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.

Well, it's going to make them happier so I reckon productivity will get a boost!

Dog crate dropped off. Toddler thinks it's her and has crawled right in and taken her toys. Would it be wrong of me to lock her in there instead and put Peppa into her cot instead? Slightly joking. Now to coax her out

No, no...I would never dream of doing that. Never.

Sweetheart are you going to come out and help mummy make it all lovely for Peppa

Long pause

No it's my house

Ok so can Peppa have your bed then with all your toys and quilt

Yep

Ok that backfired on me

🤣

This is pretty much life with cats though, they won't sleep wherever you provide.

You'll have to wait til she's in bed, op! And hope she doesn't spend the night in Toddler Zoo!

Could have saved a fortune when I was pregnant if I knew she was going to want to sleep in a crate

Be aware though, even if you do get Peppa in the crate, he will cry because he wants to be with you

Should have bought a crate I can fit into so I too can hide from the toddler

I'm only going to stick Peppa in when I can't watch them both. I really don't think she's trying to hurt him. I just don't think she understands that it hurts him. So if I'm cooking tea or need a wee Peppa will have to go in the crate.
Husband is telling me how it's amazing I went from no pets to fully fledged cat person in 4 days

Animals have thing of doing that.

My dh is terrified of spiders. I have a pet spider that he actually really likes

I taught my DD at that age that if the cat/kitten was sleeping, they had to be left alone. Picking up by the tail is a no-no. I never blamed the cat if DD got scratched because the cat was only defending itself.

If you and your DD can learn cat body language it'll make everyone's life easier.

I was just looking back at your opening posts, op, you fell hard! 😁

How's that No Toddlers Welcome sign coming along?

Have you met cats much before? I feel like a lot of people don't like cats till they spend time with them.

somewhere to hide for you - oddly enough...

www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/4662174-anyone-need-something-to-transport-a-dead-body?reply=120985335

@TheLongRider I agree. I've told her 'mummy will give you a hug but you were warned that Peppa will scratch you if you do that'. I'm teaching her when he's sleeping, eating or in the litter box to leave him alone.
I'm going to save that photo and go through it with her

Great body language diagram!

Unlike dogs, when cats wag their tails it means 'stop/I don't like that/I might bite you' which is a good early lesson to teach your dd.

Some cats like to keep you on your toes by going from purring to biting with no such warning but we call them arseholes.

Just wait til you see the pre-pounce bottom wiggle though 😁

@EmmaH2022 I've met cats. But never spent time with them. We moved to this house and there was this tiny cat outside which was Peppas mum. And honestly I fed her because I felt sorry for her. I didn't want her in the house but I was happy to put out scraps of food and things. I was planning to catch her with the help of a colleague and get her done when she popped up with the kitten now known as Peppa.
I fell in love with Peppa because of how pissed off he was. It was chucking it down and he was drenched. He was hissing and swiping and when he finally got dry he had this proper sulky look and I laughed at him.

I wonder if that storage box would fit in my front room 🤔

Dd dropped our cat on her head when dh stupidly left them unsupervised.

It caused her to have a small fit, but luckily she was ok and has had no lasting side effects.

Dh learned his lesson very quickly and never left them alone again until they were all old enough to understand.

Toots now would never left them pick her up. She barely tolerates me doing it. I only do it as a last resort such as carrying her in from outside or out of a bedroom she isn’t supposed to be in

And as for my day I've missed him so so so much. Slight confession I've checked my phone messages. Asked how our daughter is 3 times. Asked how Peppa Is 6 times. As for my husband he got a quick you ok at lunch.
How did I cope without a kitten in my life? Does he have to become a cat

Omg I live this.

Re tails
the cat next door to mum wraps her tail around mum. I have assured mum this is a good thing, right? She adores my mum, I think she thinks she is her mum.

@EmmaH2022 yes it's a v good thing :) sign of love!

...possibly of cupboard love

Oh, we don't feed the cat, we'd never do that.

@EmmaH2022 they're all chancers!