About Our Cats

The Munchkin is a relatively new breed compared to more established breeds. The Napoleon is a hyrbrid mix of the Munchkin cat crossed with a variety of other pure bred cats (including Exotic Shorthair, British Shorthair, Persian, etc.) Recently, there is a new label trending for the Munchkin x British Shorthair cross – “English Muffins” which we find very cute and fitting!

The Munchkin/Napoleon is cute with a sweet nature that is growing in popularity and acceptance. It is almost exclusively characterized by it’s short legs, which have 3 subcategories of classification: Non-standard (normal legs); Standard (short legs); and Rug Hugger (Super Short legs). It is not genetically modified as some believe, and owes its existence to a naturally occurring mutated gene. It’s been fully recognized by The International Cat Association (TICA).

The Munchkin/Napoleon is pet and family friendly. They are intelligent, well-mannered, energetic and playful cats. They are an ideal indoor cat that comes in an endless variety of colors and will quite happily sit on your lap. Perhaps, most popularized by Paris Hilton, they nonetheless are winning over fans across the globe. A litter or a group of kittens would be a mix of short- and long-legged Napoleon cats. The kittens who inherit the dwarf gene will have short legs. These kittens are referred to as “standard” kittens. The kittens who do NOT inherit the dwarf gene will have normal legs. These kittens are referred to as “non-standard” kittens.

Although the question of leg length completely dominates the debate both online and offline and most pictures will promulgate that fact, they in all other regards can appear like any other cat.

As they are cross bred cat they come in a variety of different colors and coat patterns, as well as face and ear shapes. Therefore, they always partially appear like the cross breed that it comes from.

The face and body of Munchkin Cats are proportionate to each other, it’s just the legs of the animal that are slightly smaller. This is primarily why the Munchkin Cat is said not to be suffering from dwarfism, where the proportions have changed.

Several people have noted that Munchkin Cats can often look like kittens for their entire lives, which may be the reason behind their rising popularity.

Above: Little Bit, our standard female Munchkin/Napoleon

Size

A Munchkin Cat will stand around 6 to 9 inches tall. An average cat by comparison is 9 to 10 inches It is considered a small to medium sized cat, rather surprisingly, and the variability in size comes from range with which the short-legged gene produces and the variability of size in the cross breeds that may make a Munchkin kitten.

The weight range is around 5 (2.3kg) to 9 (4.1kg) pounds with the female being slightly smaller than the male.

The average Munchkin Cat will mature after 12 months and stop growing after around 18 months.

Coat

A huge variety within this trait as well for a similar reason. With genetics coming from either an American Curl, a British Shorthair or any other breed you can reasonably expect a wide spectrum colors, patterns and plumes,

Almost every coat combination is possible. The International Cat Association (TICA), the organization that officially first registered the breed says it comes in both long hair and short hair. The huge scope of variety comes from the diverse cross breeding to ensure genetic diversity.

Munchkins/Napoleons require only a moderate level of grooming, unlike other cats which need a high level of maintenance and grooming. To prevent matting or the tangling of a cat’s hair, Napoleon cats need to be brushed 2 to 3 times a week. It also depends on the coat type: if the cat is long-haired, it is best to brush the cat more frequently per week to maintain a clean and smooth hair.

Lifespan


Those shorter legs do not translate to a shorter lifespan. A well cared for and healthy Munchkin Cat will live to an average age range of 12 to 14 years, which is quite respectable in the list of cat breed
lifespans.

Appearance

As it is a mix of the short-legged Munchkin and the hairy and round-faced Persian,
some Napoleon cats may exhibit traits from both lineages. For short-legged Napoleon cats, they would be less agile and mobile than their long-legged counterparts. It has a medium and muscular build; big wide eyes; round face, ears, cheeks, and muzzles. Its coat or the overall fur coverage range from chocolate, mink, to sepia; can grow up to 20 cm and weigh up to 2 to 4 kg (5 to 9 lbs)

 Meanwhile, Napoleon cats inhibit positive personality traits such as being friendly, cuddling, tame, loyal, and intuitive. They are also friendly to children given that they are not shown aggression. Due to its tender behavior, it is usually called “teacup” or “baby doll.” For Russian cat owners, Napoleon cats are sometimes called, “a small chunk of happiness”.

Essentially, a Napoleon has inherited certain characteristics from the Persian, namely the round face, eyes, a deep coat and good bone structure. This is a natural complement to the Munchkins much shorter legs. This combination makes it a very unique cat to look at, and so will be easy to identify in a cat line up..

These cats are excellent indoor pets. IN FACT, YOUR MUNCHKIN/NAPOLEON SHOULD BE KEPT INDOORS AT ALL TIMES! Your Munchkin is unable to defend itself as well as a normal-legged cat can. He cannot jump as high, nor can he climb as fast as his long-legged opponent and the outdoors expose him to far greater danger due to his short legs. If you are wanting an outdoor cat, please consider another breed.

BRITISH SHORTHAIR

British Shorthair cats and kittens have quickly become one of the most popular breeds in history and modern day. They have the most beautiful and soft plush coats that are very easy to care for, and adorable faces with large round eyes.  Their intelligence and easy going nature makes them popular with families and just about anyone. Additionally, they are loyal, non-demanding, and playful.

Big, round shoe-button eyes open up the face in the rounded head giving a super sweet expression. A sturdy body is covered with padding resulting in a solid feel to this medium-sized cat. British shorthair cats are known to be referred to as “teddy bears” for their stocky solid round features.

Above: Noah, our male BSH and Dakota, our female longhair BSH/Scottish Straight

Personality

British Shorthair cats are intelligent, inquisitive, and are loyal to their family. They tend not to hide around the house or be shy, but rather they will always be around, even following you from room to room. Most tend to be one of the breeds that breeders and judges refer to as “four on the floor” kitties as they prefer to be close to you but with all four feet on something firm and without being picked up and carried around. Some learn cute antics like how to open cabinet doors and take a look inside and they can even be trained to play fetch. Most love to drink from running water, and some eat and drink with their paws. One of the cutest things is to see one of these cats sitting up, relaxing like a human which many breeders refer to as “the Buddha sit”…they look like they need a remote control and a lounge chair!

This breed tends to be somewhat laid back and quiet and they get along well with both children and, once properly introduced, other family pets as well. British Shorthairs today are carefully bred by experienced breeders to produce healthy happy kittens for you to enjoy for a lifetime.

Traits

British Shorthairs come in all colors and patterns of the Traditional and Pointed Divisions. All eye colors can be found, but copper eyes are the most common color. They have round faces, round eyes, and round bodies. They are a medium-sized cat with medium boning. Occasionally, a litter will produce kittens with longer/medium length coats (in England these kittens are referred to as “Highlanders.” )

Active:  This is a moderately active cat breed. As such, they enjoy playing but usually want to play with their humans rather than alone. While they do not particularly enjoy being carried around they are a very affectionate cat and will follow their humans around and curl up in their lap when the time is right.

Size: They are a medium cat, typically weighing between 5 to 13 pounds.

Characteristics:  A medium size cat with medium boning and are described as generally “round” – they have a round body, round face, and round whisker pads. Their round, widely spaced eyes, combined with their domed head and straight ears gives them an incredibly endearing and open look that many cat fanciers have fallen in love with over the years. They have short legs and a very compact body, adding to their unique appearance that has been often compared to an owl or a teddy bear.

Temperament: The British Shorthair cat breed is as sweet in personality as it is in appearance. They are a highly loyal and lovable cat, following around their favorite humans wherever they go. They are very affectionate so don’t be surprised if they get a bit clingy to you. They enjoy playing around and being silly but are still very gentle, even in their play. They are quite clever and dexterous, and you might even find them opening cabinet doors.

The British Shorthair’s intelligence and dexterity also helps them to take quickly to training. Their personality makes them an ideal cat for homes with children and other pets and they are a relatively quiet cat so they won’t talk your ear off. One of the funniest things about the personality of the British Shorthair is that they love to lay in funny positions and they can often be seen sitting up like a human or sleeping flat on their backs – it’s quite a site to see!

Care: British Shorthair cats are relatively easy to care for because they like to groom themselves much like other cats. A shorthaired kitten should be combed or brushed once per week and a longhaired twice per week to keep their coat looking its best. Additionally, nail trimming and ear cleaning as needed will help your cat not only look good but feel good too.

Lifespan

The UK breed committee considers the British Shorthair a long-lived cat, with a life expectancy of 14-20 years. Therefore, a decision to adopt a cat should not be taken lightly. It is a long term commitment.