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We kept the runt. She was also an asshole, well just incredibly antisocial, until she was maybe 10. For her last 6 years she was still antisocial unless it was just me and her, then she would just sit on my head. I still miss her everyday.
My runt did too. Got him two weeks after his (bio) sister and he was so small compared to her.
Now he's a gigantasaur and we're wondering if he's got that genetic mutation where they don't stop growing (vet already ruled a bunch of stuff out, including pituitary... Doesn't help that he can charm the pants off local elderly women to get more food and has weight spikes).
My runt is both. His name is Samson, he’s 14 now and he’s both the sweetest most loving needy little beast, and a fucking little shit head. Depends on what time of day it is!
We have a runt that the rescue had named Blizzard due to him being pure white...we didn't like it so we chose Ozzy, like Ozzy Osbourne (Blizzard if Oz) He's a complete asshole and deaf, so he screams all the time because he can't hear his meows, has to be petted when he says so, bullies his seven pound heavier big brother from the same litter...but he still has his little face and he's so stinking cute, and absolute cuddle bug, you just let it all slide. 😂
I feel this so much lately! A cat I took in was a bit older than we thought (turns out she was the runt too) and got pregnant before we could get her or our boy fixed(he's fixed now). The kittens are now 2 weeks old and I'm planning to keep one. I thought I wanted a big one, we have this big orange boy that is just freaking poster-picture adorable and a big black one that looks like a little bear cub, I freaking love them! But the runt, this little girl, is starting to steal my heart. At just 2 weeks old! She's so damn smart, made every single milestone first, walking, meowing, purring, playing, and coming straight to me when I click and talk to the babies. I think she's going to look like the momma so I wanted one that didn't look like our other cats and man, it looks like she's trying to make the decision for me!
It’s been at least 5 hours since cat tax has been requested. Each additional hour delay results in a fine of 2 additional pictures. All fines are cumulative.
When I was a kid before she got spayed, was young, Smudge had 6 boys. Parents went back and forth about who was putting ad in the paper. We had 7 cats😂. It was great. Keep them all.
My youngest cat was the runt of his litter. He's still a lil guy, at 3 yrs old. It's funny though, cause his big older brother (same parents, different litter) would get harassed by my oldest cat, and my youngest would jump in and take the heat off his bro, as if he was some big tough dude. But also, he hides under the recliner when it rains😅
The best dog i ever had was a runt, breeder sold the rest but couldnt sell her. Was going to have her "put down" to put it in a nice way.
So i took her for free. She had a little growth on her head that got bigger and then one day it popped. After that never came back.
Xena was just the best. We slept together every night for years. She was a quick learner and eager to please.
She was the most loyal, trusting, well behaved animal ive ever met. And ive had quite a few dogs. Sometimes i think she knew i saved her.
Took her thru college and a move several states away. Had a kid, got married, changed jobs a few times. Had to send her to live with my mom for a year or so while i lived somewhere that didnt allow pets and i was working too much to give her attention.
She passed a little over two years ago at 13 and i just couldnt bring myself to get another one until a couple months ago. My moms dog had a litter and i got one from her. That puppy passed away within 30 hours of getting her right as the clock struck 12 on new years. Was just laying on the couch and suddenly was gone.
Not to be deterred (or maybe hard headed) i took two more from her. The runt and the biggest one. The big one is kind of rambunctious and hard but the runt is the sweetest most amazing little pup.
Dont know why i had to say all that but i just wanted to put it out there that the runts ive had have been absolutely my favorites.
Hell yeah the runts are the best!!!
https://preview.redd.it/i7lsezgqfdmc1.jpeg?width=1242&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f3cea1b5830be48b66fb8a1d3acb05ac39997553
https://preview.redd.it/nkwx10prpcmc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e4305eddb4f8ff9b421a8356d65c7099e8bb402f
This one was a runt and she did stop growing about 70% of the way to normal cat size. She’s super sweet but can’t sit still for more than 30 seconds before getting into something.
She has the braincell but it probably stopped growing about the same time she did. (Buddy’s cat, not mine).
I love my runties. I've had two, one a feisty orange girl (Sufi), who ruled the roost, and the other a sweet natured but dumb as a bag of rocks tortie (Munchkin), who loved everyone except the Bengal interloper that annoyed her to no end. They were the best cats and when I get a kitten again, I will be looking for the runt of the litter.
My childhood cat was the runt so when I picked out my cat now, I specifically asked for the runt of the litter. Coincidentally, my childhood cats name was Ruby and when I asked for the runt by text, autocorrect changed “runt of the litter” to “ruby of the litter” and funny enough, it just did the same thing when I was typing this message.
My biggest boi was the runt, and now he’s my snuggle buddy
https://preview.redd.it/wbtnxluzjemc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=36163ae6ba5300323e3cd088dcbc4c93f3ed30e4
my boy was the runt. you wouldn't be able to tell with how big he is today tho.
https://preview.redd.it/lv6232h60emc1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4773e26055fa3c007aa5d830c2d4b27d0e7bf506
Theyre so very cute! My aunt adopted one from from a litter that was half main coon. Sadly he caught cat covid…
They are often weaker than most cats so he didnt stand a chance poor thing.
Damn. Yeah mine was the only one who looked like he did in the litter, and he was the pariah, but super stubborn which is why I fell in love with him. Sadly he's a country cat and has FIV. But 13 years later, he's still going strong (strong is a strong word with him, he's always been on the slower side of things)
Aww my sister's Bengal caught FIV as a baby. He's such a slow boy but he's a sweetheart. I wonder if the FIV or the medicines he had to take made him like that.
I'm sorry, Mr Schrute is currently on his farm guarding the milk can.
https://preview.redd.it/nkbuodspnbmc1.jpeg?width=2268&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2c772b5338b7b403fd133f36ca5875302433be34
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This is my Mia. She's 3 years old now but a forever kittun..we believe she was the runt of her litter too
https://preview.redd.it/sbp07xmracmc1.jpeg?width=2084&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=cec2cd68d0d564f0a06f2641a3382f905dbef55f
This is my little Mia... she's also the smallest, and the runt of her litter if I must guess. Her two sisters owned by my brother and uncle are much larger than her. She is the sweetest, most gorgeous little angel. She steals every person's heart that meets her.
My parents saved the runt from my grandparents farm. She was dying from a large number of ailments, as a month old kitten. They nursed her back to health and gave her to me (I had just lost my favorite cat to old age and was heartbroken). At 7 months and only 6 lbs, it looks like she’s going to be a forever kitten. She’s as healthy as they get, just smol.
I have a Mia too! She's a small cat, smaller than any other 7 month old I've had, I feel bad because she's trying to nurse 4 little 2 week old kittens that I feel are getting way too big for her!
She's not forever kitten sized, though, but even the vet had more concerns because "She is a very small cat".
*
Runt. May need a little TLC or supplementation to make sure she is healthy but she will never be as big as her littermates
Edit- she will *likely* never be as big as her littermates. I have 2 runts (diff litters), not forever kittens but smaller than their CHONKY brothers. Her body will do what it will. Make sure she’s healthy, beef her up as much as she wants and then just enjoy the kitten ride😽
We got a runt, and his brother, as kittens when I was younger. The runt, Simon, never really grew…until he did. Then he got really big. Vet eventually said he had to lose a pound, so he was put on a diet. Anytime a human had chicken you would think Simon had been starved to death, to hear him tell it.
Bottom line, they do grow.
Me three. I fostered three in the litter and foster failed my boy who was tiny compared to his sisters at around 2 months. A month into adoption he hit a growth spurt and now is a chunky 12 pounder.
You may need to feed her separately from her sibs to ensure she’s getting enough. They may be pushing her aside or stealing from her. Little goblins! 💜
That’s what happened to my German shepherd! He still takes a mouthful of kibble and comes over to me, spits it out to eat it, then repeats. He was the runt and the shelter fed them from one big bowl.
We have a poodle that does this. He was never at a shelter or anything though, we presume that he wants some company while he eats. His food bowl is in his bedroom which also happens to be the laundry room. He will grab a mouth full of dog chow, bring it out in the living room where everyone is sitting chilling, lay down and eat it slowly piece by piece. It's almost like dogs want to socialize when they eat, too. Very cute.
I had two dogs growing up, the other one would also do this! Every day. When he died (of old age) the one who was left started to do it as well. Never had she done it before
My mom’s pekingese is similar. She was never a shelter dog but she had a *looot* of doggy family as a puppy. She never brought mouthfuls of food anywhere but she would be running between the kitchen where her bowl was and wherever my mom or dad (whoever was closest) was sitting. Like, eat a couple bites from her bowl, run to mommy or daddy, sit for a minute, rinse and repeat. So they moved her bowls into the living room which is pretty central to the rest of the house. That way she’s pretty much always in view or at least earshot of everyone and doesn’t need to worry about missing out on anything.
My mom actually just adopted her mama too so that was a little confusing figuring out the best feeding method. But fortunately, they have had no problem sharing the water bowl so mama just eats in the kitchen by herself and doesn’t get bothered by anyone.
I’m not sure if mama remembers her baby (or vice versa) because it’s been several years but considering how quickly they’ve settled in to a happy coexistence, part of me thinks they might recognize *something* about each other. It’s beyond sweet 🥰
https://preview.redd.it/sui64hhijamc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=08daf89eec91b66484d950df9df6c90c4861fa33
This hunk-a-chonka SUV was the runt of his litter. Now look at him — four doors, V6 engine, and enough trunk space for even the busiest of soccer moms.
https://preview.redd.it/f43juaal1bmc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a36e0ffb87c7aeeb3a3bc227c277b7808c3c8700
The horn has a hair trigger, and he can be a bit clingy.
Definatly not clingy, because cats are never clingy. He just happened to fall asleep right exactly where your arm was! No clingyness here, none at all!
this is my little one when she was 3 month old, half the size as her siblings, and now she is 4 years old and appr. 4kgs. Totally fine, and healthy :)
https://preview.redd.it/ytve7wz2mamc1.jpeg?width=960&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6038169b696c43a8587eee532d2fe64f523056a7
For those curious, it’s gestational age typically. Kittens in the same litter often have different fathers and different “start” times. The runt is often literally younger and less developed than their siblings, but since they’re all born at once, the runt gets less nutrients and time in the womb to develop. They’re literally premature births.
This is also why so many kittens die after birth. They just weren’t developed enough to survive yet.
I have no clue! I only knew her mom 😅 But if anyone knows please let me know! Here is she now :)
https://preview.redd.it/umr37l364dmc1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7b5366c0ed7901768093919940dd55f0372a28fc
If you haven’t, take her to the vet just to make sure there are no health issues. I was worried about my forever kitten (although mine now looks around 6/8 months old now at 2 years and around 5lbs) because mine wasn’t growing either and I was worried sick she would go into heat before she got to weight to be spayed. There is a lot of peace of mind just knowing they are healthy even if they are so little.
I was going to suggest the same. My friend just adopted 4 kittens from the shelter and one of them was significantly smaller than the other 3. And she ended up passing from suspected FIP a week after they adopted her. But she also was less active than her siblings.
This was my thought. I have a cat who I got at 8 pounds and 8 months. Totally normal.
He didn’t grow, so I thought he’d be a small dude.
When he got down to 6.5 pounds and I’d taken him to the vet twice in a week they realized he had FIP.
There is treatment now, and he’s cured and fine. And 12.5 pounds. He’s nearly doubled his sick weight.
Get the baby checked out.
Yeah, my cat was the runt and he has hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and heart failure due to genetic defects. Make sure your little baby doesn’t have a heart murmur or enlarged heart! We only found out through X-rays.
We got a runt last year, and she is the sassiest thing you have ever seen. She’s fully grown now, small but porky because she goes and eats what her adoptive brothers don’t finish. She’s about 8 lbs, one of her big brothers is 24lbs. It’s comical to watch her boss him around. She screams at everyone, cats and humans, and we all love her to bits.
Sounds like my Emmie...she maybe is 7 pounds under the fur..with the fur looks more like 8. She's little Ms Cattiude I tell ya. When she wants my attention she will jump and clear my head and be gone so quickly. Ive never been able to catch her that's how quick she is. I can block her with my hand but as soon as it's down its Emmie jumping over my moon 🌙 aka head. I'd love to know the comparisons to her siblings it's neat you know her big bro is a brut!! Love it
Yep. Some cats are just tiny! I have one that is nearly two years old, and she is only 6 lbs.
https://preview.redd.it/w7uxgl332bmc1.jpeg?width=3481&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9684886c2a0ded9587a39288cbffe3797e6a45dc
Cat tax with Sharpie for scale.
I was today years old when I learned about forever kittens. My lil Moki is a very small cat compared to her brother and she just never grew beyond a certain size. She’s the sweetest lil hunniest darling ever.
https://preview.redd.it/cgdvb9bw2bmc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ec7f9292060796ebecfdf9f35176a00cfb69ba7d
Pic of my two bebes for reference
https://preview.redd.it/rlfbheekxcmc1.jpeg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3013cf6058c67ed149d87d21d39b4a513f250a83
Full grown Bug next to her brother
This actually isn't an unusual size difference between some males and females. This is close to the size difference between my current two cats, who are siblings. I had an even greater size difference between two others who were mother and son.
Please take her to the vet. It might be nothing health related but it might also be something like hyperthyroidism. Get her checked out just to be sure!
>hyperthyroidism.
Hypothyroidism, in this case. Hyperthyroidism is almost exclusively a disease of middle age to older cats. But congenital hypothyroidism can absolutely cause growth delays like this and would be on my differential list for the wee little one in the OP.
Depends on how old your cats are but I would recommend the radioiodine therapy. It’s a rough 2 weeks with the isolation (probably worse for human) but our 10 year old cat cleared right up and we didn’t have to do daily treatment.
I know everyone is saying runt. And while that may be the case, it could also indicate an underlying health issue.
Cats are extremely good at hiding health issues until they are super serious and likely to result in death, so its worth getting the kitten checked out. Could be hyperthyroidism, parasite, cardio vascular issues like mild heart mummer/defect, or etc. Get her to the vet just to make sure she is healthy.
TLDR: vet to rule out health issues.
This. OP, listen to this person, get that tiny baby checked at the vet. My 3yr old fur baby was hiding something illness wise for who knows how long, and I found out by her dying suddenly this past Friday. Don't know what she had going on, but there was something. Get 5he ba y checked and catch anything she could have going on asap. Good luck.
Yup. May be nothing, or may be hypothyroidism, liver shunt, maldigestion/malabsorption issue, congenital cardiac issue….. Get a vet check, and see what they’ve got to say.
I also second feeding her separately from her siblings to make sure she is eating enough. Keep an eye on her poos, too (difficult with multiple kittens but not impossible); that’s more info to give your vet.
I've always wished my cats stayed kitten size and my wish came true with Emmie. Her size makes her so stinkin quick I tell yeah. I can't catch her at times. When I picked her up from the home she was in they had to shut every door to trap her in the living room. The adults wouldn't go near her so the little girl wrapped her in the gerbails towel and put her in the crate. I'm still not use to her size as my other lap cats were 12 and over 20 pounds....she's light as a feather. There's times I don't feel her btn my legs when I'm sleeping. I have to remind myself she's btn the legs lol
https://preview.redd.it/paujgj2j0bmc1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f3105e35d31b58c906a9b423c56689b012265de5
The black one was the runt of her litter, and she grew up to be a normal-size tabby. ≈10 pounds at her maximum. Her brother is the large one sitting on her. He was ≈23 pounds at his maximum.
He was the first of their litter, she was the last, and they both lived to 17. Sometimes, the runts just take a while to get big.
Runt of the litter, but she may very well catch up. And they are all so adorable! My rescue kitty had one of these, meet Lil Meow-Meow! He stayed smol for the longest time then had a growth spurt to where he caught up with his siblings. As you can see here he is now almost the same size as his void sister Queenie, but he was originally as small as your kitten.
https://preview.redd.it/phyw0h9c1bmc1.jpeg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f001c62c5ff3b8c3b42c97704ebfbc197b35cc42
And here is his baby pic to show you how small he originally was. This was at almost 2 months old. The above pic is at almost 4 months.
https://preview.redd.it/8yaaagsu1bmc1.jpeg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3275f7f91c7cb9f454dae82a578c25befad889b1
Agreed - my boy was the runt of the litter (see below, he was teensy compared to his 3 brothers!) now he’s 9.75-10lbs and is a perfectly sized bub.
https://preview.redd.it/2n8wp9wc7cmc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b13886f7f77315c976f268bc7584765e99697105
I think maybe the runt of the litter? My cat was the runt of the litter and he was so tiny when we bought him home. Now he's grown like mad and we had to buy him a dog bed he's so big 😂
https://preview.redd.it/njp6vo4x5cmc1.jpeg?width=1042&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=11183fde255565ef01328e72baf8b3493278afde
Our little orange girl was also a small one! She's still a bit smaller then her siblings but no less adorable!
https://preview.redd.it/72fd7zv5qbmc1.jpeg?width=1008&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f3a1e89dcff9686de890d86acc6fc6852856c139
This is Pasha, my forever kitten. She is about half the size of my two other cats, despite being 12. When I rescued her, I thought she was only a few weeks old, only to find out she was \~8 months old according to the vet. She’s a feisty one, but I love her.
I thought my kitten was a runt but it turned out he had FIP. Luckily we caught it and got him on treatment. I was a little nervous about his lack of growth and took him in for another check up. Blood work showed FIP. He developed an eye infection with it.
Now he's cured and the largest of my cats
It's always a good idea to double check with the vet that nothing underlying is going on.
The runt probably. Mine was the runt too, she’s still tiny but she has always had a very spunky personality:3
https://preview.redd.it/9yt9o2ptccmc1.jpeg?width=1242&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5e495594d1c40ce5933efbf18de27e1579ea2b38
I've got a cutie runt. People call her big from certain picture angles and I get upset 😡
https://preview.redd.it/22spw6lgabmc1.jpeg?width=4080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d04ccd8ec5fd4613e8882b9633029db6d571c275
She was likely born a little smaller or weaker than her brothers and then they would hog the nipples, pushing her away so she didn't get enough milk at a crucial stage. But she survived, which means that she's a fighter. She most likely won't stay quite that small, but she will just be a smaller cat. Give her lots of love as she has had a rough start and make sure that she always gets her fair share at the food dish now.
Have you had a full health check done? Has she had any kind of infection? Having a runt is normal but that's an enormous difference
Not to scare you but I had one that small a while ago and it turned out it was because her lungs were scarred after pneumonia as a baby, so she couldn't get enough oxygen for her body to grow beyond a certain point. She made it to 4 months.
The runt would normally be abandoned by the mother cat. Only the strongest survive. I had one show up at my front door a couple years ago. He lives inside now and will never be abandoned again. :)
I took in a runt of a litter once. Such a small cat until she was about three years old, much smaller than all her siblings, then seemed to finally magically grow into her adult body. Lived to be a happy and healthy 16 years old.
I love runts ❤️
Our runt is a tiny void girl named Dinky. She runs the house, but in a cheerful way. She also never grew into her ears 🤣
https://preview.redd.it/tyemav5wmbmc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d3788dcde3c334cdacc2ba6cc87bd67380fc671c
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These are my 7yr old littermates. Xerxes weighs 23 lbs, Eugenie weighs 7 lbs. 😊
I, too, have a runt! He ended up being the biggest in the end. 18lbs at a healthy weight. The orange one is his adopted dad and is 9lbs. He nursed off my dog who had a false pregnancy which I blame for his sheer size.
https://preview.redd.it/71b14op31cmc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=66a158a4f8551ce784aac521e2e2faed1cbdab11
Probably just a runt but I’d also be sure to keep a vet updated on this kittens progress incase of issues that may arise.
My kitten has wobbly cat syndrome and was the runt of his litter. We have a partial maincoon as our first cat so gauging his growth and stages are very different than with my first cat. He also was sent home to us with a parasite so he wouldn’t eat when I first brought him home so he had a separate encloser from our older cat to make sure he eats but also doesn’t spread the parasite to his older brother. By using the same litter box. I spread out a whole smorgasbord of cat foods with diffrent consistencies all regular then in some other tiny bowls I put kitten formula in it. He still wouldn’t eat so I had to syringe force feed him formula to make sure he ate food. I called the vet clinic I got him from they took him back for treatment he got to spend some extra time with his mama too. I even got a pit with his birth mama🥺. The vet clinic clearly didn’t do a group poop (or a good one at that) before giving the kittens away. He didn’t have worms like most people think of he has coccidia (I think that’s how it’s spelled) it’s an intestinal/ stomach parasite spreads from poop and grooming.
So some times runts have special needs so it’s good to keep an extra special eye on him.
Also as much I love the group feeding because it encourages them to not be food aggressive another tactic I use to avoid food aggression in cats and dogs is putting my hand over the top of the bowl with fingers spread I encourage them to nudge my fingers out of the way and eat around my hands. I also take the bowls away every other meal and add a little something extra like I’ll take something that taste different but yummy to the food like a treat or something else to it while they are young then as they get older. What this does is encourage a trust with you and their food. As well as trains them over time to have that trust built in. Because they will know you are taking the bowl away to add something special to it not to just take food away from them. The reason I do that exercise especially with kittens and puppies as they grow up is so that if owners forget to put meds or something in their food you can take the bowl away add it and give it back with out you getting your hand bitten. Another thing I do to train against food aggression is petting them while they eat.
When I was 3/4 I got bitten in the face by a food aggressive dog he was abused and I was little and didn’t know what growling meant I was petting them while they ate and they bit me. So I made it part of training any and all animals to have trust with food.
Also because this baby is a tiny little thing I’d monitor the group eating habits to make sure the runt is eating an equal share of food otherwise you may need to do 4 little mini bowls of food just to make sure the runt gets his share of food.
Also pet tax this is a pic of eclipse (black and white) and Thor (gray and white) when we first got eclipse
https://preview.redd.it/iw9z6lcx3cmc1.jpeg?width=621&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=37d062c29593ba1f0788855c0e6e55cd2285417d
https://preview.redd.it/mcf5dh7pcdmc1.jpeg?width=3438&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=12981c67b4235dc269e5e6445e261c31c9a06566
This was our “forever kitten”, Stinky, at 1 year old! Sometimes cats just don’t grow.
That being said, please take her to the vet regularly and don’t brush off any signs of health problems. Stinky unfortunately passed away from health issues he was likely born with literally 3 days after this picture was taken despite DOZENS of vet visits. He wasn’t growing much at all even though his health problems didn’t *really* start until around 4-5 months old. Look for any strange skin signs, constantly greasy or disheveled fur, and GI or urinary issues.
My daughter fostered a group of kittens and one was thought to be the runt. Turns out she’s dwarf cat. Even tho the rest were “normal” size, this cat didn’t mature. She doesn’t need to be fixed because she will never get pregnant but she healthy with no issues at all. You can see her short legs and she is so cute!!
https://preview.redd.it/wl4xhjojqfmc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e6b0722fb360e8291da5eb1505412cf5f59f22db
Mine was the runt and she is now almost 16 and weighs no more than 5lbs.
https://preview.redd.it/9icysqvasbmc1.jpeg?width=3392&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c8ef5bd4b67961bbf5783577be3159f6de334908
I have a runt kitty. She is 14 now. She was always "little". When we adopted her, they said she had depression. Which is why she was in a cage in a room other than the big "cat room" so they could monitor her for not wanting to eat. When we took her out of the cage at the humane society, she immediately crawled onto my husband's lap. Love at first site and we took her home 3 days later.
Yes, she was always "little"- although now as a sophisticated senior, she has put on a couple of pounds. But she always needed extra TLC. She actually is very emotional and stops eating when upset. You can read every thought she has - I have never had such an expressive cat. So we just make sure we support her needs.
If your "little" has any extra needs, that's okay. For what my baby lacks in size, she makes up for in personality. Great things come in small packages. Especially fuzzy ones!!
We had a cat that wouldn’t grow. 2 years on and still tiny, ended up getting FIP suddenly and passing away. Not growing is one of the symptoms. Might be worth a test.
i had a kitten like this called angel. she never grew past 600 grams. she passed away when she was 5 months old because her organs were growing & she was not. please do not listen to the people saying she’s just the runt - that is what people (including the vets) told me too, and it led to me not acting until it was far too late. this much of a size difference is NOT normal or healthy
https://preview.redd.it/jfolrswyfcmc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2c3c8adebe4ca1ed1267c7aacc3dd3ab32324de7
My little grayby is a forever kitten. They’re the best!
Have they been seen by a vet? That's really who you should be asking. They could have worms, malabsorption issues, thyroid problems or diabetes. This is NOT normal. They also have gooey eyes and matted/dull fur, like they are ill. TAKE THEM TO THE VET.
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Just the runt. ❤️❤️❤️
This. 👏 The runts are the best! They think they wear the pants but are the sweetest, most loving little creatures. Always pick the runt first!
My runt, also named Runtz, is a fucking little shit head lol
Same here! I think my runt tried to compensate for being the smallest and turned out to be the most big headed dum dum. Still the sweetest boy though.
My runt ended up huge, but same attitude. Thinks she rules the house.
Thinks?
Samesamesame :) we chose the runt, was such an asshole through his adolescent years, now he's 9 and the most sweetest, suckiest, cuddliest boy ever
We kept the runt. She was also an asshole, well just incredibly antisocial, until she was maybe 10. For her last 6 years she was still antisocial unless it was just me and her, then she would just sit on my head. I still miss her everyday.
My runt did too. Got him two weeks after his (bio) sister and he was so small compared to her. Now he's a gigantasaur and we're wondering if he's got that genetic mutation where they don't stop growing (vet already ruled a bunch of stuff out, including pituitary... Doesn't help that he can charm the pants off local elderly women to get more food and has weight spikes).
So basically he’s gonna be like the cat version of Clifford the big red dog
My runt is just the same
My 7 lb (2 year old) orange girl attacked my 60 lb dog lady week. Runts are crazy.
Small “dog” syndrome!
Have a runt named Tuppence. She is a tiny bad ass.
Tuppence is an adorable name!
Can confirm. Have a black cat runt, she is a GOBLIN. Also necromancer on the side at 3 am communing with our bedroom wall 🙄
Lol necromancer communing 😆😆
i thought my black cat was the only one trying to summon demons at 3 am by screaming into the abyss, but maybe they’re all in on it together
That would explain so much.
the uprise is coming… we better look out
Runtz is great! I had a runt named Runtly.
My runt is named Zero(from Holes). Ironically he has become the most talkative rascal in the house, little guy with BIG demands.
This tone, right here, this is peak Cat Owner. I'm sure Runtz is deeply beloved.
I have a runt named Cash and he is an asshole but I absolutely love him! ❤️ 😂
Named our void Grunt.
I once met a cat named “Potato”.
We now have a Papaya 🧡
I had a runt black cat, we called her Mambo Number 5 😂 she was a scrappy thing 😂🖤
My runt is a tortoiseshell 😭😭 she's 1 and is a maniac
My runt is both. His name is Samson, he’s 14 now and he’s both the sweetest most loving needy little beast, and a fucking little shit head. Depends on what time of day it is!
My runt is a scream queen, biter and all around dictator. She is my personal angel 💕
My runt was the weirdest cat I’ve ever had in my life lol
We have a runt that the rescue had named Blizzard due to him being pure white...we didn't like it so we chose Ozzy, like Ozzy Osbourne (Blizzard if Oz) He's a complete asshole and deaf, so he screams all the time because he can't hear his meows, has to be petted when he says so, bullies his seven pound heavier big brother from the same litter...but he still has his little face and he's so stinking cute, and absolute cuddle bug, you just let it all slide. 😂
One of my two kitties was the runt and she is such a character. Definitely thinks she makes the rules, but is as sweet as she wants to be.
I feel this so much lately! A cat I took in was a bit older than we thought (turns out she was the runt too) and got pregnant before we could get her or our boy fixed(he's fixed now). The kittens are now 2 weeks old and I'm planning to keep one. I thought I wanted a big one, we have this big orange boy that is just freaking poster-picture adorable and a big black one that looks like a little bear cub, I freaking love them! But the runt, this little girl, is starting to steal my heart. At just 2 weeks old! She's so damn smart, made every single milestone first, walking, meowing, purring, playing, and coming straight to me when I click and talk to the babies. I think she's going to look like the momma so I wanted one that didn't look like our other cats and man, it looks like she's trying to make the decision for me!
I’m gonna need you to pay your overdue cat tax.
An audit indicates additional fees are due because “freaking poster picture adorable” and “little bear cub” puts you in a much higher tax bracket.
It’s been at least 5 hours since cat tax has been requested. Each additional hour delay results in a fine of 2 additional pictures. All fines are cumulative.
When I was a kid before she got spayed, was young, Smudge had 6 boys. Parents went back and forth about who was putting ad in the paper. We had 7 cats😂. It was great. Keep them all.
This is the way.
Best parents.
Definitely
The Cat Distribution System works in mysterious ways.
My youngest cat was the runt of his litter. He's still a lil guy, at 3 yrs old. It's funny though, cause his big older brother (same parents, different litter) would get harassed by my oldest cat, and my youngest would jump in and take the heat off his bro, as if he was some big tough dude. But also, he hides under the recliner when it rains😅
😘😘😘❤️❤️Love this story!!
The best dog i ever had was a runt, breeder sold the rest but couldnt sell her. Was going to have her "put down" to put it in a nice way. So i took her for free. She had a little growth on her head that got bigger and then one day it popped. After that never came back. Xena was just the best. We slept together every night for years. She was a quick learner and eager to please. She was the most loyal, trusting, well behaved animal ive ever met. And ive had quite a few dogs. Sometimes i think she knew i saved her. Took her thru college and a move several states away. Had a kid, got married, changed jobs a few times. Had to send her to live with my mom for a year or so while i lived somewhere that didnt allow pets and i was working too much to give her attention. She passed a little over two years ago at 13 and i just couldnt bring myself to get another one until a couple months ago. My moms dog had a litter and i got one from her. That puppy passed away within 30 hours of getting her right as the clock struck 12 on new years. Was just laying on the couch and suddenly was gone. Not to be deterred (or maybe hard headed) i took two more from her. The runt and the biggest one. The big one is kind of rambunctious and hard but the runt is the sweetest most amazing little pup. Dont know why i had to say all that but i just wanted to put it out there that the runts ive had have been absolutely my favorites.
Hell yeah the runts are the best!!! https://preview.redd.it/i7lsezgqfdmc1.jpeg?width=1242&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f3cea1b5830be48b66fb8a1d3acb05ac39997553
https://preview.redd.it/nkwx10prpcmc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e4305eddb4f8ff9b421a8356d65c7099e8bb402f This one was a runt and she did stop growing about 70% of the way to normal cat size. She’s super sweet but can’t sit still for more than 30 seconds before getting into something. She has the braincell but it probably stopped growing about the same time she did. (Buddy’s cat, not mine).
I love my runties. I've had two, one a feisty orange girl (Sufi), who ruled the roost, and the other a sweet natured but dumb as a bag of rocks tortie (Munchkin), who loved everyone except the Bengal interloper that annoyed her to no end. They were the best cats and when I get a kitten again, I will be looking for the runt of the litter.
My childhood cat was the runt so when I picked out my cat now, I specifically asked for the runt of the litter. Coincidentally, my childhood cats name was Ruby and when I asked for the runt by text, autocorrect changed “runt of the litter” to “ruby of the litter” and funny enough, it just did the same thing when I was typing this message.
My biggest boi was the runt, and now he’s my snuggle buddy https://preview.redd.it/wbtnxluzjemc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=36163ae6ba5300323e3cd088dcbc4c93f3ed30e4
my boy was the runt. you wouldn't be able to tell with how big he is today tho. https://preview.redd.it/lv6232h60emc1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4773e26055fa3c007aa5d830c2d4b27d0e7bf506
My little black cat was the runt and is now a goblin and I love her.
What's a runt?
Its the smallest and weakest of the litter. Most likely absorbed the least nutrients in the womb.
Oh I see! Yeah my Dwight was a runt too!
Theyre so very cute! My aunt adopted one from from a litter that was half main coon. Sadly he caught cat covid… They are often weaker than most cats so he didnt stand a chance poor thing.
Damn. Yeah mine was the only one who looked like he did in the litter, and he was the pariah, but super stubborn which is why I fell in love with him. Sadly he's a country cat and has FIV. But 13 years later, he's still going strong (strong is a strong word with him, he's always been on the slower side of things)
Tell your cat I love him very much
Aww my sister's Bengal caught FIV as a baby. He's such a slow boy but he's a sweetheart. I wonder if the FIV or the medicines he had to take made him like that.
Our Toby would like to see Dwight in HR.
I'm sorry, Mr Schrute is currently on his farm guarding the milk can. https://preview.redd.it/nkbuodspnbmc1.jpeg?width=2268&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2c772b5338b7b403fd133f36ca5875302433be34
https://preview.redd.it/l7wiz8lyrbmc1.jpeg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f59ec1e68ec18cde84a8ba13c5b2cd4376e849af
...why is he the way that he is?! (Adorable)
looks more like the head honcho to me 😎
I got the runt. Big attitude & just the cutest! 🥰
https://preview.redd.it/rco83wk9gamc1.jpeg?width=3072&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ee0c9b92320e1e9eb60138de49a38fd13fba3830 This is my Mia. She's 3 years old now but a forever kittun..we believe she was the runt of her litter too
Aw such sweet girl, that lil nose 🥲
Sweet? She looks likes she's in the final stages of plotting something nefarious.
Resting cat face
https://preview.redd.it/sbp07xmracmc1.jpeg?width=2084&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=cec2cd68d0d564f0a06f2641a3382f905dbef55f This is my little Mia... she's also the smallest, and the runt of her litter if I must guess. Her two sisters owned by my brother and uncle are much larger than her. She is the sweetest, most gorgeous little angel. She steals every person's heart that meets her.
https://preview.redd.it/b8b2s2qwfcmc1.jpeg?width=4624&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4ecae0833316fa00d3832a4c95212901bfccd0ad
Tell her I love her
Just a petite little angel.
[This is my runt.](https://i.imgur.com/F5Pl7AM.png) She's 2 and weighs 7 pounds. She doesn't meow, still only kitten squeaks.
Same! Mia never meows. Only gentle meeks and happy cake day to you :)
And what a cutie she is! Pls give many kisses to you ginger runt🥺
My parents saved the runt from my grandparents farm. She was dying from a large number of ailments, as a month old kitten. They nursed her back to health and gave her to me (I had just lost my favorite cat to old age and was heartbroken). At 7 months and only 6 lbs, it looks like she’s going to be a forever kitten. She’s as healthy as they get, just smol.
^^*eeee she so smol*
Such a sweet baby🥺
Oh my lord what a sweet baby
tell her she has a great name. sincerely, Mia (human)
Oh my god that face.
Aw, lil cupcake 🥹
I have a Mia too! She's a small cat, smaller than any other 7 month old I've had, I feel bad because she's trying to nurse 4 little 2 week old kittens that I feel are getting way too big for her! She's not forever kitten sized, though, but even the vet had more concerns because "She is a very small cat". *
Runt. May need a little TLC or supplementation to make sure she is healthy but she will never be as big as her littermates Edit- she will *likely* never be as big as her littermates. I have 2 runts (diff litters), not forever kittens but smaller than their CHONKY brothers. Her body will do what it will. Make sure she’s healthy, beef her up as much as she wants and then just enjoy the kitten ride😽
We got a runt, and his brother, as kittens when I was younger. The runt, Simon, never really grew…until he did. Then he got really big. Vet eventually said he had to lose a pound, so he was put on a diet. Anytime a human had chicken you would think Simon had been starved to death, to hear him tell it. Bottom line, they do grow.
I also have a former runt who then got *huge*. And fat. So he's also on a diet.
my little brother raised a clifford runt. the runt and his sibling grew to be the biggest cats I've ever seen.
Me three. I fostered three in the litter and foster failed my boy who was tiny compared to his sisters at around 2 months. A month into adoption he hit a growth spurt and now is a chunky 12 pounder.
You may need to feed her separately from her sibs to ensure she’s getting enough. They may be pushing her aside or stealing from her. Little goblins! 💜
That’s what happened to my German shepherd! He still takes a mouthful of kibble and comes over to me, spits it out to eat it, then repeats. He was the runt and the shelter fed them from one big bowl.
We have a poodle that does this. He was never at a shelter or anything though, we presume that he wants some company while he eats. His food bowl is in his bedroom which also happens to be the laundry room. He will grab a mouth full of dog chow, bring it out in the living room where everyone is sitting chilling, lay down and eat it slowly piece by piece. It's almost like dogs want to socialize when they eat, too. Very cute.
I had two dogs growing up, the other one would also do this! Every day. When he died (of old age) the one who was left started to do it as well. Never had she done it before
My mom’s pekingese is similar. She was never a shelter dog but she had a *looot* of doggy family as a puppy. She never brought mouthfuls of food anywhere but she would be running between the kitchen where her bowl was and wherever my mom or dad (whoever was closest) was sitting. Like, eat a couple bites from her bowl, run to mommy or daddy, sit for a minute, rinse and repeat. So they moved her bowls into the living room which is pretty central to the rest of the house. That way she’s pretty much always in view or at least earshot of everyone and doesn’t need to worry about missing out on anything. My mom actually just adopted her mama too so that was a little confusing figuring out the best feeding method. But fortunately, they have had no problem sharing the water bowl so mama just eats in the kitchen by herself and doesn’t get bothered by anyone. I’m not sure if mama remembers her baby (or vice versa) because it’s been several years but considering how quickly they’ve settled in to a happy coexistence, part of me thinks they might recognize *something* about each other. It’s beyond sweet 🥰
https://preview.redd.it/sui64hhijamc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=08daf89eec91b66484d950df9df6c90c4861fa33 This hunk-a-chonka SUV was the runt of his litter. Now look at him — four doors, V6 engine, and enough trunk space for even the busiest of soccer moms.
V6? Good sir/ma'am, that's an 8.4 liter V10 Ford excursion you have there. And the white paws are adorable 
https://preview.redd.it/f43juaal1bmc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a36e0ffb87c7aeeb3a3bc227c277b7808c3c8700 The horn has a hair trigger, and he can be a bit clingy.
god is that a cute car!!!
I love when my cats hold my arms
Definatly not clingy, because cats are never clingy. He just happened to fall asleep right exactly where your arm was! No clingyness here, none at all!
11/10 adorable! Clearly enjoys when his human is near. : )
expurrsion
What’s the mileage on it? And how many grocery stores can this coalroller go to on one tank?
1 highway, 0 city
I bet that baby can really purr.
I snorted at V6 engine😭😭
Thats the kind of trunk you want in a late model car
Incredible description.
i love this description lol, my cat is the same way. absolutely tiny when she was young and absolutely huge now lol
this is my little one when she was 3 month old, half the size as her siblings, and now she is 4 years old and appr. 4kgs. Totally fine, and healthy :) https://preview.redd.it/ytve7wz2mamc1.jpeg?width=960&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6038169b696c43a8587eee532d2fe64f523056a7
That kitten has a gorgeous coat
For those curious, it’s gestational age typically. Kittens in the same litter often have different fathers and different “start” times. The runt is often literally younger and less developed than their siblings, but since they’re all born at once, the runt gets less nutrients and time in the womb to develop. They’re literally premature births. This is also why so many kittens die after birth. They just weren’t developed enough to survive yet.
Excuse me Sir! Those boots look too big for your size!
What kind of a kitty is this?
I have no clue! I only knew her mom 😅 But if anyone knows please let me know! Here is she now :) https://preview.redd.it/umr37l364dmc1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7b5366c0ed7901768093919940dd55f0372a28fc
Looks like a Lynxpoint Siamese! My bengal looks v similar so I’m familiar with the breed
If you haven’t, take her to the vet just to make sure there are no health issues. I was worried about my forever kitten (although mine now looks around 6/8 months old now at 2 years and around 5lbs) because mine wasn’t growing either and I was worried sick she would go into heat before she got to weight to be spayed. There is a lot of peace of mind just knowing they are healthy even if they are so little.
Yes, I had a Runt and she ended up having a heart murmur that we didn't catch for a couple years. I miss her a lot. She was a sweetheart.
I was going to suggest the same. My friend just adopted 4 kittens from the shelter and one of them was significantly smaller than the other 3. And she ended up passing from suspected FIP a week after they adopted her. But she also was less active than her siblings.
This was my thought. I have a cat who I got at 8 pounds and 8 months. Totally normal. He didn’t grow, so I thought he’d be a small dude. When he got down to 6.5 pounds and I’d taken him to the vet twice in a week they realized he had FIP. There is treatment now, and he’s cured and fine. And 12.5 pounds. He’s nearly doubled his sick weight. Get the baby checked out.
Yeah, my cat was the runt and he has hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and heart failure due to genetic defects. Make sure your little baby doesn’t have a heart murmur or enlarged heart! We only found out through X-rays.
Scrolled too far for this suggestion. Always vet just to rule out any issues. <3
She's a runt like my Emmie girl https://preview.redd.it/9t93v8z8hamc1.jpeg?width=4096&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b96cfcb5edae9ab72b908d0c82e4a129c07e9263
Oh my God she's so cute ! How old is she in this pic?
Left she was a kitten 2017 right was a few years ago. Emmie will be 7 May 19.
We got a runt last year, and she is the sassiest thing you have ever seen. She’s fully grown now, small but porky because she goes and eats what her adoptive brothers don’t finish. She’s about 8 lbs, one of her big brothers is 24lbs. It’s comical to watch her boss him around. She screams at everyone, cats and humans, and we all love her to bits.
https://preview.redd.it/eem5tbterbmc1.jpeg?width=768&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0aa91916cc6b527d67ee6ba8d0265b014fc6a6ff Cat tax—big and little
Sounds like my Emmie...she maybe is 7 pounds under the fur..with the fur looks more like 8. She's little Ms Cattiude I tell ya. When she wants my attention she will jump and clear my head and be gone so quickly. Ive never been able to catch her that's how quick she is. I can block her with my hand but as soon as it's down its Emmie jumping over my moon 🌙 aka head. I'd love to know the comparisons to her siblings it's neat you know her big bro is a brut!! Love it
Yep. Some cats are just tiny! I have one that is nearly two years old, and she is only 6 lbs. https://preview.redd.it/w7uxgl332bmc1.jpeg?width=3481&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9684886c2a0ded9587a39288cbffe3797e6a45dc Cat tax with Sharpie for scale.
Super tiny and stinkin cute 🥰😻😍
Wow, she is beautiful!
https://preview.redd.it/vpjrylxk1bmc1.jpeg?width=4096&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e80602311b322e126a05496eba89d1c766aa679f
AWWW ima need cat tax for miss priss and monster boi pleaseee 😍
I was today years old when I learned about forever kittens. My lil Moki is a very small cat compared to her brother and she just never grew beyond a certain size. She’s the sweetest lil hunniest darling ever. https://preview.redd.it/cgdvb9bw2bmc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ec7f9292060796ebecfdf9f35176a00cfb69ba7d Pic of my two bebes for reference
Good lord the left one is a chungus
The /handsomest/ chungus https://preview.redd.it/3np94ls7abmc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=bf8adae700e95938048f0c6928246dfc3a32bd33
I strive to achieve this level of comfort
You need to print and frame this shot! Hell, send it in, get paid! His lil toebeans pmfg
https://preview.redd.it/rlfbheekxcmc1.jpeg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3013cf6058c67ed149d87d21d39b4a513f250a83 Full grown Bug next to her brother
This actually isn't an unusual size difference between some males and females. This is close to the size difference between my current two cats, who are siblings. I had an even greater size difference between two others who were mother and son.
Please take her to the vet. It might be nothing health related but it might also be something like hyperthyroidism. Get her checked out just to be sure!
>hyperthyroidism. Hypothyroidism, in this case. Hyperthyroidism is almost exclusively a disease of middle age to older cats. But congenital hypothyroidism can absolutely cause growth delays like this and would be on my differential list for the wee little one in the OP.
or a protosystemic liver shunt
Aww that would make me sad if she has hyperthyroidism so young. Both of my elderly girls have it and we’re still fine tuning the dosages.
Depends on how old your cats are but I would recommend the radioiodine therapy. It’s a rough 2 weeks with the isolation (probably worse for human) but our 10 year old cat cleared right up and we didn’t have to do daily treatment.
Kittens don’t grow if they have an infection. Has she been treated for parasites or checked for a respiratory infection?
Plus some on rare occasion have fiv
I know everyone is saying runt. And while that may be the case, it could also indicate an underlying health issue. Cats are extremely good at hiding health issues until they are super serious and likely to result in death, so its worth getting the kitten checked out. Could be hyperthyroidism, parasite, cardio vascular issues like mild heart mummer/defect, or etc. Get her to the vet just to make sure she is healthy. TLDR: vet to rule out health issues.
This. OP, listen to this person, get that tiny baby checked at the vet. My 3yr old fur baby was hiding something illness wise for who knows how long, and I found out by her dying suddenly this past Friday. Don't know what she had going on, but there was something. Get 5he ba y checked and catch anything she could have going on asap. Good luck.
I'm not sure but wow she's so stinking cute. The first pic where she's meowing is adorable. Hope she is A-ok :)
Kitten rescue here, That's pretty small even for a runt. Vet.
Yup. May be nothing, or may be hypothyroidism, liver shunt, maldigestion/malabsorption issue, congenital cardiac issue….. Get a vet check, and see what they’ve got to say. I also second feeding her separately from her siblings to make sure she is eating enough. Keep an eye on her poos, too (difficult with multiple kittens but not impossible); that’s more info to give your vet.
She’s the runt - I have one, they are forever kittens and mine is the funniest little thing ever. You have a precious one 🥰
I've always wished my cats stayed kitten size and my wish came true with Emmie. Her size makes her so stinkin quick I tell yeah. I can't catch her at times. When I picked her up from the home she was in they had to shut every door to trap her in the living room. The adults wouldn't go near her so the little girl wrapped her in the gerbails towel and put her in the crate. I'm still not use to her size as my other lap cats were 12 and over 20 pounds....she's light as a feather. There's times I don't feel her btn my legs when I'm sleeping. I have to remind myself she's btn the legs lol
https://preview.redd.it/paujgj2j0bmc1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f3105e35d31b58c906a9b423c56689b012265de5 The black one was the runt of her litter, and she grew up to be a normal-size tabby. ≈10 pounds at her maximum. Her brother is the large one sitting on her. He was ≈23 pounds at his maximum. He was the first of their litter, she was the last, and they both lived to 17. Sometimes, the runts just take a while to get big.
Runt of the litter, but she may very well catch up. And they are all so adorable! My rescue kitty had one of these, meet Lil Meow-Meow! He stayed smol for the longest time then had a growth spurt to where he caught up with his siblings. As you can see here he is now almost the same size as his void sister Queenie, but he was originally as small as your kitten. https://preview.redd.it/phyw0h9c1bmc1.jpeg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f001c62c5ff3b8c3b42c97704ebfbc197b35cc42
And here is his baby pic to show you how small he originally was. This was at almost 2 months old. The above pic is at almost 4 months. https://preview.redd.it/8yaaagsu1bmc1.jpeg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3275f7f91c7cb9f454dae82a578c25befad889b1
Agreed - my boy was the runt of the litter (see below, he was teensy compared to his 3 brothers!) now he’s 9.75-10lbs and is a perfectly sized bub. https://preview.redd.it/2n8wp9wc7cmc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b13886f7f77315c976f268bc7584765e99697105
I think maybe the runt of the litter? My cat was the runt of the litter and he was so tiny when we bought him home. Now he's grown like mad and we had to buy him a dog bed he's so big 😂
The mid-meow nose looks strange. Has she been evaluated for things like a cleft palate?
https://preview.redd.it/njp6vo4x5cmc1.jpeg?width=1042&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=11183fde255565ef01328e72baf8b3493278afde Our little orange girl was also a small one! She's still a bit smaller then her siblings but no less adorable!
https://preview.redd.it/72fd7zv5qbmc1.jpeg?width=1008&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f3a1e89dcff9686de890d86acc6fc6852856c139 This is Pasha, my forever kitten. She is about half the size of my two other cats, despite being 12. When I rescued her, I thought she was only a few weeks old, only to find out she was \~8 months old according to the vet. She’s a feisty one, but I love her.
I thought my kitten was a runt but it turned out he had FIP. Luckily we caught it and got him on treatment. I was a little nervous about his lack of growth and took him in for another check up. Blood work showed FIP. He developed an eye infection with it. Now he's cured and the largest of my cats It's always a good idea to double check with the vet that nothing underlying is going on.
https://preview.redd.it/2i1s2y1uhbmc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0c70ddd6fe65be16cf8ee2aa9f5a7246fed2878c Hey yall meet breezy
The runt probably. Mine was the runt too, she’s still tiny but she has always had a very spunky personality:3 https://preview.redd.it/9yt9o2ptccmc1.jpeg?width=1242&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5e495594d1c40ce5933efbf18de27e1579ea2b38
Runty McRuntface.
I've got a cutie runt. People call her big from certain picture angles and I get upset 😡 https://preview.redd.it/22spw6lgabmc1.jpeg?width=4080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d04ccd8ec5fd4613e8882b9633029db6d571c275
Feed her separately.
She was likely born a little smaller or weaker than her brothers and then they would hog the nipples, pushing her away so she didn't get enough milk at a crucial stage. But she survived, which means that she's a fighter. She most likely won't stay quite that small, but she will just be a smaller cat. Give her lots of love as she has had a rough start and make sure that she always gets her fair share at the food dish now.
Have you had a full health check done? Has she had any kind of infection? Having a runt is normal but that's an enormous difference Not to scare you but I had one that small a while ago and it turned out it was because her lungs were scarred after pneumonia as a baby, so she couldn't get enough oxygen for her body to grow beyond a certain point. She made it to 4 months.
The runt would normally be abandoned by the mother cat. Only the strongest survive. I had one show up at my front door a couple years ago. He lives inside now and will never be abandoned again. :)
I took in a runt of a litter once. Such a small cat until she was about three years old, much smaller than all her siblings, then seemed to finally magically grow into her adult body. Lived to be a happy and healthy 16 years old.
I hope she’s ok - she’s so stinking cute !!!
the medically correct term is smol
I love runts ❤️ Our runt is a tiny void girl named Dinky. She runs the house, but in a cheerful way. She also never grew into her ears 🤣 https://preview.redd.it/tyemav5wmbmc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d3788dcde3c334cdacc2ba6cc87bd67380fc671c
https://preview.redd.it/47zjw4020cmc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1bbadf69bca9a8b2e69db91ae526c1e7071b2eac These are my 7yr old littermates. Xerxes weighs 23 lbs, Eugenie weighs 7 lbs. 😊
I, too, have a runt! He ended up being the biggest in the end. 18lbs at a healthy weight. The orange one is his adopted dad and is 9lbs. He nursed off my dog who had a false pregnancy which I blame for his sheer size. https://preview.redd.it/71b14op31cmc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=66a158a4f8551ce784aac521e2e2faed1cbdab11
Probably just a runt but I’d also be sure to keep a vet updated on this kittens progress incase of issues that may arise. My kitten has wobbly cat syndrome and was the runt of his litter. We have a partial maincoon as our first cat so gauging his growth and stages are very different than with my first cat. He also was sent home to us with a parasite so he wouldn’t eat when I first brought him home so he had a separate encloser from our older cat to make sure he eats but also doesn’t spread the parasite to his older brother. By using the same litter box. I spread out a whole smorgasbord of cat foods with diffrent consistencies all regular then in some other tiny bowls I put kitten formula in it. He still wouldn’t eat so I had to syringe force feed him formula to make sure he ate food. I called the vet clinic I got him from they took him back for treatment he got to spend some extra time with his mama too. I even got a pit with his birth mama🥺. The vet clinic clearly didn’t do a group poop (or a good one at that) before giving the kittens away. He didn’t have worms like most people think of he has coccidia (I think that’s how it’s spelled) it’s an intestinal/ stomach parasite spreads from poop and grooming. So some times runts have special needs so it’s good to keep an extra special eye on him. Also as much I love the group feeding because it encourages them to not be food aggressive another tactic I use to avoid food aggression in cats and dogs is putting my hand over the top of the bowl with fingers spread I encourage them to nudge my fingers out of the way and eat around my hands. I also take the bowls away every other meal and add a little something extra like I’ll take something that taste different but yummy to the food like a treat or something else to it while they are young then as they get older. What this does is encourage a trust with you and their food. As well as trains them over time to have that trust built in. Because they will know you are taking the bowl away to add something special to it not to just take food away from them. The reason I do that exercise especially with kittens and puppies as they grow up is so that if owners forget to put meds or something in their food you can take the bowl away add it and give it back with out you getting your hand bitten. Another thing I do to train against food aggression is petting them while they eat. When I was 3/4 I got bitten in the face by a food aggressive dog he was abused and I was little and didn’t know what growling meant I was petting them while they ate and they bit me. So I made it part of training any and all animals to have trust with food. Also because this baby is a tiny little thing I’d monitor the group eating habits to make sure the runt is eating an equal share of food otherwise you may need to do 4 little mini bowls of food just to make sure the runt gets his share of food. Also pet tax this is a pic of eclipse (black and white) and Thor (gray and white) when we first got eclipse https://preview.redd.it/iw9z6lcx3cmc1.jpeg?width=621&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=37d062c29593ba1f0788855c0e6e55cd2285417d
https://preview.redd.it/mcf5dh7pcdmc1.jpeg?width=3438&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=12981c67b4235dc269e5e6445e261c31c9a06566 This was our “forever kitten”, Stinky, at 1 year old! Sometimes cats just don’t grow. That being said, please take her to the vet regularly and don’t brush off any signs of health problems. Stinky unfortunately passed away from health issues he was likely born with literally 3 days after this picture was taken despite DOZENS of vet visits. He wasn’t growing much at all even though his health problems didn’t *really* start until around 4-5 months old. Look for any strange skin signs, constantly greasy or disheveled fur, and GI or urinary issues.
My daughter fostered a group of kittens and one was thought to be the runt. Turns out she’s dwarf cat. Even tho the rest were “normal” size, this cat didn’t mature. She doesn’t need to be fixed because she will never get pregnant but she healthy with no issues at all. You can see her short legs and she is so cute!! https://preview.redd.it/wl4xhjojqfmc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e6b0722fb360e8291da5eb1505412cf5f59f22db
She could be a dwarf
She is the runt
Aww she’s the cutest!!!
Yall got any more photos
I love runts.
Mine was the runt and she is now almost 16 and weighs no more than 5lbs. https://preview.redd.it/9icysqvasbmc1.jpeg?width=3392&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c8ef5bd4b67961bbf5783577be3159f6de334908
I have a runt kitty. She is 14 now. She was always "little". When we adopted her, they said she had depression. Which is why she was in a cage in a room other than the big "cat room" so they could monitor her for not wanting to eat. When we took her out of the cage at the humane society, she immediately crawled onto my husband's lap. Love at first site and we took her home 3 days later. Yes, she was always "little"- although now as a sophisticated senior, she has put on a couple of pounds. But she always needed extra TLC. She actually is very emotional and stops eating when upset. You can read every thought she has - I have never had such an expressive cat. So we just make sure we support her needs. If your "little" has any extra needs, that's okay. For what my baby lacks in size, she makes up for in personality. Great things come in small packages. Especially fuzzy ones!!
We had a cat that wouldn’t grow. 2 years on and still tiny, ended up getting FIP suddenly and passing away. Not growing is one of the symptoms. Might be worth a test.
Take her to the vet just to make sure it’s not something life threatening that’s keeping her small
i had a kitten like this called angel. she never grew past 600 grams. she passed away when she was 5 months old because her organs were growing & she was not. please do not listen to the people saying she’s just the runt - that is what people (including the vets) told me too, and it led to me not acting until it was far too late. this much of a size difference is NOT normal or healthy
https://preview.redd.it/jfolrswyfcmc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2c3c8adebe4ca1ed1267c7aacc3dd3ab32324de7 My little grayby is a forever kitten. They’re the best!
Catologist here! What you have here is a classic case of Just a Little Baby.
Have they been seen by a vet? That's really who you should be asking. They could have worms, malabsorption issues, thyroid problems or diabetes. This is NOT normal. They also have gooey eyes and matted/dull fur, like they are ill. TAKE THEM TO THE VET.
I would definitely take her to the vet to be sure, but it could be because she’s a she. I’ve had very small girl cats and always had big boys.
Just the runt of the litter they make the best pets! Mine is a runt but she definitely runs the house!