Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Pets

Join our community on the Pet forum to discuss anything related to pets.

Flip

1 2 3

Original poster

How old is my kitten?

68 replies

Julieelizabeth5 · 25/10/2017 16:40

So I saved a kitten from the wild a few days ago, and guessed he was about 12 weeks old, but I’m starting to wonder if he is younger, he only has 4 teeth, 2 on the top, 2 on the bottom, his eyes are still blue, he is tiny, but I’ve not weighed him as he is super skinny from living outdoors, anyone have a guess on how old he could be?

OP posts:

Original poster

Julieelizabeth5 · 25/10/2017 19:17

Everyone can’t you just understand he is going to the vet MONDAY, 4 days away! I’m doing the best I can

OP posts:

TroysMammy · 25/10/2017 19:20

He's bloody gorgeous. I had a cat who was 3 months old when I got him and his eyes were bluey green so I called him Barnaby after John (blue eyes) Nettles' from Midsomer Murders. His brother was called Troy.

Wolfiefan · 25/10/2017 19:25

If you can't understand that you've treated a tiny kitten with a potentially toxic chemical mix and it needs to see a vet ASAP then that's not good enough. Maybe your friend can take this one too. Or speak to a rescue charity about it and the possibility of a mum looking for her kittens.

messyjessy17 · 25/10/2017 19:32

I'm sorry you're on a low income. That's rubbish. But you can't use that as an excuse not to seek appropriate veterinary treatment

Don't be ridiculous. If you take a cat to the vet you have to pay them. If you don't have any money, you can't pay them. Therefore, you cannot go.

And telling her she should magic up money from thin air because someone on the internet said there is a remote chance that the flea treatment they used shouldn't have been used for another week....come on! We all know the pet section harbours a few OTT obsessive pet evangelists, but you're trolling with that one.

messyjessy17 · 25/10/2017 19:33

I spend hundreds of pounds on my kitten in the first few months and a lot of what that money was spent on was essential, or at least highly recommended

That was your choice, it is never neccessary to spend hundreds of pounds on a kitten.

GerrytheBerry · 25/10/2017 19:38

Well done op you've done a lovely thing and have done a great job so far, ignore those nit picking, at the end of the day if you hadn't rescued the kitten it could well be squashed under a car at the very best by now! I bet it's very happy being safe and warm with you
Good luck

GerrytheBerry · 25/10/2017 19:44

Ps I've just made myself a little mental note to not ever post asking for pet advice unless I've A, first consulted the vet, and B, checked I have sufficient funds to actually own the pet

CrazyLoopyLou · 25/10/2017 19:49

OP I've worked in rescue for 8 years and I would say he looks about 6/7 weeks. The worming liquid we use is called panacur and for certain people questioning, yes it can be used from 2 weeks like to say (if it's the same one) as that's when we routinely use it. However as mentioned before, frontline actually doesn't work, so you would honestly be better off getting any flea/worming treatment from the vet. Most vets do pay monthly plans which includes vaccines, flea and worm treatment etc.. which does save you quite a bit of money in the long run. As long as you're feeding him 3-4 times per day and keeping him warm, I'm sure he'll be fine.

Wolfiefan · 25/10/2017 19:49

If a pet urgently requires treatment many vets will agree a payment plan. You do have to ask in advance though.
And pets can be bloody expensive. My pup just cost me over £200 in a couple of weeks. The alternative was maybe to let her die a slow (or fast depending on what was wrong) death.

cf21 · 25/10/2017 19:54

I’m sure some people come on here just to be mean.

Well done OP for doing such a nice thing. Who knows what could have happened to it if not.

messyjessy17 · 25/10/2017 20:02

If a pet urgently requires treatment many vets will agree a payment plan

And many won't. And this cat does not need urgent treatment.

If you are so obsessed with this kitten going to the vet, why not PM op and paypal her the cash to go?
No, not that urgent is it?

Wolfiefan · 25/10/2017 20:09

I'm not offering money to some stranger on the internet who may or may not have rescued a kitten.
Unless you're a vet you have no idea what this kitten needs. That's why it needs a vet.

Original poster

Julieelizabeth5 · 25/10/2017 20:11

Sounds like you would prefer me to take him back to the wild wolfie

OP posts:

Original poster

Julieelizabeth5 · 25/10/2017 20:13

He’s happy, he’s playing like a kitten does, I’m sure if he was that damaged he wouldn’t be this happy already

OP posts:

Spookle · 25/10/2017 20:17

Well done OP.

Keep an eye out for his third eyelid not retracting, dribbling saliva, trembling, disorientation, anything odd really. All could be signs of poisoning.

From the photo I thought 6 weeks as he seems to have lost that bleary eyed kitten look but after Googling tooth development it says - incisors (small front ones) come at 3-4 weeks, as do the pointy canines, then premolars towards the back at 6-7 weeks. I suupose lack of nutrition could delay tooth eruption though.

Look at some of the images here and compare his stance and body language see what you think.

Kitten age chart

Good idea from PP to go for a monthly health plan with the vets for what £2-3 a week? Would that be manageable for you?

You need to think about neutering too. Could you start paying at the vets in advance for that? CPL website says the average cost for a male is £30-40 so £10 a month would have the cost there when he is 6 months.

After that could you manage £10 a month into a 'just in case' vet fund? Unexpected bills I remember over the years are a broken tooth, ripped out claw pouring blood everywhere, sudden sneezing, coughing and pouring eyes which turned out to be a blade of grass caught halfway between going down the throat and coming out through the nostril!

Good luck with him and I hope he brings you happiness and that your situation improves soon.

Original poster

Julieelizabeth5 · 25/10/2017 22:46

Yes, I am neutering him when he is old enough as he’s too young atm, recommended age is 16 weeks so he will be getting done in a few weeks time, I have not noticed any obvious signs that he isn’t well, he eats 3 times a day (breakfast, lunch, dinner) as well as has some dreamies available, I think he’s teething as he keeps chewing on my finger, I’m doing the best I can, he is progressing more and more every day, he sleeps a lot, but he’s just a baby so I know that’s normal, and when he is awake he bounces around the room, still jumpy at noises, but he’s getting there

OP posts:

messyjessy17 · 25/10/2017 23:06

Unless you're a vet you have no idea what this kitten needs. That's why it needs a vet

He seems happy, lively and is eating and drinking. It doesn't sound like he remotely needs a vet right now. Certainly doesn't need an emergency vet appt. Which you know but you're trying to make OP feel shit anyway. Why?

Julesbegone · 25/10/2017 23:13

Think he’s going to look like my gorgeous boy when he’s older!

Flip

1 2 3