Urgent new kitten advice please

[Nenemum]

Posting here for traffic.

About to go and see a potential new pet kitten. Can anyone give me advice on what to look for seeing a kitten in situ please things like the kitten’s general condition, whether it’s important to see it with its mother or not, if it’s mewling too much or not enough whether that’s important, what to listen out for in the seller’s sales pitch (I don’t know if they’re a breeder or not yet, this is someone my mother has found locally), what a good price is, what vaccinations to ask if it’s had done yet and so on.

Thankyou

Oh no.

Can you go back and get the mother? Six weeks- it should stay with its mum for at least another month. It will make a huge difference to the kind of cat it turns out to be.

@Skeumorph

Oh no.

Can you go back and get the mother? Six weeks- it should stay with its mum for at least another month. It will make a huge difference to the kind of cat it turns out to be.

Too late - the OP only wanted a pat on the back for “rescuing” the kitten and has said she’ll start a new thread in the Litter Tray because she didn’t like the replies she got here.

Kittens are apparently approx 100g at birth and should then gain about 100g per week when they are small (this is what my vet told me when I found a very young stray kitten and took it straight in to be checked over). So if yours is under 500g it is either only 4 weeks old or very underweight for 6 weeks.
Please don't treat your kitten with any OTC commercial flea treatments, they can have treatment but it has to be prescribed by a vet (my stray was absolutely jumping with fleas and the vet sprayed him with a flea spray that was suitable for tiny kittens)
Also - please please report that lady to the RSPCA, the cats and kittens are being kept in terrible conditions and not being looked after properly (or at all) from what you describe.

@Nenemum

Yes *@Lunde* a vet visit was mentioned almost immediately this thread started, but unfortunately like many MN boards it snowballs into Chinese whispers via people commenting before reading the whole thread. So what starts out as advice please, looking at a kitten today today, turns into, got kitten out of filthy house, and then onto I’m going to report you to the RSPCA for breaking the law. Good old MN, hasn’t changed since 2009. If you want to comment further, please find me on the Litter Tray board now instead, where the real cat experts are.

Literally no one has said that they're going to report you We've suggested that you should report the seller

The thread might have gone better if you hadn't claimed to have done loads of research when it's clear you know very little, and then disregarded all the advice given anyway

@WaltzingBetty
I was making no comment about the weight or age of OP's kitten.
I was merely suggesting that posters who claim that kittens shouldn't be rehomed until 12 weeks are incorrect. I'm perfectly happy to follow the advice of Battersea who are happy to rehome at 8-9 weeks.

[quote Grumpyoldpersonwithcats]@WaltzingBetty
I was making no comment about the weight or age of OP's kitten.
I was merely suggesting that posters who claim that kittens shouldn't be rehomed until 12 weeks are incorrect. I'm perfectly happy to follow the advice of Battersea who are happy to rehome at 8-9 weeks.[/quote]
Ummm... I was quoting the OP's assumption not yours

OP the only possible thing to do is to get the kitten to a vet ASAP.

Sounds like it is underweight for its age which is quite likely if it's riddled with fleas and possibly other parasites too.

If you have other cats do not allow the kitten to mix with them, it may be carrying diseases such as FIP as well as the fleas.

This kitten needs to see a vet asap, surely? If it really is 500g it's either a very underweight 5+ week old kitten or a much younger kitten who might need extra care.

@Warmduscher don’t be so ridiculous and dramatic. OP hasn’t rescued a kitten, she’s been duped by the kitten owner and doesn’t like the argumentative replies when all she’s asking for is good, simple, expert advice. If you want a fight, go and play on Facebook instead, you’ll find your people there. I’ve moved to Litter Tray board because posters there are concerned about animals not having a bunfight.

@WaltzingBetty no couch claim was made at all. Complete fabrication on your part. I said I’d read lots of webpages from various cat charities, rescue centres and big brands. I posted on Chat for traffic but should have stuck to the more specialised cat board instead. Luckily this thread self detonates in 30 days (insert rolling eyeballs emoji)

[quote Nenemum]@WaltzingBetty no couch claim was made at all. Complete fabrication on your part. I said I’d read lots of webpages from various cat charities, rescue centres and big brands. I posted on Chat for traffic but should have stuck to the more specialised cat board instead. Luckily this thread self detonates in 30 days (insert rolling eyeballs emoji)[/quote]
No couch claim?

Also you seem to be confusing Chat with the 30 days only topic.

[quote Nenemum]@Warmduscher don’t be so ridiculous and dramatic. OP hasn’t rescued a kitten, she’s been duped by the kitten owner and doesn’t like the argumentative replies when all she’s asking for is good, simple, expert advice. If you want a fight, go and play on Facebook instead, you’ll find your people there. I’ve moved to Litter Tray board because posters there are concerned about animals not having a bunfight.[/quote]
I agree you haven’t rescued a kitten. However you did post this, which suggests you think you have:

It feels like more of a rescue than a purchase.

Anyway, I’m sure you’ve got lots of posts to reply to on your other thread, so don’t let me keep you

I’m not a cat person and I am sure the cat is lucky to have been given a chance with you but please don’t say you have “rescued” it you have incentivised the crazy cat lady to keep doing this.
Please report her to the rspca.
I hope it turns out well for the kitten but I’m sure kittens that come from such environments can easily come with all kinds of health issues.