How old is she really? Please help.

lamiatron · Nov 21, 2013

I've noticed and learned a lot about both of my cats' personality by seeing how they react with each other. Charlie is super social and loves to play and hates being alone. Jet is a trooper she's super calm, and she's mostly a loner. She LOVES attention from me and my boyfriend tho, and we don't mind giving it to her!

I am some what concerned about her. When we adopted her, the shelter told us she was 3.5 months old. but she is not behaving like a 3.5 month old (i have experience from Charlie, who was 3 mo. old when i adopted him). Here are some of the things i've noticed:

-Jet is EXTREMELY tiny. much smaller than Charlie when we adopted him. I know cats are all different shapes are sizes, but she is too small i feel. it could be malnutrition from being in the streets...which is leading her to not grow properly...

-She is still teething, and has the tiniest baby teeth (if that makes sense). So much so, that she has a really hard time eating. My cats eat mostly dry food (blue wilderness kittens). When we brought Charlie home he had no problems, but Jet never eats. I try to give them wet food twice a week...but i have to give more to Jet as she can't eat dry food and i don't want her starving. i see that she tries to eat it, but she eats like 2 or 3 pebbles, and then gives up. this leads her to not go potty frequently either. I don't want her to starve..

-She's like....baby clumsy...if that makes sense...she hops around...and wobbles and stuff, and she gets from point a to point b, with quite a few slips and falls. she's fine otherwise

me and my boyfriend both feel she is MUCH younger than we were told. Is there any way to find out? would the vet be able to tell? not that her age matters when it comes to love. we wouldn't love her any less, but I want to know so that we can take proper, age appropriate care of her....and maybe not let her around Charlie as much...he does like to play rough. Any advice???

Based on when I adopted Charlie, and when I adopted Jet, realistically, Charlie would be older than Jet by 2-3 weeks, but please see photos below. She is SO MUCH TINIER. Any Experienced Kitty Mommies out there that can offer some insight??

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lamiatron
Nov 21, 2013

sorry if the pics are kind of dark. Jet is the black cat, Charlie is the Tabby (view from above)

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lamiatron
Nov 21, 2013

look at how tiny (and adorable!) she is compared to Charlie. She's supposed to be only 2 weeks younger...

Thanks in advance !

stephanietx · Nov 21, 2013

Some kitties, especially females are smaller than males. Also, if she was the runt of the litter, she'll be smaller. Vets usually look at teeth to determine a cat or kitten's age rather than size since size is determined by so many genetic factors, even if from the same litter.

Kittens need to eat A LOT of food!! A mostly wet diet is by far better for them than dry. She may not be eating because she's having difficulty with the dry food. Start feeding her wet food 3-4 times a day and leave dry food down for her throughout the day to munch on. Here's an excellent site on cat nutrition: http://catinfo.org/

The wobbling and uncoordination is somewhat normal, but could be caused by malnutrition or not eating enough. Increase her wet food consumption and see if that helps.

natalie_ca · Nov 21, 2013

She looks between 8 and 10 weeks old. My Abby came to live with me when she was 12 weeks, and she was bigger.

The vet told me that Spencer and Katie were about 12 weeks, but I didn't agree. At 12 weeks they can be spay/neutered, but when I was adopting them, the Vet didn't want to spay them because she felt they were too young. They were both much smaller than my Abby was, so I judged them to be about 8 or 9 weeks of age, not 12 weeks.

lamiatron · Nov 22, 2013

Natalie_ca said:
She looks between 8 and 10 weeks old. My Abby came to live with me when she was 12 weeks, and she was bigger.

The vet told me that Spencer and Katie were about 12 weeks, but I didn't agree. At 12 weeks they can be spay/neutered, but when I was adopting them, the Vet didn't want to spay them because she felt they were too young. They were both much smaller than my Abby was, so I judged them to be about 8 or 9 weeks of age, not 12 weeks.

i really feel like she's 8-10 weeks old.

and my main reason for thinking this is her teeth. i look at them and they're like the tiniest baby teeth. no wonder she can't eat anything. i give her wet food, but she just licks the gravy off for the most part (lol), then eventually gets around to the rest of the food..

btw...any good suggestions for wet food for cats???

like okay, granted, she may have been the runt of her litter, but the teeth can't lie, and she has yet to really vocalize or meow...she just squawks like a bird... (lol). i feel like i adopted two birds. Jet is always squawking, and Charlie is always cooing. lol.

I'm taking her to the vet tomorrow. Hopefully he/she can shed some light. I really don't want to do anything wrong when it comes to her care....i just have this gut feeling you know?? something isn't right...

mservant · Nov 22, 2013

Jet does sound young, but I would still suggest talking with the vet about her stumbling and coordination. If you are offering kitten kibble she should not find it quite so much hard work, and she should manage little and often of wet food at that age. I think a thorough examination by the vet would be a good idea. If she is finding eating hard then she will not get enough nutrition to grow and develop, have strong bones and stay well. If there is something making it hard for her to eat it is important to find out, especially if she is finding it hard work to coordinate her leg muscles and move about: she will need some extra calories to make up for the extra effort. My thinking is if she isn't eating much she is probably best with wet food in case she gets dehydrated too. She may have a calmer personality than Charlie but she is a little kitten and little kittens should play and explore loads and then sleep afterward, not want to be on their own.

I swear Jet has bigger ears than Charlie already, and a very determined and cute little face. I'm sending good vibes for your vet visit and fingers crossed that they have good ideas of what is happening for Jet and you see her thriving, super social and playing along with Charlie very soon.

If it helps, a friend of mine was sold a kitten that she was told was 9 or 10 weeks but honestly, when I saw her I'd be surprised if she was 6 and no way should she have been away from her mom. She was tiny, and really wobbly on her feet, stumbling and falling all the time. 3 years on that kitten is now a very healthy, happy cat.

mamabirdy · Nov 22, 2013

I agree with StephanieTX that kittens need lots of food and if Jet is having trouble eating wet food I would get a pâté type and mashing it down with some water to make it easier for her to eat. You could also give her some goats milk that has been enriched with egg yolk.

stephanietx · Nov 22, 2013

Get a pate style wet food. I like Royal Canin kitten, Fancy Feast kitten, Wellness kitten, and Innova EVO cat & kitten. Also, pick up some kitten milk replacer (KMR) liquid. Add a couple of teaspoons to the wet food and make it the consistency of oatmeal. Warm it up just a bit in the microwave to take the cold off and to enhance the aroma. That will help her eat it easier and put on some weight.

lamiatron · Nov 25, 2013

UPDATE:

I took Jet to the Vet on Saturday. And my suspicions were proven to be true..

The vet took one look at her and told me right away, "this kitten CANNOT be 3 months old!" I asked him to guesstimate and after giving her a physical and checking her teeth he said "i'd say between 2 and 2.5 months..easily. I mean, even if she was the runt of her litter, she is just too small, she's very young...definitely not 3.5 months old like you were told"

This just made my heart sink. Because had I known her proper age, clearly I would have taken other precautions to give her the right food, or feed her properly. Poor baby lost .5 lbs since being home with me. Either that or the shelter I adopted her from also lied about her weight...?? Why lie or mislead people about stuff like this?

OH! also, my baby had a cold...she had a fever, and she was given antibiotics, which obviously she got from the shelter...as she hasn't been outside since being home with me. I can't even keep her away from Charlie thought although i'd like to (in light of her recent diagnosis and her being contagious and all), they literally cuddly while they sleep now...and I'm pretty sure...that he might be sick too...I'm just all over heartbroken. After leaving the vet I cried for 30 minutes in the car...only because I thought of how she must have been feeling at home, and she couldn't really tell us how she was hurting.

Jet has been on her antibiotics (amoxycilin) for 2 days, and she's already doing better. The vet gave me some wet canned food, specifically for underweight and malnutrinioed dogs and kitties, which I've been feeding her with a syringe...and she's doing a lot better. During her past two days of taking meds and eating better, I have noticed that she's more playful. She's awake, and she is at Charlies tale every second of the day. Even though they play and fight and run around, and Charlie sometimes gets annoyed of her, she feels safe with Charlie. I want to keep them separated, but as soon as I do she meows like crazy, and Jet and Charlie start looking for each other (its cute to watch, but it breaks your heart)

Jet's follow up appointment is in 2 weeks, I'm hoping my little princess will be all better by then. In the mean time I have to take Charlie to see the vet, don't know if he's caught her cold, but better safe than sorry.

I feel like going to the shelter and bitching them out. For not aging the cat properly. I mean, I had some experience with Charlie (although both of these cats are my first), that's why I was able to pick up on the subtle signs, and clues and I knew what to look for. Had Jet been my first ever cat, I would not have a clue what to do. She would have been given the wrong food, and she might have even gotten sicker...or worse. This is some serious stuff. What if something like this happens to someone else?? And honestly, had I known she was really that young, in all honestly I would not have adopted her...she is too young for Charlie, and too young for me to handle...but everything happens for a reason. She's an amazing kitty, and I love her and Charlie loves her...its just...sad that things panned out like this.

So I guess instead of being 2 weeks apart, my Charlie and Jet are 2 months apart.

my handsome prince and my spoiled little princess.

lamiatron · Nov 25, 2013

stephanietx said:
Get a pate style wet food. I like Royal Canin kitten, Fancy Feast kitten, Wellness kitten, and Innova EVO cat & kitten. Also, pick up some kitten milk replacer (KMR) liquid. Add a couple of teaspoons to the wet food and make it the consistency of oatmeal. Warm it up just a bit in the microwave to take the cold off and to enhance the aroma. That will help her eat it easier and put on some weight.

the Vet gave me a can of Wellness kitten, and some other stuff to help her gain weight quickly. I posted an update of her post vet visit. Please see once you get the chance. =) thank you for all your advise and kind words.

lamiatron · Nov 25, 2013

MServant said:
Jet does sound young, but I would still suggest talking with the vet about her stumbling and coordination. If you are offering kitten kibble she should not find it quite so much hard work, and she should manage little and often of wet food at that age. I think a thorough examination by the vet would be a good idea. If she is finding eating hard then she will not get enough nutrition to grow and develop, have strong bones and stay well. If there is something making it hard for her to eat it is important to find out, especially if she is finding it hard work to coordinate her leg muscles and move about: she will need some extra calories to make up for the extra effort. My thinking is if she isn't eating much she is probably best with wet food in case she gets dehydrated too. She may have a calmer personality than Charlie but she is a little kitten and little kittens should play and explore loads and then sleep afterward, not want to be on their own.

I swear Jet has bigger ears than Charlie already, and a very determined and cute little face. I'm sending good vibes for your vet visit and fingers crossed that they have good ideas of what is happening for Jet and you see her thriving, super social and playing along with Charlie very soon.

If it helps, a friend of mine was sold a kitten that she was told was 9 or 10 weeks but honestly, when I saw her I'd be surprised if she was 6 and no way should she have been away from her mom. She was tiny, and really wobbly on her feet, stumbling and falling all the time. 3 years on that kitten is now a very healthy, happy cat.

Thank you for your kind words and the good vibes. I've posted a post vet visit update. Please see when you get the chance. And my hunch was right..she is only 2 months old =/

lamiatron · Nov 25, 2013

here are some pic updates..

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lamiatron
Nov 25, 2013

This is when Charlie gets annoyed and does not want Jet to follow him around. He comes and sits on my butt -__-

cb2.JPG

lamiatron
Nov 25, 2013

Jet is grooming and kneeding on Charlie while he sleeps

cb3.JPG

lamiatron
Nov 25, 2013

both cuddle bugs take a nap together =)

stephanietx · Nov 25, 2013

Awww, what a sweetie she is!! Glad you got her to the vet and she's on meds and feeling better. Most likely, the stress of a new home brought on the upper respiratory infection and your other kitty may not even get it. Watch him for signs of illness, lethargy, sneezing, squinting eyes, lack of appetite. If she's still not doing well weight-wise the next time you go in, ask the vet for Science Diet a/D. That stuff is like kitty crack! It's packed full of nutrients for malnourished kitties. Hannah was on that for about 2 weeks when we got her and she gained weight like crazy! Keep us posted on Jet's progress!

lamiatron · Nov 25, 2013

stephanietx said:
Awww, what a sweetie she is!! Glad you got her to the vet and she's on meds and feeling better. Most likely, the stress of a new home brought on the upper respiratory infection and your other kitty may not even get it. Watch him for signs of illness, lethargy, sneezing, squinting eyes, lack of appetite. If she's still not doing well weight-wise the next time you go in, ask the vet for Science Diet a/D. That stuff is like kitty crack! It's packed full of nutrients for malnourished kitties. Hannah was on that for about 2 weeks when we got her and she gained weight like crazy! Keep us posted on Jet's progress!

yes, science diet a/d is exactly what i got from the vet. in addition to that he gave me a sample can of wellness kitty formula which both Charlie and Jet both liked. I will definitely have to stock up on that.

I know it sounds silly, but i definitely notice her gaining weight...like within these past two days....when i pick her up i noticed a difference she feels a bit heavier than before and not as frail or delicate. She's still very tiny, but then again she is only 2 months old (as confirmed by the vet). I'm just glad she's receiving the proper care. She's been more energetic, more playful, and even though she is still a bit wobly, boy is she fast! she sprints from one side of the room to the next! its been harder to catch her, but i'm happy she's doing better. Thank you so much for all your advice and help

I am worried about Charlie getting sick from Jet, so I will be taking him to the vet as soon as possible (time and money wise), but so far I have not seen any symptoms in him. **knocks on wood**. what really worried me is that she clearly got this from the shelter....and she must of had a fever while she was there....or i don't know...either way, she was put under the knife at SUCH a young age, and poor health condition (to be spayed). I am overall very disappointed in the shelter that I adopted her from and will definitely reach out to them. Perhaps the person aging and looking for symptoms in the intake kitties are not doing their job right. This not only created complications for me, but mostly importantly, Jet. It could happen to someone else, and the one who suffers is the animal.

stephanietx · Nov 25, 2013

It's very possible that Charlie won't get sick. I'd keep an eye on him and take him if any symptoms develop. So glad your little baby is gaining weight and being more active! When she's well, your house will be very busy!!

lamiatron · Nov 25, 2013

stephanietx said:
It's very possible that Charlie won't get sick. I'd keep an eye on him and take him if any symptoms develop. So glad your little baby is gaining weight and being more active! When she's well, your house will be very busy!!

i can't wait for that! and i will definitely keep you all updated.

and the most amazing thing i've noticed, Jet is now starting to vocalize =) she still squawks, but, i've been hearing some meows as well! if she's hungry or wants to be picked up she lets me know! before even if she was hungry, she wouldn't vocalize it...

maewkaew · Nov 25, 2013

What a cute little kitten! Actually both of them are very cute! i love the pictures of them together.    I really like the one of Charlie taking refuge sitting on you while his little " sister" is still trying to bother him.

Maybe someone left her at the shelter and told them she was older than she was and they just wrote down whatever the people said?   So they might not have deliberately lied, but they still should be able to tell the difference between a kitten 2 months old and 3.5 months old!    I do think you should let them know about the mistake.

I know the pate style Wellness Turkey or Chicken (just the regular Wellness ) are just as high calorie as the Hill's a/d, and are for both cats and kittens, if you want to try some of that too. They have it at Petco.

mamabirdy · Nov 25, 2013

I can see you are frustrated that the shelter gave you the wrong idea about Jet's age, but am glad you took her to the vets and now have a more accurate idea of how old she is. Sorry to hear she has a cold and hopefully the medicine will soon kick in and make her better. Please keep us updated with her progress and keep posting piccys of both Jet and Charlei

lamiatron · Nov 25, 2013

maewkaew said:
What a cute little kitten! Actually both of them are very cute! i love the pictures of them together.    I really like the one of Charlie taking refuge sitting on you while his little " sister" is still trying to bother him.

Maybe someone left her at the shelter and told them she was older than she was and they just wrote down whatever the people said?   So they might not have deliberately lied, but they still should be able to tell the difference between a kitten 2 months old and 3.5 months old!    I do think you should let them know about the mistake.

I know the pate style Wellness Turkey or Chicken (just the regular Wellness ) are just as high calorie as the Hill's a/d, and are for both cats and kittens, if you want to try some of that too. They have it at Petco.

She was not a surrender, the shelter told me she was a stray. there was initially an issue with this which i've posted on a previous post...where i thought she was a feral cat...but she was not. she was born in a home, however she became a stray and then ended up at the shelter.

i will send them, or at least the rep at the shelter that helped me, an email regarding this issue. this is too serious of an issue. I was thinking the same, how come they didn't catch something like this. I definitely will keep you guys posted on this matter, as well as post more pics of my babies! my phone in FILLED with their pics.

mamabirdy said:
I can see you are frustrated that the shelter gave you the wrong idea about Jet's age, but am glad you took her to the vets and now have a more accurate idea of how old she is. Sorry to hear she has a cold and hopefully the medicine will soon kick in and make her better. Please keep us updated with her progress and keep posting piccys of both Jet and Charlei

will definitely do! and also i'll keep you guys posted on her progress!

You all are amazing! thank you all so much for your help and support =)

stephanietx · Nov 25, 2013

One warning about the Wellness kitten food...it causes VERY stinky poops! Just be warned. LOL

mservant · Nov 25, 2013

Lamiatron said:
...................or i don't know...either way, she was put under the knife at SUCH a young age, and poor health condition (to be spayed). I am overall very disappointed in the shelter that I adopted her from and will definitely reach out to them. Perhaps the person aging and looking for symptoms in the intake kitties are not doing their job right. This not only created complications for me, but mostly importantly, Jet. It could happen to someone else, and the one who suffers is the animal.

How old is she really? Please help.

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