Want to take in stray but we have kittens already!

[citybranch]

We have two four month old kittens from the same litter who we adore.

Just after we got them my mum's next door neighbour moved away and left her cat behind. I grew up there and that neighbour had so many cats over the years, she'd get them as kittens and then chuck them out when they became older, rarely feeding them. I was always so sad for those cats as a child, I remember one tiny one dying in the snow one winter, another one kind of went mad. My parents used to let them in sometimes and we'd feed them etc but it wasn't easy as this neighbour was particularly confrontational.

Anyway, the neighbour has now moved and left this last cat behind, and I can't stop thinking about it. My mum has been feeding it for a couple of months and it miaows at the door. Mum really doesn't want to take it in as she goes away a lot. I feel compelled to take it in myself, but would that be fair on the kittens?

The kittens seem quite assertive and came from a family with cats and dogs. The abandoned cat is a big, sturdy cat but it seems quite friendly, you can stroke him/her, my DCs of 6 and 3 have stroked the cat too with no problems. My mum says the cat will probably be damaged and hard work. I'm wondering if that would be the case as she/he obviously desires human contact.

I'm worried about winter coming, and I guess because I had to witness the neglect of all those cats as a child I feel as though this is my chance to give one of them a nice life. We've got all the cat paraphernalia now so I feel as though three cats is not so different to two.

But, we are still new to cat ownership and our kittens are still so young. The timing isn't great.

What to do? I don't think the shelters are taking any cats in.

[cozietoesie]

.... another one kind of went mad ......?

My blood just boiled at that - and I'm not easily riled.

He'll probably be OK with your two, particularly if they came from a household with lots of animals. Kittens generally, in my experience, get on fine with older cats (and vice versa) and there are two of them to back each other up. They'll also have heard him calling outside the door and will likely have smelt him on you and the DCs - so will know he's around.

Why not give it a try? He'll likely need neutering, defleaing and deworming etc shortly but that's all standard. You could start off by allowing him, say, in the kitchen and keeping them all slightly separate till you see if there's any shenanigans. I reckon it will go OK.

[issey6cats]

i would say it would probably work too especially as youur two are the younger ones, he will probably be so grateful for a proper home aswell, being outside for a while he will need fleaing and worming and neutering, but cant see why a graduated introduction into your house shouldnt go well, my cats are all different ages and from different places and they all live together ok, the odd spat but most of the time they huddle together in a big fur ball and sleep togehter

[cozietoesie]

Do you actually have 6, issey - or is that out of date?

[JuliaScurr]

www.cats.org.uk/
they might help

[citybranch]

Sorry, just to clarify, the abandoned cat miaows outside my mum's place. We are in another town about 20 mins away, so our kittens haven't encountered the stray or heard it at all,
DH and I think it's worth a go...a trial run at least. I would be so happy to give it a nice life, after what the others went through.

I've just had a zoo plus order arrive and they've sent almost 200 pouches of Felix instead of the litter I ordered. I called them and they've said I can keep all the Felix and they'll re-send the correct order! Great service and maybe it's the universe telling us to adopt the cat.. Nice thought!

[ratbagcatbag]

Go for it, worse case a shelter has to take him if it doesn't work, best if you hae another lovely companion :)

[cozietoesie]

Sorry about that, citybranch - I got the impression somehow that you were close by.

I think I'd still go for it. He'll have a bit more to contend with - new neighbourhood and house as well as the kittens - but he should still recognize you and the DCs. And as issey6cats said, he'll probably be so pleased to have somewhere warm and 4 squares.

A gradual introduction should be planned, I think. Keep him in a room at first with a tray, a blanket or towel and lots of cuddles (vet as soon as possible with worming, fleaing, and neutering scheduled) and let the kittens smell his scent and hear his miaows. Your judgment on the actual introductions when you see how things are going.

Best of luck - with catching and boxing him as well!

[Fluffycloudland77]

Do it, we introduced a mom cat to her kitten a year after seperation, and a stray a couple of years after that and apart from a few skirmishes etc it was fine.

Ours all hated each other but I cant say it was a problem. They just pretended each other didnt exist.

My current cat is too dominant to have another cat introduced and I'm longing to take in a rescued older cat but it would be cruel to the older cat.

[issey6cats]

just to clarify when i joined mumsnet yes i had six cats since then sadly one has passed away and the other one went off with my ex husband to live with OW,(long story ) so now i am really issey4cats and a dog but like my name on here so dont want to change it,lol OP good luck with adopting this lad and fantastic about the felix pouches wishes someone would do the same cock up for me especially when i am carting supplies back from asda in the rain

[SummerRain]

The stray should be fine with the kittens, it'll be greatful of food and warmth. If the kittens are anything like my two of similar age they'll just be inquisitive and playful. New cat will either let them know it wants to be left alone or snuggle up with them, we've had a mix of reactions fron my older cats, generally males are more tolerant of kittens whereas females will hiss and ignore.

[sashh]

You have to take him in, you have all that food for him to eat.

[citybranch]

Thanks for all your advice. I kept thinking about him last night as it was pouring with rain so I think we'll do it.

[Fluffycloudland77]

Oh thats so kind of you, poor puss out in the rain and cold... no one to love him... Have you got the cat carrier out yet?