Munchkin cats: why we don’t list them

What is a Munchkin cat?

A Munchkin is a domestic cat with short legs. Its head and body are the size of an ordinary cat’s.

• Size. The International Cat Association (TICA), which recognises the breed, calls it medium-sized. It gives adult weights of 5 to 7 pounds for females and 7 to 10 pounds for males (about 2.3 to 3.2 kg and 3.2 to 4.5 kg). It says the legs stay short while the body grows to an average adult size.
• Leg length. The Australian Cat Federation’s Munchkin standard (PDF) (amended November 2025) gives a desirable height of 17 to 21 cm at the withers (the top of the shoulders) for an adult. It says the legs shouldn’t be extremely short: a hand held sideways, four fingers wide, should fit between the chest and the ground.
• Coat. Short or long, in almost any colour or pattern.
• Where it came from. TICA says short-legged cats have been recorded many times, and that today’s breed began with a short-legged female cat found in 1983. Her line was crossed with ordinary domestic cats. The name comes from the Munchkins in The Wizard of Oz.
• Not every kitten has short legs. Breeders call the short-legged cats “standard” Munchkins and their long-legged littermates “non-standard”.

Breeders have also crossed Munchkins with other breeds. A 2021 study (Veterinary and Comparative Orthopaedics and Traumatology) says this kind of dwarfism is now bred for in cats called Munchkin, Minuet and Napoleon. Our Listing Rules treat dwarf cats bred from Munchkins the same way as Munchkins.

Why do Munchkin cats have short legs?

Because of a change in one gene. A cat needs only one copy of it to have short legs.

• One copy is enough. TICA and the Australian Cat Federation both describe the cause as a natural mutation that is dominant. A short-legged cat can pass it to its kittens.
• The gene. In 2020, researchers at the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover linked the short legs to a change in a gene called UGDH (Struck and others, BMC Genetics). Every short-legged Munchkin they tested had one copy. The long-legged Munchkins had none. They called the change the very likely cause. In the same year, a team mapping the cat genome reported that three unrelated dwarf cats shared a change that interrupts the same gene (Buckley and others, PLOS Genetics).
• Two copies. The Hannover team found no cat with two copies, and breeders told them that mating two short-legged Munchkins gave smaller litters. The researchers say this supports the idea that kittens with two copies die early in the womb. It’s a suggestion, not a tested finding.
• What it does. The long bones of the legs don’t grow to their full length. The RSPCA calls this disproportionate dwarfism: the legs are short and the rest of the body isn’t. Victoria’s law (Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986) lists it, for cats, as “mutations causing aplasia or hypoplasia of any long bone”.

Do Munchkin cats have health problems?

Vets and welfare groups are worried. The registries that accept the breed aren’t. The research is thin, and it doesn’t settle the question.

What the RSPCA and vet bodies say

• The RSPCA. Its guide to exaggerated features in cats was updated on 9 January 2024. It lists the Munchkin among the main cat breeds in Australia that have significant welfare problems, are barred from breeding in at least one state or territory, or both. It says the Munchkin’s body shape has the potential to harm the cat’s health and welfare. It gives two examples: the cat’s movement may be restricted, which limits natural behaviour, and the way the legs develop could damage the joints. The RSPCA opposes breeding that produces physical features that harm an animal’s wellbeing (RSPCA Policy A6, clause 6.8.1, adopted 8 April 2024).
• The Australian Veterinary Association. Its policy on genetic defects in domestic animals (re-ratified 20 July 2023) gives Munchkin dwarf cats as an example of a genetic defect that’s bred for on purpose. It says animals with a known genetic defect that could harm their welfare, or their offspring’s, must not be bred, other than in exceptional circumstances. It also says buyers should be told about the problem before a sale.
• International Cat Care. A position statement from this charity and its partner vet groups says breeding for extreme body shapes that impair welfare should be actively discouraged. Its list includes chondrodystrophy, a vet term for short-limbed dwarfism. The statement doesn’t name the Munchkin, and it carries no date.
• UFAW. A page on the Munchkin credited to UFAW (the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare) and compiled by two vets says the short legs reduce a cat’s ability to jump, and that abnormal loads on the joints may raise the risk of painful arthritis. It says the welfare effects hadn’t been studied in the scientific literature as far as it knew. It recommends that affected cats aren’t bred. The text carries a 2011 copyright date, and the page was updated on 6 May 2026.

What the registries that accept the breed say

• TICA says the gene shortens the long bones of the legs and nothing else. Its page says the spine isn’t affected, that Munchkins aren’t prone to arthritis, and that they move as well as other breeds as they age. It says they run and jump, though they may not reach a high shelf in one leap. Its breed standard says the long bones may show slight bowing.
• The Australian Cat Federation’s standard (PDF) says the short legs don’t hamper mobility. The same standard tells judges to withhold a challenge (a show award) from a cat with an excessive dip behind the shoulders, a sway back or bowed front leg bones, or one that can’t bear weight or walk normally.

What the studies found

• One cat scanned in Germany (2020). The Hannover team took CT scans of a 4-year-old short-legged male. The long bones in his front and hind legs were shortened, and the bone shafts were thicker. One forearm bone was bent by about 43 degrees, and the joints at the elbow and wrist didn’t fit together evenly. His hind legs showed no twisting. The authors wrote that short-legged Munchkins have shorter legs without impaired health. Theirs was a gene study of one family and a wider group of cats, not a health survey.
• Five cats x-rayed in the United States (2021). A University of Missouri team x-rayed five pet dwarf cats that had the UGDH change, and compared them with normal cats (Anderson and others, Veterinary and Comparative Orthopaedics and Traumatology). Every leg had deformities: bones curved or angled differently, and forearm bones twisted outwards. They saw no arthritis on the x-rays. They wrote that the misalignment may make arthritis more likely later, and that it was too early to say what it does to joints over a cat’s life.
• The spine. The same team scanned two of the cats’ spines and found no disease. After the study, a 6-year-old dwarf cat came to their hospital with degenerated discs and a slipped disc. They wrote that they couldn’t rule out an effect on the discs, and that the question was still open.

What nobody knows yet

The Missouri study (Veterinary and Comparative Orthopaedics and Traumatology) looked at six cats from one breeder, and its authors called for long-term studies. We found no study that follows Munchkin cats through life, so we can’t tell you how many develop arthritis or how long they live.

No one can promise you that a Munchkin kitten will, or won’t, have joint problems.

Is the Munchkin a recognised breed?

It depends on the registry. Recognition is a registry’s decision. It doesn’t settle the health question, and it doesn’t change the law.

We didn’t check every cat registry. ACF’s rules refer to a separate breeding policy for Munchkins, but the link to it on ACF’s site didn’t work when we tried it, so we haven’t read it.

Are Munchkin cats legal in Australia?

We found no law in any state or territory that bans owning a Munchkin cat. The rules are about breeding and selling, and they differ by state.

“We found no rule” means just that. On 11 October 2026 we read the Acts, codes and government pages named in each row and in the sections below, not every Act, regulation, code and by-law. For your own cat, ask your state or territory government, your council or a lawyer.

Are Munchkin cats banned in Victoria?

No. The Victorian law we read doesn’t ban owning a Munchkin cat, or selling one if the buyer is told about the defect first. What it restricts is breeding.

• The defect is in the Act. The Schedule to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986 lists three diseases in cats that are caused by heritable defects. One covers mutations that stop a long bone forming or growing fully. The state’s code on breeding animals with heritable defects names Munchkin cats as an example.
• Breeding. It’s an offence to intentionally or recklessly allow an animal with a listed heritable defect to breed (section 15C(1)). The maximum fine is 60 penalty units for a person and 300 for a company. That’s $12,546 and $62,730 until 30 June 2027.
• The code sets the conditions. The code says a person who breeds in a program that meets its principles isn’t considered to be breeding recklessly or intentionally under that section. It sorts cats by how many copies of the gene they have. Researchers found one copy in every short-legged Munchkin they tested. The code calls a cat like that a “carrier”, and treats it as affected. As we read the code:
  • a short-legged cat may be mated with a cat that doesn’t have the gene only if a vet has approved it as suitable for breeding. The kittens must be tested. A vet must assess each affected kitten, and it must be desexed unless it’s going into an approved breeding program
  • mating two short-legged cats is prohibited unless it’s part of an approved breeding program
  • a cat whose defect causes it suffering and disability mustn’t be bred at all
  • animals mustn’t be used for breeding where the carrier state will produce lethal outcomes in their offspring.
• Two short-legged cats. The researchers say their findings support the idea that kittens with two copies die before birth. If that’s right, the code’s last point may rule out mating two short-legged cats altogether, even in an approved program. We couldn’t confirm how the regulator applies it.
• Approved breeding programs. Only an organisation the Minister has approved under the Domestic Animals Act 1994 can approve one, and the breeder must be a member. We couldn’t confirm whether any approved program for Munchkins exists.
• Selling. It’s an offence to sell or dispose of an animal with the defect, knowing it has it or being reckless about that, without telling the new owner before the sale (section 15C(2)). The maximum fine is the same. The code says a breeder’s advice must include the animal’s permanent identification, such as its microchip number, and a vet certificate that ties the diagnosis to that identification.
• Suffering. The code says it’s a cruelty offence to permit an animal to suffer from a heritable disease.

The RSPCA’s guide puts the breeding rule more simply. It says affected cats can’t be bred in Victoria under the code. The code’s own conditions are the ones above.

Agriculture Victoria says work is underway to replace the 1986 Act, so these rules may change. That page was last updated on 1 February 2023.

For a definite answer about your own cat, call Agriculture Victoria on 136 186 and ask for Animal Welfare Victoria, or ask a lawyer.

The ACT

Two instruments matter in the ACT. Neither bans owning a Munchkin.

• The breeding standard is mandatory. The Animal Welfare (Breeding Standard) Determination 2015 says a person must not breed a litter from a cat if the cat, or the animal it’s mated with, shows signs of or is known to carry a debilitating genetic fault. Under the Animal Welfare Act 1992 (section 15B), the person in charge of a female cat commits an offence if they let her breed in a way that breaks the standard. The maximum penalty is 50 penalty units. The offence doesn’t apply if a vet approved the breeding in writing. The standard names no breed, and doesn’t say what counts as debilitating.
• The cat code names the Munchkin. The ACT’s code of practice for the welfare of cats (2007) says the deliberate breeding of malformed animals is unacceptable. It gives the Sphynx, Manx, Cymric, Munchkin and Scottish Fold as examples of breeds that may have genetic health problems. The code describes itself as a guide.

South Australia

South Australia’s Standards and Guidelines for Breeding and Trading Companion Animals (PDF) (2017) apply to the owner of any dog or cat that’s bred or traded. One of the standards, which are the enforceable part, covers hereditary defects. An owner who knows, or reasonably ought to know, that a mating has a high probability of producing a serious hereditary defect likely to harm the offspring’s health or welfare must not allow it, unless an animal ethics committee approves it.

Its examples are dog conditions. It names no cat breed, and we found nothing that says whether a Munchkin’s short legs count.

These rules may change too. South Australia’s legislation site says the Animal Welfare Act 1985 and its regulations will be repealed by the Animal Welfare Act 2025. In January 2026 the state government said it expected a new breeder licensing scheme, with new breeding standards, to start early the following year. We haven’t read the new standards.

Bringing one into Australia

We found no import rule that names Munchkin cats. The federal government’s import guide for cats (updated 20 February 2026) bars cats crossed with wild cat species, such as Savannah cats. It doesn’t mention the Munchkin, which is a domestic cat.

Why doesn’t Pet Sales Australia list Munchkin cats?

Because of inherited health problems. That’s the reason our Listing Rules give. The list of what can’t be listed includes:

Munchkin cats and dwarf cats bred from them (such as Minuet, Bambino and Dwelf), and Highland Fold and Scottish Fold cats, because of inherited health problems.

The feature that makes a Munchkin a Munchkin is the gene change. Victoria’s law (Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986) lists it as a disease caused by a heritable defect. The RSPCA opposes breeding for physical features that harm an animal’s wellbeing, and the Australian Veterinary Association’s policy gives Munchkin dwarf cats as an example of a genetic defect that’s bred for on purpose.

It’s our rule, and it goes further than any law we read. It applies in every state and territory, to litters and to adult cats, and it has no exceptions. A Victorian breeder who follows the state’s code can’t list a Munchkin here either. We don’t inspect animals or matings: our checks are of what sellers enter.

The rule is about the breed. The listing form doesn’t ask how long a cat’s legs are.

Once listings open, if a seller chooses Munchkin as the breed, the listing form stops the listing. Our word check also stops listing text that names a Munchkin or a dwarf breed bred from one, such as “Munchkin kittens” or “Minuet kittens”. Other wording can slip through.

So if you see a Munchkin on Pet Sales Australia, report it. Use “Report This Listing” on the listing, Report a Concern at the foot of any page, or email info@petsales.net.au.

The same rules don’t allow dogs or cats sold as “teacup” or “micro”.

Fold-eared cats are blocked for a similar reason. See Scottish Fold and Highland Fold cats.

What should you check if you see a Munchkin kitten advertised?

We found no state or territory that bans selling a Munchkin outright, so you may see them advertised elsewhere. If you’re thinking about one, slow down and ask more than usual.

• Talk to your vet first. Ask what the short legs can mean for a cat’s joints and movement, and what care it might need. The RSPCA says it’s very hard to predict how much care a cat with exaggerated features will need, and that people with busy lives or limited income should think carefully about whether they could provide it.
• In Victoria, expect to be told before you buy. A seller who knows of the defect must tell you about it before the sale. The code (Code of Practice for the Breeding of Animals with Heritable Defects that Cause Disease) says a breeder’s advice must include the kitten’s microchip number and a vet certificate with the diagnosis. If a Victorian breeder offers neither, walk away.
• Ask which parent has short legs. If both do, ask how the mating met the law where the kittens were bred. In Victoria, the code prohibits that mating outside an approved breeding program.
• Check the law where you live. The RSPCA’s Smart Kitten and Cat Buyer’s Guide (PDF) says to find out whether any law or code on inherited disease applies in your area, and to ask what the breeder does to comply.
• Watch the parents move, and see the vet reports. The RSPCA’s guide asks whether the kittens and adult cats are moving freely and easily. Look for the faults the Australian Cat Federation’s own standard (PDF) marks down: a dip behind the shoulders, a sway back, bowed front legs, or trouble walking. The RSPCA says a responsible breeder can show you copies of vet reports and screening tests.
• Visit where the kitten was born and raised, and meet its mother. A video is a first look, not a visit. The RSPCA calls it a big red flag if a breeder is reluctant to let you visit or wants to meet somewhere else, and says an offer of delivery should raise concern too.
• Don’t take a kitten home before it’s 8 weeks old. The RSPCA says 8 weeks is the minimum, and the kitten must be fully weaned.
• Don’t let the price decide. We can’t tell you what a Munchkin costs: we don’t list them, and we’ve read no dated survey that gives a price. A price tells you nothing about a cat’s joints, and a price that looks too good to be true is a scam warning sign.

What if you already own a Munchkin cat?

You haven’t broken a law by owning one, in any law we read.

• Talk to your vet about the breed. The RSPCA’s advice to owners of cats with exaggerated features is to learn the breed’s specific problems and ask your vet what to watch for and how to help.
• Think about desexing. The RSPCA says desexing a cat whose exaggerated features cause welfare problems stops them being passed to another generation. In Victoria, it’s an offence to let a cat with the defect breed outside the code, so don’t let an undesexed Munchkin mate.
• If you need to rehome it, you can’t list it on Pet Sales Australia. Ask a rescue group, a shelter or your state’s RSPCA. In Victoria, tell the new owner about the defect before you hand the cat over: the law requires it.

What can you get instead of a Munchkin cat?

No other breed gives you short legs without the gene change. The gene change is what makes the legs short.

If it’s a small cat or a playful, people-loving one you want, these cats have ordinary legs. They aren’t substitutes for a Munchkin, and we don’t rank breeds. The descriptions come from a UK cat registry, the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy.

• Singapura. The registry calls it the smallest breed of domestic cat, at 5 to 8 pounds (about 2.3 to 3.6 kg). It describes a playful, curious cat that doesn’t like long stretches alone. It also says the breed lacks genetic diversity, and names a condition that causes a form of anaemia and has a DNA test, so ask whether the parents were tested.
• Burmese. Described as playful, energetic and strongly people-oriented. The registry strongly recommends a DNA test for an inherited muscle condition in all breeding Burmese. Ask for proof.
• Devon Rex. A medium-sized cat with a pixie-like look, described as playful, active and people-oriented. The registry names an inherited muscle disease with a DNA test, and says kneecap problems seem more common in the breed.
• A domestic shorthair or a rescue cat. The RSPCA’s buyer’s guide (PDF) suggests checking your local RSPCA and other reputable rescue groups first. It says they may have kittens and cats of particular breeds or types. See rescue and adoption.

The RSPCA (PDF) says different breeds can be prone to different inherited disorders. Ask each breeder what the parents were tested for, and see the results.

Looking for a kitten? See kittens for sale or all cats. Listings open soon.

Before you pay for any cat

• Meet the seller and the cat in person before you pay anything, including a deposit. For a breeder’s kitten, meet its mother too. A video is a first look, not a visit.
• In Victoria, check the seller’s source number. Almost every Victorian ad for a cat must show one, with the cat’s microchip number. Our source number page shows how to look it up.
• Read the warning signs. See how to spot a pet scam.

Pet Sales Australia doesn’t hold or protect payments between buyers and sellers. You pay the seller directly, and we can’t get your money back.