Choosing between two kittens - size question

[tedmundo]

Both kittens are male, alert and seemingly healthy looking. Six weeks old. One is 500g and the other is nearly 700g. Is a smaller kitten any indication of future health? The smaller one seems friendlier but we feel the chonkier one may be more robust.

Or is 6 weeks just too soon to know? It was a large litter of 8 so probably all are smaller sharing mum.

Thoughts!? Any experienced kitten breeders that can advise?

Well clearly the issue can be solved by having both...
Fwiw, my little scrap has become a huge saggy beast, so size when teeny was no indicator of adult size for her.

I wouldn’t be concerned about size if they’re active and healthy. I seem to always end up with the runts, had no issues at all. My newest (large breed) dog was almost half the size of the next smallest sibling which worried me a bit, but she was the nicest puppy by far so I picked her anyway. She’s a little cracker :)

Definitely only bringing one home !!

Thank you for the replies - feel reassured. Both gorgeous kittens so it's no hardship whichever fluff ball comes home with us.

If you want maximise the chance of getting a snuggly cat, get two kittens! We have got a houseful of cats - rescued in one way or another. All the single rescue kittens we’ve reduced are never snuggly and won’t sleep on or right next to you even if friendly. We assume it’s because they spend so much time alone and that’s what they get used to. Whereas kittens in pairs or more will continue to mostly sleep together so even if they stop being as fond of each other over time they’re more likely to love a lap or a cuddle. There is a reason cat rescues want to rehome kittens in pairs. Obviously that’s not to say that you won’t get a snuggly singleton cat but they’re not wired like dogs who bond closely with humans (it is very, very different having one dog or having more than one dog). It’s not very different at all having two kittens than having one and you won’t get a single kitten to bond closer to you if they’re on their own. Dogs are considered “obligate social” like humans whereas cats are considered “optional social”.

I appreciate you may not be bothered - I totally love a cat that that wants nothing more than to sleep on my head 😻 so I’ve put a lot of thought into maximising my chances. We’re also a good home for rescue cats who prefer cats to humans!

Rescued not reduced 😹

I would either go for 2 kitttens, or the friendliest. One of our cats was a runt, a tiny little thing but she lived to be 19.
My present cat is not at all friendly so maybe I am biased! Good luck whatever you decide

2 kittens are less work that one, as they play with each other, and teach each other manners.
Otherwise, you need to be prepared to be a full time playmate for the next 6 months.

Is there a reason you only want one? Kittens are best in pairs.

We are a large family, busy household. There will always be a playmate for the kitten if it ever wants one!

Thank you all for excellent advice x

We have 2 rescue sisters that came to us at 4 months old at the time the more chunky one was shy and the friendly one smaller, now they are all grown up the friendly one is 8kg and loves nothing more than to sit on you and can be relied on to always be there. The one that started off chunky is only 5kg and will be your friend when she wants to and will ignore you when she isn’t in the mood.

What I am trying to say is that 6 weeks is too early to tell

Please don't get only one kitten. They'll miss out on so much socialisation by being on their own at this age, the next couple of months is when they learn to be a cat and interact with other cats.

If you only want one cat, go to a rescue and get one at least 4 months old where they're happy it's going to be an only.

To answer your question about weights, no-one can tell. I foster rescue cats and my current ones varied by a bigger range than that at that age. The smaller one could have been a bit ill in the last 2/3 weeks, or the bigger one could be greedier, or they could just grow at different rates. Or they could have different fathers so different genes.

We have two kittens from the same litter (I know what you're saying about only wanting one, but I do think it's kindest to have two - and as PP say, this is when they learn so many 'cat' skills that humans just can't teach), and one was the runt - she was such a tiny scrap of a thing when she was born.

They're now 7 months old, and while the little one is still definitely smaller/daintier than her brother (though that could be just because he's male), she is a normal cat size and such a spirited and lovely cat in perfect health.

Excellent solution 😂

My cat had a litter in June, the girl came out super chunky and is now a delicate scrap of a thing, but one of the boys was very delicate when he came out and is a gigantic fluffy beast now- so it's really hard to tell

Human playmates aren't the same as kitten playmates - having had solos and pairs, I would highly recommend two if you can afford it.

There's nothing wrong with a lone kitten as such, but they get so much out of having another kitten to sleep with, play with and socialise with.