Candi Taffi will be our first Queen this fall when she mates with Paddington.  Thanks to Kathy.  This will begin our Munchkin breeding program.

 

Munchkin's legs are short as they carry the dwarf gene.  Possibly short as 2 inches.  Not a deformity.  The Munchkins gene for dwarfism is autosominal dominant.  Autosominal means that the gene can be passed from either parent, dominant means that it only takes one parent to pass the gene on to the off spring.  Domestic cats are used as an outcross in a comprehensive Munchkin breeding program.  Because the gene is autosominal the outcross can be either male or female; you can breed long leg males to short leg females, or vice versa, the resulting kittens may or may not, get the dwarfism gene from one of the parents.  If you breed standard to standard you will not increase your chances of getting more standard kittens, actually you will get a smaller litter.  Standard =

cats with short legs & Non-standard = cats with long legs.  The  kittens that

receive the dwarf gene from each parent is called Homozygous Lethal, and the embryo is unable to survive in the womb, dies and is reabsorbed.  This results in a smaller number of kittens in the litter, and does not increase your chances of more standard kittens.

 

All of the kittens are registered as Munchkins, standard or non-standard is indicated on the litter registration papers.  The non-standard kittens are not able to produce dwarf kittens, unless bred to a standard Munchkin.  These kittens are however useful to other breeders as they have a pedigree and can be used in a breeding program to advance registration numbers.  They would also make wonderful pet kittens.