Lambkin

The Lambkin is a small domestic cat created by crossing the short-legged Munchkin with the curly-coated Selkirk Rex. The result is a low-slung cat with a plush, wavy coat. The name comes from the coat, which has the soft texture of a young lamb's fleece. The breed is sometimes called the Nanus Rex.

Lambkins are companion cats. They are affectionate and people-orientated, and they keep a kitten-like playfulness well into adulthood. Despite the short legs, they move easily around a home and enjoy climbing onto laps and furniture. The breed is rare, and litters are small, so kittens are not widely available.

The short legs come from the same dominant gene found in the Munchkin, and the curly coat comes from the dominant gene of the Selkirk Rex. Because both traits are dominant, not every kitten in a litter will show both the short legs and the curls.

Who it suits

The Lambkin suits households that want a calm, affectionate companion and can give it steady attention. It does well with families, with other cats and dogs, and with people who are home often. The short legs mean it is less of a high jumper than most cats, so it tends to stay closer to the ground. It is best kept as an indoor cat.

The Lambkin is a recent breed. It was developed in the United States, with breeder Terri Harris often credited for the early work in the late 1980s and 1990s. The goal was to combine the short legs of the Munchkin with the curly coat of the Selkirk Rex.

The Munchkin provides the short-legged form. Its short legs come from a natural dominant genetic mutation that affects the long bones of the limbs. The Munchkin itself was recognised as a breed by The International Cat Association in the 1990s, which made it available as a foundation breed for new dwarf crosses such as the Lambkin.

The Selkirk Rex provides the coat. The Selkirk Rex began in Montana in 1987 from a curly-coated kitten in a shelter litter, and its curls are caused by a dominant gene. Crossing the two breeds produced kittens that could carry both the short legs and the soft, loose curls.

The Lambkin remains rare. It is classed as an experimental or developing breed by cat registries rather than a fully recognised championship breed, and breeding programmes are small. Because both founding traits are dominant, breeders can produce the look in a single generation, but careful pairing is still needed to keep the cats healthy.

The Lambkin is a small cat with a sturdy, rounded body set low to the ground on short legs. The head is broad with full cheeks, the ears are medium and set wide, and the eyes are large and round. The most distinctive features are the short legs inherited from the Munchkin and the wavy coat inherited from the Selkirk Rex.

The coat sits in soft, loose curls rather than tight waves. Curls are usually most visible on the belly, the neck, and the tail. Kittens are often born curly, may lose much of the curl as they grow, and then regain it as they mature.

Coat and colours

The coat can be short or long, and both lengths carry the curl. There is no restriction on colour or pattern, so Lambkins appear in solids, tabby, bicolour, tortoiseshell, and pointed coats. The texture is plush and woolly, which is the trait that gives the breed its name. Longer coats show looser, more flowing curls, whilst shorter coats show a denser wave.

The Lambkin is a friendly, people-focused cat. It forms strong bonds with its household and likes to be near its people, often following them from room to room and settling on a lap. The breed is gentle and patient, which makes it a good fit for homes with children.

With strangers the Lambkin is usually curious and sociable rather than shy, though like any cat it appreciates the choice to approach in its own time. It tends to get on well with other cats and with cat-friendly dogs, so it suits multi-pet homes.

Playfulness is a defining trait. Lambkins stay interested in toys, games, and small puzzles well past kittenhood. The short legs do not stop them from playing, but they do less high jumping than a long-legged cat, so they keep much of their activity at floor and furniture level. They are moderately vocal and will communicate with soft sounds, but they are not as talkative as some oriental breeds. Because they are so attached to company, they do not like being left alone for long stretches.

The Lambkin is a moderate-maintenance cat. The curly coat needs regular but gentle care, and the breed needs daily play and a safe indoor environment to stay healthy and content.

Grooming

• Comb the coat once or twice a week with a wide-tooth comb to remove loose hair without pulling the curls straight.
• Avoid heavy brushing, which can break the curl and create frizz; a light touch keeps the wave intact.
• Bathe only occasionally, and let the coat air-dry to preserve its natural texture.
• Check and clean the ears weekly and trim the claws every two to three weeks.
• Brush the teeth regularly with cat-safe toothpaste to support dental health.

Exercise

• Offer 15 to 30 minutes of interactive play across the day with wand toys and chase toys.
• Provide low climbing options, ramps, and steps so a short-legged cat can reach favourite spots safely.
• Use food puzzles and rotating toys to keep the curious mind busy.
• Keep play at floor and low-furniture level rather than relying on high jumps.

Environment

The Lambkin is an indoor cat. Keep it inside to protect it from traffic, predators, and disease. Give it warm resting spots, scratching posts, and quiet places to retreat. Because it is so attached to company, a second pet or steady human presence helps prevent loneliness when the home is empty.

Cats are obligate carnivores, so the Lambkin needs a complete and balanced diet built around animal protein. Choose a quality cat food that meets a recognised nutritional standard and matches the cat's life stage. Because the Lambkin is small, portions are modest and weight control matters; feed measured amounts rather than leaving food out all day, and keep fresh water available at all times.

Treats and supplements

Keep treats to no more than about 10 per cent of daily calories so they do not unbalance the diet. A cat on a complete commercial food usually needs no extra supplements; add fish oil or other supplements only on the advice of a veterinarian. Watch body condition closely, since the small frame means even a little extra weight has a large effect on joints and overall health.

The Lambkin generally enjoys good health and a lifespan of about 12 to 15 years. As a young breed drawn from two foundation breeds, its long-term health picture is still being documented. The main concerns relate to the short-legged dwarf trait, which can place extra load on the spine and joints, and to conditions inherited from the parent breeds.

Preventive care

• Schedule annual veterinary check-ups, with twice-yearly visits for senior cats.
• Keep vaccinations and parasite control up to date.
• Maintain a lean body weight to protect the back and joints.
• Provide regular dental care at home and professional cleanings as advised.
• Buy only from breeders who screen their cats and provide a health history.

The Lambkin is intelligent, curious, and eager for interaction, which makes it more trainable than the average cat. It picks up litter box habits quickly and can learn to come when called, walk on a harness, and perform simple tricks. Keep sessions short and positive, and use food or play as the reward. Because the breed is sensitive and attached to its people, harsh methods are counterproductive and damage trust.

Basics

1. Set up the litter tray early in a quiet, low-sided tray the cat can step into easily, and keep it clean.
2. Introduce a scratching post and reward the cat for using it.
3. Get the cat used to gentle handling of the paws, ears, and mouth so grooming and vet visits are calm.
4. Add simple cues such as sit or come, using a treat to lure and reward each success.
5. Build up to harness training or clicker tricks once the basics are reliable.

Breeding Lambkins is specialised work because of the genetics behind the breed. Both defining traits are dominant: the short legs come from the Munchkin gene and the curls from the Selkirk Rex gene. A single copy of each gene is enough to show the trait, so kittens can display both features in one generation, but a litter will also produce some long-legged or straight-coated kittens.

The short-leg gene is handled with care. It is not bred from two short-legged cats, because pairing two copies is associated with non-viable kittens. Responsible breeders pair a short-legged cat with a normal-legged carrier, which keeps litters healthy whilst still producing short-legged kittens.

Queens reach maturity at around 7 to 12 months, though responsible breeders wait until the cat is physically mature before the first litter. Gestation lasts about 63 to 67 days. Litters are typically small. The mother raises the kittens, which are weaned at around 8 weeks and usually go to new homes at 12 weeks or later, once vaccinated and socialised. The coat often changes through kittenhood, losing and then regaining curl as the cat matures.

How to register a Lambkin in the United Kingdom

Since June 2024, pet cats in England must be microchipped, with kittens chipped by twenty weeks, and a chip is only useful once a record stands behind it. A free United Pet Club profile ties your details to your Lambkin for life. Registering your cat takes a few minutes, suits indoor cats as much as roamers, and costs nothing.

The vet surgery implants the chip; recording it is yours to do, and in England the law now expects it done for cats. Register the microchip with United Pet Club free on the lifetime plan: every brand is accepted, amendments after moving house cost nothing, and the record answers the database checks rescue centres run on every stray. Create your free account and have both jobs sorted the same afternoon.