Help? I've acquired a very young kitten?

[softplayfail]

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.

Yes put him in a box maybe with hot water bottle wrapped lots of blankets like you do with puppies.

Also post a pic 😉

You are very unreasonable to tell us this sorry tale without a pic

Bless him and RIP mum

Thank you for looking out for him , congrats you've got yourself a floof

This is him. Again I'm saying him. Could be a girl. My cat knowledge is non existent

Aww bless poor thing.

Box with blankets, maybe a cuddly toy.

Aw look ♥️

A cuddly toy is a good idea, and lots of soft things for him to burrow in to. Poor little thing.

Pu a hoodie on back to front so the hoodie is hanging sown in front of you and pop the kitten in there. He will be nice and warm and be able to see you but will leave your hands free fo the toddler. Buy kitten food when you can as that is higher in protein and fat than adult cat food.

He'll be OK in a big box as long as he has food, water and some blankets, just look in on him every now and then. If he's wet he might get cold. Could you put a well wrapped up hot water bottle at one side of the box so he has the option to cuddle next to it. Don't put him on top of it though, incase he can't get off and over heats. He might not know how to use a litter tray, so check any blankets to make sure he hasn't weed on it. You could try putting out a tray with soil, as that's what he'd wee on outside? But not sure if he'll have learned that yet.

2 year old is adamant he's called peppa. In case it's not obvious she's massively into peppa pig. Husband wants to keep him but he's high on painkillers..
If I go to morrisons and get food do I just get kitten food? Is it biscuits or tins of wet? I used to throw out ham and chicken for mum and I assume he was nibbling It too
He's purring away so must be doing something right.
He is in a box with a peppa pig Teddy donated by toddler. Given him a blanket.

You are doing all you can for him just now. Put out water and use the cat food for now. No milk or human food. Is there a room you could put him in out the way of your child? Keep an eye out for hazards like small toys, cables, plants. He’s going to need somewhere to toilet. What colour are his eyes - are they blue still?

Oh my goodness, he's beautiful 😻

We feed our kitten wet food but leave some dry food for him too.

Very cute and you will have a strongly bonded cat if you do keep the kitten. Thank you for rescuing him/her!

Get some expert advice on re-hydration - is there a local vet or rescue centre you can call? It may be very de-hydrated being suddenly without the mother cat. The kitten looks good, but treat it until it is a bit younger until it is up and eating/drinking well.

Oh bless him (or her.) If you want to know the sex, look at the back end under the tail. If it looks like an upside down exclamation mark then it's a girl. If it looks like a colon (punctuation not the body organ) then it's a boy.

Don't give milk (you haven't mentioned milk so I presume you're not doing, so that's good.) You can buy special kitten milk which doesn't have lactose or whatever it is that a lot of cats are sensitive to.

You will need a litter tray as he is too young to go outside (I realise he's been living outside up to now.) He will probably use it instinctively but, if not, put him after a meal and keep him in it until he uses it.

Cut a bit of turf and a handful of leaves and put that in a container that’s shallow enough for him to step into. He’ll hopefully toilet in that as it’s ‘outside’ .
looks old enough to manage alright without mum now . He’ll need worm and flea treatments but let the vet nurse deal with that since he’s so tiny.
your husband may be off his tits in painkillers but the man is talking sense . Keep him :)

Yes you will find kitten food in the supermarket, I would get wet and dry nd obviously provide water as well. If you dont want to keep him the vet will be able to tell you of local rescue centers that would take him and given his age he would probably be fostered.

When we were kids kittens used to leave mum at 6 weeks, so he is probably weened fine.

Just wet food and water or kitten milk.

Definitely make him part of your household x

His eyes are bright blue. I mean let's be honest I'm going to end up keeping him. I'm already calling him Peppa and he's only been inside 45 minutes. I'm off to morrisons at some point. Ill get some tins and biscuits. So milk is a no? Just stick water down?
The vet said they can see him tomorrow but if I seem overly concerned I can go as an emergency. He seems OK. I mean he's clearly terrified and tired and probably confused. Probably doesn't help when the 2 year old wants to be where he is.
I'm sure bringing home a baby wasn't as confusing as this

Your husband is right, you got to keep him/her.

Kitten food, yes, you might need to mush it up for the little one though. A bottle of cat milk might be useful for calories too. Keep an eye, some kittens that age haven't worked out how to lap yet.

Your vets may lend you a crate to keep kitten and his/her things in which will keep them safe while you get on with things.

Because its yet to be wormed, make a sure you hand washing thoroughly after handling.

Fb marketplace has loads of cat beds, carriers etc going v cheap or free thanks to the fickle nature of felines and many of them are unused so you'll be able to pick up what you need cheaply.

Have a look at Kitten Lady's youtube channel. She fosters kittens and has loads of informative info. Tesco definitely sells lactose free kitten milk, and wet and dry kitten food, not sure about Morrisons, but if you're near a Pets at Home or something similar they'll definitely sell it.
Keep an eye out for soiling. He may need help emptying his bladder and/or bowels. Theres videos on this on the kitten lady youtube channel too.

A warmed wheat pack wrapped underneath a fluffy blanket in a bed for him will keep him v snug and when it comes to beds if you can get a covered one (pyramid/igloo) they're best for them at that age.

Feliway spray and classical music brilliant for calming stressed or frightened cats.

@that1970shouse we have a little boy! Your explanation was so handy.

I'm off to pets at home for peppa the cat I didn't know I was getting but who is apparently staying.

Also if hes very young you are probably worth getting a little teat to feed him kitten milk

He looks old enough to be just fine with some tlc.

Yes to keeping him in a hoodie. Kitten food is best for him in tiny amounts, not the entire tin at once - the vet will be able to help with nutrition. Dry food won't work at this age.

Something you will need to do is start teaching him where he can go to the toilet. Each time he eats, take him to the place (small litter tray or box lined with newspaper in the immediate time), place him on it and gently stroke his sides and, if you have baby wipes/damp toilet roll, a gentle wipe around his bum to encourage him to go.

He'll be happier and safer with a little box and a jumper/towel kept near your head overnight - as it'll reduce his chances of getting lost or your DP squishing him whilst he's stoned on painkillers.

As you'll be getting quite well acquainted with his backside, you should be able to get a good idea if he's actually a George, rather than a Peppa, from a photo.