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Question
I live in an apartment building in Florence, SC and we have "dumpster kittys". Having two cats myself, Kibby the smarty pants and her brother Skippy the three legged wonder, I can't stand to see them cold, or hungry. A few of the cats are friendly and I think they may have been abandoned when the owner left. Anyway there has been a new set of kittens born when we arrived in August. But now it's January and one kitten is way way smaller than the rest of it's siblings. All the kittens are from one mom, and I'm sure they are all the same litter. His face is smaller, but he eats the most. I can't keep another cat and I'm afraid to take him to a shelter. He stays close to my back porch (I have a conforter out there for them, it's cold), and can't bring him in becouse I don't know what he might give to my other cats. Another cat, Shadow, that is too friendly to be a true stray has ring worm and I don't want this little guy to get it. What can I do? Do you know of anyone in SC that would like to have a kitten that won't grow?
Christin,
The first thing I would do is to have the runt seen by your vet to see if there is a medical cause that is treatable. Often what makes them runts means ongoing problems and a shorter life as it grows up. Some cats are immune to ring worm and some are not. Unfortunately, the spore are air born, so the little guy has already been exposed.
I have had some luck with vet techs wanting "problem" kittens, so you may talk to your veterinarian's staff.
Good luck and best regards... Norm.
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Answers by Expert:
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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