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’m not a fan of deliberately breeding cats with those characteristics, but if one is born and they’re otherwise healthy I believe they should be allowed to live out their lives safe and happy.

    Lillieput is a real cutie. She’s not ugly. I’m glad she found a wonderful forever home with Christel Young.

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  2. Lilieput is my little girl and I love her very much.
    I rescued her in 2006 when she was about 2 years old.
    There is so much stuff out there about her but nobody really asked any questions because she seems to be only linked to GWR.
    I know from the day I saw her that she was unique in many ways. She loved me right away and allowed me to pick her up. I gave her a home and security and love. That is all. She is my little treasure and I adore her.
    My little dwarf ( freak of nature )and all the other things that people called her. There is not a lot of information out there about Munchkins and they where not recognized as a breed for a long time.
    I tried to find some information when I first found her and she became pregnant but not much information was out on the internet.
    I entered her in the Guinness book of records when someone walked by my home looked at her and said ( and you the god damn ugliest thing I ever seen). I almost started crying because he hurt her feelings and brought back bad memories. I believe that someone trough her out there saying she was a ugly thing and left her out there to fight for her little life. That’s when I wanted to show anybody how special she is.
    Nobody ever asked about my personal opinion. I don’t think that it should be breed on purpose. She has the same problems that any dwarf faces therefor has a shorter life span and so on.
    I named her Lilieput
    from the german name Liliputaner meaning dwarf.
    That’s what she is a little dwarf and I love her.

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    • Thank you, Christel for visiting and commenting. It is always nice to hear from the person who is the cat’s Guardian/caretaker.

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  3. I’m not fond of the Munchkin breed sorry to say I feel that its sad that they have been bred deformed (because thats how they look not cute) to please people why like quirky breeds

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  4. I appreciate that nature will sometimes throw a genetic curve ball, but that is accidental and not intentional.

    To me, the Munchkin’s legs are so disproportionate to the size of their body that I’m of the opinion that it’s cruel.

    Guinness World Records stopped accepting nominations for world’s heaviest cat category because they didn’t want to encourage people to overfeed their cats. So I’m disappointed that they have a category for the shortest cat, especially as it is only recognised by one cat registry.

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