Hi all!
I have a litter of 5. 4 are normal weight, decent sized kittens. They're 9 days old today. They're eating, healthy, and happy. Mom was a bottle baby, as was dad. This was a surprise accidental litter, after almost 3 years of no issues. Dad is a rescue I bottle fed. He was widly inbred. Previous owners had two cats that turned into 6 that turned into 8 that then turned into like 12. They were having kittens faster than they could get ride of. Dad was the last litter, we believe he comes from 4 or 5 generations of direct inbreeding. Vet said he shouldn't even be fertile, he didn't even have testicles drop until he was almost a year old and even then they are smaller than dimes.
He came to me at eight weeks old and weighed 380 grams. He was smaller than a coke can was tall when he sat next to it, I have photos. He was SO small. It took him almost 6 months to even weigh two pounds and now as a three year old adult, he maxed out at 4 pounds.
So this litter surprised me, my vet, my boyfriend, everyone. I do have homes lined up, they'll be spayed and neutered, chipped, and have a contract in place.
Anyways. One of the five is small. WILDLY small. I imagine if he was born in any other house that wasn't attentive like I've been, he'd probably be dead. My cat is essentially co-parenting with me.
I'm worried about him. He's maybe half the size of the rest. I'm worried he'll be like his dad, if he can't get neutered in my care, he's staying until he can. But caring for dad has always been hard. He gets skinny easier, sometimes doesn't groom himself well (he's LONG haired), he's overall weaker and more frail than the other adult cats. People come over and think he's a six month old kitten. He went to the vet many times as a kitten for things that wouldn't have been a huge deal for other cats his size, but because he was so small, he ended up needing extra care. He had an upset stomach once and crashed hard. A mild respiratory issue when he first came home, started to crash. He has a weak immune system and a small body mass.
I guess I'm worried this kitten will be like him, I'd feel bad sending him to a home that wants a healthy, active, kitten. I spent over $1200 on him in his first year, between meds, buying the right food, vet appointments, etc. I'd be willing to keep him, no questions asked. But should I try to help him can weight?
He's always feeding, with a full belly, warm, gets groomed lots, mom keeps him close under her armpit, away from his sibling as he sleeps, he fights HARD for his nipples. I have said "Woah." Many times as he's held his own before I can even intervene. He's got a very special place in my heart. He's small, kinda bug eyed, with HUGE opinions even at 9 days old. Any ideas? I'll update with his exact weight in a bit when it comes time for weight checks. Attached are a photo of him next to the two biggest of the litter.
I have a litter of 5. 4 are normal weight, decent sized kittens. They're 9 days old today. They're eating, healthy, and happy. Mom was a bottle baby, as was dad. This was a surprise accidental litter, after almost 3 years of no issues. Dad is a rescue I bottle fed. He was widly inbred. Previous owners had two cats that turned into 6 that turned into 8 that then turned into like 12. They were having kittens faster than they could get ride of. Dad was the last litter, we believe he comes from 4 or 5 generations of direct inbreeding. Vet said he shouldn't even be fertile, he didn't even have testicles drop until he was almost a year old and even then they are smaller than dimes.
He came to me at eight weeks old and weighed 380 grams. He was smaller than a coke can was tall when he sat next to it, I have photos. He was SO small. It took him almost 6 months to even weigh two pounds and now as a three year old adult, he maxed out at 4 pounds.
So this litter surprised me, my vet, my boyfriend, everyone. I do have homes lined up, they'll be spayed and neutered, chipped, and have a contract in place.
Anyways. One of the five is small. WILDLY small. I imagine if he was born in any other house that wasn't attentive like I've been, he'd probably be dead. My cat is essentially co-parenting with me.
I'm worried about him. He's maybe half the size of the rest. I'm worried he'll be like his dad, if he can't get neutered in my care, he's staying until he can. But caring for dad has always been hard. He gets skinny easier, sometimes doesn't groom himself well (he's LONG haired), he's overall weaker and more frail than the other adult cats. People come over and think he's a six month old kitten. He went to the vet many times as a kitten for things that wouldn't have been a huge deal for other cats his size, but because he was so small, he ended up needing extra care. He had an upset stomach once and crashed hard. A mild respiratory issue when he first came home, started to crash. He has a weak immune system and a small body mass.
I guess I'm worried this kitten will be like him, I'd feel bad sending him to a home that wants a healthy, active, kitten. I spent over $1200 on him in his first year, between meds, buying the right food, vet appointments, etc. I'd be willing to keep him, no questions asked. But should I try to help him can weight?
He's always feeding, with a full belly, warm, gets groomed lots, mom keeps him close under her armpit, away from his sibling as he sleeps, he fights HARD for his nipples. I have said "Woah." Many times as he's held his own before I can even intervene. He's got a very special place in my heart. He's small, kinda bug eyed, with HUGE opinions even at 9 days old. Any ideas? I'll update with his exact weight in a bit when it comes time for weight checks. Attached are a photo of him next to the two biggest of the litter.
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