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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
softplayfail · 25/10/2022 15:47

@EmmaH2022 i will do one when home. I'm just convincing my daughter to go to the dentist

OP posts:
GonnaGetGoingReturns · 25/10/2022 15:45

softplayfail · 25/10/2022 15:24

@Soubriquet I'm sure I said I didn't want a cat but here we are. Wouldn't be without him. He loves the dog crate. Though that's possibly down to rhe fact that my daughter can't get to him.

Helped her hold him today and explained about body language in basic language. But I've explained that we do not pull any part of his body

ha! Cats will soon let people know if they want to be left alone... or if they want to be with people.

GonnaGetGoingReturns · 25/10/2022 15:45

OP - he's so cute! Smile

EmmaH2022 · 25/10/2022 15:38

Thanks OP
I know I said I wouldn't ask for a teacup photo, but...

is he up to 500g yet? No, it's too soon, i know.

softplayfail · 25/10/2022 15:24

@Soubriquet I'm sure I said I didn't want a cat but here we are. Wouldn't be without him. He loves the dog crate. Though that's possibly down to rhe fact that my daughter can't get to him.

Helped her hold him today and explained about body language in basic language. But I've explained that we do not pull any part of his body

OP posts:
Soubriquet · 25/10/2022 15:21

He’s 100% settled in isnt he

Toddlerteaplease · 25/10/2022 15:18

🥰🥰🥰🥰

softplayfail · 25/10/2022 15:17

Peppa update

Help? I've acquired a very young kitten?
OP posts:
GonnaGetGoingReturns · 25/10/2022 14:15

I'd advise your DD, she can pick up the cat occasionally - e.g. when you're there... but show her the correct way to pick him up, so he's supported.

Might be a good idea to show him Cat tv on an ipad.

GonnaGetGoingReturns · 25/10/2022 14:12

softplayfail · 24/10/2022 16:34

Ok serious note guys. My daughter keeps pulling his tail and she's been scratched three times today. I am not mad at Peppa cos quite frankly If I had a tail and someone tugged on it I'd be pissed too. I separate them and tell her gentle hands. He has a scratcher she can't reach and he has plenty of hidey holes. But he follows her everywhere and vice versa

Just keep on telling your daughter not to pull his tail. Tell her he's not a toy.

I think I did similar with our childhood cat when I was 4/5. Kept on pulling his tail (poor Tigger!) - and of course one day he scratched me badly. I'm sure my mum slapped me for good measure too but she had no sympathy for me and all of it was for the cat! (it was in the kitchen).

Words · 24/10/2022 19:43

Place cat ing. Brilliant thread.

Three cheers for OP but would absolutely echo the advice of not allowing the child alone with him for an instant.

Pulling/swinging / dropping / impact injuries / feeding of unsuitable or toxic stuff can easily happen and can be life threatening/ changing.

Continue to re enforce Peppa is a baby cat, not an animated soft toy.

Oh and keep sending pix. Thank you!

outdoorcushions20 · 24/10/2022 19:20

Sounds like that kitty has truly landed on his/her feet! Gone from being a bedraggled orphan to being tucked up warm inside with a loving family. Hope he/she brings you many years of joy.

LeMoo · 24/10/2022 19:03

@EmmaH2022 they're all chancers!

EmmaH2022 · 24/10/2022 18:57

LeMoo · 24/10/2022 18:48

...possibly of cupboard love

Oh, we don't feed the cat, we'd never do that.

LeMoo · 24/10/2022 18:48

...possibly of cupboard love

LeMoo · 24/10/2022 18:48

@EmmaH2022 yes it's a v good thing :) sign of love!

EmmaH2022 · 24/10/2022 18:44

Re tails
the cat next door to mum wraps her tail around mum. I have assured mum this is a good thing, right? She adores my mum, I think she thinks she is her mum.

Toddlerteaplease · 24/10/2022 18:43

And as for my day I've missed him so so so much. Slight confession I've checked my phone messages. Asked how our daughter is 3 times. Asked how Peppa Is 6 times. As for my husband he got a quick you ok at lunch.
How did I cope without a kitten in my life? Does he have to become a cat

Omg I live this.

Soubriquet · 24/10/2022 18:34

Dd dropped our cat on her head when dh stupidly left them unsupervised.

It caused her to have a small fit, but luckily she was ok and has had no lasting side effects.

Dh learned his lesson very quickly and never left them alone again until they were all old enough to understand.

Toots now would never left them pick her up. She barely tolerates me doing it. I only do it as a last resort such as carrying her in from outside or out of a bedroom she isn’t supposed to be in

softplayfail · 24/10/2022 18:32

@EmmaH2022 I've met cats. But never spent time with them. We moved to this house and there was this tiny cat outside which was Peppas mum. And honestly I fed her because I felt sorry for her. I didn't want her in the house but I was happy to put out scraps of food and things. I was planning to catch her with the help of a colleague and get her done when she popped up with the kitten now known as Peppa.
I fell in love with Peppa because of how pissed off he was. It was chucking it down and he was drenched. He was hissing and swiping and when he finally got dry he had this proper sulky look and I laughed at him.

I wonder if that storage box would fit in my front room 🤔

OP posts:
LeMoo · 24/10/2022 18:32

Just wait til you see the pre-pounce bottom wiggle though 😁

LeMoo · 24/10/2022 18:30

Great body language diagram!

Unlike dogs, when cats wag their tails it means 'stop/I don't like that/I might bite you' which is a good early lesson to teach your dd.

Some cats like to keep you on your toes by going from purring to biting with no such warning but we call them arseholes.

softplayfail · 24/10/2022 18:28

@TheLongRider I agree. I've told her 'mummy will give you a hug but you were warned that Peppa will scratch you if you do that'. I'm teaching her when he's sleeping, eating or in the litter box to leave him alone.
I'm going to save that photo and go through it with her

OP posts:
EmmaH2022 · 24/10/2022 18:27

softplayfail · 24/10/2022 18:23

Should have bought a crate I can fit into so I too can hide from the toddler

I'm only going to stick Peppa in when I can't watch them both. I really don't think she's trying to hurt him. I just don't think she understands that it hurts him. So if I'm cooking tea or need a wee Peppa will have to go in the crate.
Husband is telling me how it's amazing I went from no pets to fully fledged cat person in 4 days

Have you met cats much before? I feel like a lot of people don't like cats till they spend time with them.

somewhere to hide for you - oddly enough...

www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/4662174-anyone-need-something-to-transport-a-dead-body?reply=120985335

LeMoo · 24/10/2022 18:26

I was just looking back at your opening posts, op, you fell hard! 😁

How's that No Toddlers Welcome sign coming along?