How Big Do Munchkin Cats Get? Average Size and Growth Milestones

Munchkin cats are known for having extremely small legs, resulting from a genetic mutation. While they have shorter legs, their bodies are normally sized and have average proportions. That said, how big do munchkin cats get?

On average, Munchkin cats typically weigh between 5 to 9 pounds (2.3 to 4.1 kilograms) and have a body length that ranges from around 13 to 18 inches (33 to 45 centimeters). Their size is similar to other domestic cat breeds, but their short legs give them a unique appearance.

Of course, these cats can vary in size substantially. Diet and genetics play a huge role in their size, as well as their overall health. You can often get an idea of the size of a kitten by looking at its parents.

Do Munchin Cats Stay Small?

Munchkin cats have shorter legs, and these legs will stay shorter forever. But that doesn’t mean that their body stays small. In fact, their body will grow about the same size as any other cat breed – it will just be attached to four small legs.

You shouldn’t expect these cats to stay kitten-like for their whole life. They really don’t, despite their breed name.

Their small legs are a unique characteristic, but that is the only part of them that stays small.

Factors Influencing Munchkin Cat Size

Many factors influence how large a munchkin cat will get. Some of these you can control, but others you can not.

The genetic mutation responsible for the Munchkin cat’s short legs is called Achalasia. This mutation affects the long bones of the legs, leading to shorter limbs than those found in typical domestic cat breeds. Achalasia is an autosomal dominant trait, which means that a cat with even one copy of the gene will exhibit the characteristic short-legged trait.

However, cats with two copies of the gene will have even shorter legs. The genes do “stack” in this way. That said, this gene only affects the short legs themselves – not the rest of the cat’s body. Therefore, other genes will affect how big the rest of the cat gets.

Selective breeding plays a huge role in this cat breed. It’s how the breed became a thing, after all. Breeders may pair cats together to encourage certain traits, some of which may be related to size. Breeders may try to develop smaller cats, in general, for instance.

These cats do vary in size within the breed, but they usually are all within a few pairs of each other. Therefore, most munchkin cats are about the same size.

Some environmental factors may also affect the breed’s size. A proper diet is necessary for the cats to grow to their proper size, after all. If the cat doesn’t get this diet, then they may not grow to their full size.

Munchkin Cat Growth Chart

The photo featured at the top of this post is © iStock.com/Phannasit Tantrakul