Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Mumsnet classics

Relive the funniest, most unforgettable threads. For a daily dose of Mumsnet’s best bits, sign up for Mumsnet's daily newsletter.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

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
Soubriquet · 27/10/2022 18:58

softplayfail · 27/10/2022 18:54

Why does he have a 30 minute spree in the morning and night when he's absolutely crackers and just runs around like a lunatic

It’s the meowing hour.

Original poster
softplayfail · 27/10/2022 18:54

Why does he have a 30 minute spree in the morning and night when he's absolutely crackers and just runs around like a lunatic

OP posts:
Blowyourowntrumpet · 27/10/2022 18:48

I once found a very malnourished kitten who was about 8 weeks old and he was really affectionate immediately and followed me everywhere. I only kept him for a few days because my cat hated him. It broke my heart when I handed him over to the RSPCA.

Original poster
softplayfail · 27/10/2022 18:35

@70isaLimitNotaTarget it's strange cos mama cat wouldn't come near us. She wouldn't hiss but she'd bolt if we got too close and when she had Peppa with her she'd sort of stand in front of him and arch up if she thought we got too close. She'd take the food we left once we were inside.
I honestly don't know if she was going elsewhere. She was always in our garden when I pulled up in the car and was waiting for food. When I first bought Peppa inside he wasn't aggressive. Just terrified.

OP posts:
70isaLimitNotaTarget · 27/10/2022 18:29

It's interesting that he is so friendly , I wonder if him and his mum had other human interaction ( another CatSlave Wink )
Kittens have a narrow window of socialisation.
Our two (young adults when we got them) were garden born/feral and rescued by CPL . They worked n their socialisation.
We knew our boy was very shy before we even met him.
Our female cat is stroppy fiesty !

He doesn't like even the slightest change . He feels settled with his house, routine, garden but still glares at me . (Loves DD)

You're on track to have a ovely cat in your life , though he'll start hankering after going out to The Big Outdoors again . (Once he's had his little Gentlemans' Snip )

EmmaH2022 · 27/10/2022 17:35

softplayfail · 27/10/2022 17:27

@EmmaH2022 he's recovered well from his tumble.

He's discovered his tail and has spent a good morning chasing it

Excellent!

Toddlerteaplease · 27/10/2022 17:27

👋 Peppa!

Original poster
softplayfail · 27/10/2022 17:27

@EmmaH2022 he's recovered well from his tumble.

He's discovered his tail and has spent a good morning chasing it

OP posts:
EmmaH2022 · 27/10/2022 17:19

X posted

hiiiii! Is he okay?

Blowyourowntrumpet · 27/10/2022 17:17

Hi Peppa 👋👋

Original poster
softplayfail · 27/10/2022 16:44

Peppa says hi

Help? I've acquired a very young kitten?
OP posts:
EmmaH2022 · 27/10/2022 16:44

If I ever win the lottery, I think I will help fund cat care.

iloveeverykindofcat · 27/10/2022 13:16

He's looking great! We had exact same thing when one of mine was a baby. She had a fall on New Years Eve. Rushed her to emergency vet, £80 to walk in the door.

Her leg was bruised.

Both my cats are insured now. Kittens are generally quite....bendy though. And they heal fast.

EmmaH2022 · 26/10/2022 20:44

Thanks LeMoo.

LeMoo · 26/10/2022 19:34

And sorry you have pneumonia :(

LeMoo · 26/10/2022 19:33

@EmmaH2022 thank you :)
Sounds like you've got it sussed, she's interested and thinking

EmmaH2022 · 26/10/2022 19:22

*pot not plot!

EmmaH2022 · 26/10/2022 19:21

LeMoo
i love your username!

she swishes it round the pot slowly, then back round her arse, then back to the plot. It would be like a human using a yo-yo while thinking about something. Mum often says "ooh she's got a lot on her mind today". If one of us goes to another room, she will jump off the sill and follow.

basically, when she comes by, she likes to know what we are doing at all times. If I go round the garden deadheading, she will sit and watch. Same with my sister, she tends to follow her a lot. She always sits on my sister's chair.

she followed mum into someone else's house the other day.

she's mum's neighbour's cat, I just say "neighbour" as I spend a lot of time there.

I have pneumonia so obviously have to keep away from mum and I miss the cat so much ☹️😳

LeMoo · 26/10/2022 19:03

@EmmaH2022 do you mean she swishes it from side to side constantly or just likes wrapping it around the plant pot?

The tempo of swish can be quite telling!

From what you've said, I'd guess she's just not entirely relaxed being in your home. Interested but might not appreciate being disturbed.

You sometimes see it when they're watching prey, it can be a sign of concentration almost.

Donepaying · 26/10/2022 18:57

LeMoo · 26/10/2022 12:34

🤣 these are hilarious

My friends cat destroys blinds at night in attempt to look out the window so they're not cat-proof either!

Not a cat but I like this story www.countryliving.com/uk/wildlife/pets/a35251213/limping-lurcher-copying-owner-viral/

Yes I loved this too .. saw it on the news- dog limps along with dad and then went into a field with mum and was doing zombies 😂😂😂😂

EmmaH2022 · 26/10/2022 18:51

LeMoo · 26/10/2022 18:35

Just alert and watching strangers go buy. If their owner came up to stroke then they'd probably purr but in the meantime they're watching strangers and birds and dogs and other cats.

Show quote history

thanks

to be clear, this is in our house, not her house, if that makes a difference. She will just sit there, swishing her tail round the plant, looking at us doing whatever we are doing.

RoachTheHorse · 26/10/2022 18:43

@EmmaH2022 😝

LeMoo · 26/10/2022 18:35

EmmaH2022 · 26/10/2022 17:53

I hope Peppa is okay.

I have a question about the cat body language posted earlier. It shows a swishy tail as irritable, but neighbour's cat often sits on the windowsill with her tail swishing round the plant pot. She seems to like hanging out there and doesn't show any other signs of irritability. Could the guide be wrong?

Just alert and watching strangers go buy. If their owner came up to stroke then they'd probably purr but in the meantime they're watching strangers and birds and dogs and other cats.

EmmaH2022 · 26/10/2022 17:54

RoachTheHorse · 26/10/2022 17:47

We once woke in the middle of the night to our cat dangling from the picture rail by his two front paws. He was absolutely barmy

too much TV, was he imitating a cartoon? 😂

EmmaH2022 · 26/10/2022 17:53

I hope Peppa is okay.

I have a question about the cat body language posted earlier. It shows a swishy tail as irritable, but neighbour's cat often sits on the windowsill with her tail swishing round the plant pot. She seems to like hanging out there and doesn't show any other signs of irritability. Could the guide be wrong?