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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
Toddlerteaplease · 11/11/2022 14:34

Get a tangle teaser and a metal
Comb for his coat.

Toddlerteaplease · 11/11/2022 14:33

That's amazing news!! Not that I've been refreshing this thread for an update at all. Time is going to drag until
Tuesday!

softplayfail · 11/11/2022 14:30

Ok we love him. Absolutely love him. He's gorgeous with big green eyes. He's 4 and a half months and slightly long haired. No photos yet. His rehoming had to be delayed because he had a nasty case of cat flu which is why he's alone. His siblings have all gone home. So we've agreed to leave him today (sobbing while leaving the rehoming centre), he's getting neutered tonight or Monday and we can collect him Tuesday all being well.

OP posts:
LeMoo · 11/11/2022 14:07

Yes, I think they need help deciding!

Toddlerteaplease · 11/11/2022 13:37

I tagged HQ to put it into classics a while ago!

LeMoo · 11/11/2022 13:34

I've nominated this thread for Classics, apparently Mn have a board for deciding these things - who knew?!

RoachTheHorse · 11/11/2022 13:23

Hope you've taken a cat box for the journey home...Wink

softplayfail · 11/11/2022 13:21

On our way. I'm so excited!

OP posts:
Toddlerteaplease · 11/11/2022 11:04

Keeping all our paws crossed here, for your meeting with potential new kitten.

Chemenger · 11/11/2022 10:24

My last pair of kittens and several foster cats all ignored the Christmas tree. We were actually a little bit disappointed that there were no shenanigans. Well one foster did sit behind the tree hissing for a month, but that wasn’t much fun.

Lorddenning1 · 10/11/2022 23:09

I did this to my tree last year and my 2 kittens didn't go near it Grin

Help? I've acquired a very young kitten?
Help? I've acquired a very young kitten?
Help? I've acquired a very young kitten?
Plump82 · 10/11/2022 21:45

Make sure Christmas decorations don't have any fake snow. It's really dangerous to cats.

softplayfail · 10/11/2022 20:41

I wouldn't put him in a jumper. Promise.

OP posts:
NotanotherboxofFrogs · 10/11/2022 20:14

Please avoid the jumper on Peppa but if you do it, it goes on for just long enough to take a couple of photos and off again. 90 seconds tops as a once off. It's uncomfortable for them but a very short time if you just want a few pictures might be tolerated.

Re the Christmas tree, this is my tree after my cats destroying it overnight after I put it up last year. I said lots of words that my cats ears shouldn't hear.

Help? I've acquired a very young kitten?
LeMoo · 10/11/2022 20:12

I love how you talk about Peppa's character...tiny cat, big personality :)

Help? I've acquired a very young kitten?
Pinkittens · 10/11/2022 19:59

softplayfail · 10/11/2022 15:10

Should I be working? Yes yes I should..
What am I actually doing?
Researching names for kittens and wondering if Peppa would let me put him in a Christmas jumper

Please don't put a cat in a jumper! They will hate having it put on and hate wearing it and most of these stupid novelty jumpers for animals are made from cheap acrylic or polyester which traps in heat, it's so unpleasant and hot and alien for them and they can't get it off by themselves or tell you how uncomfortable it is.

I know you might only have been joking but as you're a new cat owner (or perhaps some others reading might be, too) I feel duty bound as a cat owner of many years to say please don't go down the road of novelty dressing up etc.

Chemenger · 10/11/2022 19:32

I think Christmas jumpers are possible, here’s our cat in his Halloween outfit.

Help? I've acquired a very young kitten?
softplayfail · 10/11/2022 19:24

@hoooops twins!!

OP posts:
hoooops · 10/11/2022 19:20

Love this thread and just thought I'd add a photo of my kitten who looks a bit like your little one.

Help? I've acquired a very young kitten?
Papergirl1968 · 10/11/2022 19:20

We took the flap off our hooded litter tray.

WinterLobelia · 10/11/2022 19:04

cats love randomly tapping things.

Help? I've acquired a very young kitten?
softplayfail · 10/11/2022 18:50

I'm liking tickle. So far were thinking george, tickle has now been added, Harry, another from the toddler is bluey or bingo. Getting another kitten and thinking of names has also made me realise how much tv my daughter watches. But meh.

So tomorrow we meet potential kitty number 2. Peppa is destroying my house. We bought him a hooded litter tray on the advice of pets at home and the vet and he just sits there and bats the door and looks at me and I swear he shrugged at me.

I think at some point I may have to start a new thread.

Cats protection league have said our home check lasts a while if we don't bond so no worries there

I am loving all the cat photos

As for the Christmas tree I will be definitely not putting anything delicate on it. Peppas already broken 2 cups. Why does he just randomly tap mugs?

Husbands got the fun task tonight of explaining why my daughter has to use the toilet and that no she can't have a litter box of her very own. He seems to have this under control.

Sorry ramble over.

OP posts:
CatChant · 10/11/2022 18:17

Kitten in a Christmas jumper, hmm, only if you want to be lacerated I’d think.

I’d second storing your fragile Christmas decorations this year. They don’t mix well with kittens. But you will get some lovely pictures of happy, whiskered, little faces peering through the branches of your Christmas tree. So do make sure it’s secure if you don’t want it to come crashing down.

LeMoo · 10/11/2022 17:16

Love TS Elliot :)

I'm going to suggest 'Tickle' for Kitten No2.

Words · 10/11/2022 16:49

*proves

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