Munchkin

Munchkin is an English word name taken from L. Frank Baum's Oz books, referring to the small, cheerful inhabitants of Munchkinland. It has come to mean any small, adorable creature, and is especially associated with the Munchkin cat breed, known for its very short legs.

Munchkin is a name that was practically invented for pets. It combines tiny stature, maximum adorability, and the warm Oz-mythology association into a single irresistible package. The Munchkin cat breed — those short-legged, kitten-sized-forever cats — has amplified the name's association with small, perpetually cute animals. But Munchkin works for any tiny pet who seems too small to contain so much personality, or who you simply cannot stop calling your little one even after they are technically full grown.