The smallest cat breeds in the world: with photos and names

Munchkin: 1.8 – 4 kg

Munchkin
Representatives of this breed are the dachshunds of the cat world: they have very short legs. Munchkins were not specially bred; the first representative was found by accident, and it was a natural mutation. In the 40s, the short-legged cat gave birth to the same dachshund-like kittens, which were completely healthy, then the breed gained a foothold and began to gain popularity. At the moment , these cats are considered the shortest , the minimum height was recorded as 13.34 cm. An adult cat can weigh between 2.7-4 kg, a cat - 1.8-3.6 kg.

Interesting: Why does a heron stand on one leg? Reasons, photos and videos

Other Popular Dwarf Cat Breeds

Small cats are incredibly interesting and charming creatures. There are several breeds of cats whose body weight does not exceed 4 kg. Some breeds number only a few dozen individuals and live only in nurseries. Others are popular with lovers of miniature animals or owners of small living spaces.

The most famous dwarf cat breeds:

Munchkin

An adult Munchkin cat weighs 2.7-4 kg.

These short-legged cats are natural mutants. The length of the legs did not in any way affect the general health of the breed.

They come from the 40s of the 20th century. The name of the breed was given by the Americans. It was the Munchkins that were called the tiny people from F. Bauman’s book about the Magic Land of Oz.

A cat named Liliput of the Munchkin breed was declared in 2014 the shortest (13.34 cm) and entered into the Guinness Book of Records.

Minskin

A young breed obtained by Americans as a result of crossing Munchkins with Canadian Sphynxes. Their hairless skin, long tail and short paws, lightly covered with hair, allowed them to be given a funny nickname - hobbits.

Minskins inherited skin folds from the Sphinx. True, they are more typical for kittens than for adult cats. The colors are quite varied, the most common being the Siamese.

Minskins weigh no more than 3 kg.

Singapore

The breed comes from the east. Adult cats rarely gain weight more than 2 kg, male cats grow up to 3 kg. Behind the external oriental grace lies strength and good health.

Although not distinguished by a variety of colors, all Singapuras are golden-cream in color with a dark brown back, tail and head.

Playful and trusting, Singapuras are incredibly energetic and cunning, quick-witted and adore their owner.

Napoleon

In 1995, inspired by the appearance of the handsome Munchkins and royal Persians, the American D. Smith set about creating a new breed. Small size and cute face became the main guidelines when creating the Napoleon breed. As a result, we got two varieties of it - classic and extreme.

Classic Napoleons have regular paw length. Extreme sportsmen walk on short legs, and this is not considered a defect.

Skookum: 1.8 – 4 kg

Skookum
Representatives of the Skookum breed, which is a derivative of the Munchkins, can have approximately the same weight indicators. When crossing munchkins and laperms, cats appeared that were equally short in stature and short legs, and received long hair that grew in lush waves. The calm, affectionate creature wins hearts, which makes the breed more and more popular.

Russian invention

Few people know that the smallest cat is Skiff-toy-bob. This breed was officially recognized only a few years ago. These cats owe their appearance to a nursery in Russia where they breed such animals. The color of representatives of this breed is similar to the Siamese. An adult cat can weigh about 2 kg.

These animals have a muscular body and a bushy tail, and blue eyes. They are unpretentious in care and have a non-conflict character. Such cats are little known and there is no fashion for purchasing them. But they rightfully occupy 1st place among small-sized cats.

Most animal lovers are sure that the smallest cat breed in the world is the Munchkin. In fact, these animals are short, but not small. The appearance of such a myth is due to the popularity of this breed. Not surprising, because such a small cat stands out with its paws. They are half shorter than a normal cat's. She also has a small and elongated body. They weigh from 2.5 kg. But the tail is strong and proportional. In a sitting position, the munchkin rests on it, and not on its hind legs.

These pets require special care

Such pets require special care. They are susceptible to spinal diseases due to their disproportionate physique. The most common pathology is excessive arching in the back. Because of their structure, cats experience heart pain and suffer from pulmonary diseases. Weakened muscles make the spine fragile. It is recommended to avoid falls and jumps from heights. It is necessary to take into account the structure of the body when choosing a toilet. The tray should have minimal sides. When choosing a scratching post (device for claws), it is better to give preference to low models.

Singapore cat: 2-3 kg

Singapore cat
The Singapore cat breed has a rather sad past: they began to be bred from stray animals found on the streets of the city-state of Singapore. But thanks to their unique characteristics, current representatives of Singaporean cats can claim the best place in the house, because along with their small size they are distinguished by intelligence, devotion, and love for their owner. True, Singapore has not yet become widespread.

Dwelf: 1.8-3 kg

Dwelf An
even more miniature creature appeared when attempting to crossbreed munchkins with curls and sphinxes. A distinctive feature of the Dwelf breed is not only their small height and weight, but also their completely bare skin. This is one of the miniature hairless cats . Representatives of the breed are sociable and friendly, and the lack of hair makes them an excellent choice for allergy sufferers and lovers of cleanliness.

Minskin: 1.8 – 2.7 kg

Minskin
Another miniature hairless breed that was bred in the States. The gene pool is based on two breeds: Canadian Sphynxes and Munchkins. Representatives of the Minskins are distinguished by a well-built body and small height - their height does not exceed 19 cm . The miniature size is compensated by the endless curiosity, sociability and tenderness of these creatures.

Interesting: Are all dogs a subspecies of the wolf?

The smallest cat breed

Skif-Tai-Don (Skif-Toy-Bob)
The smallest cat breed is Skif-Tai-Don (Skif-Toy-Bob): 900 grams - 2.5 kg. If you would like to have a cat that will forever remain like a kitten 3-4 months old, then you should pay attention to this breed. Scythians are the smallest domestic cats , but at the same time their muscles are strong, they have a beautiful, harmonious physique. Their tail is rounded, maybe even spiral-shaped, and the hind legs are longer than the front ones. The breed was developed in the 1980s in Rostov-on-Don. Standards for the new breed were established in 1994. Today there are two Skif nurseries operating in Russia; you can buy them in Yekaterinburg or Moscow.

Thus, the smallest cats can weigh less than a kilogram. They will forever remain kittens, delighting the heart of their owner. However, the fashion for small cats today is not as relevant as for “pocket” dogs, for example, and therefore representatives of most dwarf breeds remain rare.

TOP 5 breeds of the smallest cats

Dwarf cat breeds include pets whose weight upon reaching adulthood does not exceed 2.5-3 kg. And more often, mature individuals of decorative breeds weigh even less. The first attempts to breed such pets were made more than 40 years ago, but most of them were unsuccessful. Today, about 15 breeds of small cats are known, and most of them were bred in America.

Toy bob

Miniature pets really look very cute and cause amazement among others. But since such breeds are the result of gene mutation or hybridization, they have certain disadvantages. The disadvantages of mini breeds include:

instability - not all kittens from the litter have the desired size;
limited gene pool;
increased likelihood of developing hereditary pathologies.

Another significant disadvantage is that pets of dwarf breeds live shorter than their counterparts and are more susceptible to dangerous diseases.

The TOP 5 smallest cats in the world include:

Toy-bob or Skif-tay-don. This breed of mini cats was bred in Rostov-on-Don, and is the result of a gene mutation of Thai Bobtails. Toy Bob cats are tiny in size, have thick, short hair, and the most common color is point color. They have large blue eyes, a short tail, and in appearance they look like 4-6 month old kittens. Adults usually weigh no more than 2 kg, which is why these cats are considered pocket cats. Toy beans are distinguished by their curiosity, activity and affection for their owner. In addition, they are highly trainable.
Singapore. The approximate weight of an adult is 2.6 kg. Despite their miniature size, the Singapura cat has well-developed muscles and a strong body, covered with short, smooth hair. The muzzle is slightly elongated, the ears seem a little large. The Singapura has a strong immune system and health, representatives of this breed often live up to 15 years. The Singaporean cat has not only an unusual appearance, but also a character. They are shy and behave very cautiously with strangers.

Singaporean

Kinkaloe. These unusual cats with a cartoonish appearance were the result of crossing Munchkins and American Curls. The weight of adults rarely exceeds 2.6 kg. The kinkalow has short legs, curved ears and a funny face. They are active, mobile and playful. Since representatives of this breed appeared relatively recently, and the Kinkaloo is still not officially recognized, there are only a few dozen such cats in the world. Since the breed has complex genetics and rarely more than 1 purebred Kinkalow is born in a litter, these cats are considered one of the rarest and most expensive.
Minskin. Refers to decorative hairless breeds, which were first bred in America by crossing Munchkins and Canadian Sphynxes. The only areas where fur may be present are the head, tail and paws. Minskins are active and have a “dog-like character.” The weight of adults varies from 1.8 to 2.7 kg.
Dwelf. The experiment to create this breed involved Munchkins, Canadian Sphynxes and American Curls. An adult Dwelf weighs no more than 3 kg and has an unusual appearance: slightly curled back ears, short legs and a smooth body without hair. Such cats have a passive character, do not like active games and are very touchy.

Dwelf
Other dwarf breeds of furry pets include Napoleon, Munchkin, Skookum and Bambino.

Important! Due to genetic mutations, most cats of decorative breeds do not mark territory and do not know how to defend themselves. That is why such pets need to be handled with care and precision.