Size of Miniature Dwarf Cats

Dwarf Cats

• Dwarf cats aren't proportionate to normal cats; instead, these cats have a genetic mutation causing short legs. The original dwarf cat is the munchkin, which was recognized by the International Cat Association as a new breed in 1994. Munchkins are small to medium sized cats with short legs, usually weighing between 5 and 9 pounds. The Dwarf Cat Association has developed a list of approved dwarf breeds. Crossed with munchkins, additional dwarf breeds include bambino, dwelf, Napoleon, skookum, lambkin, genetta and minskin. Cats possessing the genetic mutation are bred to achieve this short carriage. Though there's no height guideline listed for dwarf cats, the world's shortest living cat is a munchkin named Fizz Girl standing 6 inches tall at the shoulder, earning the Guinness World Record title in October 2011.

Miniature Cats

• If you ever put a sweater in the dryer without thinking twice about it and ended up with something you could have worn when you were in elementary school, you get the idea of a miniature cat. Miniature cats are about half the size of normal cats and resemble smaller versions of normal sized cats. Though the miniature isn't a recognized breed, there is a Miniature Cat Register in the US, which distinguishes between a teacup cat, standing no more than 6 inches at the shoulder, and a toy cat, maxing out at 8 inches. Miniature cats tend to weigh between 5 and 12 pounds and are no longer than 12 inches long from the base of the neck to base of the tail.

Types of Miniature Cats

• There are numerous miniature cat breeds, including the American miniature cat, the toybob and miniature Persians. The American miniature is about half the size of the average house cat, not exceeding 7 pounds fully grown. Breeds such as manx, Persian and Siamese cats have been used to produce this little cat. The toybob is a Russian miniature cat, limited to Russia, and miniature Persians are being bred increasingly in North America. Miniature cats are bred by selectively breeding small cats, and due to their extremely tiny size at birth, are quite vulnerable during their first months. Most breeders won't sell miniature kittens before 5 or 6 months of age. The delay ensures the kitten is healthy and gives the breeder an idea of the cat's ultimate size.

Proceed with Caution

• Some cats, such as the singapura, are merely small breeds, not considered miniature cats. Disreputable breeders try to pass off small cats or the runts of a litter as miniature cats or teacup cats. Genuine miniature or dwarf cats are selectively bred to be of consistent small size and health. Miniature cats have potential health problems including heart murmurs and an enlarged heart, seizures and potential neurological problems, soft spot on the skull, growth retardation causing soft or misshapen bones, slow muscle mass growth causing weakness, shortened lifespan and unformed or malformed reproductive organs. Keep in mind that no matter how small your cat is, she'll lose her kittenish ways; she can't stay a kitten forever, regardless of her pedigree.