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.

I'm sure with all your new cat knowledge you are aware of this, but make sure the collar is a snap off one (especially when Peppa starts to go outside). Also don't let him in the room with a Christmas tree if he is unsupervised as tree lights and unsupervised kittens can have horrible accidents.

Sorry for the sad tone. Back to worshipping the cuteness of Peppa's little face 😁 Tomorrow is AGES away, can't you get the other kitten now! We neeeeed to see him.

Snap collars are great. My cat can take them off so he doesn't wear a collar 🤣. He puts a paw up under it and pulls until the snap breaks. He used to do it for his brother too 😭

Yeah, they last a maximum of a week in my house. Same for my last cat too.

It's a PITA as my current cats are pretty much identical black ones and the different coloured collars were very useful 😂

@softplayfail if you haven't tried it already, at some point you must wrap him in a towel or blanket for a cuddle. All my cats have loved it and the rescue kitten I had used to go all limp when he was wrapped up and snuggled as a adult.

@SoupDragon I had the same issue with Magic and Maia, before I got to know their personalities really well, to tell them apart. Collars were really handy! Though I discovered the expensive way, that long haired cats can't see collars, when I cut Maia's neck trying to remove a knot.

New cat needs to be called George. I suggest a Christmas tree might not be a great idea this year and definitely avoid glass baubles and that lametti stuff!

They have very, very slight differences which you can see if you look hard enough but quick identification is very tricky

There's a reason why one of my Christmas Card images this year is this one 😁

Well avoiding glass baubles is one thing but dispensing with the Christmas tree altogether is just no fun at all!

Should I be working? Yes yes I should..
What am I actually doing?
Researching names for kittens and wondering if Peppa would let me put him in a Christmas jumper

The Naming of Cats

The Naming of Cats is a difficult matter,
It isn't just one of your holiday games;
You may think at first I'm as mad as a hatter
When I tell you, a cat must have THREE DIFFERENT NAMES.
First of all, there's the name that the family use daily,
Such as Peter, Augustus, Alonzo or James,
Such as Victor or Jonathan, George or Bill Bailey—
All of them sensible everyday names.
There are fancier names if you think they sound sweeter,
Some for the gentlemen, some for the dames:
Such as Plato, Admetus, Electra, Demeter—
But all of them sensible everyday names.
But I tell you, a cat needs a name that's particular,
A name that's peculiar, and more dignified,
Else how can he keep up his tail perpendicular,
Or spread out his whiskers, or cherish his pride?
Of names of this kind, I can give you a quorum,
Such as Munkustrap, Quaxo, or Coricopat,
Such as Bombalurina, or else Jellylorum-
Names that never belong to more than one cat.
But above and beyond there's still one name left over,
And that is the name that you never will guess;
The name that no human research can discover—
But THE CAT HIMSELF KNOWS, and will never confess.
When you notice a cat in profound meditation,
The reason, I tell you, is always the same:
His mind is engaged in a rapt contemplation
Of the thought, of the thought, of the thought of his name:
His ineffable effable
Effanineffable
Deep and inscrutable singular Name.

T.S. Eliot (of course 😊)

:O :O

This is so true. I have always thought cats have at least three names. The ones you give them... and the others they know and reveal to you over time.

My darling Tom, for example is actually a William, and Bella Is Katie.

My third cat has a name so fitting and outing- well she is the exception that process the rule.

*proves

Love TS Elliot :)

I'm going to suggest 'Tickle' for Kitten No2.

Kitten in a Christmas jumper, hmm, only if you want to be lacerated I’d think.

I’d second storing your fragile Christmas decorations this year. They don’t mix well with kittens. But you will get some lovely pictures of happy, whiskered, little faces peering through the branches of your Christmas tree. So do make sure it’s secure if you don’t want it to come crashing down.

I'm liking tickle. So far were thinking george, tickle has now been added, Harry, another from the toddler is bluey or bingo. Getting another kitten and thinking of names has also made me realise how much tv my daughter watches. But meh.

So tomorrow we meet potential kitty number 2. Peppa is destroying my house. We bought him a hooded litter tray on the advice of pets at home and the vet and he just sits there and bats the door and looks at me and I swear he shrugged at me.

I think at some point I may have to start a new thread.

Cats protection league have said our home check lasts a while if we don't bond so no worries there

I am loving all the cat photos

As for the Christmas tree I will be definitely not putting anything delicate on it. Peppas already broken 2 cups. Why does he just randomly tap mugs?

Husbands got the fun task tonight of explaining why my daughter has to use the toilet and that no she can't have a litter box of her very own. He seems to have this under control.

Sorry ramble over.

cats love randomly tapping things.

We took the flap off our hooded litter tray.

Love this thread and just thought I'd add a photo of my kitten who looks a bit like your little one.

@hoooops twins!!

I think Christmas jumpers are possible, here’s our cat in his Halloween outfit.

Please don't put a cat in a jumper! They will hate having it put on and hate wearing it and most of these stupid novelty jumpers for animals are made from cheap acrylic or polyester which traps in heat, it's so unpleasant and hot and alien for them and they can't get it off by themselves or tell you how uncomfortable it is.

I know you might only have been joking but as you're a new cat owner (or perhaps some others reading might be, too) I feel duty bound as a cat owner of many years to say please don't go down the road of novelty dressing up etc.

I love how you talk about Peppa's character...tiny cat, big personality :)

Please avoid the jumper on Peppa but if you do it, it goes on for just long enough to take a couple of photos and off again. 90 seconds tops as a once off. It's uncomfortable for them but a very short time if you just want a few pictures might be tolerated.

Re the Christmas tree, this is my tree after my cats destroying it overnight after I put it up last year. I said lots of words that my cats ears shouldn't hear.

I wouldn't put him in a jumper. Promise.