Newborn kittens are often the product of crossbreeding between 2 breeds, whether this mixing is voluntary or not (cats do not select a particular breed when breeding!).
The Maine Coon and the Munchkin are 2 very different breeds: the first produces rather large cats, while the second produces rather small cats.
Crossing between these 2 breeds can give results that we didn’t necessarily imagine at the beginning.
This is why we have concocted this little guide, which will present the characteristics of these 2 breeds.
This way, you will know if a Munchkin Maine Coon crossbreed is right for you!
The Maine Coon Cat Breed
The Maine Coon: Physical Appearance
The most important thing about the Maine Coon is its impressive size. It is common for the Maine Coon to grow up to one meter long and weigh 22lbs.
These figures reflect the appearance of this cat: the body is muscular, the bone structure strong, the legs robust and the hindquarters powerful. If we add to its morphological characteristics a thick coat, we obtain a massive cat but which remains of a rare elegance.
Its body must be massive and rectangular, its legs strong and medium, with tufts of hair between the pads, the tail is very bushy.
At the level of the head, the muzzle is square, the cheekbones high, and the ears large. The small lynx feather at the high end of the ears is very sought after.
As for the eyes, they are rather round.
No uniformity in the Maine coon since the coat colours are multiple. The Tabby (marking) remains the most common color, declined in 4 different patterns. There are also unicoloured dresses in white, blue, red or cream. The tortoiseshell dress (torties) completes the palette, as do the Silver, Smoke and Particolore.
The Maine Coon: Character
As much as its size and fur give the Maine coon a “wild” appearance, its behaviour is gentle and peaceful. While they don’t disdain going outside (Maine Coons are easy to walk around on a leash), they also appreciate the gentleness of an apartment.
The Maine coon also wants to be a very affectionate cat (sometimes even a little sticky), and particularly loyal to its master.
The Maine Coon also has the particularity of being talkative with numerous vocalizations.
Finally, it is one of the rare cats to appreciate water.
Because of its docile character, the Maine coon lives easily with children with whom it is particularly patient.
It is also patient with other cats or dogs, provided it has a place to retreat to.
Maine Coon Cat – Photo by Heinz Hummel from Pixabay
The Maine Coon: Care
One of the specific characteristics that make the beauty of the Maine Coon is its long and silky hair.
A magnificent coat that is bound to require special attention. The Maine coon must be brushed and combed at least once a week, two to three times if it goes outside.
The loss of hair will be especially significant at moulting time, in spring and summer. In order for your Maine Coon not to swallow too much, daily brushing is recommended during this period.
Good hygienic conditions require first and foremost a clean litter box from which you will remove the excrement every day.
In the same way, a shampoo 3 to 4 times a year can be practiced on the Maine Coon which appreciates water. Use a special cat shampoo and rinse well.
When you bought your kitten, it was vaccinated. To ensure it good health, it’s mandatory to practice vaccine recalls according to a very precise schedule.
Also, it’s essential to deworm her regularly against internal parasites. External parasites (ticks, fleas, ticks) can be fought by a preventive treatment in the form of collars, pipettes or other sprays.
The Maine Coon: Feeding
The Maine Coon has the particularity of having a very slow growth, it will only reach adulthood around 3 or 4 years old. This implies a slightly different dietary requirement from other cats.
Because of its large size and developed musculature, the Maine Coon has necessarily higher nutritional needs than the average.
In addition, its growth is much longer. The Maine Coon stays a kitten longer than other cats. As a result, it will need a diet rich in protein (between 30 and 45%) and low in fat. Also, you’ll be feeding it special kitten food until it’s about 15 months old.
Dry food (kibbles) or wet food, that’s the question.
The ideal is in the complementarity.
Why is it so ?
Like all cats, the Maine Coon eats in small quantities but 10 to 15 times a day. You can therefore give it a moist food once a day and kibbles as much as you like, you will choose kibbles adapted to the nutritional needs of your Maine Coon.
In addition to dry food, the same applies to your cat’s wet food.
What about homemade food? Why not, but only if its plate is perfectly balanced in proteins, lipids, amino acids and minerals.
Don’t forget to keep water available for it at all times. Although a small drinker, the cat needs water at will. Especially if it eats a lot of kibbles.
The Munchkin Cat Breed
The Munchkin comes from the United States, where short-legged cats have been selected, and is not the result of human creation, but of a genetic mutation that appeared spontaneously in an alley cat.
Collected and named BlackBerry, she will later have a litter with half of short-legged kittens like her.
The Munchkin: Physical Appearance
Munchkin Longhair Cat – Photo by ccho – CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
The Munchkin cat is distinguished above all by its short, muscular and strong legs.
These support a medium-length, rectangular body.
The chest is broad, the bone structure is robust and the muscles are well developed.
The tail is of medium length and tapers to a rounded tip.
The head of the Munchkin cat forms a triangle with softened contours.
The eyes are walnut-shaped, set at an angle and are of a colour matching the coat.
The ears are medium sized, broad at the base and set rather wide apart.
There are two varieties of Munchkin cats: one short-haired and one medium-long-haired.
The short-haired variety has a flat lying coat on the body and a light undercoat.
The semi-long-haired variety has a silky coat and wears a light ruff with a full panty.
As far as the coat is concerned, all colors are allowed, in all possible shades and patterns.
The Munchkin: Character
The Munchkin cat is a very endearing, energetic and playful animal. It is said that it keeps its playful kitten character throughout its life. If it doesn’t jump very high, it loves to sneak around and run at full speed to project himself on its prey, its toys!
It is also a sociable cat, who gets along just as well with its fellow cats as dogs, and is very patient with children.
That said, the Munchkin cat likes to be respected; it doesn’t like to be annoyed and doesn’t approve of being encroached upon.
The Munchkin cat is very attached to its owners and shows them great tenderness. It is always very gentle and affectionate and will not hesitate to cuddle up on its owners’ lap to be cuddled.
The Munchkin cat does not like solitude. It is better for it to have a companion to ensure a constant presence and to satisfy its need to play.
The Munchkin: Care
The Munchkin is not a cat made to live outside. After all, it is only partially capable of coping outdoors, unlike its rebounding brethren. A secure outdoor area, such as a well-enclosed garden, is particularly suitable for it.
Depending on its length, you should brush your pet’s fur regularly. This will prevent it from felting.
In addition, regular grooming with a brush strengthens the bond between you and your cat.
Finally, your favorite couch will be spared hair.
Every household with a cat should have a cat tree. The Munchkin also likes to make its claws and, with a cat tree, it can maintain and sharpen them.
The cat’s dental care is done while it eats. For this, dry food is very effective. However, if you need further advice, your veterinarian will be able to help you.
Speaking of veterinarians: The recommended frequency of check-ups is once or twice a year.
The vet knows exactly where your cat is with its worming and vaccinations.
Appropriate care, a healthy diet, etc. will keep your cat healthy, prevent many ailments, and save you from time-consuming and costly procedures.
The Maine Coon: Feeding
Dry food has above all advantages for the cat’s owner: it has a low odor and the cat can eat it at any time during the day, for example when the owner is at work.
A cat should always consume mainly dry food, and wet food should only be used as a supplement, or as a replacement in exceptional cases. This is the key to a balanced diet.
The downside of dry food is that it contains very little water, about 8%. This goes against the cat’s natural eating habits, as in nature it is hydrated by its food.
Therefore, if you only give him dry food, it is at risk of developing bladder and kidney diseases.
In addition, dry food has a high energy intake, which can lead to obesity in cats.
However, some veterinarians recommend a diet based on dry food, as long as it is of high quality.
Cats themselves would probably buy more wet food as it is more in line with their natural eating habits.
In any case, make sure you have the right amount of meat and vegetables.
Also, quality foods are easy to spot, as their ingredients are always listed in detail.
This transparency creates trust.
Tripe such as liver, heart and stomach are considered high quality.
Only 2-5% maximum of the ingredients should be of vegetable origin.
Munchkin Maine Coon Cross-Bred Cat: Is It a Good Idea?
As we have just seen, the Munchkin and the Maine Coon are 2 breeds with their own personalities and characteristics.
So, is it a good idea to crossbreed them?
If it seems viable at first glance, the reservations concern the difference in size between these 2 breeds: imagine a cat with the size of the Maine Coon carried by the short legs of the Munchkin…
The poor animal might have difficulty to support this imposing body and will surely have difficulty to move around…
In conclusion, make sure you are well informed before you consider welcoming a Munchkin Maine Coon cross-bred cat into your home.
In particular, ask the owner if the kittens have any particular health problems.
But maybe you have a Munchkin Maine Coon cat in your home? I’d love to hear your feedback, so feel free to leave me a comment!
Maine Coon Cats Photo by skeeze from Pixabay
