New kitten struggles - help !

[Mooncats]

Bought this lovely little kitten through gumtree last week . She is a maincoon .

Owner insists she is 9 weeks old but she is very very tiny - only slightly bigger than my hand. I have another cat ( Russian blue ) who was thrice this size at 9 weeks . Seems very very young - struggle to climb up and jump off furniture etc . Her cry is still a very low squeak . Just cannot believe she's 9'weeks .

Issues we are having :

• accidents everywhere . I put her in the litter tray very very frequently and she'll usually jump right out . She will use it after lots and lots of encouragement but am still finding poo and wee behind furniture .

• she doesn't seem to know to dig / bury when she uses the tray she just leaves it on top of the litter . I take her paws and encourage her to dig and bury but she isn't interested at all .

• does seem to groom herself very well . Poo on paws etc

will this settle and is there anything I can do ?

When I collected her she was seen with her mum , I'm no expert but mum looked like a very typical Mainecoon. She wasn't suddenly available , saw the advert on gumtree and within the same morning all 3 kittens were sold pretty much around the same time .
She eats well, purrs, loves to be held , sleeps lots , and seems happy in general
To plan ahead now , will be booking a trip to the vets and purchasing a new litter tray / trying other types of litter . Might pop a tray upstairs too as she is having accidents upstairs .
I know buying off gumtree is a massive gamble .

My Russan blue cat at 9 weeks was so different ! He was a massive fan of digging and burying - still is , so much so I had to buy a top entry litter tray for the mess ( worth its weight in gold ). He ate far less and cried to be held for weeks but was fantastic at grooming , never had any accidents and was very very strong and brilliant at pouncing and climbing .
He is such a treasure now and a very very happy chilled out cat . It's amazing how different they are !

Buying off Gumtree isn’t just a massive gamble, it encourages irresponsible breeding.

Definitely put trays near wherever she is. It's a long way for a little cat to get downstairs from upstairs to do her business. She looks gorgeous.
Can you get her to watch your other cat in the litter tray too? So she can copy the behaviour?

We has the non-clumping white litter while ours were small - so it wasn't hard on their tiny paws.

She is gorgeous. I hope you get her sorted out.

She does look very very young. I would get her a vet appointment asap.

I don't want to ask how much you paid...

That kitten is not nine weeks old - it's TINY. You're very lucky that she seems to be healthy, but please get her vet checked ASAP. She will need flea and worm treatment - potentially special kitten treatment due to her age and size.

All the issues you're having are because she left her mum way too early. I've had numerous kittens over the years and every single one has arrived litter-trained and able to clean and groom themselves.

Buying off Gumtree isn't just a gamble - it's encouraging backyard breeding/kitten farming, and putting money into the hands of people who clearly don't give a shit about the health of the cats and kittens they're selling.

I spoke to the previous owner today , I told him we're having issues
He then tells me 'she was the runt of the litter '.
This is very new to me . What are the implications of this ? Will she catch up ?

@Mooncats

I spoke to the previous owner today , I told him we're having issues He then tells me 'she was the runt of the litter '. This is very new to me . What are the implications of this ? Will she catch up ?

TBH, that sounds like a very convenient excuse.

Why wouldn't she tell you that before you bought her?

We had the genuine runt of a litter five years ago - she's always been perfectly healthy (but small) but she didn't have any of the problems you're having at eight weeks.

cups did she catch up in size ?

Quick google and this is a photo of a 9 week old MC kit.

www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/507499451731549776/

@Mooncats

cups did she catch up in size ?

No - she's still very, very small! She only weighs about 3kg. But saying that, she's perfectly fit and healthy and has no health issues apart from her size. I call her my midget

She's five now and our kitten outgrew her at around 10 months

We have the runts of two different litters, because we foster kittens and I’m a sucker.

Cat 1 is a ‘poor doer’ with allergies and fussy eating several years later. Still only about 3kg now. Permanently a bit bewildered by life.

Cat 2 is a small solid chunk of muscle and eats for Britain.

She's still a baby & just learning. Don't worry she'll catch up op, however small.

Just get her checked out by the vet & make sure she's had all relevant shots etc.

People really must to stop selling & paying stupid money for cats!!

Our runt was always kitten sized. Lived to 17 though through sheer determination to be the only cat by outlasting all the others.

She needs to see a vet this week though to be checked over.

I wonder if hmrc know about this income stream the seller has coming in?.

She sounds similar behaviourally to the kittens we are fostering who are 6 weeks old. Make of that what you will. We are litter training them at the moment with a litter tray in every corner of their main room and litter trays in every room they go into. If she is that sort of age she will have accidents. Puppy pads have been a life saver.

Also, clumping litter is not appropriate for kittens this young. They can be killed if they ingest it and it clumps inside them. Our kittens struggled with wood chip so we switched them to some sensitive clay litter from Pets at Home which seems to work much better.

I agree, she sounds similar to six week old orphans that I fostered. Puppy pads everywhere, confine to one room with multiple litter trays.

She's not a 9 week old Maine coon.

She's a 5-6 week old mixed breed bought from an illegal backyard breeder.

It's illegal to rehome kittens less than 8 weeks old in England and Wales because early maternal separation can have longterm consequences for physical and behavioural health.

Well done for financing illegal breeding and perpetuating poor welfare.

Just wanted to give a wee hand hold, I completely understand that people hold passionate views on irresponsible breeding but I don’t think it’s helpful to be condemning - your kitten is here now and it sounds like you are working hard to do what’s best for her. It’s wonderful she seems to be in good health but I would absolutely prioritise a wee check up in the next day or two, get a vet’s opinion on her age and, if she does turn out to be a little younger than expected, on any extra care you can be supporting her with. Congratulations on your new little one, I hope she settles healthily and well and you have a lovely start to her life with you.

Did you pay the going cost of a maine coon ?

How did you get on at the vets ?

Absolutely no vet from all the vets I called in my city will see her until the end of June . I've been on the phone for days trying to get hold of a vet , finally got hold of an appointment which will be end of June .

She's been good with the litter tray . Kept confined to one room As much as possible .

Fingers crossed for you and your new overlord, OP.

I agree with veterinari.
You MUST get this cat to a vet within a week. Or it may not survive.
Travel further or be more persuasive.
Never buy from Gumtree.

When I collected her she was seen with her mum , I'm no expert but mum looked like a very typical Mainecoon

How do you know it was mum?

Old trick, present any old female pedigree with her kittens, when the actual mum is out the back already on with the next ££££ litter.

Maine Coons are huge. An 8 week old mc should be around 3lbs, a moggie kit about 2lbs.

Willing to be you do not have a MC.

I'm also doubtful this is a Maine coon, they have such a distinctive look - the face shape, lynx tips etc. I've seen plenty advertised as Maines just because they are fluffy. It's a beautiful kitten though OP, hope all is well.