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Original poster

Help? I've acquired a very young kitten?

962 replies

softplayfail · 20/10/2022 16:21

We've had a female cat visiting in the garden for about 7 months. We actually thought she belonged to someone but we discovered she had no home and was a stray. We were planning on catching her a couple of months ago but she disappeared. Anyway she reappeared and had a litter in my garden. Well I say litter. One kitten. Numerous attempts to catch her have all failed. She was happy to take food from anyone but would never let us touch her

Mum cat was found dead on the side of the road this morning. I feel so guilty as it is.

Anyway I've got the kitten inside. It's pissing it down. He's soaked. At a guess I'd say he's at most 6 weeks. He's been eating the food we've left for mum. He fits in the palm of my hand. I know nothing about cats really. Especially one this small

So I've booked him into the vets tomorrow. Earliest appointment

I have a 2 year old and a husband in bed from an appendicitis emergency.
So I'm on my own really

So questions
What do I do?
What do I feed him?
I've dried him with a towel and he's now all fuzzy but he's screaming murder

My 2 year old won't leave him alone but I can't split them cos she can't be left alone and he's like a tiny little thing. Any suggestions? Could I put him in a box for now? Just so he can sleep without being poked

Ok I don't know what to do.

OP posts:
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73
Original poster
softplayfail · 02/11/2022 15:46

@LeMoo I should be disgusted with myself. I really should. But I'm not. I'm really not

OP posts:
LeMoo · 02/11/2022 15:44

softplayfail · 20/10/2022 18:42

@ilukp when I went outside to pick up the screaming soggy pile of fluff I actually muttered 'we are not keeping it, I just won't see you suffer in the rain'.
Famous last words! I have never been a big animal fan. I really haven't but there's something about him. Plus he's lost his mum. He's welcome to the family.

12 days...

12 days from this to personalised Christmas stockings and searching for Rescue Kitty No 2😍🤣

Grumpyoldpersonwithcats · 02/11/2022 15:40

I do like the cut of your husband's jib. 😹

Original poster
softplayfail · 02/11/2022 15:34

@Soubriquet I'd honestly like to say this isn't true but I never wanted a cat full stop..and I've just ordered him a personalised Christmas stocking so you know

OP posts:
LeMoo · 02/11/2022 15:32

I love the way this thread is going!

Soubriquet · 02/11/2022 15:29

softplayfail · 02/11/2022 15:25

Asked my husband if he would be up for getting a playmate for Peppa and he shrugged and said and I quote 'I've wanted cats for years, can get 6 more if you want'.

Grin

dangerous slope. You’ll go to the rescue centre, see the big eyes and hear the pitiful mews and then actually come home with 6 more

CatChant · 02/11/2022 15:26

softplayfail · 02/11/2022 15:25

Asked my husband if he would be up for getting a playmate for Peppa and he shrugged and said and I quote 'I've wanted cats for years, can get 6 more if you want'.

That’s the right sort of husband. Smile

Original poster
softplayfail · 02/11/2022 15:25

Asked my husband if he would be up for getting a playmate for Peppa and he shrugged and said and I quote 'I've wanted cats for years, can get 6 more if you want'.

OP posts:
OrangePumpkinLobelia · 02/11/2022 15:21

[sighs with satisfaction] deffo one of us now @softplayfail . It's kitty magic.

OrangePumpkinLobelia · 02/11/2022 15:06

softplayfail · 02/11/2022 14:48

Would one about 4 months be similar age cos I've seen one good with kids and he's only 4 months and my hearts melted

I would think that sounds pretty good to me!

CatChant · 02/11/2022 15:03

@softplayfail Oh, you are one of us!

Mine have always been littermates but yes, it can work with an age gap. I know people who got a second kitten a year after the first. The kitten and the young cat adored each other and still sleep snuggled up together now they are stately seniors.

Antonia White’s Minka and Curdy is the story of how she introduced a roly-poly ginger kitten to a very spicy and jealous older Siamese kitten and how they settled down happily - eventually.

PerrinAybara · 02/11/2022 14:48

We got 1 kitten as we have older cats and thought kitten would be fine with them. But kitten wanted to play much more than they did. He has been much happier once I caved and brought in kitten number 2. They race around together, and play fight and have a great time whilst the older cats look on.

Original poster
softplayfail · 02/11/2022 14:48

Would one about 4 months be similar age cos I've seen one good with kids and he's only 4 months and my hearts melted

OP posts:
Blowyourowntrumpet · 02/11/2022 14:47

If you're thinking of getting another, then I'd suggest one of the same age and a slow introduction. They do keep each other entertained though

OrangePumpkinLobelia · 02/11/2022 14:40

Yes in my experience 2 are usually better but would caveat that by saying get another one around his age and quite young so he has someone to play with. We have usually had cats of vastly differing ages and our older cats have always been quite vocal about their annoyance with a young-un wanting to clamber all over them.

Original poster
softplayfail · 02/11/2022 14:40

I am not on cats protection website at all

OP posts:
CatChant · 02/11/2022 14:38

Oh what a gorgeous little face.

I would always have two kittens.They provide company and entertainment for each other, and it is lovely to see them playing together.

GonnaGetGoingReturns · 02/11/2022 14:33

softplayfail · 02/11/2022 14:29

On a serious note I dunno, I get the sense that he's bored and we are very poor substitutes for a kitten buddy.

You don't 'have' to get a kitten buddy at all.

Like I said, it could be an older cat (not geriatric maybe!) but a younger one, his own age, just means he has someone to play with.

His siblings may have found other homes or come to other sad ends.

What I found when having sibling kittens, myself was they looked out for each other, re fighting or attacks from other cats and are just good companions for each other - so more of their own kind.

I won't lie to you - 2 siblings can be killing machines! But then, they cannot be too!

hugglesfor4 · 02/11/2022 14:31

I got my 2 kittens in September and I find it's less work having 2 than 1. They play together and sleep together. I don't feel guilty for not having lots of spare time to play with them.

Yes - there's 2 litter trays to clean out but they're soooo much fun to watch when they're playing. My youngest calls them kitten tv!

This is them now after playing with a toy mouse

Help? I've acquired a very young kitten?
GonnaGetGoingReturns · 02/11/2022 14:30

iloveeverykindofcat · 02/11/2022 14:25

@GonnaGetGoingReturns I just found a picture of Zara when she was a slinky. I think she's 6-7 months here.

IMO OP, two kittens are much easier than one as they play with each other. But it's double the amount of visual monitoring - is one up a curtain, behind a radiator etc? And you also have a young child to watch (though on the other hand this means your house is slightly more kitten proof). Most kittens love to play with other kittens and its great for their development. There is, however, a slight chance they'll turn on each other when they get older. Its rare though. More likely they'll lose some interest in each other but still be fine together.

aww she's gorgeous! very slinky! He just used to do moon shapes with his back and body!

Original poster
softplayfail · 02/11/2022 14:29

On a serious note I dunno, I get the sense that he's bored and we are very poor substitutes for a kitten buddy.

OP posts:
ilukp · 02/11/2022 14:27

Two are normally better than one because they can play with each other and cuddle up to each other when there are no humans around.
It isn't much more work to have two rather than one. You will probably need an extra litter tray - and need to keep on top of the emptying and cleaning a bit more.
It will be more expensive obviously - more food needed, double the vet bills for innoculations and so on on.

Grumpyoldpersonwithcats · 02/11/2022 14:26

Being serious, I have always got kittens in pairs (except once when I took 3 😹). My experience is that them playing together results in less collateral damage to people, because they learn limits. They may or may nor stay really bonded in later life, but all of ours rub along quite happily as adults. And yes, they definitely wear each other out and sleep well as a result.
So two kittens definitely equate to less work and stress. (Except for cleaning the litter tray and feeding).
We have four cats at present (2 aged 4ish and 2 aged 11ish). They are very low maintenace (three of them are asleep in the same room as me at present).

iloveeverykindofcat · 02/11/2022 14:25

@GonnaGetGoingReturns I just found a picture of Zara when she was a slinky. I think she's 6-7 months here.

IMO OP, two kittens are much easier than one as they play with each other. But it's double the amount of visual monitoring - is one up a curtain, behind a radiator etc? And you also have a young child to watch (though on the other hand this means your house is slightly more kitten proof). Most kittens love to play with other kittens and its great for their development. There is, however, a slight chance they'll turn on each other when they get older. Its rare though. More likely they'll lose some interest in each other but still be fine together.

Help? I've acquired a very young kitten?
Original poster
softplayfail · 02/11/2022 14:08

You guys are kinda like my pet gurus and oracle of all knowledge. Are 2 cats better and honestly if 2 are better how much extra work are we talking?
All I want is Peppa to be happy at the end of the day

OP posts: