I adopted a tortoiseshell calico kitten at the begining of March, 2006. She was just 6-7 weeks old at the time. So she is now 10-11 months old. However, she has not grown AT ALL since about 4 months of age. She is still small enough to curl up and sleep in my hand. Does anyone know of a condition that would stunt her growth, and is there anything I should be doing for her? She is very playful, albeit slightly skittish and anti-social (although that's mainly when the black lab and beagle chase her). She cuddles up under my chin and sleeps with me most nights. So it just seems she's very tiny. But I just outside opinions.
2006-12-03 11:49:09 · 12 answers · asked by Tygress122 2 in Pets ➔ Cats
Here is a picture of her with my black lab
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j28/tygress122/rocketandcallie.jpg
2006-12-03 12:18:06 · update #1
Hi! There's NOTHING wrong with her! I adopted a kitten from my mechanics garage, she was a tiny little thing scrounging for cheese in a garbage pail and brought her home. Months passed and she didn't grow much. She has a wonderful personality, just like yours. She's two years old now and she's small. When I brought her in to the vet for her check up and shots I asked about her small size and the vet said very plainly that she sees small calico/tortois shells all the time that are very small. She said the owners are often concerned but she re-assures them there's nothing physically wrong with their tiny kitties. So relax, mine checked out healthy (she's real small) and yours should be fine too.
2006-12-03 11:54:19 · answer #1 · answered by Lori E 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
OMG! What an awesome picture!
It is entirely possible that a medicine had some effect on her as a kitten. Did the vet ever give her Baytril?
However, I think she is just a petite cat. She is absolutely gorgeous! While all Tortoiseshell's came come in any size after yrs of dealing with them they do tend to have that same basic personality.
Calico's are primarily white with black/orange. Tortoiseshells are black/orange and can have some white.
2006-12-03 13:22:25 · answer #2 · answered by doggie_poopie 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had hand raised a kitten from about 2 days old her name was cowkitty.(she was black & white with little spots on her) some times cats just have probames growing. If you think it is realy abnorma then try the vet. If it was like the kitten her mother was only 6 mouths when she had her (this was a wild cat I just felt sorry for it and took it in! I would never bread a cat at 6 months!) with made all the kitten stay really small. if it was a runt then that would make sense too.
2006-12-03 11:58:56 · answer #3 · answered by kitty41188123 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have a little calico kitten that I adopted from a pet shelter. She is seven months old now and very small too. She is not as small as yours. I knew she was the runt and partially blind in one eye. I knew she needed to be adopted the most. She's a little spitfire though. Females are always smaller and runts are always smaller. When I picked her out I thought she was about 6 weeks but then I looked at her adoption papers and it said she was born approx. 5-15-06. I was surprised.She was barely 2lbs. She sleeps with me at night too.
2006-12-03 12:05:58 · answer #4 · answered by eagle8332003 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had a tortoiseshell cat once. She came pouncing into my life at about 6 - 7 weeks of age. She never got very big, I think it may be a characteristic of the breed. She was very sociable, very friendly, but very courageous. She took on four grown German Shepherd Dogs, and won. She lived to the ripe old age of 20. She passed away from old age.
I hope that helps
2006-12-03 12:51:55 · answer #5 · answered by Spikey and Scruffy's Mummy 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would be curious to know how big she actually is. I would say anything under 5 pounds at 10-11 mos is really unusual.
The thing that comes to my mind - and I'm sure there are other things of which I am unaware - is some sort of heart defect. That can stunt growth. If that is her issue, she may be healthy all her life, just small. Or, it may kill her. Either way, you can't do anything about it - it's just genetic.
As I said, there are other things too. If she eats normally and seems otherwise healthy and normal, don't worry about it.
2006-12-03 12:08:37 · answer #6 · answered by Mac 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
We found Grace, our tortoiseshell cat at about 6 weeks of age. The first thing we had to do was have her wormed, spayed and shots but because she'd been in the wild for the first weeks of life, she was "stunted" and this trait continues to this very day (she's five now and weighs about 8 lbs.)
There seems to be nothing physically wrong with your kitty, so perhaps worming is indicated and continue to give love and affection to her!
And yes... Grace has her own PFD and sails with us!
Hope this helps
2006-12-03 11:55:42 · answer #7 · answered by Audio God™ 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think most tortoiseshells are a little smaller than other cats...perhaps there's some gene that made your kitty even smaller than that? If she's healthy & happy then just enjoy being able to fit her in your hand!
2006-12-03 12:36:08 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi there...cats like humans, some of us are taller/bigger than others. It's all due to genetics and it is quite normal. She may have been the runt kitten of her litter and was already predisposed to being a small kitty or she is related to a particular breed of cat who is naturally small. Any vet can confirm this.
2006-12-03 11:55:58 · answer #9 · answered by ♪ Seattle ♫ 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Cats come in all sizes - my cat is HUGE, but that's the way she's made. What are the paw size like on your kitty? My kitty has big paws, and they seem to go with her big body - she does need to lose some weight, but she'll always be a big kitty.
If you're really worried about her size, talk to your vet.
2006-12-03 12:41:50 · answer #10 · answered by slinkey_1616 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋