HELP I have found a kitten in my garden

[technicallychallenged]

So yeah just that really
It's a little tabby kitten and it looks youngish I would say less than a year old.
DD(5) told me there was a strange cat in the garden I told her to leave it be. (She usually says things like that to get out of going to bed)
Anyway I went to take the rubbish out and there was a cat looking at me. It looks very thin and pitiful and it had no collar and it broke my heart so I took it in and gave it a little water and a little tuna.
I am wondering what to do now. Any help please?

[qazxc]

When you say kitten, how small is it? old enough to be away from it's mother?

[Gileswithachainsaw]

Tbh. Vet. Kittens get soooo sick so quickly and I know it's not yours but it's cold and if it's tiny he really should be with his mummy. :(

[LaurieFairyCake]

At a year old it's a full grown cat

Is he angling for some warmth and snuggles cos his mums put him out?

[cozietoesie]

I think you may be stuck with it for the night. Do you have a cat of your own or any neighbours who can give you some cat food or something to serve as a cat tray?

Is it a girl or a boy do you know?

[LaurieFairyCake]

Keep it in until you find out whose it is?

[technicallychallenged]

It's definitely old enough to be away from it's mother. Having said that I don't really know how old it is exactly because I have never had a cat myself so I am sure about it's age/size.

[crazynanna]

Knock on the neighbours to see if they have lost a kitten? But if it's thin, it may have strayed quite a way maybe and been lost a while.

Otherwise, take it to the vets to check for microchip. If not...then congratulations! You are now a cat slave/human

[cozietoesie]

PS - is it settling or anxious?

[SkateLife]

Agree with others, ask locally and get it scanned at the vets for a microchip.

Bet your dd is pleased.

[technicallychallenged]

No-one on this street has a cat as far as I know which is why I took it in. I will take it too the vets as soon as I can to check the micro chip if it has one. And I will ask around. I am waiting to call my DH who has actually owned cats before so he may have a better idea than me.

[technicallychallenged]

It seems settled it's sitting on a chair just looking around.

I haven't showed DD the cat but I can see an I told you so mummy coming when she does see it.

[crazynanna]

If he/she is lodging with you, you need a makeshift litter tray and somewhere to sleep that is quiet and warm (blanket in a box).

Old square washing up bowl/roasting tin lined with newspaper sort of thing.

[FeastOfPhteven]

Can you pop a photo on so we can see him? Might be able to guesstimate an age and I love a kitty photo

[Gileswithachainsaw]

Don't give it any milk. :) water only to drink, can u etbykir dh to bring some cat food home? Failing that chicken and tuna is ok but get some cat food ASAP

[crazynanna]

for litter tray that is (old washing up bowl,etc) Sorry..red wine

[Gileswithachainsaw]

Get your dh. This phone is pissing me off now

[technicallychallenged]

Thanks crazynanna I shall get too it.
I can't post a photo because I am on the rubbish laptop and DH took the nice one to work.

[cozietoesie]

If it's just sitting that's fine - you know me. I was busy imagining a young Mum who was desperate for food and has left her babies somewhere.

See what you can do about a makeshift tray - a seed tray or a roasting tin with some shredded paper will do. (Just needs to be reasonably roomy and low lying.)

Phone your DH. Does he pass a supermarket on the way home?

[cozietoesie]

I do hope Sparkling doesn't find this thread. Destiny is beginning to seem a little adversarial to her!

[technicallychallenged]

DH reckons the cat is about 9ish months old however she is on the small side. We shall ring the vets tomorrow and try to take her down but I don't know how it will work on a Sunday.

[cozietoesie]

I don't know where you are, technically but do you have a Pets at Home Service near you? I've not used them myself but other posters have and I think I recall that they have a Sunday Service at reasonable cost. (You'll always get a vet on Sunday but some of them use pretty expensive Out Of Hours services and as you're only really wanting a quick check and a chip scan (?) that may be too much for you.)

My own vet would do a chip check for free but I don't know whether that would be the case for an OOH vet.

Other posters may comment.

Do you think you shall be keeping her if an owner can't be found?

[technicallychallenged]

Thanks cozietoesie there is one not far from us, we shall ring round tomorrow and ask about prices.

I don't know if would keep her. We could afford to and it would make the DCs Christmas but there is the responsibility of a cat which has to come into it plus we don't really know her temperament yet and how she will react to the DCs/ whether she may have other behaviour problems.

[girliefriend]

It will be expensive to see a vet on a Sunday I would have thought, maybe try the cats protection league for advice. They are normally very helpful.

have you checked him/her for fleas? Does it seem keen to get out again?

Otherwise provide food, water and somewhere for it to go the toilet!!

[cozietoesie]

The responsibility of a cat does have to be taken very seriously - although I do think it's good for youngsters to be brought up with that. (And the fun of a pet also, of course.)

Her behaviour sounds immaculate so far, at any rate for a cat who has maybe been on the streets. I'd be guessing she was brought up in a household at the very least because she doesn't sound too wary of humans. You'll be able to tell over the next short while.

[girliefriend]

When I was worried about my cat one wend I rang up the oohs number and she said it would be £90 for a consultation

If you can make wait til mon I would