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.

@Fuckallthetories I'll make my brother take him. He owes me a massive favour.

Boy cats tend to be fine after neutering. If anything it usually turns them into big soft boys. They don't have to worry about one of the "Three Fs" of survival any more. 😂

Neutering doesn't work like that on humans.

@GiantKitten what is it? Like a trust thing cos he's been curled up on my chest since we got home and he looks up at me and slowly blinks and goes back to sleep. And repeat. I don't think he's even deeply slept yet.

I mean I'm not totally rubbing this in my husbands face at all that I have a kitten and all he has is painkillers.

The slow blink is him saying he loves you. Do it back to him 😊

Yes - also known as a 'cat kiss'.

Went from no pets for a long while to debating whether I should take my glasses off to blink at a kitten. Took glasses off and slow blinked. Got one back 😁

“He’s not staying” my arse

Just read this thread with my legs being crushed by the two kittens I acquired at a very similar age - now several times the size but they still think they fit!

He's adorable - enjoy 😉

Love this! Didn't take you long to go from no kitten to smitten kitten!

Don't cry but he is making sure you are still there.

also, I do this to my mum 😂

Hard agree!
The giant kitten I am named for (7kg half-Bengal) still adores me, 7 years after I took him for the snip!

Congratulations on your new position.. A dcat slave is the best job ever.

Slow blinks are essentially cat kisses 😍

Aw I love this. Enjoy your new bundle of fluff 💗

I love everything about this thread :)

Cays find direct eye contact aggressive and hostile. They'll stare unblinking when they feel threatened. Part closed eyes, blinks and long slow blinks are a demonstration of trust, affection and a way of showing you they're not about to attack.

Reciprocate in kind and you've learned your first bit of cat language - your training has commenced and Peppa will ramp up as needed 😁

When he's a bit older, try Mollys mice. They're loaded with catnip and cats usually go mad for them, great entertainment

BTW cats purrs resonate at a sweet spot where the level of hertz promotes healing. It's thought this may be one reason why cats evolved to purr and is scientifically known to help healing in humans.

You may well find in the future that Peppa sticks close and purrs when one of you is unwell - even aloof, anti social cats are known to do this and then as soon as their human is better they bugger off again!

A purring cat is also great for insomnia and comfort when you're upset- mine always keep close when I'm upset by something :)

I’ve been having a lot of problems lately with my stomach. It’s really painful at the moment cos I have covid.

My cat literally forced herself under my duvet to lay on my belly and purred as hard and as loud as she could.

It didn’t really help, cos of the weight but I appreciated the sentiment

@LeMoo since Peppa got brought inside from the rain he hasn't stopped purring. Off to go ask my husband if he's healed yet.

Welcome to the better half of the human race - the cat loving half🤪. I'm loving this story.

If you have a lap-sitter make sure it's YOUR lap they attach to. That way everyone else will have to do stuff because YOU MUST NOT WAKE THE CAT. 'Tis the rules.

@PersonIrresponsible so hypothetically if one was to have a cat sat on them before a visit to the in laws would said person have to go? Because if said person had known this there would have definitely been a peppa 8 years earlier. This is hypothetical of course

@Soubriquet I'm really torn between laughing at the humour in your post and sympathy for the pain you're in! Glad you have a purr ball looking after you but hope she sticks to your side not your front

@softplayfail he'll be up for that walk in no time 😉

@softplayfail hypothetically: yes that's entirely correct

So cute he’s doing slow blinks at you already!

If you have a cat on your lap, you’re exempt from any chore. Including: settling the kids when they call out at bedtime, getting drinks, finding the remote, answering the doorbell. All of it.

My last kitten was 8 weeks old when we found him. He just loved being in my arms so eventually I turned a scarf into a sling and carried him that way.