bottom end of this scale may have the appearance of a miniature cat, but will not be an actual "miniature or teacup" because the cat's genetic make up is that of a normal sized cat. A good breeder will limit the number of litters to ensure that the queen stays healthy and to help make sure the gene pool is wide to avoid inbreeding damaging the immune system which could result in health problems and defects in offspring.
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