If you’ve recently adopted the smallest kitten from a litter, you may be wondering if their small size affects their lifespan. As a cat owner, it’s natural to want your furry friends to live long, healthy lives.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: Runt kittens can live just as long as their larger littermates, with a normal feline lifespan between 12-18 years. Their small size at birth does not impact their lifespan if they receive proper care and nutrition.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about runt cats and their expected lifespans. We’ll discuss common causes of runt kittens, potential health issues they face, how to optimize their care, and what contributes to a long, happy life even for the smallest felines.
What Is a Runt Kitten?
A runt kitten refers to a kitten in a litter that is significantly smaller or underdeveloped compared to its littermates. Runt kittens often weigh at least 25% less than the average kitten weight in a litter.
They also tend to grow at a slower rate and reach developmental milestones later than their brothers and sisters.
Birth Weight and Size
The average birth weight for a kitten is around 100 grams or 3.5 ounces. However, runt kittens often weigh less than 75 grams or 2.5 ounces at birth. Some may even weigh as little as 50 grams or under 2 ounces when they are born.
Their small size is noticeable compared to normal sized kittens in the litter who are nearly double their weight.
In addition to low birth weight, runt kittens are also usually shorter in length than littermates. Their eyes and ears may appear slightly underdeveloped. These physical traits make identifying a runt kitten relatively easy for an experienced breeder or veterinarian.
Common Causes
There are several potential causes for runts in a litter of kittens:
- Genetic factors – Runts may inherit genes that predispose them to be smaller.
- Placental insufficiency – Inadequate blood supply in the womb can restrict growth.
- Illness or infection – Kittens affected in the womb may be born smaller.
- Overcrowding – Too many kittens competing for nutrients limits size.
- Poor nutrition – Malnourishment of the mother cat impacts kitten development.
- Birth order – Later born kittens tend to be smaller.
In most cases, runts are born healthy but simply need extra time to grow and gain strength compared to normal kittens. Providing excellent nutrition, keeping them warm, and monitoring their progress helps support their development.
With dedicated care by a foster parent or owner, many runt kittens overcome their initial size disadvantage and go on to live long, healthy lives comparable to average sized cats. While some challenges are to be expected, runts can thrive and become loving feline companions.
Do Runt Cats Have Health Issues?
Common Health Problems
Unfortunately, runts of the litter are predisposed to certain health problems. Their small size at birth is usually due to poor prenatal nutrition, exposure to toxins, infections, or developmental issues – all factors that raise disease risk throughout life.
Some common illnesses seen more often in runts include:
- Respiratory infections – Poor immunity makes runts prone to upper respiratory infections like feline herpesvirus and calicivirus.
- Hypoglycemia – Inability to effectively regulate blood sugar levels due to low body fat and liver glycogen stores.
- Congenital defects – Higher rates of congenital issues affecting the heart, bones, blood vessels or neurons.
- Failure to thrive – About 50% don’t catch up to normal weight despite extra care.
- Premature aging – The stresses of their start in life can quicken development of age-related disorders.
However, not every runt kitten will have health issues. With attentive nursing care in the first weeks after birth and proper nutrition as they mature, many runts live long, healthy lives. Regular vet checkups, vaccines, exercise, enrichment and love also go a long way toward overcoming early disadvantages.
Overcoming Growth Delays
Catching up physically is crucial for runts. Standard growth charts show most kittens double their birth weight by 2 weeks old. By 3 months they’ve already reached about half their adult weight. When runts fall behind these milestones, interventions include:
- Frequent bottle feeding high-calorie kitten formula or nursing – at least every 2 hours.
- Keeping the kitten warm – they have more trouble regulating body temperature.
- Prescription appetite stimulants and nutritional supplements if appetite is poor.
- Encouraging activity through engaging play and cuddles.
To ensure healthy development, runts should gain around 150-200 grams per week. Most experience a grows spurt between 12-16 weeks old and reach normal adult weight – though often still on the smaller side – by 8-10 months.
While the concern for their tiny size never disappears, consistent TLC helps runt kittens live long, active lives.
Caring for a Runt Kitten
Nutrition
Runt kittens often need extra help with nutrition. Since they are smaller, they may have trouble competing with their larger littermates for milk. It’s important to monitor their weight daily to ensure they are gaining properly.
Supplemental bottle feeding with kitten milk replacement formula may be necessary if the runt is failing to thrive.
Once runt kittens are weaned, feeding a high-quality kitten food is essential. Feed small, frequent meals and allow the runt to eat undisturbed. Provide ample fresh water at all times. Give the kitten time to master eating solid foods – don’t force weaning too fast if the kitten seems disinterested in solid foods at first.
Veterinary Care
Schedule an appointment with a vet within the first week of life to identify any health issues early. Runts are prone to hypoglycemia, dehydration, and malnutrition, so monitor weight and hydration closely.
Expect to visit the vet more frequently for weight checks and supplemental feeding assistance.
Vaccinations and deworming on schedule are crucial. Runts often have weaker immune systems, so vaccines and parasite prevention keep them healthier. Spaying or neutering at an appropriate age prevents accidental litters that could further strain the cat’s health.
Providing Support
Runt kittens require extra attention and care from their human caregivers. Feed, weigh, and hydrate them more frequently than their normal-sized littermates. Supervise feedings and playtime with larger cats to ensure the runt can access food and engage comfortably with the others.
Provide safe spaces for the kitten to rest undisturbed.
While smaller in size, runts need just as much love and socialization. Gently handling the kitten frequently and providing affection helps the runt blossom into a friendly, confident cat. With time, care, and nutrition most runts catch up to normal size and go on to live long, healthy lives.
Their smaller start does not have to define them!
Expected Lifespan of a Runt Cat
Lifespan Factors
Runt kittens may have a slightly shorter lifespan compared to their larger littermates, but with proper care and nutrition, they can still live a long and healthy life. Here are some factors that can affect a runt cat’s lifespan:
- Genetics – Runts may inherit genetic conditions that predispose them to health issues. However, this is not always the case.
- Birth size – Being much smaller at birth could make runts more susceptible to illnesses, malnutrition, and developmental issues. But their lifespan is not predetermined by their small size.
- Early nutrition – Runts need extra feeding support in their early weeks to help them thrive. Good nutrition from the start gives them a longevity boost.
- General health – Like any cat, runts that receive regular vet checkups, vaccines, exercise, affection and a nutritious diet are likely to exceed lifespan expectations.
- Indoor lifestyle – Keeping runt cats indoors reduces risks from cars, predators, infections, etc. Indoor cats live 10-15 years on average.
While their start in life can be challenging, runts that get over the initial hurdles and receive good care go on to live normal lifespans. Their expected lifespan is 12-15 years on average, same as any other cat.
Optimizing Longevity
Here are some tips for giving your runt kitten the best shot at a long, healthy life:
- Get regular vet checkups to catch any issues early. Kittens need several rounds of vaccines and deworming.
- Feed a high-quality kitten formula, even once weaned. Runts need extra calories.
- Monitor their weight regularly to ensure proper growth.
- Provide puzzle toys, cat trees and play time for exercise and enrichment.
- Spay or neuter at the appropriate age to reduce disease risks.
- Keep their environment clean, stress-free and stimulate their natural behaviors.
- Brush their teeth and coat weekly to reduce hairballs/dental disease.
- Give preventative treatments like flea and heartworm medication as needed.
With attentive, loving care and routine vet visits, runt kittens can grow into healthy, energetic cats with normal longevity. Their expected lifespan is 12-15 years on average. So while they may start small, with proper care and nutrition runts can live long, full lives.
Conclusion
While their early size difference may cause initial concern, runt kittens can grow up to live full, healthy lives comparable to average-sized felines with proper care. By understanding their potential health needs, providing nutritious food, scheduling vet check-ups, and giving them plenty of love and attention, runt cats can thrive and enjoy a typical 12-18 year lifespan.
As a cat owner, pay close attention to your runt kitten’s growth, development, and energy levels. With a little extra care, even the smallest fur balls in the litter can become happy, energetic adults that bring years of joy and companionship.
