The Charm of Small Cats: Why Compact Kitties Capture Our Hearts

From tiny to titan, cats come in all sizes. And our cat lover hearts are mush for every single one of them, but there’s something extra special cute about a little cat.

Some kitties seem to never overgrow their kittenish statures, staying small and snugly their whole lives. On short legs with big, round eyes, these tiny ones aren’t babies, but full-grown cats with the attitudes to match. They may be small, but their personalities are huge!

Pooky the Munchkin is one such small cat she wants nothing more than “to make you smile”! Well, she might like a little tuna every now and again too…

@littlemunchiepooky/Instagram

Did you know there are several breeds of cat that stay petite at under 10 pounds?

1. Singapura
2. Munchkin
3. Minuet
4. Dwelf
5. Cornish & Devon Rex
6. American Curl

Let’s have a look at these terrifically tiny cats…

Singapura – the ‘Smol’-est of the ‘Smol’

The smallest of them all is the Singapura, weighing in at a tiny 4 – 8 pounds…

@umibeno_aosan/Instagram

Singapura cats are highly energetic and love to play. Intelligent and curious, these cuties want to be the center of attention.

@sarasa280/Instagram

Munchkins – Stubby-Legged Lovelies

The short stature of Munchkin cats is due to a genetic mutation and they stand only 7 – 9 inches tall. Munchkins have an average weight of 5 lbs, but males are typically larger than females and can weigh in at as much as 10 pounds on the larger end.

@momo.da.cat/Instagram

According to MunchkinCatGuide.com, these little cats are classified into 3 different leg lengths: Standard Leg, Super-Short, and Rug-Hugger.

@otisandjr/Instagram

Naturally curious, Munchkin cats like to stand on their haunches and it makes for the most adorable photo ops…

@munchkincatss/Instagram

The Minuet – a Munchkin Persian

The short stature of the Munchkin coupled with the fluffy grace of a Persian, the Minuet cat is also called the “Napoleon” and was first bred in in 1966.

@simba.theshortie/Instagram

These petite darlings are affectionate, attention-loving kitties great for families…

@rara1008_minuet/Instagram

Dwelf Cats – a Breed of Fantastical Cuteness

Recently included in the International Cat Association under the Experimental New Breed category, Dwelf cats owe their lineage to a mingling of the Munchkin, Sphynx and American curl breeds.

Mykola Dwelf Bambino Elf Breeder Naked Cats/Facebook

The name ‘Dwelf’ comes from a blending of the words elf and dwarf. It makes perfect sense when applied to these short, naked cats…

@svet_lana_bugrova/Instagram

Devon & Cornish Rex – Really Small Curly Cats

According to VetStreet.com, “The Devon Rex is said to resemble a pixie — both in physical features and in temperament. He is a mischievous and playful cat.” We believe it, a kitty so cute is bound to be impish…

Royal Devon Rex Cattery/Facebook

Unlike the Devon Rex, the Cornish Rex has no guard hairs, which “form the protective topcoat” extending out from the rest of the fur. Both the Devon and Cornish Rex are considered hypoallergenic breeds.

@marlenkathecornishcat/Instagram

American Curls – Flipped Ears on Pint-Sized Kitties

Female curls remain small at less than 8 lbs. and beyond their fine build, their flipped ears make them stand out from other cat breeds. Wendy and Winston show us the size difference between genders…

Curland cattery: American Curl Cats/Facebook

And this handsome little curl gives us words from Maxim Gorky that express how much these small cats capture our hearts, “Happiness always looks small while you hold it in your hands, but let it go, and you learn at once how big and precious it is.”

@polarbabyboi/Instagram

Feature Images: @otisandjr/Instagram & @rara1008_minuet/Instagram