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!

Some humans do. Other humans do not. I wouldn’t go out if my way to harm any animal but certainly wouldn’t be staying up all night to nurse a kitten who will not survive.

Sadly I have to agree with you. If it was old enough to fend for itself it could survive in one of those cat shelters you see in Greece and Turkey but it's so young I don't think it will live long. Perhaps its mother rejected it for a reason, she might have known it was too weak.

After feeding it and loving it I couldn't just abandon it. I think, illegal or not, I'd try to smuggle it home with me. I'd give it a good feed first then most likely it would sleep on the plane. I'd feed it in the loo on flight if need be. I know people will think I'm reckless but I couldn't leave it unless with someone who would care for it. I would try to do that as my first option.

Judging by this post, I should have left the kitten we rescued to die, with a bit of help, TLC, he’s now living a great life!
We can’t change the life of every animal but we changed the life of that one cat we rescued.
Empathy and a little kindness goes a long way.

@GulesMeansRed we know you wouldn't. I hope you enjoy your holidays without a care for any living thing that might need your help.

@CatLadyEnthusiast My two were also dumped kittens with little chance of survival - but someone did bottle feed them and here they are 5 years later loving life! They were found in the uk though not abroad.

This was what I was thinking.

Great. Bring rabies into the country so hundreds or thousands of animals in the UK can die a horrible death. Well done.

I took on a feral kitten who was found on a building site. When she was finally pts she was nearly 22 years old. That was in the UK but this kitten will most likely still be feral and struggling to survive even if it lives. I really don't hold out much hope.

Do not attempt to smuggle it in. That really would be a disastrous end to your holiday.

It's a shame as if it was the UK the OP could keep it, or far more easily find a rescue with people who could hand-rear it. Unfortunately, being in Turkey and about to leave she has far less options. It's sad but unfortunately I imagine the attrition rate for kittens there isn't low.

It's very kind of you but the security saying "they know where the mum is" seems akin to telling a child their elderly dog has gone to live on a farm

Exactly. I think I'd go for the having it put down option too.

And potentially bringing infectious diseases into the U.K. doesn't concern you at all?

If you feel really bad about the kitten then you could make a point of giving money to a cat charity working in the area or rescue an abandoned cat that's in the UK.

it might have bloody rabies🙄

It really isn't. Hats off to OP for trying to find someone to care for the kitten but, if she can't, this would be the next best thing. Far better than what would happen to the kitten if OP just leaves it.

It really is awful 👍

You think it's better to abandon it? Righty ho.

I'm really sorry to update but it's not a happy ending. I spoke to security who said they looked for the mother but she was nowhere to be found, and the kitten didn't make it through the night. I reached out through about 5 different channels last night to try and find a solution, or someone to take it, but no luck. Very sad but at least during its short life kitten had lots of warm cuddles down my top (against my sunburn!) and baby milk which it did eat up. Will be giving my cat at home a big cuddle when we get home later tonight.

I think the OP was trying her best, I have a cat myself. Some of the comments on here are awful. Don’t make assumptions about me, thanks.

Thank you for trying your best op x

did it lick, scratch or nip you? if so you need rabies shots

I once found 5 newborn puppies lying in the middle of the street, in one of the poorer South American countries. I took them to the hotel in a cardboard box and the staff there were so nice … they immediately took over the box and told me they would bring them to this special charity place immediately. I was young and ignorant… later people told me this happens to tourists all of the time and hotelstaff is trained to handle this kind of situations. They probably got dumped somewhere.

Oh, that's sad Op but you did a wonderful thing there caring for the little kitten, you were very kind. Like you said the kit had some love from you in it's short life. It's So heart breaking all the cats and kittens that must die out there. Some areas of the world still need educating about animal care /welfare.

Yes. Get jabbed. Street animals shouldn't ever really be approached, let alone touched, picked up, stroked or cuddled.

It's another reason why an early death in the street or a quick despatch is far preferable.