Teacup Cats…Cute Or Crazy?

MUNCHKIN CATS AND OTHER DWARFS:
Munchkins are now a recognized small breed cat, having been bred since the 1980’s. They are a dwarf cat with shorter, thicker legs. Essentially they have a growth condition called achondrodysplastic dwarfism, but sometimes called chondrodysplasia, or hypochondrodysplasia as it is not exactly the same as the dwarfism that occurs in other species. The trait is from a gene mutation that is autosomal dominant. If two Munchkins are bred together the gene is lethal, so Munchkins are always out-crossed to other breeds and approximately 50% of the litter is short-legged. There are a number of out-crosses that have led to other dwarf breeds, often with adorable names like the Bambino which is a cross between the Munchkin and the Sphynx.

TEACUPS:
Teacups are slightly different from Munchkins. They are essentially smaller in every way, but also occur through chance mutations. Unfortunately there has been more inbreeding within the teacup breeds, which increases the risk of other genetic diseases occurring. Teacups are now found within many different breeds, but are not formally recognized as their own breed.

TEACUP OR RUNT?
Unfortunately because there is no actual formal recognition of the teacup breeds, there is also some pretty unscrupulous behavior going on when selling teacups. Because they are simply smaller than normal kittens, the runt of the litter, a poorly nourished kitten or simply a sickly kitten can easily be passed off as a teacup kitten. A cat that is the victim of inbreeding, or has actually been malnourished to stunt its growth is most likely to cost you a significant amount in vet bills and have a shortened life span.

COMMON HEALTH PROBLEMS OF TEACUP CATS:

• Misshapen bones that ultimately cause pain, deformities and osteoarthritis
  
• Heart disease
  
• Seizures and neurological signs
  
• Shortened life-spans
  
• Blindness
  
• Polycystic kidney disease
  

ADDITIONAL TIPS
Make sure when you buy a fancy and healthy cat. Take the kitten to your vet for a health check within 72 hours of purchase, that way you can confirm whether you have been sold a problem cat or a cat that is not what it was promised to be.

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