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.

Sounds like that kitty has truly landed on his/her feet! Gone from being a bedraggled orphan to being tucked up warm inside with a loving family. Hope he/she brings you many years of joy.

Place cat ing. Brilliant thread.

Three cheers for OP but would absolutely echo the advice of not allowing the child alone with him for an instant.

Pulling/swinging / dropping / impact injuries / feeding of unsuitable or toxic stuff can easily happen and can be life threatening/ changing.

Continue to re enforce Peppa is a baby cat, not an animated soft toy.

Oh and keep sending pix. Thank you!

Just keep on telling your daughter not to pull his tail. Tell her he's not a toy.

I think I did similar with our childhood cat when I was 4/5. Kept on pulling his tail (poor Tigger!) - and of course one day he scratched me badly. I'm sure my mum slapped me for good measure too but she had no sympathy for me and all of it was for the cat! (it was in the kitchen).

I'd advise your DD, she can pick up the cat occasionally - e.g. when you're there... but show her the correct way to pick him up, so he's supported.

Might be a good idea to show him Cat tv on an ipad.

Peppa update

🥰🥰🥰🥰

He’s 100% settled in isnt he

@Soubriquet I'm sure I said I didn't want a cat but here we are. Wouldn't be without him. He loves the dog crate. Though that's possibly down to rhe fact that my daughter can't get to him.

Helped her hold him today and explained about body language in basic language. But I've explained that we do not pull any part of his body

Thanks OP
I know I said I wouldn't ask for a teacup photo, but...

is he up to 500g yet? No, it's too soon, i know.

OP - he's so cute!

ha! Cats will soon let people know if they want to be left alone... or if they want to be with people.

@EmmaH2022 i will do one when home. I'm just convincing my daughter to go to the dentist

He looks so much bigger there, does he still fit in your hand?

Glad he's liking the crate :) Not to sound patronising but if you're a cat novice do you know that their hind quarters always need to be supported when picking up? Picking up under arms like a child is uncomfortable for them.

Thank you 😍

Oh, Peppa, you grow ever more beautiful!

Thanks for the updates, OP.
He's clearly thriving under your loving care and attention.

Hope your daughter got on ok at the dentist, and that your DH is recovering well from his op?

Settled in now isn’t he? Bet you can’t get anything done with him about!

So we ended up at the emergency vets last night. 😐
Peppa decided it was the master plan to climb up the stairs which he conquered very well. And then he decided to go down them and tripped over his feet and went tumbling down.
He cried. He was limping so we went to the emergency vets. Whoever suggested pet insurance is a lifesaver. He got 4 weeks free with pet plan and it kicked in immediately.
He's not broken anything thankfully. Just bruised and sore. In the dog crate today recovering.

Aww bless him, good job you got insurance.

Awww bless. Feel better soon xx

Awwww! Hope he feels better soon, that sounds like a very traumatic experience

op, you have to write a book called peppa gets in a pickle.

Not sure who was more upset. Me or him. Text to my husband at 10 pm was 'I am a horrible cat owner, he is broken!'

Remember, cats have nine lives!

Don't worry accidents happen. My lab when we just got him, followed my other dog jumping off a 1 foot wall. He yelped and was limping, took him to emergency vets. He was okay after an injection, got insurance the next day. Good job I did as when he was a year old, he had to have an op on his leg to have a benign tumour. Cost £500 and he had to go back again as he took some of his stitches out.

Oh no, you're really having a baptism of fire as a cat owner! V pleased he's OK- poor mite. Its always horrible when they're ill or hurt but he's still quite bouncy so should recover quickly.