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.

My mum called it mad half hour when I was a kid 🤣
(Many many years ago!)
we call it zoomies now, and there’s also greeble activity (when they stay in one place fighting things we can’t see!)

We call it witching hour when the car runs round like crazy at dusk. The kids do it too!

Your DH 's recovery has been hastened by the arrival of Peppa , obviously he's a Pet As Therapy Cat .

Our two will go fron loungeing about to shadow boxing each other like two little March Hares when DH isn't quick enough with supper .
No Zoomies but they'll sprint up the garden

My favourite word at the moment, which I learned recently, is crepuscular, which apparently means active at dusk & dawn.

Pretty much describes a cat

If you'd like another good cat term, try 'primordial pouch'. It's the official term for your cat's wobbly belly 🙀.

I agree. It's a great word that I only learnt when we adopted a cat last year.

Ahem !
My cats will have you know that's their Winter Fat Store .
Just in case the Breakfast/Dreamies/Supper routine grinds to a halt and they find themselves living wild .

And the Whisker/Width ratio

Not sure how relevant it is to fitting their bidy through a gap (mine have long whiskers and culd fit a London Bus through let alone their lardy arses )

But if they eat in a bowl that rouches their short whiskers they don't like it .
Male Cat whined at me till I swapped his food to a bowl with the wavy scalloped edges . (I'm sure he'd have coped but any excuse to whine at me )

My cat right now has her big fluffy winter coat on.

It’s so soft. She’s got that fed up of me touching her, that she has perfected the walk where she bends in the middle. It’s amusing to watch. Not so amusing for my pet free hands

@Grumpyoldpersonwithcats love primordial pouch 😍 but surely it's a human hand trap?

Oh, the cookie pouch!!

😂i know this bend! Like they become boneless in the middle!

Loving this thread. I'm delighted that Peppa has found such a caring home after his rocky start.

Not wishing to derail, but when he is a month or so older he might love a kitten playmate to join him in his zoomies.

I love the way you write about them lol

Your toddler is going to have the most wonderful relationship with Peppa growing up :)

So, who's the favourite - you or your dh? And does peppa still sleep on your pillow?

Came to this late and I haven't read all the posts so don't know if anyone else has suggested it. Have you checked for other kittens in case the mother was moving her litter? Maybe post on an appropriate local site asking others to check? And do you k now what happened to the mother after she died? I mention it cos she could be /have been checked for a microchip. Just in case....no I've never found a stray with a microchip but I always live in hope that it will happ en. And thank you for bothering to make sure the little one would be safe and cared for as it sounds as if you had a lot going on in the family at the time. As well as being a newbie cat person. But it sounds as if you are already getting to k now the joys of having a cat....🐱

Fucking ungrateful cat. She was asleep on my bed looking all cute so I gently stroked her.

The fucker woke up, glared at me and then aggressively washed her fur where I touched her. I feel insulted

🤣 how dare you muss up her grooming?!

What do you mean you caught me climbing the curtains for the 1230405 time today

So cute!!! And he wasn’t climbing curtains. He was stretching his muscles

So lovely. Cats climbing the curtains is fun! Has he done the thing where he tries to climb up your legs and digs needle claws into them?

Hope the curtains weren't expensive!

This sums it up

Peppa is very cute 😍😍. My husband wasn't a cat person and now has 2. We had 3 till the old boy passed recently.

He who wasn't a cat person picks up our kitten for a snuggle the minute she miaows for his attention and carries her round like a baby. Her elder sister only likes head scratches and takes a right huff if she gets picked up unless she is frightened by another cat then she dive bombs into my arms.

I have to say that this new remake of The Lion King doesn't have the greatest cinematography...

My friend was adamant he wasn't having cats despite my best efforts. That didn't last long. He's besotted by his pair!