Kitten underweight

cloa513 · 07-09-2011, 09:29 PM

Hi,
We are considering buying a Norwegian Forest Kitten. Of course that breed naturally grows into a large cat. However, the cat is four months old and looks healthy but small. Moreover, when he was 2 months old, his weight was 460 grams which is well underaverage. We don't whether he was born underweight or just failed to thrive but is that an indication of long term health problems maybe early death?

MowMow · 07-09-2011, 09:33 PM

I had thought you were going to wait and had decided a cat wasn't a good idea? Is your wife going to be ok with a longer hair cat that sheds?

**doodlebug** · 07-09-2011, 09:42 PM

Even though the breed is known to be large, not all cats of the breed are. This kitten may have been the runt, his parents may not be huge or there may be an underlying medical condition. What is his weight now? Has he caught up at all?

A big part of what you pay for when getting a purebred cat from a reputable breeder is conformation to breed standard, a health guarantee, a known pedigree etc. So my take on it would be; why pay premium money for a cat that is raising red flags?

cloa513 · 07-09-2011, 10:00 PM

It had a vet check of the following
Mouth, nose, ears, urination, anus, heart beat, hernia, tail, insects and passed those.

Don't know its current weight.

BotanyBlack · 07-09-2011, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cloa513

It had a vet check of the following
Mouth, nose, ears, urination, anus, heart beat, hernia, tail, insects and passed those.

Don't know its current weight.

sounds like a very basic checkup... for a premium price I would ask for a very thorough one.

dweamgoil · 07-10-2011, 12:34 AM

If the kitten is substantially underweight, I would try to negotiate a substantial discount or pass this particular kitten up. Maybe get one from the next litter with no 'red flags'?

cloa513 · 07-10-2011, 04:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BotanyBlack

sounds like a very basic checkup... for a premium price I would ask for a very thorough one.

What be the least you would like to be checked?

Ripley · 07-11-2011, 06:35 AM

I think a blood test might be order if the kitten is underweight and there isn't any apparent reason for it.

Other question is, what was the breeder feeding it?

Lucy and Olivia- both tiny cats- have enormous appetites and have no issues with their health even though they are much smaller in frame than the average dometic cat and one is 7 years old and the other 3 years old. Sometimes its just what the cat is naturally like?

07-09-2011, 09:29 PM	#1 (permalink)
cloa513 Jr. Cat Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Japan Posts: 86	Kitten underweight Hi, We are considering buying a Norwegian Forest Kitten. Of course that breed naturally grows into a large cat. However, the cat is four months old and looks healthy but small. Moreover, when he was 2 months old, his weight was 460 grams which is well underaverage. We don't whether he was born underweight or just failed to thrive but is that an indication of long term health problems maybe early death?

07-09-2011, 09:33 PM	#2 (permalink)
MowMow Premier Cat Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Pacific Northwest Posts: 5,653	I had thought you were going to wait and had decided a cat wasn't a good idea? Is your wife going to be ok with a longer hair cat that sheds? __________________

07-09-2011, 09:42 PM	#3 (permalink)
doodlebug Super Moderator Join Date: May 2006 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 17,702	Even though the breed is known to be large, not all cats of the breed are. This kitten may have been the runt, his parents may not be huge or there may be an underlying medical condition. What is his weight now? Has he caught up at all? A big part of what you pay for when getting a purebred cat from a reputable breeder is conformation to breed standard, a health guarantee, a known pedigree etc. So my take on it would be; why pay premium money for a cat that is raising red flags? __________________ Onyx & Callie May forever in my heart.

07-09-2011, 10:00 PM	#4 (permalink)
cloa513 Jr. Cat Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Japan Posts: 86	Health check It had a vet check of the following Mouth, nose, ears, urination, anus, heart beat, hernia, tail, insects and passed those. Don't know its current weight.

07-10-2011, 12:34 AM	#6 (permalink)
dweamgoil Cat Addict Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: New York Posts: 1,860	If the kitten is substantially underweight, I would try to negotiate a substantial discount or pass this particular kitten up. Maybe get one from the next litter with no 'red flags'? __________________ DweamGoiL

07-11-2011, 06:35 AM	#8 (permalink)
Ripley Kitten Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 23	I think a blood test might be order if the kitten is underweight and there isn't any apparent reason for it. Other question is, what was the breeder feeding it? Lucy and Olivia- both tiny cats- have enormous appetites and have no issues with their health even though they are much smaller in frame than the average dometic cat and one is 7 years old and the other 3 years old. Sometimes its just what the cat is naturally like?

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