IBERIS MUNCHKIN

Elena Paukova has been breeding blue-eyed Munchkins since 2019 using a DBE mutation found in Karagaisky settlement (Chelyabinsk region).

A line of blue-eyed Munchkins, of unknown origin is bred by Elena Paukova (Iberis nursery, Magnitogorsk). Several vivid blue-eyed and odd-eyed cats from Karagaisky settlement (Chelyabinsk region) were used in this breeding programme. These were mainly cats with a high degree of white which mated among themselves and with the general domestic cat population. Elena Paukova did not try to reduce the amount of white, so cats with minimal white markings are the exception rather than the rule. The first blue-eyed or odd-eyed cats with a low degree of white can be traced to Iberis cats in 2010. One such cat is Iberis Que Hey Sky, a blue-eyed blue Munchkin, with white bib and toes. Iberis Que Hey Sky passed on the DBE trait. However the trait was already established in the village in 2005 (if not before) when Elena saw an odd-eyed bicolour named Semyon. Semyon was not neutered and was responsible for many descendants, including blue-eyed cats.

The Iberis gene has not deliberately been bred for homozygotes, but some of the cats had an unusual pattern akin to the "chipmunk" pattern seen in the potentially homozygous Topazes (high degree of white with a coloured dorsal stripe). This DBE gene produces blue-eyed, odd-eyed, normal eyed "latents" and sectoral heterochromia (two colours in one iris).

DBE AUSTRALIAN MUNCHKIN (ALTAI GENE)

Blue eyes have been introduced into the Munchkin breed (self colours only) in Australia by David Karamatic. He imported Celestial British "Maidee" from Sophie Guittonneau and is the first of that gene in Australia.

DBE ENGLISH MUFFIN CAT (ALTAI GENE?)

English Muffin kittens are a cross between a British Shorthair and Minuet (Munchkin & Persian ancestry) and have characteristics of both breeds. They are equivalent to the Chinese Tank Cat. British Pacific Cattery have imported a blue self DBE British Shorthair from Germany to add blue eyes into the English Muffin breed, but other breeders of the Chinese Tank Cat in North America wish to prohibit the DBE gene.