Fact Sheet Feline disproportionate dwarfism

More pictures can be found here (click on picture):

 3. Breeds concerned

The Munchkin is considered the original breed for many dwarf breeds (Dwarf). Compared to many other cat breeds, the Munchkin is a relatively young breed that has been documented since the 1940s and was officially recognized in 1991. The name comes from the tiny inhabitants of the Munchkin Land by the writer L. Frank Baum in the novel The Wizard of Oz (1900).
The breed was recognized by the International Cat Association (TICA) in 1997, many pedigree cat associations around the world refused to recognize the Munchkin due to health concerns and the breeding of Munchkin cats is explicitly prohibited by law in several countries.

In order to establish new, derived breeds, the Munchkin was crossed with other breeds. The so-called experimental crosses (all dwarf cats) include:

Bambino:
Mostly hairless dwarf cat, cross between the Munchkin and Sphynx breeds. 

Dwelf:
Crossbreed of Munchkin, Sphynx and American Curl with the characteristic features of all three breeds: shortened legs, hairlessness and curled ears (recognized by the US Rare and Exotic Feline Registry (REFR)).

Genetta:
Cross between Munchkin, Bengal and sometimes Ocicat or Savannah (recognized by REFR).

Kinkalow:
Cross between Munchkin and American Curl with short legs and curled ears (recognized by the REFR).

Lambkin (or Nanus Rex):
Crossbreed of Munchkin and Selkirk Rex with short legs and curly coat (recognized by the REFR).

Minskin:
Crossbreed of Munchkin, Burmese, Sphynx and Devon Rex cats, with short legs, hairless or very short coat and spotted coloration (recognized by the REFR and since 2018 provisionally by the International Cat Association (TICA)). 

Minuet (or Napoleon):
Cross between Munchkin and Persian (or sometimes Himalayan or Exotic Shorthair), with short legs and brachycephaly („peke-face“, characteristic of the latter breeds). Recognized by TICA and REFR under the name Napoleon)

Skookum (or LaMerm):
Cross between Munchkin and LaPerm, with the short legs of the Munchkin and the curly coat of the LaPerm (recognized by the REFR).

Gaelic Fold:
Cross between Munchkin, Napoleon, Scottish- and Highland Fold.

Further Munchkin subcategories are called Scottish Kilt, Munchamese, Munch-Bob, Mei Toi Munchkins. In all these Munchkin offspring, the scientifically well-documented (hereditary) predispositions to certain diseases in the crossbred cat breeds can occur in addition to the ailments of the Munchkin cat described below.

Another form of disproportionate growth is the Squitten, a cat with a genetic deformity in which the radius is only partially developed, twisted or completely missing, so that the cat resembles a squirrel in shape. Cats with radial hypoplasia or similar mutations often sit on their hindquarters so that their front legs cannot touch the ground, giving them a resemblance to a squirrel or kangaroo. The name is a combination of „squirrel“ and „kitten“. More rarely, the term „kangaroo cat“ is also used, which goes back to specimens from the 1940s.

4. Occurrence in other animal species

Dogs (e.g.  Welsh Corgi, a dog breed with similar stature and health problems), cattle, horses, etc.

5. Problems/syndromes possibly associated with the characteristic

Feline disproportionate dwarfism (FDD) and as a consequence:

• Incongruities in the elbow, ulnocarpal and radiocarpal joints
• Tendency to secondary osteoarthritis
• Possible health problems resulting from the crossbreeding of breeds with harmful traits (please refer to the relevant information sheets on the crossbred breeds or traits).

6. Symptoms and pathological value of the above-mentioned defects: Significance/effects of the defect on the physical/psychological well-being (burden) of the individual animal and classification in burden category*

*The individual breeding-related defects are assigned to different burden categories (BC) depending on their severity. The overall burden category is based on the most severe defect found in the individual animal. The BC system as a further development based on the Swiss model is still being developed and is only intended as a guide. The BC values given here should therefore be regarded as provisional. The main reason for this is that the German Animal Welfare Act does not contain a justiciable basis for classification into burden categories. In contrast to Switzerland, the legal standards in Germany do not quantify pain, suffering or harm or assess their quality, but take them into account if they affect the animal more than insignificantly.

The burdens that can be caused by defective breeding traits are divided into 4 categories (Art. 3 TSchZV, Switzerland). The most burdenful trait or symptom is decisive for the assignment of an animal to a burden category (Art. 4 TSchZV, Switzerland).

Category 0 (no burden): These animals may be used for breeding.

Category 1 (mild burden): Mild burden is present if a burdenful expression of characteristics and symptoms in pets and farm animals can be compensated for by suitable care, husbandry or feeding without interfering with the animal and without regular medical care measures.

Category 2 (medium burden): These animals may only be used for breeding if the breeding objective is for the offspring to be less burdened than the parents.

Category 3 (severe burden): These animals may not be used for breeding.

Feline disproportionate dwarfism (FDD)

Several authors characterize the short-legged phenotype of the standard munchkin cat and state that this is due to a disorder of chondrogenesis or glycosaminoglycan synthesis.

The authors Struck et al. (2020) and Schöll (2021) describe the Munchkin as a chrondrodysplastic breed. According to the definition, chondrodysplasia is a hereditary short stature with distally pronounced shortened and deformed extremities (acromesomelia), while the face and spine are normal. In generalized chondrodysplasia, there is a systemic disorder of chondrogenesis, which leads to deformation of bones formed by enchondral ossification and disproportionate dwarfism.

Anderson et al. (2021) and Takanosu and Hattori (2020) differentiate between chondrodysplasia and FDD, with the latter describing the skeletal abnormalities of munchkin as comparable to those of  human pseudoachondrodysplasia.

Physical:
In a study by Anderson et al. (2021), five dwarf cats were examined genetically and radiologically and compared with a control group of non-dwarf cats. In all cats with disproportionate dwarfism, genetic analysis revealed the UGDH structural variant previously proposed by Struck et al. (2020) and Buckley et al. (2020) as a possible genetic cause of FDD in the munchkin cat (UGDH plays a role in proteoglycan synthesis in chondrocytes). Radiographic examination revealed sagittal axial deviations of the radius, humerus, femur and tibia. The pronounced sigmoidal shape of the humerus and radius and a complex antebrachial malalignment consisting of proximal radial varus, distal radial valgus and radial external rotation were conspicuous in the forelimbs. This configuration was also demonstrated by Struck et al. (2020). It represents a clear deviation from the normal bone shape and was also demonstrated by Knapp et al. (2016) in chondrodystrophic dogs. Struck et al. (2020) deduced from their study results that this also leads to incongruence in the elbow, ulnocarpal and radiocarpal joints.

The hind limbs of FDD cats also exhibit deformities consisting of femoral varus, proximal tibial valgus and distal tibial varus.

Anderson et al. (2021) compared the skeletal alterations of FDD cats with those of normal cats using the CORA method. This is an examination method established in human medicine and later used in veterinary medicine to characterize limb deformities.

The anatomy of the limbs of FDD cats differs from that of the normal cat population and resembles the skeletal abnormalities found in chondrodystrophic dogs. Chondrodystrophic dogs have an increased risk of developing secondary osteoarthritis of the elbow and carpal joints compared to non-chondrodystrophic breeds. This is the result of limb malalignment and the resulting unphysiological weight distribution and incorrect loading of the joints.

From the proven limb malpositions of FDD cats and these pathogenetic facts, the authors deduce a possible tendency of FDD cats to develop secondary osteoarthritis

An increased prevalence of lordosis is described in the Munchkin cat and similar intervertebral disc diseases are suspected as in dog breeds with osteochondrodysplasia.

The results of the study by Struck et al. (2020) confirm the disproportionate dwarfism as a breed standard of the Munchkin cat. Their findings show that all proximal and distal long tubular bones are shortened by around 70 percent and have a larger diaphyseal diameter compared to non-dwarfed cats.

For breed-specific diseases caused by cross-breeding, see:
Fact sheet cat breed Persian , Fact sheet cat coat, Fact sheet cat hybrid breed Savannah,  Fact sheet cat ears

Psychological:
Cats affected by osteoarthritis suffer from the pain and the restriction of motor skills with the associated behavioral restrictions. To date, there have been no studies on the restriction of movement (e.g. jumping ability, climbing).

Burden category: 2-3 depending on the degree of severity

7. Heredity, genetics, possibly known genetic tests

Struck et al. (2020) identified a probable autosomal dominant inherited UGDH structural variant, a mutation in the 168-184 Mb region of feline chromosome A (FCA) B1, as a possible genetic cause of the disproportionate dwarfism of the Munchkin cat. This was not found in any of the cats in the control group. Based on their results, the authors also suspect that homozygosity may be associated with the inheritance of an autosomal recessive lethal factor and could lead to intrauterine fetal death, as breeders have reported reduced litter size when mating two standard munchkin cats.

UGDH (UDP-glucose 6-dehydrogenase) is involved in the synthesis process of glycosaminoglycans. Buckley et al. (2020) were able to demonstrate on histological preparations that the epiphyseal cartilage structure showed pathological changes: the chondrocytes were arranged irregularly and only a small amount of proteoglycan was detectable. Normal epiphyseal cartilage (from non-dwarf cats) showed a radial arrangement of chondrocytes and abundant proteoglycan.

A genetic test is not available.

8. Diagnosis – further examinations

A general clinical examination and medical history are of course the starting point for any further diagnostics.

Disproportionate dwarfism is considered desirable by breeders and can be clearly recognized by inspection. Arthrosis or osteoarthritis and the assessment of its severity must be diagnosed by clinical symptoms, imaging and blood chemistry. 

For the diagnosis of possible health problems resulting from the crossbreeding of breeds with harmful traits, please refer to the relevant information sheets on the crossbred breeds or traits under point 6.

9. Necessary or possible orders from an animal welfare perspective

Decisions on breeding or show bans should be made in connection with the burden category (BC). Depending on the severity and findings, the decisive factor for a breeding ban may be the most severe finding, i.e. the one that affects the animal the most, and its classification in one of the burden categories (BC), or also the correlation assessment if there are many individual breeding-related defects. The individual inbreeding coefficient of an animal should also be taken into account (not relevant in this case). 

a) Orders that appear necessary 

• Breeding ban according to §11b TierSchG for all animals of the Munchkin breed and their crossbreeds.
• Exhibition ban for all animals of the Munchkin breed and their crossbreeds.

b) Possible orders

• Order for permanent sterilization (castration) in accordance with 11b (2) TierSchG. Note: Only surgical castration (preferably an ovariohysterectomy for female cats) is to be used as an animal welfare measure because drug therapy is unreliable and associated with side effects in the case of long-term use.

Please note:
Measures taken by the competent authority must be recognizably suitable for averting future harm to the animal concerned and/or its offspring. With regard to the type and depth of processing of orders and breeding bans, decisions are always made on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the competent authority, taking into account the circumstances found on site.

10. General animal welfare assessment

a) Germany

From an animal welfare point of view, animals with the defects/syndromes described above are classified as torture breeding in Germany in accordance with §11b TierSchG.

It should be noted that the breeding ban applies not only when breeding is carried out with animals that themselves exhibit characteristics relevant to torture (carriers), but also when it is known or must be known that an animal used for breeding can pass on characteristics that can lead to one of the adverse changes in the offspring (carriers; in particular animals that have already produced damaged offspring; see Binder § 5 ÖTSchG to Z 1).

 – An important indication of a hereditary defect is that a disease or behavioral abnormality occurs more frequently in related animals than in the population as a whole. The fact that the breed or population has proven to be viable over a longer period of time is not an argument against damage (see Lorz/Metzger § 11b para. 12).

 – The prohibition applies regardless of the subjective facts, i.e. regardless of whether the breeder himself recognized or should have recognized the possibility of harmful consequences (Lorz/Metzger § 11b para. 4). Due to this objective standard of care, the breeder cannot invoke a lack of subjective knowledge or experience if the respective knowledge and experience can be expected from a careful breeder of the respective animal species. 

– Inheritance-related changes in the descendants are also foreseeable if it is uncertain whether they will only occur in later generations after a generational leap (cf. Goetschel in Kluge § 11b para. 14).

Justification:

According to §11b TierSchG, it is prohibited to breed vertebrate animals if breeding knowledge indicates that, as a result of breeding, the offspring or progeny will, among other things

• body parts or organs are missing for species-appropriate use or are unfit or deformed for hereditary reasons, resulting in pain, suffering or damage (§ 11b Para. 1 No. 1 TierSchG) or
• hereditary behavioral disorders associated with suffering occur (§ 11b para. 1 no. 2 a) TierSchG) or
•  the keeping is only possible with pain or avoidable suffering or leads to damage (§ 11b Para. 1 No. 2 c) TierSchG).

The International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) defines pain as
„an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with or resembling actual or potential tissue damage (https://www.iasp-pain.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/revised-definition-flysheet_R2-1-1-1.pdf) 

Pain is defined in animals as an unpleasant sensory perception caused by actual or potential injury, which triggers motor or vegetative reactions, results in learned avoidance behavior and can potentially change specific behaviors (Hirt/Maisack/Moritz/Felde, TierSchG, Kommentar § 1 Rn. 12 mwN; basically also Lorz/Metzger TierSchG § 1 Rn. 20).

Suffering is any impairment of well-being not already covered by the concept of pain, which goes beyond simple discomfort and lasts for a not insignificant period of time (Hirt/Maisack/Moritz/Felde Tierschutzgesetz Kommentar § 1 para. 19 mwN; Lorz/Metzger, TierSchG Kommentar § 1 para. 33 mwN). Suffering can also be physically and psychologically impairing; fear in particular is classified as suffering in the commentary and case law (Hirt/Maisack/Moritz/Felde § 1 TierSchG para. 24 mwN; Lorz/Metzger § 1 TierSchG para. 37).

Damage occurs when the physical or mental state of an animal is temporarily or permanently altered for the worse (Hirt/Maisack/Moriz/Felde TierSchG Kommentar § 1 para. 27 mwN; Lorz/Metzger TierSchG Kommentar § 1 para. 52 mwN), whereby completely minor impairments based on a physical or psychological basis are not taken into account. „The target condition of the animal is assessed on animals of the same species. The absence of body parts is regularly assessed as damage in the commentary literature“ (VG Hamburg decision of 4.4.2018, 11 E 1067/18 para. 47, also Lorz/Metzger TierSchG Komm. § 1 para. 52).

Breeding animals with one or more of the defects described above constitutes torture breeding.

Justification:

• The mutation that causes the Munchkin’s shortened legs is chondrodysplasia. An increased prevalence of lordosis is described in the Munchkin cat and similar intervertebral disc diseases are suspected as in dog breeds with osteochondrodysplasia.

• Munchkin cats are thought to be at higher risk of severe osteoarthritis compared to other cat breeds. The shortened limbs can affect their activity and behavior.

b) Austria

Cats with the defects/syndromes described above are classified in Austria as torture breeding according to § 5 TSchG.

In particular*, anyone who „breeds animals in a way that is foreseeable to cause pain, suffering, harm or fear to the animal or its offspring (torturous breeding), so that as a result of genetic abnormalities, in particular one or more of the following clinical symptoms occur in the offspring not only temporarily with significant effects on their health or significantly impair physiological life courses or cause an increased risk of injury“ is in breach of Section 5 of the Austrian Animal Welfare Act.
*The word „in particular“ means that the list is not exhaustive, but exemplary.

Breeding with cats that suffer from the following defects and the associated problems or are genetically predisposed to them is to be qualified as torture breeding if the following symptoms listed in § 5 are realized: Movement abnormalities and e.g. when crossed with Persian cats (Minuet): Shortening of the facial skull (e.g. respiratory distress, malformation of the dentition), ectropion and/or entropion (inflammation of the conjunctiva and/or cornea, blindness), 

Skin fold dermatitis (inflammation of the skin), birth complications/cesarean sections. When crossed with Sphynx cats (Bambino): Hairlessness, lack of vibrissae. When crossed with Scottish Fold cats (Gaelic Fold): Folded ears, osteochondrodysplasia with resulting painful movement restrictions.

c) Switzerland

Anyone wishing to breed with an animal that exhibits a trait or symptom that may lead to moderate or severe burden in connection with the breeding objective must first have a burden assessment carried out. Only hereditary burdens are taken into account in the burden assessment (see Art. 5 of the FSVO Ordinance on Animal Welfare in Breeding (TSchZV). Cats with defects that can be assigned to burden category 3 are subject to a breeding ban in accordance with Art. 9 TSchZV. It is also prohibited to breed with animals if the breeding objective results in the offspring having a category 3 defect. Animals in category 2 may be used for breeding if the breeding objective is for the offspring to be less affected than the parents (Art. 6 TSchZV). Annex 2 of the TSchZV lists characteristics and symptoms that can lead to moderate or severe burden in connection with the breeding objective. In addition, individual breeding forms are expressly prohibited in accordance with Art. 10 TSchVZ. In other cases, however, a breeding ban is only imposed on a case-by-case basis. Animals that have been bred on the basis of impermissible breeding objectives may not be exhibited (Art. 30a para. 4 let. b TSchV). Individuals of the Munchkin and Squitten breeds are explicitly subject to the exhibition ban due to their modified limbs.

d) Netherlands

According to Article 3.4 „Breeding with domestic animals“ of the Animal Keeper Decree, it is prohibited in the Netherlands to breed with domestic animals in a way that is detrimental to the welfare and health of the parent animals or their offspring.

In any case, breeding must prevent as far as possible that

1. serious genetic defects and diseases are passed on to the offspring or can occur in them;
2. external characteristics are passed on to the offspring or can develop in them that have harmful consequences for the welfare or health of the animals.

The following hereditary diseases or abnormalities are realized in cats with disproportionate dwarfism according to article 3.4: shortened limbs, depending on the crossbreeding hairlessness and missing vibrissae, brachycephaly, skeletal abnormalities, joint diseases.

The following harmful external characteristics can be passed on to the animals‘ offspring: e.g. shortened limbs and, depending on the crossbreeding, brachycephaly, hairlessness and lack of vibrissae.

An explicit breeding ban was issued for the Bambino (Sphynx) breed in 2019, based on an expert opinion from Utrecht University. 

e) Other countries

In addition to the Netherlands, several countries and territories have banned the breeding of munchkins, including Victoria, Australia. The government of the Australian Capital Territory (enclave in New South Wales) considers the munchkin breed to be „malformed animals“ and their deliberate breeding to be „unacceptable“ due to the „genetic health problems associated with such breeding“.
Munchkin crosses such as the Bambino are also subject to legal restrictions because of their shortened legs.

Detailed legal assessments and/or expert opinions, if already available, can be made available to veterinary offices for official use on request.

11. Relevant jurisdiction

1. Germany: not known.
2. Austria: not known.
3. Switzerland: not known.
4. Netherlands: Breeding ban for Bambino (Sphynx) cats.

12. Example of order available?

No.

Examples of arrangements are only made available to veterinary offices for official use on request.

13.  Bibliography/ References/ Links

Only a selection of sources on the defects described above and, where applicable, general literature on breed-related defects in cats is given here. More comprehensive literature lists on the scientific background will be sent exclusively to veterinary offices on request.

Note: The description of health problems associated with the trait, for which there is not yet sufficient scientific evidence, is based on the experience of experts from veterinary practice and/or university institutions as well as publicly accessible databases or publications from animal insurance companies and therefore originates from different evidence classes.

As breeding and showing are international nowadays, the information does not usually only refer to the prevalence of defects or traits in individual associations, clubs or countries.

Sources:

Agriculture Victoria, A. (2025). Code of Practice for the Breeding of Animals with Heritable Defects that Cause Disease. Animal Welfare Victoria. https://agriculture.vic.gov.au/livestock-and-animals/animal-welfare-victoria/pocta-act-1986/victorian-codes-of-practice-for-animal-welfare/code-of-practice-for-the-breeding-of-animals-with-heritable-defects-that-cause-disease

Anderson, L. M., Fox, D. B., Chesney, K. L., Coates, J. R., Torres, B. T., & Lyons, L. A. (2021). Skeletal Manifestations of Heritable Disproportionate Dwarfism in Cats as Determined by Radiography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Veterinary and Comparative Orthopaedics and Traumatology, 34(05), 327–337. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0041-1730355

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Hagen, M. A. E. van, & de Gier, J. (2018). Expertenstellungnahme zum Thema: Zucht von Designerkatzen wie der Bambino Sphynx. https://www.uu.nl/sites/default/files/deskundigenverklaring_bambino_sphynx_nvwa_de_gier_en_van_hagen_2018.pdf

Hirt, A., Maisack, C., Moritz, J., & Felde, B. (2023). Tierschutzgesetz: Mit TierSchHundeV, TierSchNutztV, TierSchVersV, TierSchTrV, EU-Tiertransport-VO, TierSchlV, EU-Tierschlacht-VO, TierErzHaVerbG: Kommentar (4. Auflage). Verlag Franz Vahlen.

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Lyons, L. A., Fox, D. B., Chesney, K. L., Britt, L. G., Buckley, R. M., Coates, J. R., Gandolfi, B., Grahn, R. A., Hamilton, M. J., Middleton, J. R., Sellers, S. T., Villani, N. A., Pfleuger, S., & the 99 Lives Consortium. (2019). Localization of a feline autosomal dominant dwarfism locus: A novel model of chondrodysplasia. Genetics. https://doi.org/10.1101/687210

Niederländische Behörde für Lebensmittelsicherheit und Verbraucherproduktsicherheit. (2025). Ministerium für Landwirtschaft, Fischerei, Ernährungssicherheit und Natur: Zuchtverbot für Bambino (Sphynx) [Homepage des niederländischen Ministeriums]. https://www.nvwa.nl/onderwerpen/honden-en-katten/fokken-met-uw-hond-of-kat/fokken-met-katten

Niederländischer Staatssekretär für Wirtschaft, Landwirtschaft und Innovation vom 19. Oktober 2012, Nr. 291872, Direktion für Gesetzgebung und Rechtsfragen. (2024). Niederländisches Tierhalter-Dekret. Tierhalter Dekret. https://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0035217/2024-07-01/#Hoofdstuk3_Paragraaf1_Artikel3.4

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Schöll, K. (2021). Qualzuchtmerkmale bei der Katze und deren Bewertung unter tierschutzrechtlichen Aspekten [Justus-Liebig Universität Gießen]. https://doi.org/10.22029/JLUPUB-11345

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Struck, A.-K., Braun, M., Detering, K. A., Dziallas, P., Neßler, J., Fehr, M., Metzger, J., & Distl, O. (2020). A structural UGDH variant associated with standard Munchkin cats. BMC Genetics, 21(1), 67. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12863-020-00875-x

Takanosu, M., & Hattori, Y. (2020). Osteochondrodysplasia in Scottish Fold cross-breed cats. Journal of Veterinary Medical Science, 82(12), 1769–1772. https://doi.org/10.1292/jvms.20-0299

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