I've found a newborn kitten in Lara Beach Turkey. What should I do?

[whatisdrowsybutawake]

Hi, posting here as I've tried every other avenue with no luck. This morning I found a newborn kitten outside our hotel in Lara Beach. It still has the cord attached to its belly so can't be more than a day old? Mother was nowhere to be seen, hotel staff looked everywhere and couldn't find her. We left kitten where we found it for ages but nothing. There were four other mother cats in the nearby area and we tried to merge kitten with those families but no joy, mothers rejected and hissed.

I took kitten to my hotel room and have fed it baby milk (I know not ideal but tried supermarket and there is no kitten milk). Couldn't find any condensed milk etc either as I've heard you can mix that up in an emergency. It's drinking and peeing as normal.

We leave tomorrow night, the local vet will not help as they can't commit to looking after a kitten so small. Reception unhelpful too. I've reached out to local groups on fb and nothing.

I don't suppose there are any mumsnetters in the area who would like to take the kitten when I leave? I'm honestly considering putting in my cardigan pocket and bringing back to UK but I know there's a hefty fine attached to that option if caught.. On hol with husband and 2 toddlers but managing to keep regularly feeding kitten, feels like having a newborn!

Picture below of course!

Yep, because that's exactly what people have suggested 🙄😂

But they're helping 😉

I think if we’ve learnt anything, we know who the compassionate humans are on here and who are not.

But it's not compassionate to take a newborn kitten, stick it down your cardigan and feed it baby milk from a supermarket

"But they're helping 😉"

Honestly, it's like banging your head against a brick wall 🤣

I don’t know anything about your cat, your holiday or any other detail. But in general, yes, tourists who ‘rescue’ feral cats are misguided.

It is the same logic as both are natural suffering so just leave well alone, right? Can explain what the difference is?

Because for most people, you wouldn't leave a human to suffer nor an animal. That's why Op looked for shelters when the mother didn't return and tried her best. That's why other posts suggested putting to sleep.

Exactly!
And the posters will now clutch at straws and try and say you can’t compare humans to animals, yes suffering is the same for everyone and one might argue it’s worse for animals as they can’t ask for help.
I am just glad I’m not as ignorant as these people.

PP like @cinnamonfrenchtoast are doing heroic work on this thread trying to explain the point and I think may be holding back a bit out of kindness to OP.

And yet I'm being called ignorant, horrible and lacking in compassion for trying to pass on the correct advice around newborn feral animals

I get that it's hard to see a newborn kitten alone.
I get that it's horrible to "leave them".

But unless you can take them to rescue or have the resources and time to care for them yourself for at least 6-8 weeks, then the best and kindest thing is to do is to do just that - leave them alone for mum to look after.

I know it goes against all our instincts to step in and help them because of how vulnerable they are, but taking newborn animals away from mum when you have no means to care for them long-term isn't actually very kind. At all.

This is a good resource explaining what you should do if you find feral kittens - based in America but the advice is solid and applies internationally.

https://www.alleycat.org/community-cat-care/finding-kittens-outdoors/

Would help if I included the link!

Basically, if they're under eight weeks, you leave them alone and monitor from a distance for at least a day. Don't touch them, don't move them (unless they're in danger from eg. fire or flood) and don't interfere.

You can provide food, water and shelter for the mother but you shouldn't approach her or the kittens unless absolutely necessary.

If they're visibly sick and/or mum doesn't come back within a day, then you can take them to the vet (where they'll likely be euthanised) or a shelter with a foster/kitten programme - probably not applicable in places like Turkey, so the options are really to leave them for mum or take them to be PTS.

Sadly yes

I'm sorry OP

And the cat was sick so she did the right thing according to your information, she also sought help which was also mentioned in the article you shared 🤷🏻‍♀️

The theme being if the cat is sick, seek help.

Yes you’re ignorant to another animals suffering.
You also didn’t respond to my previous post about leaving humans to suffer, I guess you couldn’t think of a good reason for leaving humans to suffer because all suffering is the same regardless of species but you think it’s ok to leave an animal to suffer.

The theme being if the cat is sick, seek help.

Yes, seek professional help, don't take it to your hotel room and give it baby formula and keep it in your pocket 😂

Yes you’re ignorant to another animals suffering.

Yes, heaven forbid I pass on the correct advice about dealing with feral animals 🙄

You also didn’t respond to my previous post about leaving humans to suffer, I guess you couldn’t think of a good reason for leaving humans to suffer because all suffering is the same regardless of species but you think it’s ok to leave an animal to suffer.

I didn't dignify it with a response because you're comparing apples and oranges in an attempt to try and make me look bad 🙄

So you base suffering on a species importance to humans, how did I know that would be your response 🙄

Keeping a kitten warm is helping, kittens can’t regulate their body temperature, generally most rescuers take the animal home and seek help via rescues/orgs which is what the OP did, you’re going against your own advice that you posted, it’s hilarious 😂
It’s a bit like saying don’t provide immediate help to a human involved in an accident until they get to the hospital, the help starts straight away to avoid death.

And for Saint RoyalGala to attempt to make herself look virtuous.

I’ll say it: people who equate a street animal with a dying or suffering human have a really fucked up set of values.

I’ll say it: people who equate a street animal with a dying or suffering human have a really fucked up set of values.

People who think nobody should suffer = fucked up values?😂😂😂

People who think a stray mangy kitten should suffer without even being put to sleep = ?🫢

It should have been left alone, so that nature could take it's course.
Absolutely do not try to smuggle in an animal thru the airport - irresponsible and criminal.

😂 Saint RoyalGala, that’s a new one. You’ve shown your true intellect by not answering the question, suffering is suffering, it’s dangerous to distinguish between the two and it shows that you lack a moral compass. You’re now trying to make compassion a bad thing 🤦🏻‍♀️

Where I live we have a similar issue with baby deer. People finding them alone, picking them up and taking them home to try and find help for them.

It has been explained many a time on local Facebook pages that touching and moving a baby animal is the worst thing you can do.

However, for some people loudly 'helping' an animal and showing everyone what a lovely person they are, is far more important that what is best for the animal or even logical! As shown on this thread; I can't believe people were actually egging on the OP in her ridiculous idea to smuggle the poor thing onto the plane.

@QuietDragon

The advice is to leave alone for several hours and then contact a rescue centre. OP did say that she left it for a long time and then she started trying to find a rescue centre. She also admitted that she knew she couldn't smuggle it out.

"She also admitted that she knew she couldn't smuggle it out."

Only after being told exactly why she shouldn't and that her toddlers would likely end their holiday with armed police pointing guns at their mother.