Ragdoll Cat Forums

Just curious...my Cooper is 8 months old today.

He still has a baby face and is very "kittenish". He's active and happy and 100% loveable. He's got a round belly and the vet tells me he is the picture of good health (I say that because I'm not posting out of worry - but out of curiosity)

He weighs in at 7 1/2 pounds. I know Newman had already reached 10+ pounds by this same age (and even Newman isn't the biggest boy - he's big but not setting records or anything)

Is it likely that Cooper will remain on the smaller side for his whole life? I know he will continue to grow but I'm sort of figuring he may only hit 9-10 pounds as an adult and not 15+. Think I'm right?

Yes, but it varies widely. Looking to the growth periods of the parents often is a good guide, if anyone remembers.

I had similar thoughts about Lance and Merlin when they were growing up together. Merlin was always the bigger, chunkier one and Lance was always taller and skinnier. His breeder said his lines were typical slow growers and he would mature nicely all the same. He is still taller and leaner, but they weigh just about the same now! Maybe Cooper needs more time to grow into himself, it'd be interesting to see what his parents were like. He could just be a smaller raggie too.

One thing for sure I've noticed with Cooper - he's SHORT! In photos laying down he looks almost as big as Newman but he's so much smaller when they stand up. He manages to be stocky at the same time that he's small. He has quite a buddha belly on him and there is nothing slight or frail or delicate about him. He's just short and his face is very babyish compared to Newman's big hunky head

I know his dad is a big guy (16 or 17 pounds) while his mom is around 12 pounds. The breeder doesn't recall their growth patterns or rate of maturity though.