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.jpg) What is a Munchkin?
Munchkins have a kitten like personality all of their life. They are very affectionate and love to be around adults, children, dogs
and other cats. They never get tired of human company and prefer to be with a companion or two rather than being alone. Munchkins also enjoy the company of other animals and adapt well to most circumstances. Munchkins are very playful and love to run, chase, climb and play with toys. When it comes to chasing, their short legs give them an advantage over cats with long legs. These little guys corner very well and scramble faster. They also love to collect all your little jewels and knicknacks and hide them under furniture and in there beds. Being a relatively new registered breed of domestic cat with short legs. The gene responsible for shortening the long bones in the cats legs is a natural mutation and not man made. It does not cause any mobility or spinal problems. Munchkins should be a medium sized cat and come in all colors and hair lengths. Munchkins are currently accepted in the following Cat Associations.
Each Association has requirement for the breed standards, show policies and guidelines.
History of Munchkins
Although the Munchkins have only recently been discovered by the cat fancy, cats with short legs are not new to the scientific world. In the 1944 Veterinary Record (Great Britain), Dr. H. E. Williams-Jones described four generations of cats with short limbs, including an 8-1/2 year old black female reported as having had an extremely healthy life. Her dam, great dam, and some of her progeny were similar in short-legged appearance. The cat's movements were described as ferret-like, but other than the short legs, the cat was reported to be normal in every way. Unfortunately, these cats seem to have disappeared during World War II, not surprising in that many established feline bloodlines were markedly depleted and some disappeared completely during this period of deprivation. Available stock was apparently altered and the line was not preserved so far as may be determined.
In the 1956 Zoologischer Anzeiger, Max Egon Theil of Hamburg, Germany, Although the short legged cats from Europe seem to have disappeared, the trait reappeared in New England in the 1970's and in Louisiana in the 1980's. From a pregnant black female short legged cat found by Sandra Hochenedel in 1983, several colonies have been established which now span multiple generations. The breeding data clearly support an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance. The cats exhibit shortening and bowing of the long bones similar to that seen in the Dachshund and the Corgi, but no other skeletal changes associated with the gene. The spine is usually indistinguishable from that of other cats. At this point there is no evidence to suggest that the gene for short legs hampers survival or quality of life, which is consistent with the British and Russian/German reports of these cats. Careful study of the short legged cats is being undertaken by Dr. Solveig Pflueger, a clinical geneticist at Baystate Medical Center and on the faculty of Tufts University School of Medicine, and Dr. David Biller, a veterinary radiologist at Ohio State University School of Veterinary Medicine, in order to evaluate further the inheritance and expression of the short legged trait and the resultant changes in skeletal structure through the natural lifespan of the cat. The results of these studies will ultimately determine the feasibility of establishing the breed within the cat fancy. What is a Napoleon?
Napoleons are a cross between Munchkins and the Persian breed group (Persian, Himalayan, or Exotic). Napoleons are a true treasure. Persian-like round faces, big round eyes marble like and expressive, eyes must not be walnut shaped. The ears are small and round. Round domed head and a short nose placement with a moderate muzzle, the head must not be wedged-shaped. Short broad nose with big whisker pads no "break" centered between the eyes like the Persian group.
Some Napoleons like sitting up, rabbit-like, on their hind legs.They can have short or long hair and can come in any color and pattern. The best things about the Napoleon breed is their wonderful personality. Their attitude is a perfect combination of the sweet, laid-back Persian’s temperament and the loving and sociable Munchkins demeanor. Napoleons have a Mystical feel to them, their high-spirited, high-speed antics are always guaranteed, at the very least, to bring a smile or a giggle. Napoleons may have short legs, however their rabbit like dashes are surprisingly fast. Most Napoleons love dogs they are not shy around new people. They are very
Sincerely,
Julie and Hannah
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described a cat he had seen in Stalingrad that had unusually short legs but was in no way functionally hindered. This cat was seen playing among its normal siblings and other young cats. At times it was noted to sit on its haunches with its front legs in the air, similar to the alert stance of a rabbit. Because of this behavior, the cat was dubbed the "Stalingrad Kangaroo Cat" by the author. The day before the author was to return to Germany, the cat was taken away by a Russian physician, and there is no further information about the cat available. However, based on the description, this undoubtedly represents the same trait seen previously in Great Britain. 
