Content
- My cat doesn't grow: causes
- Other causes of dwarfism in cats
- My cat doesn't grow, what to do?
- Treatments for Non-Growing Cats
Kittens' first months of life are characterized by rapid growth. However, in some cases, we may notice that our little one is not growing as much as it should. Kittens are so vulnerable that the presence of parasites or inadequate nutrition can interfere with their proper development. However, there are other causes that explain why a cat doesn't grow.
In this PeritoAnimal article, we review the main reasons why a cat doesn't grow or gain weight and show you what to do - Cat that doesn't grow: causes and what to do.
My cat doesn't grow: causes
First, it is important to note that there is a breed of cat known as the munchkin cat and characterized by its small size due to its short legs. So if you've adopted a kitten and you don't know if it belongs to that breed or not, the first thing we recommend is to consult your veterinarian to confirm if it's munchkin or not.
That said, and having excluded breed as a cause, puppies should be kept with their mother and siblings for at least the first eight weeks of life. That's why it's normal for us to adopt them when they're about two months old. Depending on their origin, we can receive the new family member dewormed, vaccinated and well used to eating alone and solid. However, we do not always find this ideal situation, which may explain why the cat does not grow.
So, a kitten that has not been internally dewormed you run the risk of having a reduced growth, in addition to suffering other symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, bad hair appearance or anemia. So, if you don't know if the kitten has visited the vet or if you are unsure, the best thing to do is to go to a clinic as soon as you receive the kitten at home. Then this professional will check and recommend the necessary medications.
On the other hand, The feeding it is always critical to the welfare of the animals.If in adult cats malnutrition can cause problems, the situation of the puppies will be much more compromised since, if they are not well nourished, their growth will be difficult. That's why it's essential to provide good nutrition, with an age-appropriate menu, to ensure all of your pet's nutritional needs are met. If you choose a homemade diet, you should be very aware that it is not synonymous with offering your puppy the leftovers. It is necessary to prepare a menu with the advice of a specialized veterinarian.
Other causes of dwarfism in cats
Although poor nutrition or the presence of parasites can explain why a cat does not grow and gain weight as it should, there are other causes, albeit rare. In general, kittens are born apparently healthy and it is as they complete weeks of life that symptoms begin to appear, especially stunted growth. This will be more evident if the little one stays beside his siblings, as it is possible to make comparisons. A dwarf kitten may be suffering from diseases that affect development and cause other symptoms. These infrequent diseases are:
- Congenital hypothyroidism: it is due to a problem in the thyroid that prevents the synthesis of its hormones and, in addition to disproportionate dwarfism, affected kittens have short necks and paws, wide face, changes in the nervous system and, at the level of the brain, delay in changing the dentition, apathy, inappetence, for the spleen, low temperature, etc.
- Mucopolysaccharidosis: are diseases due to enzyme deficiencies. Affected kittens are small, with small heads and ears, wide face, wide-open eyes, short tail, clumsy gait, retinal atrophy, bone, neurological and cardiac problems, paralysis, etc.
- pituitary dwarfism: is caused by a deficit in growth hormone. Causes constipation, delayed teething, vomiting or dehydration, in addition to a small but proportionate size.
- Postsystemic Shunt: in this case there is a circulatory problem that prevents the body's toxins from being purified, passing directly into the bloodstream and causing different symptoms, including growth retardation and mental problems.
My cat doesn't grow, what to do?
Having reviewed several situations that may explain why a cat is not growing or gaining weight, if you suspect your puppy is the case, the easiest thing to do is to start by deworming it and feeding it a a proper diet for this stage of your life. Before long, if this is really a problem, you should see improvements.
If the pet already eats well and has been dewormed, it is essential that you visit your veterinarian. It must establish a differential diagnosis between diseases like the ones we have explained. For this, different tests are carried out which will include blood tests or X-rays. Depending on the outcome, the prognosis will vary.
Treatments for Non-Growing Cats
Unfortunately, not all diseases that explain why a cat doesn't grow are curable. When there is hypothyroidism, it is possible to make the cat grow, improve its symptoms and offer a good quality of life if we follow the hormonal treatment that the veterinarian recommends. The shunt can be operated on, although it is not always possible, and for mucopolysaccharidosis there is the possibility of treating the symptoms, but the prognosis, in both cases, will be reserved. Kittens with pituitary dwarfism usually fail and die.
This article is for information purposes only, at PeritoAnimal.com.br we are not able to prescribe veterinary treatments or perform any type of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case it has any type of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Cat that doesn't grow: causes and what to do, we recommend that you enter our Other health problems section.