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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

Any cat breeders had a kitten THIS small?

156 replies

Madwife123 · 18/06/2023 23:24

We have 2 week old Ragdoll kittens. 6 in the litter and 1 of them is TINY. Less than half the size of the others.

At birth he was so small we thought he wouldn’t survive but 2 weeks on he’s going strong, feeding well and seems perfectly healthy, except his size.

We’ve had runts before but never such a vast difference. This kitten looks like it’s from a whole different litter!

Is he likely to always be this small? Could there be an underlying problem causing him to be so small? He seems well so I’m reluctant to take him the vets and risk infection etc. but equally don’t want to be missing doing something that we could do to help him.

These photos show the size difference at birth and also now at 2 weeks old. He is clearly growing but not catching up to the others.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
9
Lumberingfool · 18/06/2023 23:33

I had a kitten as a child that was the runt. He was always tiny, never grew beyond the size of a standard 3 month old kitten. Unfortunately he had seizures that killed him aged about 2. I wonder if he had a genetic problem.

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 19/06/2023 08:04

I'm not a breeder but we had a kitten who was the runt of the litter - sadly she never grew beyond the size of a 4-5 month old and eventually died of suspected FIP when she was six.

She wasn't the most healthy cat but she was very sweet, bless her.

Dogsitterwoes · 19/06/2023 08:29

I'd say there's possibly some underlying problem. He isn't just smaller, but looks less developed. I don't think he's growing at the same rate - he looks proportionately smaller compared to the others than at birth.

Is he getting enough milk or being shoved out? Can you supplement feed him?

Original poster
Madwife123 · 19/06/2023 19:08

Dogsitterwoes · 19/06/2023 08:29

I'd say there's possibly some underlying problem. He isn't just smaller, but looks less developed. I don't think he's growing at the same rate - he looks proportionately smaller compared to the others than at birth.

Is he getting enough milk or being shoved out? Can you supplement feed him?

He is less developed and was at birth also but he is growing and gaining weight.

His birth weight was 48g (the other kittens were around 100g) now at 2 weeks old he weighs a 104g and the other kittens are around 250g so gaining it slower but still gaining.

We haven’t supplemented his feeding as he is gaining weight and advice is not to supplement unless not gaining weight as adding in top up feeds with kittens can risk infection and milk aspiration so it’s generally only done as a last resort. He is weighed daily and ever day gains some weight but he’s just not catching up and closing that gap.

OP posts:
Neves7 · 19/06/2023 19:13

I had one very little runt from a feral litter. She 14 now and still tearing around. She just very petite and I did wait a bit longer to get her spayed due to this but she’s perfectly healthy.

Gettingbysomehow · 19/06/2023 19:20

Could he possibly be a little dwarf cat?

RandomMess · 19/06/2023 19:23

My friend did, called her quarter kitten. Ultimately she withered away at about 6 weeks, we were so sad I wanted her.

BigFloppa · 19/06/2023 19:23

My cat was a lot smaller than her litter mates. She grew up absolutely fine and is still very petite!

LadyGreySpillsTheTea · 19/06/2023 19:24

You’ve done an amazing job keeping him alive with a birth weight so low, especially without supplemental feeding.
The lack of gains could well be due to an internal genetic problem. I watch a kitten foster carer on YouTube called Kitten Academy and they currently have a kitten who was born tiny and had big issues gaining and it turns out he has a cardiac insufficiency problem that will need operating at 6 months. The foster carer kept him alive by tube feeding in the first few weeks. The kitten is a really feisty sort too, and I think personality does play a role in survival.
Another reason for being so small might be if he was conceived later than his siblings, so he would have been born a preemie while they were full term. But if you‘re a breeder you presumably know the conception dates, right?

007DoubleOSeven · 19/06/2023 19:26

I think I'd consult a vet tbh, maybe submit photos first if you're worried about taking them in

Original poster
Madwife123 · 19/06/2023 22:51

Gettingbysomehow · 19/06/2023 19:20

Could he possibly be a little dwarf cat?

No he’s a pure bred Ragdoll

OP posts:
Original poster
Madwife123 · 19/06/2023 22:54

LadyGreySpillsTheTea · 19/06/2023 19:24

You’ve done an amazing job keeping him alive with a birth weight so low, especially without supplemental feeding.
The lack of gains could well be due to an internal genetic problem. I watch a kitten foster carer on YouTube called Kitten Academy and they currently have a kitten who was born tiny and had big issues gaining and it turns out he has a cardiac insufficiency problem that will need operating at 6 months. The foster carer kept him alive by tube feeding in the first few weeks. The kitten is a really feisty sort too, and I think personality does play a role in survival.
Another reason for being so small might be if he was conceived later than his siblings, so he would have been born a preemie while they were full term. But if you‘re a breeder you presumably know the conception dates, right?

Yes we know conception dates and female was only with stud for 3 days so can only be 3 day’s difference.

Every 2 hours we lie mum down, take all the big kittens away and let the little one feed and once he’s done add the rest of the kittens back. So he’s not having to compete for milk.

I suspect there is likely something underlying but I guess time will tell. We didn’t expect him to survive the night when we saw how tiny he was at birth but he’s a little fighter!

OP posts:
GenghisCalm · 19/06/2023 23:03

The little one is so cute, I have a cat who was the runt smallest of her litter and she will be 10 this year and is still very diddy. Hopefully you little one will be fine just tiny. Now you have made me kitten broody.

Original poster
Madwife123 · 19/06/2023 23:56

Here’s a better photo of the little fighter.

Stunning little seal point.

Any cat breeders had a kitten THIS small?
OP posts:
Austenland · 20/06/2023 00:01

You’re breeding them yet you seem absolutely clueless. How depressing.

Threeboysadogandacat · 20/06/2023 01:05

Not a kitten but we had a Labrador puppy who was less than half the birth weight of the others. We did the same as you and removed the other puppies to let him feed first. There were nine altogether and he wouldn’t have stood a chance otherwise. We were going to keep him but gave him to a friend when he was twelve weeks. Although he didn’t grow as big as the other dogs in the litter he grew to the size of his Mum and lived a long healthy life.

I hope your little kitty does ok.

Original poster
Madwife123 · 20/06/2023 01:30

Austenland · 20/06/2023 00:01

You’re breeding them yet you seem absolutely clueless. How depressing.

Are you always this rude?

Not clueless at all but a kitten this small is a very rare occurrence that I’ve never come across before.

Do you criticise everyone who asks a question?

OP posts:
Austenland · 20/06/2023 02:15

Even vaguely responsible breeders would have contacts with experience to ask and wouldn’t hesitate to contact their vet. The fact you think asking on mumsnet is the way to go about a very underdeveloped and underweight kitten screams backyard breeder. You seem clueless as to the health conditions that this poor cat could have.

Missingmyusername · 20/06/2023 03:36

Austenland · 20/06/2023 02:15

Even vaguely responsible breeders would have contacts with experience to ask and wouldn’t hesitate to contact their vet. The fact you think asking on mumsnet is the way to go about a very underdeveloped and underweight kitten screams backyard breeder. You seem clueless as to the health conditions that this poor cat could have.

😞

NeverDropYourMooncup · 20/06/2023 03:41

Madwife123 · 19/06/2023 22:51

No he’s a pure bred Ragdoll

Show quote history

Knowing both parents doesn't negate the possibility of a spontaneous genetic issue.

lljkk · 20/06/2023 05:40

Keep us updated. x

wheresmymojo · 20/06/2023 05:45

Austenland · 20/06/2023 02:15

Even vaguely responsible breeders would have contacts with experience to ask and wouldn’t hesitate to contact their vet. The fact you think asking on mumsnet is the way to go about a very underdeveloped and underweight kitten screams backyard breeder. You seem clueless as to the health conditions that this poor cat could have.

The difference between a backyard breeder and a breeder being?

Tockomtele · 20/06/2023 05:54

You're doing the right thing OP. She/he may live. Vets don't do anything with tiny kittens most of the time and if he's gaining well I'd not take them. Mum will get stressed if the little one goes missing and might not feed the others during the time it's at the vet or you'd need to take them all, again very stressful.

There are lots of support groups on FB, you might get more advice there.
But I agree, find some mentors.

sashh · 20/06/2023 08:12

Gettingbysomehow · 19/06/2023 19:20

Could he possibly be a little dwarf cat?

Exactly what I was thinking. Being a ragdoll doesn't mean he can't have a form of dwarfism just like in humans.

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 20/06/2023 08:17

No he’s a pure bred Ragdoll

That doesn't mean he's immune from conditions like dwarfism.