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.

Is it normal that cats growl? I didn't know they could growl! Toddler gave him a stick treat and he's growling.

Aaaahhhh cutie kitty growls. [heart melts]

Yes they growl. In the case of my adult two usually when they are given scrambled eggs or chicken.

Or if I am trying to persuade them to drop a-still alive robin.

Yes one of our cats growls. Usually when she has something she really likes and warning others not to take it off her. Our old cat growled at the vets. He hated dogs and growled louder than any of the dogs in the waiting room.

Definitely growl! And defo don’t go near a cat that’s growling.

Honestly 99 percent of my Google searches are 'why does my kitten do'. I knew cats meowed and purred and hissed. Growling is new

My toddler is away tomorrow for 3 days with her grandparents and she has tried to put Peppa in her bag only 12 times.

Ahh I've never heard a kitten growl! My old love only ever did it when he had fresh prey and didn't want me taking it off him.

He must really love that treat!

In adults cats it's definitely a "don't come near sign", with a tiny kitten I'd be tempted to give him a quick stroke or head rub to ease any tension and discourage growling but judge any approach based on body language.

'meow, purr, hiss and growl'.

Wait until he says 'thank you' for letting them in out of the rain. It;s a funny kind of acknowledging chirrup. I always reply' You are welcome'.

Mind you, I have to be right sharpish to respond to them being at the door. Any delay and they stalk past with tail flicking in annoyance.

@softplayfail have you got more pictures of Peppa on your phone r than your toddler yet?

Wait till you hear them chirrup

Yes ! Mine chirps away at a bird if it should come in the garden - sounds lovely

What does not sound so lovely is the painfully loud screeching howl she lets out if another cat should do the same

@Toddlerteaplease I'm going to use my right to remain silent

Not my cat does a kind of growl/grumble when I pick him up from whatever he is destroying (usually removing him from the bin)

Have you made any tentative decisions regarding the New Friends?

I wasn't charging up and down the stairs at midnight till 2 am waking the entire household up. Not me, not at all

We have made a decision and put a formal application thru to cats protection league. We've decided to go for the 2 female kittens. If anyone knows a good tattoo artist to get mug across my forehead I'd appreciate it.

He's prospering! Looking solid. That's a big tom in the making OP, I can tell by the head and paws.

@iloveeverykindofcat oh god I'm going to own a tiger and potentially 2 hopefully stay small females.

A sweet tiger though. Also it kind of depends when you get him neutered. If you do it at 5-6 months he won't get to the size he would otherwise. My friend didn't neuter her male until he was 18 months and he's definitely a big lad. A teddy bear though. His sister is half his size and she rules him.

@iloveeverykindofcat torn between keeping him teeny tiny and having cat King Kong round the house.

I've got one dainty fairy and one chonk. The chonk is very furry and great for cuddling. Even when I got rescued her and she was starving she had big feet, head and legs. The fairy is an incredibly agile cat, even at 12 with one fused ankle she can climb and jump on anything, including garden sheds.

Chatting to husband who pipes up with 'what if we get these 2 kittens and all 3 are absolutely massive?'

Casually checking how much a zoo license might be

I can’t believe you’re going to leave the little 4 month old behind

That reminds me actually - insure them! Insure them all now. Bibi, the rescue, came to me with health problems, so I needed hers right away. I duly paid out for years on Zara who is never ill, wondering if I was being a fool, then one day she dislocated her ankle in such a way that needed surgery. It was perfectly fixable, with a plate, just like a human would have. She has a slightly reduced range of movement, but it doesn't hurt or hamper in her the slightest. She can sprint, jump, and do everything. But I saw the x-ray and the bones were quite far apart. They were definitely not going to heal without surgery. Overnight stay, staff time, equipment, drugs, followup x-rays....total cost was easily 4k. I only paid about £80 excess.

I know :(

Big cats are the best, I'd always hope for a chonk over a fairy!

I know. I was so hoping you'd get him.