Munchkin is World’s Shortest Cat

A dwarf cat, a Munchkin, is the world’s shortest domestic cat according to Guinness World Records. Lilieput, a tortoiseshell-and-white, is 13.34 centimetres (5.25 inches) from the base of the front paws to the top of the shoulders.

Lillieput, a Munchkin 10 years-of-age.
Lillieput, a Munchkin 10 years-of-age. Photo: J.L. Sousa – Napa Valley Register
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Lillieput lives with Christel Young in Napa, California. I know Napa from the wine they grow there and export internationally.

It seems that Christel Young effectively rescued Lillieput because we are told she was an “abandoned castoff”. Christel says she is at about the maximum age for a Munchkin at aged 10. If she is correct this is a considerably shorter lifespan than usual which is nearer 15-18. I presume this is because Munchkins are dwarf cats and that the gene creating dwarfism affects health and lifespan.

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24 thoughts on “Munchkin is World’s Shortest Cat”

  1. I may be in the minority, but I don’t find anything cute or appealing about deliberately breeding cats which are handicapped in some way.

    I note it’s only TICA who recognise the Munchkin as a breed, but then I’m of the opinion they happily accept “novelty” breeds because they have little genuine concern for the welare of the cats themselves.

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  2. A beautiful little cat doomed to a probably shorter lifespan because of being bred deformed, I find that very sad.
    It’s heart breaking to me that many cats are especially bred that way for the glory and the money of the breeder and so people can ‘own’ something different.
    They need to take a look round Rescue Shelters and see all the beautiful ‘ordinary’ cats needing loving homes, some doomed to die because there are not enough of those homes.
    All breeding should stop until all Rescue Shelters are empty!

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  3. Poor little soul this seems to be the price that these manufactured cat breeds have to pay, not only going through life physically disadvantaged but losing a lot of years of life. I’m glad this little cat has had a happy life with Christel I hope she proves everyone wrong and has more happy years yet to come.

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  4. A beautiful freak of nature.Sad that they have smaller life-span than the average cat, the same case as in freak humans.Michael i happened to spot this cat at Pemuteran in Bali.It was the shortest stray cat i have seen.It was definitely not a kitten.It was dark and hence the photo is a bit hazy.One strange fact of the stray cats of Indonesia is that most of them have distorted tails and some even have docked tails akin to bobcats.

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  5. Oh how cute. A little squatty kitty.
    Before I read, I was wondering about the lifespan, which seems to be shorter for even dwarfed humans too.
    I can see the aging in her face, but darling nonetheless.
    I could see myself carrying and kissing her forever.

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      • Perhaps this is give and take? Being in pet loss support groups i have heard of domestic cats dying at 8, 9 and 10 years old. I feel like i should of gotten more from my boy Chad also, but he left me at 11 years old. I was hoping to squeeze at least 15. Then a friend of mine had a cat he rescued from the street. He had her for 17 years. I guess it all depends huh? 10 does seem short. The breeding perhaps? Knowing that, i would be inclined to give extra doses of affection.

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    • hahaha.. i like that. Squatty. I was surprised to see that she hardly has any length to her legs. She is too cute for words. Like you, i can see the age taking its toll in her little face.

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