Since all kittens in the litter have the same mother, they’re bound to be similar.
However, their age will vary. Some will be younger than others and have more growing to do before they reach adulthood.
For this reason, it’s essential to know each one’s individual behavior.
So, can kittens in the same litter be different ages?
Yes, they can! Kittens from the same litter can be different ages, so try not to freak out when you see one kitten looking more mature than the others.
Kittens age at different rates. So, even though a kitten may look more mature than his siblings, he might still be younger than them.
Also, the kittens might be different sizes. This doesn’t mean the younger kitten is younger than his siblings.
Kittens also grow at different rates, so just because one kitten is smaller than his siblings doesn’t mean he’s younger.
Can Kittens In The Same Litter Be Different Ages?
If the litter is big, kittens can get pretty mixed up in the feedings and older siblings might start eating first or eat more than younger ones do.
Because of birthing complications or because there are numerous kits in a litter, some kittens might not nurse as much and might get weaker and sicker.
A veterinarian may advise pausing the feedings of a few kittens to make sure they don’t become too weak.
As a consequence, some of the older cats in a litter may catch up to or surpass their younger siblings in weight.
Why Are Kittens In The Same Litter Different Ages?
Fertility
Her fertility is what determines the age that she’ll give birth.
Younger female cats have higher fertility rates, allowing them more mating opportunities.
It’s also worth noting that the breed of the kitten can affect her age as well.
This is due to the genetics of the breeds, as well as different breeding programs.
Extended Ovulation Period
The concept is based primarily on the biology of the female cat and the length of her ovulation period.
Because the female cat is unlikely to become pregnant right away, she enters a period of extended ovulation.
When a female cat gives birth can have large effects on the litter size, the breeder will go to great lengths to time breeding so that the kittens are born at approximately the same time.
A female cat’s ovulation cycle typically lasts about 26 days; however, because it takes about a week for an egg to mature in the ovary and an additional 10-12 days for the egg to be released by the ovary.
This is a little element that your cat may play with you, but if you are really lucky, you may get the opportunity to view her in action.
The first litter will be ahead, and the later ones behind by about three weeks.
Even if they are born at the normal time for the mother, there can be a variation in the time of birth.
Different Fathers
The major cause of this variation is the difference in the age of the father and the mother.
Female cats continue to nurse their kittens until they are about six weeks old.
This implies they will continue to mate after they have given birth to a litter of kittens – and this can cause a difference in the age of the father and mother of the offspring.
This is a natural inclination of cats, which probably helps them protect their genetic inheritance by mating with younger males.
They will occasionally have litters with more than one father, if the mothers are impregnated by different males.
This is why it is very common for a cat to have several different colors on its coat or to have the same color on different parts of its body.
This might cause age disparities in the offspring of two parents of the same breed.
Is It Possible for Kitten Siblings to Have Different Sizes?
Size might vary greatly at times, but it should not be that large in difference.
For example, Blann weighed 9 pounds at birth and his sister Screech weighed only 4 pounds.
Is It Possible for Cats From the Same Litter to Be Born on Separate Days?
Yes, kittens may be delivered on different days or even hours apart.
Cats may halt labor for unknown reasons and may resume it hours later, especially if the mother is stressed by lack of food, poor care or handling during delivery.
During this period, she will nurse the kittens individually.
Why Are My Kittens Different Sizes?
There are cats who give birth to a litter of babies that are exactly the same size.
The newborn kittens’ genetic differences account for these differences in size.
Why Is One of My Kittens So Much Smaller Than the Other?
Female kittens are often smaller than male kittens; nevertheless, the difference is usually minimal and should not cause alarm unless other unusual circumstances are present.
If everything else seems to be normal, then chances are good that the difference in size is genetic and not caused by anything the mother did not do during the pregnancy.
Also Read: How Many Kittens Usually Survive in a Litter?
Conclusion
Yes, kittens from the mother are genetically identical; however, they are not necessarily the same weight at birth.
Despite being in the same litter, some might be bigger and others smaller, but this difference should not be very large.
This is why particular attention should be paid to the weight gain of your baby over time, as this can give you a good idea about his growth rate.
