Find that cat *breed*

[moosmom]

If her name is Lisa Bressler, then THAT is her!!! She lived in NY while playing the cello professionally. She has no business breeding cats the way she did. We were so hoping she'd be banned from judging, but I guess not.

Your babies are beautiful!!! I try to imagine what MooShoo would look like with normal eyes. I think his eyes are one of the reasons why people think he looks like an alien. But I love that boy!!! I'd love to find him a girlfriend. Even a retired show cat.

[selkirkrex]

I know who Lisa Bressler is and she is still on suspension the last I heard. I serious doubt that she will ever be premitted to judge again either. She started out in cats young and I believe with the best of intentions... what happened in the end, I don't know or pretend to understand. I think it was a matter of the situation getting away from her. Too many cats, not enough time to properly care for them. All while she is running around the country judging other people's cats at TICA shows and putting on a good front for the world.

Until about 2 years ago, I did a large amount of persian rescue... and believe me when I tell you, there are more than enough persians that need rehoming in the USA. I have seen conditions that would make you sick. Literally make you want to kill the person responsible... so I do understand how you feel about how your baby was mistreated.

[moosmom]

There's a TICA show the last weekend in April in Ansonia, CT that I'll be going to. Are you going to be there??? If you do go, I'd LOVE to meet you and see babies.

Here's the link I found on Animal Planet.com with regards to the Munchkin. They have only recently been recognized by TICA.

History

The cat fancy’s version of downsizing—the Munchkin—has cat fanciers on both sides hissing over whether the breed should be recognized. While most new breeds have to face periods of resistance before acceptance can occur, the battle over this breed is particularly heated because it raises questions regarding where “unique variety” ends and “abomination” begins. This point has been previously raised within the cat fancy concerning breeds such as the Sphynx and the Manx. The word (or words to that effect) was even applied to the Siamese when it made its debut in London in 1871.

Short-legged cats have been documented as early as the 1930s in England. According to reports, these short-legged cats survived for four generations before World War II took its toll on the cat population of Europe. One such cat was also reported in the Soviet Union in the 1950s and dubbed the “Stalingrad Kangaroo Cat” for its tendency to sit up on its haunches. But the breed as we know it today began in Rayville, Louisiana.

In 1983 music teacher Sandra Hochenedel discovered two cats hiding under a pickup truck where they had been cornered by a bulldog. Hochenedel rescued the cats and took them home, later noticing two things—both were pregnant, and both had short, stubby legs. She kept Blackberry, the black cat, and gave away Blueberry, the gray.

When Blackberry produced her first litter, Hochenedel gave one short-legged kitten, named Toulouse, to her friend Kay LaFrance, who lived in Monroe, Louisiana. Since LaFrance’s cats were allowed free access to the outdoors and were not altered, a feral population of Munchkins occurred around Monroe, where they apparently competed very well with their long-legged friends for prey and mating opportunities.

Hochenedel and LaFrance contacted Dr. Solveig Pflueger, chairperson of TICA’s genetics committee. Her studies determined that the short legs were the result of a dominant genetic mutation affecting the long bones of the legs. This mutation apparently occurred spontaneously within the feline gene pool. Any cat that possesses this gene will exhibit the short legs. A cat that has received the Munchkin gene from one parent will produce Munchkin kittens at an approximate ratio of one Munchkin to one normal kitten.

Other breeders joined the cause, and in 1991 breeders tried to gain acceptance from TICA for the Munchkin, named for the little people in The Wizard of Oz. They were turned down on the basis that not enough was known about the breed. They tried again in September 1994 and this time were accepted. As of May 1, 1995 the Munchkin was recognized for New Breed and Color status in TICA. When the acceptance was announced, TICA member Katherine Crawford resigned her ten-year position as judge, saying that the breed was an affront to any breeder with ethics. Others shared her sentiments, feeling that the short legs will cause crippling back, hip, and leg problems in the future, although no evidence exists that the Munchkin is prone to such problems. Breeders had their oldest Munchkins X-rayed and examined for signs of joint or bone problems. No problems were found, but the breed is still in its infancy, with the oldest Munchkin only 14 years old at the time of this writing.

According to Laurie Bobskill, breeder and president of the International Munchkin Society, 19 separate Munchkin-like mutations have been found in the United States, all unrelated to Blackberry’s lines. Breeders find this encouraging, because it gives credence to the contention that this mutation is a viable variation of Felis catus.

Ironically, the controversy surrounding the breed has contributed to its growing popularity. Because of articles in The Wall Street Journal, People Magazine, and other publications, public demand for Munchkins has been great, the waiting lists long, and the supply limited. The sports car of the cat fancy is commanding sports car prices, too, and breeders want to ensure that disreputable people don’t take advantage of the Munchkin’s popularity by using unethical breeding practices.

Personality
For their part, Munchkins, oblivious to the controversy surrounding them, go on being just what they are—cats—self-assured and outgoing. They love to wrestle and play with their long-legged feline friends, happily unaware that there’s anything different about them. Nor do their feline companions treat them like members of the vertically challenged. Only humans look at them askance.

Fanciers assert Munchkins can do anything an ordinary cat can do, except leap to the top of the bookcase. They can get on the kitchen counter, but they take the scenic route. Munchkins are also known as “magpies,” often borrowing small, shiny objects and stashing them away for later play. Proficient hunters, Munchkins love a good game of catnip mouse, but when playtime is over, they want a warm lap to snuggle into and strokes from a loving hand, like any domestic.

Conformation
Because of the small gene pool, outcrossing will need to occur for many years to keep the breed healthy. For that reason, the conformation may vary in these early years as new genes are introduced. Any domestic longhair or shorthair that is not a member of a recognized breed is an acceptable outcross. Color, pattern, and hair length will vary as well, and the Munchkin can come in any color or pattern, including the Siamese pattern. Munchkins with long flowing tresses also exist and are recognized by TICA. The conformation for the Munchkin Long-hair is the same except that the Longhair bears a semi-long silky coat that sports a full flowing plume on the tail

It's funny that my cat's breeder, the chairman of TICA, is mentioned in the article. SHE is the one who kept Shortie in a cage the first year of her life! She is also known in certain circles at the Mad Scientist for the way she experiments with cat breeds. Shortie was SUPPOSED to have a litter of kittens one day, but developed Pyometria, which caused her to be spayed. That was my lucky day!!! She's my short, multicolored kitty cat. I call her THE most beautiful calico Munchkin on God's green earth!!

[selkirkrex]

As with any new breed, the munchkin has been through a lot on it's way to acceptance in TICA. I believe they are also shown in UFO, but not certain. When I first heard about them in the early 1990's, I was skeptical about them and concerned that they would have problems caused by their mutation. I met my first live munchkin when a friend of mine that was breeding ragdolls bought a long haired white girl from another friend that was breeding the munchkins in FL. At the time, I was still living in PA. I thought that white girl was about the prettiest thing I'd seen in a long time. I guess now she would be termed a napoleon (the new breed of munchkin x persian), but back then, they hadn't started to officially call it that. The napoleon does not have the extreme face of a persian though, which I'm glad of. As much as I love the persian (showed them for several years in the early 90's), I like that these cats have the more traditional persian look, rather than the extreme high nose and jaw structure of the show persian type. Whether the napoleon will ever make it past preliminary new breed has yet to be determined, but I'd like to see it happen.

The two girls that are currently residing with me are not napoleons. Lily and Dipstick are shorthaired. Both short sweeties are quite agile and do well with my long legged kids. Lily defies the tale that munchkins can't climb bookshelves. I had to get on a chair to get her off the top of my refrigerator last weekend.... she doesn't know she's not supposed to be able to get up there with her little legs. She also has a penchant for opening my kitchen cupboards and climbing inside with the dishes and foodstuff. Do you have any idea how startling it can be to open a cupboard for a glass and find a cat inside?

I was planning to go to the Oklahoma City show, but I am going to be moving into my new house on the weekend of the show as far as I know at this point, so we had to pass on that show this year. I will definitely be attending the Ft Worth show and probably the Orange show as well later this year. It's too bad you are so far away. It would be such fun to attend with someone else who likes the sphynx and munchkin too.

Joseph Smith is the founder of the Napoleon Breed. Attached is a photo of one of his fur-babies.

[moosmom]

What I find amazing is that there are SOOOOO many persians dumped off at shelters. I don't know whether it's because people don't do their homework on the breed, or just don't have the money to care for their ever problematic upper respiratory system.

I call Shortie my little "flying monkee" because of the way she can jump and literally fly onto my bed from her kitty tree that is 8 feet away.

[Xaja]

It's interesting to read about Munchkin. I think it will last some years till I'll have the possiblity to see a Munchkin in Europe. People here think it's unethical to breed such cats and FIFE will most likely NOT accept short-legged cats as breed.

Well, I'll go on with the game. A beautiful Seychellois:



And now I'd like to see a Dwelf, if they already exist.

[moosmom]

OMG!! Check the Dwelfs (or is it Dwelves??) out on this link! They are nekked munchkins!!!! I want one!!!!!

http://soulekatz.com/gallery.html

I am so in love with Ahjah.

[auggie]

Wow, I never herd of most of these breeds, and I’ve been to quite a few cat shows.
Selkirkrex, when and where is the Fort Worth cat show?

To keep up with the game, show me a Norwegian Forest cat.

[selkirkrex]

It's interesting to read about Munchkin. I think it will last some years till I'll have the possiblity to see a Munchkin in Europe. People here think it's unethical to breed such cats and FIFE will most likely NOT accept short-legged cats as breed.

Well, I'll go on with the game. A beautiful Seychellois:



And now I'd like to see a Dwelf, if they already exist.

Quite beautiful. But... wouldn't they be termed bi-color orientals in the US?

[DallasRechelle]

What I'd love to see is a Pixie Bob and a Manx, I didn't see those when I was browsing the threads!

I attached a photo of my cat, Shadow, who is 7 years old this June. He's definitely a "Momma's Boy" and won't leave my side. He earned his name the first night I got him when he followed me around so much he actually ran into my ankles, when he was 8 weeks old.