There are an overwhelming amount of cats in existence today. However, some stand out as the absolute cutest and most highly-desired cats.
Of these coveted kitties, Scottish Fold Munchkins, or the Scottish Kilt, are right near the top in terms of adorable owl-like appearance and optimal personality.
As theyâve become quite popular in the breeding world, you may be interested in learning more about these cats. For instance, learning how exactly they get their tiny ears and stubby legs.
This guide will tell you everything that you need to know about this cross-bred cat.
Table of Contents
Scottish Fold Munchkin At A Glance
| Other Name | Scottish Kilt |
| Weight | 4 â 9 lbs |
| Lifespan | 12 â 15 years |
| Personality | Adaptable, affectionate, & energetic |
| Price | $750 â $3500 |
History & Genetics of the Scottish Fold Munchkin
The history and reasoning behind the creation of this cat isnât hard to understand. Breeders simply wanted a cat with folded ears and short legs â something that everyone could agree just sounds adorable.
To do this, they cross-bred a Scottish Fold cat and a Munchkin cat to combine a Scottish Foldâs folded ears with a Munchkinâs short legs. As you can see, this worked out well and created an extremely cute cat thatâs accepted by TICA.
Cross-breeding these two species doesnât come without problems, though. Itâs for this reason that you need to be sure to purchase from a reputable and experienced breeder.
In Scottish Folds, their folded ears are the result of a single dominant mutation in their genes. Combining two Scottish Folds with folded ears displayed, though, results in crippling arthritis. So, a folded ear Scottish Fold can only be bred with a non-folded ear.
Thus, the probability of getting a folded ear cat when a folded ear Scottish Fold is mixed with a straight ear cat is 50-50.
As for Munchkins, theyâre also the result of a genetic mutation, but they donât risk arthritis. The probability of getting short-legged cat when a short-legged Munchkin is combined with a long-legged cat is also 50-50.
Because of these probabilities, statistically, in breeding Scottish Fold Munchkins, the expected results are:
| 25%Â â Folded ears & short legs | 25%Â â Straight ears & short legs |
| 25%Â â Folded ears & long legs | 25%Â â Straight ears & long legs |
It should also be noted that when two short-legged Munchkins are bred, thereâs a 25% fatality rate in invitro. Thereâs no stillbirth, the fertilized egg simply fails to develop.
Scottish Fold Munchkin Physical Appearance/Traits
First and foremost, the obvious: The Scottish Fold Munchkin is a cat thatâs known for its short legs and folded ears â an appearance that makes it very desirable among a wide variety of people.
Despite the name âMunchkinâ, these cats donât grow to be much smaller than other breeds. Males typically weigh between 6 and 9 lbs, while females weigh between 4 and 8 lbs.
In terms of height, while their legs are about 3 inches shorter than an average cat, they grow to be about 7-8 inches tall. The average cat typically measures 10 inches tall.
In fact, some Munchkins see their back legs grow longer than their front legs, resulting in them having a downward slope from back to front.
Length for this cat is about average at 18 inches from their head to the base of their tail, and their tail is typically about 8 inches long.
To round out their cute appearance, Scottish Fold Munchkins have large, round eyes, a short nose, and very thick fur that can vary in colors.
Kittens
Scottish Fold Munchkin kittens arenât much different from their adult counterparts. They have similar features already and their legs are clearly quite stubby.
However, it takes the folded-ear gene about 3-4 weeks to start showing. So, a Scottish Fold Munchkin with the visible fold gene wonât show it for a little while. The suspense must be pretty crazy for breeders!
Scottish Fold Munchkin Personality
Simply put, owning one of these cats is an absolute privilege. In addition to the fact that theyâre very rare, expensive, and drop-dead adorable, theyâre also great as pets! Theyâre not just for show.
If Scottish Kilts can be summed up in three words, those words would be affectionate, adaptable, and energetic.
These cats absolutely love being around people and spend most of their time around their owners or in their ownersâ laps. This is great, but they can sometimes go a bit overboard and get a bit of an attitude if theyâre deprived of this attention.
While they do need their attention, theyâre pretty adaptable in every other way. They will find themselves comfortable in all types of homes ranging from single-person to families with children and grandparents.
Perhaps the most prominent trait that these cats have, though, is their awesome energy. Despite their short legs, Scottish Fold Munchkins are absolutely full of energy and will gladly run around the house for extended periods of time.
Their short legs donât hold them back from jumping, either, as they can jump almost as high as a standard cat. This can be a bit problematic, though, as these cats are very intelligent and will get themselves into trouble
Scottish Fold Munchkin Health & Lifespan
While their legs are short, their lives arenât. A healthy Scottish Fold Munchkin has a lifespan of about 12-15 years. However, this is for healthy cats. There are several factors that would contribute to a shorter lifespan.
Scottish Folds have quite a few health problems as a result of their genetics, which is quite disappointing.
The most prominent health problem that Scottish Folds get is called Osteodystrophy, which is essentially defective bone development that can lead to severe arthritis and constant pain/mobility problems.
Folds are also prone to Polycistic Kidney Disease, or PKD. While this disease usually rears its head when a cat is mid-life, it can also show when theyâre just a kitten or never show at all even if a cat is carrying it.
This unfortunate disease causes cats to be lethargic and sick and result in vomiting and weight loss.
As far as Munchkin cats go, theyâre typically very healthy. However, the gene that creates their short legs can also have negative affects on their spine through lordosis.
Lordosis involves short spinal muscles that result in a downward curvature of the spine. Cats can either live with these gene forever and be fine, or it can cause premature death.
Proper Scottish Fold Munchkin Care
Caring for a Scottish Fold Munchkin isnât much different from caring for any other type of cat. They all require the basic necessities that you need to provide if youâre taking on the responsibility of cat ownership.
A Scottish Kilt cat should be fed a high-quality diet on a regular feeding schedule. There are plenty of healthy food options available, but just be sure that youâre not overfeeding them as theyâre prone to obesity.
Fortunately, as these are such active cats, they do burn off a good amount of calories by being so playful. Because of this, youâll need to make sure that you can provide them with the playtime and attention that they need.
On top of this, youâll need to keep your Scottish Fold Munchkin groomed and clean. Brushing them thoroughly once or twice a week is essential if you want to keep their thick, beautiful coats healthy. Nails obviously need to be cut regularly, too.
If youâre purchasing this cat, remember that it isnât a trophy. Yes, it may cost a lot of money, but itâs a living animal and has essentially the same needs as any other cat.
Scottish Fold Munchkin For Sale & Price
As stated several times in this post, Scottish Kilts are expensive. The care, effort, and time it takes to properly breed them results in massive waitlists and very high price tags.
Be prepared to break the bank a little bit!
You can expect a Scottish Fold Munchkin to sell for between $750 for a non-standard cat with no traits showing and $3500 for a standard cat with folded ears and short legs.
Non-standard Scottish Kilts are still expensive as they possess the necessary genes to create a standard Scottish Kilt. However, theyâre obviously much cheaper than a standard Scottish Kilt with folded ears, short legs, and an excellent overall appearance.
These cats are popular, but theyâre not very common. There are not many breeders that breed this cat, so youâll need to do some research to find a breeder near you. Fortunately, some breeders have decent delivery options to make acquiring your cat easier.
It isnât as easy as just finding a Scottish Fold Munchkin breeder, though!
You need to be absolutely sure that youâre purchasing from a good breeder. This means that the breeder has experience, maintains close genetic records, treats all their cats properly, and essentially does their job to the best of their ability.
Some breeders may be more affordable/accessible, but if theyâre sub-par, absolutely look elsewhere for your Scottish Kilt.