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.

"What's New Pussycat" - from the film of the same name.

Okay so change of plan. We've rung them and withdrawn our application on the 2. We have a home visit this week. I'm assuming we will pass as we don't have any poison lying around and a fenced garden.
We've put interest on the 4 month old and they will hold him for us. But we are going to meet him properly first. Rather than thru a computer screen. If we don't bond with him they said we can have a look at some others that do well with demon toddlers and a slightly insane kitten

My husband said he's getting me 'I was wrong on a t shirt for Christmas.

That's how it should be done, op,glad you're meeting him in person :)

All kittens are insane, I'm chuckling at the thought of you dealing with 4...your updates would be hilarious.

I think that's the right decision. Fingers crossed it's love at first sight.

I imagine 4 would be like Gizmo and his mates in Gremlins.

@LeMoo yes maybe 4 cats was my heart running away.

Easily done. You'll struggle walking out of CP without half a dozen stowed in your pockets.

@LeMoo dunno what your talking about officer, my trousers have always meowed

Nothing so sedate as that. Even if the noises are very similar.

This may be the best thread ever.

Peppa has his first jabs today. He's eyeing up the cat carrier. Plus we get him weighed again

Good luck.

I absolutely love this thread having followed it from the beginning and having been in a very similar position myself many times. Please keep the updates flowing!

Sounds stupid but he already looks more cat like.

He's going to be a very handsome boy.

Kitten or cat, he’ll always be gorgeous.

How old is Peppa now?

@MsMiaWallace roughly about 8 and a half weeks

Love this thread. Is that a scratch on his nose? Was he OK in the carrier?
(Overinvested)

@Words yep I don't know why but when he has an itch on his face or body he scratches with his claws out. No idea why. So he hurt his nose. Toddler wanted to put a plaster on it which I put a stop to. Didn't think he would be so keen.

He hated the cat carrier. And he hated the vaccines. He made a little squeak and then hissed

Poor lad. I did wonder if he had done that to himself.

A spray called feliway on the blanket in his carrier might help next time.

Quick tip here: minor injuries that don't heal ( that scratch is fine) can be treated entirely safely with sudocrem. My vet gave me this very valuable info during lockdown when my boy developed a small abscess on his eyebrow and they were restricting appointments. It worked a dream. Obviously not for serious injuries though!

Bear this in mind for when you let him out and he is, erm, establishing his manor. ;)

Bear this in mind for when you let him out and he is, erm, establishing his manor. ;)

Fighting loudly while you struggle to get your on shoes yelling “don’t worry mummy’s coming” as I did. Dh was laughing too much to move because ours was a huge Bengal.

Which he will do, ( I e get into fights) even with no balls, in my experience.

Indoors is a different matter. Mine was a bit of an embarrassment outside in his youth but indoors he is an absolute sweetheart and adores me.

I noticed the scratch on his face in your cute picture last night but thought it was dirt lol

@Words great tip about the sudacrem, I didn't know that. Your cat doesn't lick it off in disgust?

He made a little squeak and then hissed aww, glad he has a fighting spirit though!

His claws will dull a bit as he grows and starts going outside. Have you tried trimming them yet? Probably be a good idea to give it a go soon, he needs to get used to it.
(You don't have to do them all at once though)