Ragdoll Cat Forums

My kitten, Bobo, just turned 4 month old today. I took him to the vet to get his last 3 in 1 shot and their weighed him at 1 pound and 11 ounces. Now... I've been doing a lot of reading of this forum and this number just doesn't seem right...

When he first came home with me at 3 months old he was 1.5 pounds, which was VERY light still. He got sick with Panleukopenia 2 weeks after he came home and at one point dropped down to 1 pound! Since he came home with me on 8/14 from hospitalization he has been drinking and eating a lot and pretty much completely recovered. However, 4 months old less than 2 pounds?

The vet said that it is probably because he spent a lot of time being sick and thus missed important time periods of growth. What do you guys think? Will he regain his weight or is he going to grow up to be some kind of migid Ragdoll? I read that Ragdoll males are supposed to weigh around 15-20 lb, is he going to be around the 15 lb mark or is he going to be even less than that?

I want him to grow up healthy... how can I do that? He is on Royal Canin's Kitten Instinct 36 dry food right now, can he be eating anything more nutritious?

I have been just leaving his food out for him to eat as much as he wants because I can't match his age and weight to the chart on the back of the cat food to decide how much to feed him everyday...

I imagine that most of it had to do with little Bobo's illness and he should be in catch up mode now. That does seem a very low weight for this age to me as our Dexter is also 4 months and weighed in at the vets last week at 6lbs. 13oz's. I'm relatively new to the world of kits so I can't give you the normal range, and I am aware that Dexter has been a big-boy from the get go. I'm sure now that his system is stronger Bobo will gain weight.

i would say he is about half the weight he should be for his age. i wouldnt have thought he would reach 15 lbs and will probably be a little boy.
as long as he is healthy that is all that matters

The first issue is whether he is underweight for his size - and it does not seem he is based on the vet's comment. As for catching up in later growth spurts - yes, that is quite possible. However, some are just peanuts.

Sounds like Bobo's illness just set your little guy back a bit. Glad he is feeling better now!

Phoenix is a small boned Ragdoll who at 4 months old, weighed just over 3 lbs. He was 2 lbs. on his 12 week old adoption date. I did search for a small Ragdoll though (his parents weigh around 10 lbs.).

Are Bobo's parents smaller sized Ragdolls?

Hi and thanks for all the responses. His parents are supposed to be on the small side for Ragdolls, so maybe that is also partly why. When I took him to the vet today the vet asked me if he was neutered and I said no. She then searched around and said that she can hardly feel his testicles - poor little Bobo

I am not so much concern about how big he'll grow to be but more about his health. I kind of figured if he is not growing at the right speed even after his illness then maybe something is wrong. When he left hospitalization from Panleukopenia he probably weighed somewhere between 1.1-1.3 pounds. So 2 weeks at home and he is at 1 lb 11 oz - is that normal?

I just want to make sure that he is taking in enough nutrients with his little body and that nothing else is wrong with him. Poor little thing went through so much already!

He is tiny but there's no reason he shouldn't catch up as long as he is healthy. I think I would also be offering him some canned food a couple of times a day and see if he likes that. They won't overeat at this age and he just might enjoy the extra food. I think he's gaining fine, but poor little guy has had a hard time. If the vet could feel his testicles at all that's a good sign and he doesn't weigh enough to be neutered now anyway. I think I'd give him plenty of time to get all healthy again and to gain some weight before even considering surgery.

Do not focus so much on the number. If he is active, alert and playful and does not seem boney, then he is OK. You do want to see a steady growth most of the time, but even there kittens can have periods in which they do not get bigger. It is very individual and variable.

I think BoBo must have tiger in him:)or tiger size heart.
How amazing he is doing so well.
Love to see some pictures of him when you get a chance.

Aaaaah Bobo sounds so dinky and cute. It sounds to me like he is gaining weight now, so don't worry. You could just try to tempt him with some wet food or roast chicken every now and then, he would probably love it! Just beware as he may not want to eat dry food any more after this. This is what happened to Coco so now I have to give her a mix of wet and dry!