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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:
Thread gallery
73
BuryingAcorns · 01/11/2022 18:33

Get some soil and a big litter tray to encourage him to use the tray.

Spend some time lying on the floor with the kitten on your chest. Your toddlert can do the same, supervised. The kitten will hear and feel your heartbeat and connect with you.

We once rescued a very young kitten from a family who were going to drown it Sad. To teach him how to wash, as he'd left his mother before she could teach him, we painted melted butter onto his fur and paws, and he licked it off. It worked. he learned to groom.

Gently handle him as much as possible so he gets used ot human interaction. Whether you keep hin or not (KEEP HIM!!!) this will help him settle in a new human home.

A cosy box with a hot water bottle under a cushion inside it will help him stay warm overnight

Original poster
softplayfail · 01/11/2022 18:27

@LeMoo I praised him thru gritted teeth.

Why does he sit on the windowsill and like grind his teeth and make a chattering noise?

OP posts:
GiantKitten · 01/11/2022 18:12

softplayfail · 01/11/2022 17:59

I'm so bad at this kitten owning business. He stood behind me when I was washing up and I had no idea. And I turned around and stood on his tail causing him to make all his fur stand on end. Such a bad cat mum

Oh god, I remember posting on FB about this stage - we had 2 kittens, and they were constantly mixing it with my feet in the kitchen and yelling when stood on 😩
(They do stop eventually…)

LeMoo · 01/11/2022 18:07

Ah poor kitty, he was so proud! Did you praise him when you stopped squealing?

I had a cat who would insist on snaking their tail into doors just before they closed, you feel terrible but honestly they can be daft sods sometime.

Original poster
softplayfail · 01/11/2022 17:59

I'm so bad at this kitten owning business. He stood behind me when I was washing up and I had no idea. And I turned around and stood on his tail causing him to make all his fur stand on end. Such a bad cat mum

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thegruffalosbum · 01/11/2022 17:30

softplayfail · 01/11/2022 16:34

@Soubriquet sounds delightful. Making mental note to leave buckets of water away from peppa.

I knew cats hunted but he's a baby and it was a spider and my toddler ate at least a leg. Kid won't eat anything I cook but dreamies and spider legs are right up there on toddler delicacies

😂😂😂

Soubriquet · 01/11/2022 16:37

I had a cousin who used to lick snails when she was a toddler. Would go around the fences finding any stuck on and give them a good lick. The actual fleshy part not the shell.

She was the fussiest eater ever too

Original poster
softplayfail · 01/11/2022 16:34

@Soubriquet sounds delightful. Making mental note to leave buckets of water away from peppa.

I knew cats hunted but he's a baby and it was a spider and my toddler ate at least a leg. Kid won't eat anything I cook but dreamies and spider legs are right up there on toddler delicacies

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Soubriquet · 01/11/2022 16:33

Could be worse. My cat is a sadistic twat.

She used to catch live mice and then drown them in a bucket of water.

Would just drop them in and wait for them to drown from exhaustion

Toddlerteaplease · 01/11/2022 16:32

You are supposed to thank them for their gifts......

Toddlerteaplease · 01/11/2022 16:31

🤣🤣🤣🤣

Original poster
softplayfail · 01/11/2022 16:29

@Allergictoironing I feel slightly sick

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Allergictoironing · 01/11/2022 16:23

I remember Girlcat coming into the room looking very smug, with still waving legs sticking out of her mouth. She does like a spider that one.

Soubriquet · 01/11/2022 16:17
Grin

that’s hilarious

Original poster
softplayfail · 01/11/2022 16:13

Confession time. He bought me over the spider and I obviously squealed because it was both dead and you know a spider. He dropped it and looked thoroughly pissed off I didn't accept his gift with the praise he wanted.

He decided to eat it. Ok first of all ew. Second of all my toddler decided to help.
It's only Tuesday and I had to yell do not stick that in your mouth! I wish I'd just stayed at work and canceled my annual leave

OP posts:
LeMoo · 01/11/2022 16:11

softplayfail · 01/11/2022 16:09

Peppa caught a spider. His first kill

Way to go, peppa. Took my feral kitten years to graduate to living creature!

Soubriquet · 01/11/2022 16:10

Clever Peppa

Original poster
softplayfail · 01/11/2022 16:10

Play time

Help? I've acquired a very young kitten?
OP posts:
Original poster
softplayfail · 01/11/2022 16:09

Peppa caught a spider. His first kill

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LeMoo · 31/10/2022 18:08

Oh that picture! 😍

Like your Toddler learning how to be gentle, Peppa also needs to learn. He should grow out of it, which is where litter mates come in handy - they really do have needles on their paws at that age!

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 31/10/2022 18:01

Your DD won't understand that Peppa is a little feral kitten but hopefully she'll learn from this .
(My DS did he was pestering our old cat , I kept dragging him away and telling him "No" . Cat told him "No" , he listened ! )

Toddlerteaplease · 31/10/2022 17:54

She won't do that again!

Original poster
softplayfail · 31/10/2022 17:16

My daughter received a scratch today. Drew blood. She tried dragging his toy fishes from him when he was playing and he got her. If you like me thought that cats had claws at the end of their paws your wrong. My daughter has decided there called ouchies and he hurt her with his ouchies.

OP posts:
Toddlerteaplease · 31/10/2022 17:11

Omg just look at him
Holding his tail. Cuteness overload!

Original poster
softplayfail · 31/10/2022 16:24

Tired

Help? I've acquired a very young kitten?
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