Munchkin vs Cornish Rex - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

Cornwall is the birthplace of the unusual Cornish Rex cat – a curly-coated cat.

A kitten was born in 1950 and belonged to Nina Ennismore and Winifred Macalister. The other kittens had short hair but this unusual kitten had curly hair, the result of a spontaneous natural mutation.

A successful breeding program was started and it was in 1963 that the American Cat Fanciers Association as well as the and today it is recognized by all cat registries.

Information 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.

The Cornish Rex is a small to medium-sized cat weighing between 3 to 5kg. It’s a lithe, slender cat with a small, narrow head with big ears and eyes.

The cat has long, slender legs with a tail that is also slender and long. The hair is very fine and they are actually prone to hair loss. The coat has fine, short, silky hair. There can be a bit of a curl in the hair, The coat comes in many colors from white, silver, black, red, blue to chocolate and they can have different patterns too as well as bein bi-color.

The eyes can be gold, brown, or green. The torso is long and lean, the cat has a deep chest but strong hips and rear end that allow the Cornish Rex to leap with ease up onto perches.

Temperament:

The Cornish Rex loves his human family and loves spending time with them, whether that means fun and games or sitting in your lap.

He is intelligent and can learn a few tricks and is capable of learning to walk on a leash. He is a confident cat, playful and entertaining. Gentle and loving, he is a talkative cat, wanting to express his opinion about everything.

He will fit easily into different lifestyles, whether you’re single, a family, or in a retirement home, so long as he is receiving lots of attention.

He isn’t as frail as he looks and can get pretty active and social with children and dogs and may even beat the dog to fetching a small ball.

The 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.

If you’re looking for a cat that can bring laughter and fun into the household, you won’t go wrong with a Cornish Rex as they will amuse and delight.

He is also a cat that doesn’t require a lot of fuss and bother, although he makes a fuss about the amount of attention he gets.

He doesn’t like being left alone for long, so a good idea is to work from home or to get a companion for him. Other than than, he makes the most splendid feline companion.

The 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.

The Cornish Rex is a hardy cat with very few health issues. Certainly, because of the very fine hair, you’d have to be aware of sunburn.

Cats can get sunburned and can be at serious risk of getting skin cancer later on. Be sun-smart and apply pet sunscreen.

Be careful of the type of sunscreen you use as your cat will likely want to lick it off. Other issues to look out for are hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. This is a common kind of heart disease in cats where there is a thickening in the wall of the heart.

Because 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.

Grooming your Cornish Rex isn’t going to be an issue as the cat has very little hair. Although nothing is set in stone and some Cornish Rex’s have thicker coats, requiring more brushing. Maybe a soft brush once a week will be sufficient for this cat breed.

A good idea is to take a cloth of warm water and to gently wipe your cat so that he is free of dust.

Supply a litter box and make sure that you remove his droppings every single day.

Have your pet neutered or spayed if you don’t want unwanted kittens. These minor ops have many health benefits for your cat as well.

When you brush your cat, check his entire body out for any abnormalities. Check for new lumps, check inside the ears to make sure they are clean and free of redness which could indicate an infection.

Clip his toenails, make sure his eyes are clear and bright, free of discharge, and check inside his mouth to make sure there aren’t any bad teeth, as this could cause him a lot of discomfort.

Every 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.