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Lost kitten, was I wrong.

118 replies

timeforacoffeebreak · 29/09/2024 12:25

I found a kitten on Friday afternoon whilst picking my child up from school. It was in the playground, and as I was about to leave I saw a group of older children picking up and dropping this kitten, then chasing it around the playground.
I ended up picking her up and taking her home. She's no more than 12 weeks old.
I've posted it online on all of the lost cat groups I can, and the local ones I can find. Loads of shares, but nothing.
I've taken her to the vets, they said perfectly healthy little thing, but no chip.
I've put up posters near where I found her and a little around where we live.
She was grubby, and her claws are incredibly worn, and almost black at the tips, but she is very friendly.
My family thinking I was being unreasonable to take her home (we are only a few mins walk away from where I found her) and that essentially I have just stolen somebody else's cat.
But in my opinion, I've saved her from a bad situation, and I'm trying to find her owner. I couldn't have left her there, terrified. And the school is near a very busy main road.
Kittens that young that aren't chipped OR spayed should NOT be out like that!?
We have 2 cats already, so we are able to provide for her for the time being, and if nobody comes forward, we will keep her.
Was I being wrong here? What would you do?

OP posts:
Hedgerow2 · 29/09/2024 13:21

Of course you did the right thing. I hope the posters don't include a photo of her or you could get anyone saying she's theirs. No photo means anyone claiming her has to describe her to you.

But honestly, I would take posters down and keep her. She's come from rubbish circumstances and deserves a home with you. Well done!

EachandEveryone · 29/09/2024 13:20

I would stop looking for her owner. They will probably only breed from her. They clearly don’t care.
Here is my kitten found afew weeks ago aged about seven weeks. I made no effort to find her owner. She was with her sister and I don’t think would’ve survived much longer outside. She now stops around my flat like lady muck and her sister lives on a ginormous house with human siblings. I have no regrets.

Lost kitten, was I wrong.
whynotwhatknot · 29/09/2024 13:19

you savdd her shes lovely absolutly the rigt tthing and if someone turns up make sure she atually is theres

ThinWomansBrain · 29/09/2024 13:19

You've done the right thing, give her lots of cuddles and keep her safe.
Leave the posters up for a couple of weeks, then take them down.
If she belonged to someone local, they'd have seen them by then - I do find it distressing when posters like that stay up for months.

Jaehee · 29/09/2024 13:18

ClockworkDisaster · 29/09/2024 13:16

Sounds like she is from a feral litter. You did the right thing.

Feral kittens usually aren’t friendly and you’d expect to see more as they stick together. I agree with pp that she was dumped by a BYB.

ClockworkDisaster · 29/09/2024 13:16

Sounds like she is from a feral litter. You did the right thing.

CatChant · 29/09/2024 13:15

Cross-posted.

And riddled with fleas, you say - definitely not a lost, loved pet.

I hope the children tormenting her got a few fleas too.

OhmygodDont · 29/09/2024 13:14

Possibly a kitten from a litter that couldn’t sell what with her being just black and white yet friendly. So many rescues over run with black, black and white kittens as they are less desirable.

She does look a lot bigger than my new 11 weeks old kitten though.

CatChant · 29/09/2024 13:10

You did absolutely the right thing, OP. A kitten that age should not have been outside and certainly not exposed to the ‘mercies’ of a pack of children treating her as a toy.

I could not have left her behind either.

You’ve alerted local vets and lost cat groups and I have no doubt you will keep an eye out for missing cat posters for her. An owner who cared could find you.

But being grubby and with incredibly worn claws doesn’t make it sound as though she slipped out of a loving home for an adventure and got lost. I think she’s your cat now.

I’d take down the posters you put up. Don’t run the risk of some random claiming her to hurt her.

She’s a dear little thing. I’m so glad she had you to rescue her.

WandsOut · 29/09/2024 13:10

Whoever let her out at that age isn't being a good kitten parent.

Keep her, keep her safe.

The previous owner wasn't doing so.

Smartiepants79 · 29/09/2024 13:09

There is nothing wrong with an outdoor cat, I’m not a big fan of cats being kept inside all the time myself. BUT a cat this small should not be out and about and you absolutely did the right thing. You’ve not stolen it and you’re trying to return it, or at least find out where it’s come from. I would have done the same thing.

BlastedPimples · 29/09/2024 13:09

You did the right thing.

Lucky kitten.

timeforacoffeebreak · 29/09/2024 13:08

LoobyDoop2 · 29/09/2024 12:54

You did the right thing, and if it was my kitten and I had lost it, I would be very grateful to you.
This is how I adopted my boy baby, about 25 years ago now. I originally put up “lost kitten” photos, but the vet I took him to said he was in such poor condition- he was riddled with fleas, mites and sores- that he shouldn’t be allowed to go back where he had come from. So I took the posters down and he stayed with me, and lived until he was 18.

That is such a sweet story! It seems that's how a lot of people gain their cats... or gain another cat 😆
I forgot to mention she was covered in fleas, so she's already received flea treatment and a bath here since being with us !

OP posts:
Jaehee · 29/09/2024 13:07

timeforacoffeebreak · 29/09/2024 12:40

Here she is everybody ☺️

She’s so cute! Her little sooty paws are adorable 🐾 😻

sunsetsandboardwalks · 29/09/2024 13:06

timeforacoffeebreak · 29/09/2024 12:51

For some reason she does look a lot bigger in pictures!! The vet had a look at her teeth and confirmed she was around that mark though. Though nobody really knows an exact age 😆

Haha fair enough! My last kitten was semi-feral and absolutely tiny at 12 weeks so my memory is probably a bit skewed Grin

Domainedor · 29/09/2024 13:05

You've done everything right (except that I'd be inclined to report the children to the school, particularly if you can identify one of the fuckers).

Oceanviews · 29/09/2024 13:03

You did the right thing OP. You've kept her safe, you're clearly experienced. I'd also take the posters down soon and keep her as you've tried to trace the owners. From what you said, maybe she was abandoned

Thudercatsrule · 29/09/2024 13:01

Thank you for doing the right thing x

Jaehee · 29/09/2024 13:01

Of course you’re not wrong. At this point I would take the posters down and keep her. You’ve done all you can to trace her owners. She’s clearly in safe and loving hands with you.

As for those children, there are no words.

ilovesooty · 29/09/2024 12:56

You've done the right thing. If you'd left her before long she'd have been pregnant.

And as for those children, one wonders what their parents are like.

FieldInWhichFucksAreGrownIsBarren · 29/09/2024 12:55

Cosycover · 29/09/2024 12:30

Cat distribution system at work.

I'm glad you found her and protected her.

Absolutely this.
You've done nothing other than save this baby from a shit situation.

LoobyDoop2 · 29/09/2024 12:54

You did the right thing, and if it was my kitten and I had lost it, I would be very grateful to you.
This is how I adopted my boy baby, about 25 years ago now. I originally put up “lost kitten” photos, but the vet I took him to said he was in such poor condition- he was riddled with fleas, mites and sores- that he shouldn’t be allowed to go back where he had come from. So I took the posters down and he stayed with me, and lived until he was 18.

Hoppinggreen · 29/09/2024 12:53

You have done exactly the right thing

spuddy4 · 29/09/2024 12:53

You need to check out the cat distribution system on TikTok, you've been chosen 😂

You definitely did the right thing.

timeforacoffeebreak · 29/09/2024 12:51

sunsetsandboardwalks · 29/09/2024 12:50

She is adorable - congratulations on your new cat Grin

She does look a bit bigger than I thought she would though - maybe older than 12 weeks.

For some reason she does look a lot bigger in pictures!! The vet had a look at her teeth and confirmed she was around that mark though. Though nobody really knows an exact age 😆

OP posts: