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.

We got 1 kitten as we have older cats and thought kitten would be fine with them. But kitten wanted to play much more than they did. He has been much happier once I caved and brought in kitten number 2. They race around together, and play fight and have a great time whilst the older cats look on.

@softplayfail Oh, you are one of us!

Mine have always been littermates but yes, it can work with an age gap. I know people who got a second kitten a year after the first. The kitten and the young cat adored each other and still sleep snuggled up together now they are stately seniors.

Antonia White’s Minka and Curdy is the story of how she introduced a roly-poly ginger kitten to a very spicy and jealous older Siamese kitten and how they settled down happily - eventually.

I would think that sounds pretty good to me!

[sighs with satisfaction] deffo one of us now @softplayfail . It's kitty magic.

Asked my husband if he would be up for getting a playmate for Peppa and he shrugged and said and I quote 'I've wanted cats for years, can get 6 more if you want'.

That’s the right sort of husband.

dangerous slope. You’ll go to the rescue centre, see the big eyes and hear the pitiful mews and then actually come home with 6 more

I love the way this thread is going!

@Soubriquet I'd honestly like to say this isn't true but I never wanted a cat full stop..and I've just ordered him a personalised Christmas stocking so you know

I do like the cut of your husband's jib. 😹

12 days...

12 days from this to personalised Christmas stockings and searching for Rescue Kitty No 2😍🤣

@LeMoo I should be disgusted with myself. I really should. But I'm not. I'm really not

Cat slave

once you break, that’s it. You’re in

That's alright @softplayfail , we're delighted with you 😁

I think this is my favourite mumsnet thread ever 😻

Dying laughing here. 12 days ago you weren't an animal person and just wanted to get him in out of the rain. Now he's moved in and taken over, he's getting a personalized Christmas stocking and you're looking at getting another one.

@ilukp to be fair I didn't want kids either and now I've got a crazy almost 3 year old who might as well get a crown for Christmas cos she rules the house, I just pay the mortgage

My cats sister died. They had a love hare relationship. The remaining cat gets on far better with the next cat I got. They aren't bonded. But both work together to boss me around. I'm totally out numbered. 🤣

Of course you don't rule the house. Peppa does.

Mumsnet HQ. Please can we have this put in classics?

I have just binged this thread, and the thought did cross my mind of whether you'd get a second. Welcome to the world of the crazy cat ladies 🙂

Your husband is definitely a keeper with the six cat comment, providing that he is sufficiently recovered to do all the litter tray duty, and the cat vomit duty, including when they throw up in the middle of the night and you only discover it as you walk barefoot across the landing, keeping the lights off so you can try to stay half asleep, then your foot lands in the vomit/hairball/half eaten bird.

You can get multipet discounts on insurance. And you might not need two trays. Many cats happily share.

@softplayfail

Careful! You'll end up like...

'Mrs McTats And Her Houseful Of Cats' - Alyssa Satin Capucilli

(Your daughter would LOVE that book)

Page-by-page reading of it here:

(6 minutes long)

Latest pic of Peppa is just gorgeous. He's very lovely-looking.

This thread is lovely! @softplayfail We have just got kittens as well, 4 weeks ago and originally were going to have one, but they when we went to get him there was one left and I couldn’t bear to leave him. I’ve always been glad I ended up with two as they play together, eat together, snuggle together, everything! Basically double the fun and double the kitty cuddles, what’s not to love! They do steal my entire pillow though as there’s two of them 🙊 kitten tax pictures attached 😻

Rules of the Litter Tray:

1. always pay the cat tax
2. two kittens are better than one

@cheeseybeans19 winning at life there