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Cats/2 Week Old Kittens

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Expert: - 11/11/2009


Question
Our mama cat had 4 kittens two weeks ago. All have their eyes open and are wobbling around. They will also respond to our voices now and move toward us. One of the kittens, the runt of the litter, does not seem to be developing as well as the other 3. He eats well but can not seem to balance his head and just kind of rolls around rather than crawling like the others. Is something wrong with this kitten or is he just developing more slowly because of his small size? Thanks for your response.

Answer
Lee Ann,

You will just have to keep an eye on the littlest one.  If he turns himself around and begins to have more normal development, this will be a good thing. On the other hand, if he is really fat, he can exhibit the behaviors you are talking about.  In another couple of weeks, you should begin weaning them and you will have a much better idea about how this one will develop.

Please let me know how he does or if you have any further questions.

Best regards.. Norm.

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Norman Auspitz

Expertise

I can answer most non-veterinary questions about cats. My particular expertise is pedigree cats, breeding and showing. However, I am versed in feline behavior, cat breeds and their characteristics, general feline husbandry, and the like.

Experience

I judged for the Canadian Cat Association from 1975 until 1982. I am currently an approved allbreed judge for the Cat Fanciers'' Association (the world''s largets cat registry), and have been judging for them since 1991. I have been breeding pedigreed cats since 1971 and have been exhibiting pedigreed cats in shows since 1970. I obtained my first pedigreed cat in 1970 and have never looked back. In 1971, I obtained my first Abyssinian which has become my primary breed. In addition, I have bred Manx and Persians. Currently, besides the Abyssinians, I am also breeding Maine Coons.


Organizations
Cat Fanciers'' Association, inc. (CFA) and the Manx, Maine Coon, and Abyssinian breed councils. I am currently Abyssinian breed council secretary.

Publications
Cat Fancy Magazine, The Abyssinian Chapter in The Cat Fanciers'' Association Complete Cat Book, and Articles for various editions of The Cat Fanciers'' Association Yearbook

Education/Credentials
I received a B.S. from Drexel University in 1968, a M.Math from University of Waterloo, in 1970, a Ph.D. from University of Waterloo in 1975, and a MBA from McMaster University in 1980. I received my approved allbreed judging status in the Cat Fanciers'' Association in 1999.

Awards and Honors
We have produced a number of Cat Fanciers'' Association (CFA) National winning Abyssinian and Maine Coons. We have produced a number of Abyssinian and Maine Coon Distinguished Merit females (an award for a top producing cat), including the first Distinguished Merit Abyssinian in the red (sorrel) color. I am the CFA Abyssinian breed council secretary and belong and/or hold office in a number of cat clubs. I am also a member of the CFA Judges Association.

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