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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
Words · 10/11/2022 16:49

:O :O

This is so true. I have always thought cats have at least three names. The ones you give them... and the others they know and reveal to you over time.

My darling Tom, for example is actually a William, and Bella Is Katie.

My third cat has a name so fitting and outing- well she is the exception that process the rule.

YesItsMeIDontCare · 10/11/2022 15:27

The Naming of Cats

The Naming of Cats is a difficult matter,
It isn't just one of your holiday games;
You may think at first I'm as mad as a hatter
When I tell you, a cat must have THREE DIFFERENT NAMES.
First of all, there's the name that the family use daily,
Such as Peter, Augustus, Alonzo or James,
Such as Victor or Jonathan, George or Bill Bailey—
All of them sensible everyday names.
There are fancier names if you think they sound sweeter,
Some for the gentlemen, some for the dames:
Such as Plato, Admetus, Electra, Demeter—
But all of them sensible everyday names.
But I tell you, a cat needs a name that's particular,
A name that's peculiar, and more dignified,
Else how can he keep up his tail perpendicular,
Or spread out his whiskers, or cherish his pride?
Of names of this kind, I can give you a quorum,
Such as Munkustrap, Quaxo, or Coricopat,
Such as Bombalurina, or else Jellylorum-
Names that never belong to more than one cat.
But above and beyond there's still one name left over,
And that is the name that you never will guess;
The name that no human research can discover—
But THE CAT HIMSELF KNOWS, and will never confess.
When you notice a cat in profound meditation,
The reason, I tell you, is always the same:
His mind is engaged in a rapt contemplation
Of the thought, of the thought, of the thought of his name:
His ineffable effable
Effanineffable
Deep and inscrutable singular Name.

T.S. Eliot (of course 😊)

Original poster
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

OP posts:
LeMoo · 10/11/2022 15:01

Well avoiding glass baubles is one thing but dispensing with the Christmas tree altogether is just no fun at all!

YesItsMeIDontCare · 10/11/2022 14:59

Toddlerteaplease · 10/11/2022 14:41

New cat needs to be called George. I suggest a Christmas tree might not be a great idea this year and definitely avoid glass baubles and that lametti stuff!

There's a reason why one of my Christmas Card images this year is this one 😁

Help? I've acquired a very young kitten?
SoupDragon · 10/11/2022 14:45

Toddlerteaplease · 10/11/2022 11:49

@SoupDragon I had the same issue with Magic and Maia, before I got to know their personalities really well, to tell them apart. Collars were really handy! Though I discovered the expensive way, that long haired cats can't see collars, when I cut Maia's neck trying to remove a knot.

They have very, very slight differences which you can see if you look hard enough but quick identification is very tricky

Help? I've acquired a very young kitten?
Toddlerteaplease · 10/11/2022 14:41

New cat needs to be called George. I suggest a Christmas tree might not be a great idea this year and definitely avoid glass baubles and that lametti stuff!

Toddlerteaplease · 10/11/2022 11:49

@SoupDragon I had the same issue with Magic and Maia, before I got to know their personalities really well, to tell them apart. Collars were really handy! Though I discovered the expensive way, that long haired cats can't see collars, when I cut Maia's neck trying to remove a knot.

LeMoo · 10/11/2022 11:35

@softplayfail if you haven't tried it already, at some point you must wrap him in a towel or blanket for a cuddle. All my cats have loved it and the rescue kitten I had used to go all limp when he was wrapped up and snuggled as a adult.

SoupDragon · 10/11/2022 10:57

RoachTheHorse · 10/11/2022 10:47

Snap collars are great. My cat can take them off so he doesn't wear a collar 🤣. He puts a paw up under it and pulls until the snap breaks. He used to do it for his brother too 😭

Yeah, they last a maximum of a week in my house. Same for my last cat too.

It's a PITA as my current cats are pretty much identical black ones and the different coloured collars were very useful 😂

RoachTheHorse · 10/11/2022 10:47

Snap collars are great. My cat can take them off so he doesn't wear a collar 🤣. He puts a paw up under it and pulls until the snap breaks. He used to do it for his brother too 😭

Athenajm80 · 10/11/2022 10:28

I'm sure with all your new cat knowledge you are aware of this, but make sure the collar is a snap off one (especially when Peppa starts to go outside). Also don't let him in the room with a Christmas tree if he is unsupervised as tree lights and unsupervised kittens can have horrible accidents.

Sorry for the sad tone. Back to worshipping the cuteness of Peppa's little face 😁 Tomorrow is AGES away, can't you get the other kitten now! We neeeeed to see him.

WinterLobelia · 10/11/2022 10:12

I have just googled cats at the RSPCA and Cat Protection near us. No kittens available right now. We have 2 adult cats who had a rough transition with each other when the second one arrived as an adult so think a kitten might be easier to integrate. Sigh. How much I would love a kitten. How much I love this thread!

MsMiaWallace · 10/11/2022 10:08

Love how excited you are for a ex non cat parent!

LeMoo · 10/11/2022 09:52

😁 @softplayfail if ever there was a mn cat, I think peppa is it!

Have you thought about names for Kitten No 2? Does your dd know she's getting a second?

Poor little thing, bet he doesn't get put out the room again til he's bigger!

@SoupDragon I used to do the same lol

Can't wait til you have 2 kittens...and a Christmas tree Grin

SoupDragon · 10/11/2022 09:48

softplayfail · 10/11/2022 09:40

He was pouncing on my feet last night so I put him out of the bedroom. Not even 30 seconds of pitiful meowing outside the bedroom door was all it took for me to open the bedroom door and smother him in cuddles and kisses and tell him I would never abandon him

Then placed him on my husbands side to practice his pouncing

This reminds me of my first cats. I used to sneakily wiggle toes/fingers on my ex's side of the bed so he got pounced on.

Original poster
softplayfail · 10/11/2022 09:40

He was pouncing on my feet last night so I put him out of the bedroom. Not even 30 seconds of pitiful meowing outside the bedroom door was all it took for me to open the bedroom door and smother him in cuddles and kisses and tell him I would never abandon him

Then placed him on my husbands side to practice his pouncing

OP posts:
EmmaAgain22 · 10/11/2022 09:37

Oh my god! Fabulously cute.

did I miss his name?

i showed Peppa to mum in the hospital yesterday and she really likes him.

Original poster
softplayfail · 10/11/2022 09:36

@LeMoo she said and once again I quote 'everything seems good, you clearly know what you need for a kitten and are well prepared and knowledgeable'. 2 minutes cats protection lady while I dig this thread up and show you the fountain of my knowledge. Because like 3 weeks ago all I knew was cats meowed and thanks to Tom and Jerry was going to give him his weight in milk from the fridge. Instead I nodded and pretended I was the cat genius.

On a side note my husband has told me that when we argue and I tell him he's wrong he's going to use Peppa to point out my colossal wrongness

OP posts:
Toddlerteaplease · 10/11/2022 09:16

Great news! Can't tell you how much I love this thread. It's such a joy to read.

LeMoo · 10/11/2022 09:15

Oh, look at him!

He is soooo pretty!

Congrats on the home visit, Mrs Im-not-a-pet-person!

Original poster
softplayfail · 10/11/2022 08:42

@WinterLobelia it's a kitten collar on the smallest setting and it's still a teeny bit big but essential so we can hear his bell. He's been stood on a couple of times and I definitely want to avoid that

OP posts:
WinterLobelia · 10/11/2022 08:39

Oh he has a teeny tiny collar! How cute!

I am so looking forward to hearing about your second kitten. :)

Original poster
softplayfail · 10/11/2022 08:37

Morning

Help? I've acquired a very young kitten?
OP posts:
thegruffalosbum · 10/11/2022 07:31

This thread gets better every day 😍

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