Munchkin cats?

[PikachuSayBoo]

Dd wants a munchkin cat. I'm quite happy to get another cat and have googled to see what the heck a munchkin cat is and I have alarm bells ringing.

Does anyone have one? Ive read about possible spinal problems but then other websites are saying spinal problems haven't been a problem.

Can they go outside? Can they jump over fences, etc?

Current cats go out. I'm worried it would go out and get stuck somewhere.

And I refuse to get anything which needs brushing. I know dd won't brush the cat and I have a fluffy dog which takes enough grooming shaving.

Ragdolls are a lot more cat like now. Especially in England

They don't flop so much and are brilliant hunters and feel pain

My nan has one. He's just like a big fluffy moggy really

I'd steer her down the 'oriental' cat route. Siamese, Burmese, Tonkinese, Balinese, that kind of thing. Beautiful, unusual-looking, very people-focused, clever and full of personality. But that's not to say that plenty of perfectly ordinary moggies don't have all those traits as well...!

Why not a 'normal' rescue cat? Teach her that she/you can do a 'good thing' by rescuing, as opposed to doing a 'bad thing', in my opinion, by paying someone to bring more cats into a world where there are too many cats already and not nearly enough homes. Plus the fact that breeding causes all sorts of problems to the cats and many breeders are cruel and ruthless.

Our rescue frequently takes in dumped cats from breeders if they are born with problems. Often they are just dumped in bins. We have taken a number of breeders to court for cruelty.

It's so much more rewarding to rescue.

Siamese sort of bounce into your life and you find yourself so busy keeping them happy that you usually don't have time to think about yourself. Sounds about right for her.

She'd have to do some research and find a decent breeder though.

Get a Persian. They are awsome. And very docile. Am currently sat in a Persian rescue surrounded by Persians!

Short haired Persians are gorgeous!

There are quite a few siamese rescues.

Birman. My two are the most friendly loving cats on earth. And gorgeous.

Indeed there are, really. The problem is that many of the Siamese there have their issues or have been parted from their 'person' for some reason and I'm not sure how the breed rescue coordinators would feel about letting one of those go to an inexperienced youngster. It doesn't sound as if the OP's daughter would be able to take that sort of rejection very well.

Having said which, I'm remembering the 'grillings' I've received over prospective kittens from various Siamese breeders. Perhaps an older cat from an ordinary rescue would be best if she could be gently steered towards that?

Thanks everyone, will have a look at some pedigree rescues and explore some of the breeds recommended here.

Oh wow, think I'm in love with short haired Persians!

I just Googled short haired Persians... isn't there a law to prevent that level of facial deformity being caused deliberately?

Please don't OP. Please don't add to the demand. It sounds like your daughter doesn't want a cat as much as an Instagram prop.

Got mine from St Francis Persian rescues. Just been up to drop ip a Tiffany cat off for them. She's lovely.

I agree with YesItsMe. Please don't get a short haired Persian, if there aren't laws preventing causing facial deformity then there should be. Those poor cats.

I also agree with TCN. Teach your daughter how rewarding it is to rescue a cat rather than buying one from a breeder.

I have an exotic shorthair OP, they are a wonderful breed, really gentle and affectionate, but must be indoor cats or have access to a secure garden only. Plus if you don't want to groom, avoid them lol. I can also reccomend Devon Rex's, amazing monkey like cats full of personality, no health issues and almost no grooming. They are quite loud and demanding, and very clumsy, but utterly captivating.

Could you go to a large rescue and explain that you're looking for an unusual looking cat - IME there are some very, very strange coloured cats out there without worrying about breed . . .

A friend has what appears to be a white cat that swapped tails with a marmalade, and our younger cat appears to have been bred from a regular cat crossed with a Gremlin (our request to the rescue was for a sociable cat - she's certainly that too!)

If you look at the link I posted upthread, Yes, you'll see that the ICC guidance covers Persians - long haired it's true but the guidance touches on facial structure also.

That website is an absolute eye opener!

The GCCF will not count Munchkins as a pedigree cat, because the shortness of the legs is to the cat's detriment.

Devon Rexes make excellent pets for families, they're very sociable, robust, don't shed much and they're little clowns. They look a bit like aliens or Gremlins, Steven Spielberg based ET's looks on his childhood Devon. Not suitable for being left alone for long periods, ie. if you're at work and DD's at school all day. They'll happily befriend a dog though (after letting it know who's boss), or other cat, house rabbit etc.

They get on well with other pets, that's why I chose that particular breed, as I have a neurotic moggy, (much less so now he's got his little bro to pal about with).

Would be nice to steer DD in the direction of a rescue though.

Instagram loves rescue cats. My cat has a number of rescue cat friends and followers on Instagram and some have tens of thousands of followers.

Op, if your daughter wants an unusual cat, how about this boy. He's being flown in from Dubai tomorrow. To find a home. Long story!! He's had his tail amputated. He's going to a rehoming place in Yorkshire.

I was thinking of him the other day and wondering how he was getting on! He's gorgeous!

He's flying into Manchester tomorrow with my cousin. She is coming over just to bring him. I got him a place at St Francis Persian Rescue. They are pretty good at finding homes fairly quickly. I wish I could have him but my princesses wouldn't like it.

Sorry but there are enough gorgeous cats of all variety needing rehoming without opting to buy a cat that has been unhealthily bred with a cruel mutation.
Encourage your DD to choose a cat needing rehoming. You're bound to find s gorgeous one. And educate her about the ethical issues relating to the breeding of cats such as the 'munchkin' cat.
You probably did not want to hear that but it needs saying.