Lambkin

The Lambkin is a small domestic cat bred by crossing the short-legged Munchkin with the curly-coated Selkirk Rex. What you get is a low-slung cat wearing a plush, wavy coat. The name comes straight from that coat, which has the soft feel of a young lamb's fleece. You may also see the breed listed as the Nanus Rex.

These are companion cats through and through. They are affectionate and people-oriented, and they hold onto a kitten-like playfulness well into their adult years. The short legs do not slow them down indoors, and they are happy to climb onto laps and furniture. Because the breed is rare and litters run small, kittens are not easy to come by.

The short legs trace back to the same dominant gene carried by the Munchkin, while the curly coat comes from the dominant gene of the Selkirk Rex. With both traits dominant, not every kitten in a litter will end up with both the short legs and the curls.

Who it suits

The Lambkin fits households that want a calm, affectionate companion and can offer steady attention. It settles in well with families, with other cats and dogs, and with people who spend a lot of time at home. The short legs make it less of a high jumper than most cats, so it tends to keep 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, and breeder Terri Harris is usually credited with the early work through the late 1980s and 1990s. The aim was to bring together the short legs of the Munchkin and the curly coat of the Selkirk Rex.

The Munchkin supplies the short-legged shape. Its short legs come from a natural dominant mutation that affects the long bones of the limbs. The Munchkin was itself recognised by The International Cat Association (TICA) during the 1990s, which opened it up as a foundation breed for new dwarf crosses such as the Lambkin.

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

The Lambkin is still rare. Registries treat it as an experimental or developing breed rather than a fully recognised championship breed, and breeding programmes stay small. In South Africa a fancier would look to bodies such as the South African Cat Council (SACC) or TICA for registration guidance. Because both founding traits are dominant, breeders can produce the look in a single generation, though careful pairing is still needed to keep the cats healthy.

The Lambkin is a small cat with a sturdy, rounded body carried 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. Its two signature features are the short legs from the Munchkin and the wavy coat from the Selkirk Rex.

The coat falls in soft, loose curls rather than tight waves. You will usually notice the curls most on the belly, the neck, and the tail. Kittens are often born curly, may shed much of the curl as they grow, and then get it back as they mature.

Coat and colours

The coat comes in short or long, and both lengths hold the curl. There is no restriction on colour or pattern, so Lambkins turn up in solids, tabby, bicolour, tortoiseshell, and pointed coats. The texture is plush and woolly, and that is exactly the trait behind the breed's name. Longer coats show looser, more flowing curls, while shorter coats show a denser wave.

The Lambkin is a friendly, people-focused cat. It forms strong bonds with its household and likes to stay close to its people, often trailing them from room to room and settling on a lap. The breed is gentle and patient, which makes it a sound choice for homes with children.

Around strangers the Lambkin is usually curious and sociable rather than shy, although, like any cat, it values the freedom to approach in its own time. It generally gets on with other cats and with cat-friendly dogs, so it suits a multi-pet household.

Playfulness is a defining trait. Lambkins stay keen on toys, games, and small puzzles long past kittenhood. The short legs do not keep them from playing, but they do less high jumping than a long-legged cat, so most of their activity happens at floor and furniture level. They are moderately vocal and will chat in soft sounds, though they are not as talkative as some oriental breeds. Being so fond of company, they do not enjoy being left alone for long stretches.

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

Grooming

• Comb the coat once or twice a week with a wide-tooth comb to lift loose hair without pulling the curls straight.
• Go easy on brushing, since heavy work can break the curl and cause frizz; a light hand keeps the wave intact.
• Bathe only now and then, and let the coat air-dry to hold 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 look after dental health.

Exercise

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

Environment

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

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

Treats and supplements

Keep treats to no more than about 10 percent of daily calories so they do not throw the diet off balance. A cat on a complete commercial food usually needs no extra supplements; add fish oil or anything else only on the advice of a veterinarian. Watch body condition closely, because on such a small frame even a little extra weight has a big effect on the joints and general 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 tie back to the short-legged dwarf trait, which can load the spine and joints, and to conditions inherited from the parent breeds.

Preventive care

• Book annual veterinary checkups, moving to twice-yearly visits for senior cats.
• Keep vaccinations and parasite control up to date.
• Hold the cat at a lean body weight to protect the back and joints.
• Give regular dental care at home and professional cleanings as advised.
• Buy only from breeders who screen their cats and hand over a health history.

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

Basics

1. Set up the litter tray early in a quiet, low-sided box 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 stay 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 specialist 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 carry both features in one generation, though a litter will also throw some long-legged or straight-coated kittens.

The short-leg gene is handled with care. It is never bred from two short-legged cats, because pairing two copies is tied to non-viable kittens. Responsible breeders match a short-legged cat with a normal-legged carrier, which keeps litters healthy while 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 runs about 63 to 67 days. Litters tend to be 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 shifts through kittenhood, losing and then regaining curl as the cat matures.

Registering a Lambkin in South Africa

Every stray that reaches an SPCA branch gets scanned, and the scan only helps when a registry answers with a name and number. Give your Lambkin that answer: a free United Pet Club profile, good for her whole life, indoor cat or garden wanderer. Registering your cat takes minutes and never carries a fee.

If a chip is already under her skin, finish the job by recording the number. Register the microchip on the free lifetime plan: any brand a South African vet implants is accepted, updating after a move between provinces costs nothing, and the record is searchable around the clock. Create your free account and cover cat and chip together.