Have you ever looked at someone and said “Oh boy. That person has a big head!” I know I have and I’m sure others have said the same about my head too.
However, for this article, we will be doing the opposite and take a closer look at cats with small heads. The term ‘small’ might be subjective but what if you have a cat whose head just looks a lot smaller as compared to its body?
Is it normal for a cat to have a small head?
Yes, it is very normal for a cat to have a head that looks smaller as compared to the rest of its body. The size of a cat’s head is determined by factors such as the breed of the cat and its own genetics. There are also other reasons that can cause a cat to have a small head.
In this article, we will be taking a closer look at the possible reasons that cause your cat to have a little small cute head.
What Breed Is Your Cat?
There are between 44 and 71 recognized cat breeds in the world. This gives rise to an amazing amount of variety and uniqueness within the cat world.
Some cat breeds can lie on the extreme end of the spectrum while for some it can be difficult to even tell them apart.
But when it comes to cats with a smaller head size, these cat breeds tend to stand out.
Sphynx
Have you ever seen a cat that is bald?
The first thing that comes to mind is that the poor cat is suffering from a skin disease. Not quite.
This cat breed came into the limelight when it appeared in the movie ‘Austin Powers’ as the cat of Dr. Evil.
Truth be told, I wasn’t even aware of such a cat breed at that time and I thought the film producers had the cat shaved for the film.
But in actual fact, the Sphinx is the only cat breed that doesn’t have any fur or hair on its body due to a genetic mutation. It has a string appearance courtesy of its wrinkly skin and very big ears.
If you were to compare the size of its head to its body, there’s no doubt that the Sphynx has a very small head.
Devon Rex/Cornish Rex
These two cat breeds are very close cousins of the Sphynx. Think of the Devon Rex cat as a Sphynx but with some hair. The coat on the Devon Rex is soft and curly which makes it very easy to maintain.
The Cornish Rex which also looks very similar to the Devon Rex and Sphynx has even a finer coat of fur as compared to the Devon Rex.
These cats have rather small heads which are made to look even smaller due to the size of their enormous ears.
Siamese Cats
The Siamese cat has to be one of the most iconic cat breeds in the world with the origins of this breed dating back to the 14th century.
This cat breed even appeared in many movies, often portrayed as the evil mastermind with a weird Asian accent.
The Siamese cat has a small triangular head with big pointy ears like the Devon Rex. It has a normal coat of fur that is usually cream-coloured with darker points.
Owners of a Siamese cat will tell you that this cat is very intelligent and behaves more like a dog. Siamese cats can be rather needy and need a lot of attention from their owners.
Singapura Cat
The Singapura Cat has to be one of the most petite-looking cats that I have ever seen. A female can weigh up to 4lbs and a male cat about 8 lbs. It has a very slender body with a small head and unusually huge eyes.
This cat is in fact the smallest known recognized cat breed in the world.
Don’t mistake this cat’s smallness as a weakness. They are powerful cats that are very good at climbing.
Persian cats
Some might say that a Persian cat has a face that only its owner could love. Well, I have met a number of Persians that are pretty adorable.
The Persian has a rather large and sock body that is supported by muscular legs. It is always recognizable from its facial features. It is known for its ‘squished’ up face that is flat.
I think one reason why Persians look like they have a small head size is largely due to all the fur that they have which is long and thick. If you plan to keep a Persian, be prepared to have your home covered in Persian cat fur.
Do Ragdoll Cats Have Small Heads?
I have spoken to a couple of cat owners who insist that their ragdoll cats have small heads. Most ragdolls have a medium-sized head that just looks a lot smaller due to all their thick and fluffy fur.
Do Female Cats Have Smaller Heads?
Generally speaking, most female cats have smaller heads as compared to male cats. This is due to the fact that females are about 10-20% percent smaller than their male counterparts.
A cat that is smaller will have a smaller head too not taking into account the cat’s breed and its own genetics.
Do Intact Male Cats Have Bigger Heads?
If you have ever taken a look at a stray or feral tomcat, one thing you will notice is just how big a head a tomcat has. The roundness and broadness of its checks just add to the overall dimensions.
I have a community tom cat living around my area that looks like a football with long furry legs.
The reason why tomcats have much bigger heads as compared to neutered cats is testosterone and lots of it. Testosterone is the male hormone that gives the male species more muscle mass and bigger bones.
For male cats that have been neutered at a very young age, the lack of testosterone in their bodies means that they tend to have much smaller heads as compared to an intact male.
What Is Cerebellar Hypoplasia?
For some cats, having a smaller head could be due to a medical condition called cerebellar hypoplasia.
This is when the cerebellum which is the part of the brain that resides at the back of your cat’s head does not grow properly.
This can lead to issues that affect the cat’s mobility and coordination. It is also common to see cats with this issue wobble their heads frequently.
Cerebellar hypoplasia is usually caused at birth by the feline panleukopenia virus that prevents the normal development of healthy cells.
Other reasons could also be due to a weak mother cat or physical trauma to the kitten’s head.
There isn’t a known cure for cats with this condition and they are considered to be special needs cats. But will proper medical care, they can lead a healthy and normal life like other healthy cats.
Will My Cat Head Grow Bigger?
For cats that are still in the growing phase, you can expect their heads to get bigger over time. The majority of cats will experience a growth spurt until 6-8 months of age.
Their growth progress will get slower until they reach adulthood at around 12-15 months.
There are some cat breeds that are slow to mature like the Maine Coon, Norwegian Forest Cat, Ragdolls, etc. These cat breeds can take anywhere between 3-5 years to reach their full size.
What Is A SMOL Cat?
If you have never heard of the term ‘SMOL’ before, you are not alone. It actually means that the cat is very small in size, like a very young kitten, puppies and kittens.
This term is used on kittens that are so small and cute that makes you just wana squeeze and cuddle them the whole day long.