Tuesday, September 1, 2026

Petfinder Post: Chihuahuas and Small Cats

The next dog breed the Busybodies of Britain wanted to suppres from view was the Cesky Terrier, which  is very rare in the US; Petfinder doesn't have a listing for the breed. "Cesky" is another form of the word spelled "Czech." The dogs are shorter-legged and longer-backed than Scotch Terriers, with more long hair on their faces, and don't look like the most functional breed. They are said to be calmer than most terriers. Breeders are asking for thousands of dollars per pup when these dogs may not even have the normal cat-size lifespan cat-size dogs are supposed to have, so Cesky Terriers may be a good breed not to let establish itself in North America.

So we move on to the rather ridiculous, beloved Chihuahua, the smallest of all recognized dog breeds. Chihuahuas are native to Mexico. Thin coats allow them to shiver and snuggle a lot; they can become clingy and shiver and cry when put on the ground rather than being carried in their humans' arms. Tiny size makes them good indoor pets, but seems to make some Chihuahuas defensively aggressive--they may be small, but they can still bite, if provoked. Most Chihuahuas are healthy and long-lived if not overfed, but a few bloodlines carry defects of the teeth and throat. A few Chihuahuas are described as having "fragile windpipes" that can collapse under stress; even fewer can have a sort of epilepsy. If you are a typical American, however, you know half a dozen Chihuahuas who are still bouncing and yipping about at ages from fifteen to twenty years old, whose humans' big concern is that the Chihuahuas may outlive them and be too "old and set in their ways" to adopt new humans easily. So the "animal rights" types' shrieking about this being a breed it's inhumane to keep really do more to discredit themselves than anything else.

Chihuahuas do need special care. Because they're so small, they have to be kept indoors or on a leash at all times--and it can be hard to find collars that fit them. (A three-band harness that puts the dog's weight mostly on the band around its chest, rather than the one around its neck, is a good idea.) Not only can they be run over because drivers don't see them; they can be eaten by owls or raccoons. They can be yappy, bossy, and annoying to humans who don't really hit it off with them. They are small enough that cruel people abuse them. A human can crush a Chihuahua to death under one booted foot, and some humans do. Some Chihuahuas have even been crushed incidentally, by humans, cows, or horses. 

People who are interested in stomping on pets have no business reading this web site. They should turn off the computer and go directly to the nearest hospital. If you are a cruel person who has been reading this web site, tell the admitting nurse you want to crush dogs under your boots. If the nurse seems lackadaisical, as it might be observing that it's still summer and you're wearing sandals, tell the nurse that the phrase "dead presidents" arouses fantasies that are not just about cash. Do not leave until they give you the help you need.

Decent human beings can't always plan on someone being at home with a Chihuahua, but they do agree that the micro-dogs are cute. However, that does not make Chihuahuas perfect pets for everyone. These small dogs need companionship and mental stimulation, and they can be overwhelmed by small children. Though not related to terriers, they can have terrier-type personalities--stubborn, sassy, busy, even bossy. There is a risk of their hurting or frightening a toddler, and being hurt by a six-year-old, because these dogs are small enough to take children's play very seriously. They like to play with responsible adults and teenagers, though, and often do well in dog athletics. Exercise for Chihuahuas needs to match their size. Don't keep them trotting after they start gasping. They resent slights and have been known to chew up people's legs. They can become very irritable if encouraged to overeat, or eat the wrong things, and develop indigestion. An irritable Chihuahua is a chewing hazard. Chihuahuas are unlikely to kill anybody bigger than a rat, but can they ever chomp.

Why am I bothering to type these things? Is anyone Out There not familiar with the care and feeding of Chihuahuas? We have a lot of foreign readers, so probably someone is. 

The classic Chihuahua has a round head, relatively large pointy ears, and a very short, thin coat that gives him a resemblance to the Mexican Hairless or Itzcuintli. Compared to either of those he is by far the most attractive. However, some pedigreed Chihuahuas have long fluffy hair and might be mistaken for other fluffy lapdogs like Pekingese and Pomeranians.

Most cats are actually bigger than most purebred Chihuahuas, although Petfinder lists some Chihuahua crossbreeds who weigh 25 or 30 pounds. For this post I'll try, if possible, to find extra-small cats, being aware that there aren't a lot of them in shelters.

Zipcode 10101: Canela from Puerto Rico by way of NYC 


Being a Chihuahua and Beagle mix, Canela naturally always wanted to be a pet--but she spent her first four years with a hoarder who didn't have time to pet individual dogs. She laps up attention and affection as if making up for lost time. Her adoption fee, which would otherwise be excessive, covers transportation to any State where she'sbeing adopted. She is, of course, bigger than a purebred Chihuahua, but she's still a small dog.

Elegy (and Cadence) from NYC 


They're probably kittens more than small cats, and Elegy will probably grow into those L E Gs. They are sisters, rescued together, and would benefit from being adopted together. They're described as silly, playful, bouncy adolescent cats.

Zipcode 20202: Cricket (the Big One) from Texas by way of Brookeville 


Probably after drinking heavily, somebody thought it'd be fun to see whether a Chihuahua and a German Shepherd could produce puppies. This is the puppy they produced. Probably just dumped for looking so odd, certainly not spayed and cared for, she was found trying to go feral while raising puppies of her own. She's only about a year old; weighed 18 pounds when rescued, might grow a little bigger. She is described as friendly, funny, playful, "smart," and quiet. She's already learned many points of good house pet manners. 

The organization may be a bit control-freaky; they want to visit your house and talk to your vet before they even bring out the dog. Control freaks deserve what they get but, please, if you lead them through a friend's ancestral mansion on the Eastern Shore, do at least have a decent place in Hyattsville or Mount Pleasant or some such neighborhood.

Cricket (the Small One) from Georgia by way of DC   


These two from a group of ten dogs, who were put in a shelter when their human was put in a nursing home, have been through a lot together and lean on each other for emotional support. Cricket is the mostly black one; Mochi is the gray one. Both are female, have run up some vet bills, and weigh less than 15 pounds. You could carry both of them at one time if you had to. They are middle-aged small dogs, thought to be seven or eight years old, likely to live another seven or eight years or longer. They must be adopted together but at least the adoption fee is a reasonable "twofer" price: $500 for both dogs. 

Coral (and Breeze) from DC 


They're small but, again, not guaranteed to stay small. They're adolescent rather than adult cats. Coral is the one with coral pink patches, and Breeze is a more normal-looking gray tabby. They are best buddies and should really be adopted as a pair. They're shy at first but will do things you consider cute when they decide they like you; some of their cute habits are described at Coral's web page.

Zipcode 30303: Biscuit from Atlanta 


Isn't it a relief to come to a dog that's actually at the shelter that's advertising him? Biscuit is actually in Atlanta and the organization would prefer that he be adopted in Atlanta. They would like to maintain a relationship. Long-distance inquiries will be read only if they can't find a good local home for him. 

He is part Chihuahua and part Pomeranian, has had veterinary care and been neutered, and weighs about 10 pounds. They say he can entertain himself most of the time but likes to stay close to his human. 

Bobbie Jo from Atlanta 



The Humane Society, I'm sorry to say, so no wonder she looks a bit sad. This Amber-Eyed Silver Tip may be showing a rusty tone in her coat. Probably when brought in for rescue she could have been described as brown rather than black. Black hair turns brownish or reddish when a cat (or person) is malnourished and in poor condition. It should be a fine glossy black again in a few more months. Bobbie Jo is an adult car described as a "certified couch potato." She'll hang out beside you more as she gets to know you. She's not enthusiastic about cuddling...with anyone at the Humane Society, anyway, and can she be blamed. 

Alternate: Annie from Atlanta 


"The Last Litter Project" doesn't sound much more deserving of money than the Humane Society, but the cat is adorable. She's not a year old yet and probably will weigh more than 6 pounds in another year. Little Orphan Annie, who turned up in someone's back yard, doesn't seem to have been truly feral; she took to being petted, and bonded with another young cat, right away. In their photo Annie is the one on the right. They don't say the two kittens must be adopted together, but that would be the decent thing to do. The cats are still adolescent and will probably be easier to live with if adopted together.
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