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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

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Original poster

Need urgent advice for a tiny kitten!

484 replies

3littlebadgers · 03/05/2012 19:00

I've rescued a kitten who has been rejected by it's mum. It was one of two, Mum took the bigger one and never returned. Poor little thing was calling for her all yesterday and it broke my heart keeping my distance but today it started to go very quiet and shakey so I've taken it in. I know nothing about kittens no idea how old it is (fits easily into my hand, massive eyes and ears, very skinny wobbly legs that look a bit too long for its little body). I've given it tiny drops of milk from a syringe (sp?) prob takes 1ml at a time before it starts to refuse. What do I do (mostly regarding feeding but other advice would be much appreciated)? Live abroad so no shelters or rescue homes so I'm on my own with this one.

OP posts:

ripsishere · 14/05/2012 07:19

Awww poor smelly cat. Do you think she was seperated from her mum before she learned to clean and groom herself? I think you need the input of Pinot here. She probably licked her cats herelf
Positive vibes for your friends DD. How worrying.

Original poster

3littlebadgers · 14/05/2012 08:41

Thanks. I'm waiting to hear from my friend but I'm pretty sure she we be ok the baby was a good weight when born so fingers crossed. As for Coco i've been giving her a rub down post feeding every time. We have got the pooing in the tray thing down to a fine art but I am dubious about the wees. Her bedding is as stinky as she is despite frequent washing. Do you think if I give her a good rub down with a tuna steak the cats in the bins will lick her clean for me? not quite sure I'm commited enough to do that myself!

OP posts:

Kellamity · 14/05/2012 08:48

Could I have some advice from the wise cat rearing mums netters?

Jazz is now 9 weeks old and is doing really well. The only thing is, although she will usually use her litter tray, if she is in my lounge she disappears behind the tv and messes there, only there, nowhere else in the house. She can access her litter tray at all times but has found this spot too. How can I discourage her from doing this?

Rivercat · 14/05/2012 18:39

Block the place up - it is the smell which attracts her, even if you can't smell it, and it's almost impossible to get rid of it. Though I did have success with a crumbled bath bomb well rubbed into the carpet when one of ours decided the spare room was the place after accidentally being shut in there

ripsishere · 15/05/2012 15:21

I think you can buy a spray to get rid of the smell. Cats do have a very good sense of smell and will often go back and pee again and again. My duvet has had four washes because one of my cats peed on it three times.
3, how's Coco?

DameHermione · 15/05/2012 16:19

Checking in to see how coco is.

How big is she now? Are your arms covered in little scratches?

Original poster

3littlebadgers · 15/05/2012 18:31

Scratches? I litterally have full blown puncture marks nothing says 'thank you' quite so much as drawing blood. Needless to say she has been kicked out of my bossom and now spends most of her time climbing my leg and peeing on me.

Not altogether sure she is growing as she still looks tiny. Although, she has a good appetite and is much stronger. Tried to put up new pics but connection timing out so will try tommorrow.

She has now graduated onto a touch of kitten food but the little scamp will only take it off a tiny spoon. I have tried putting it in a bowl and she just looks at me like I am asking her to eat her kitty litter. As soon as I pick up the spoon she hops on to my lap and opens her mouth .

There is another lonely kitten hanging around outside (much bigger and cuter very fluffy. Did suggest to DH that we take in that one too, in the hopes it teaches Coco to eat and clean herself as well as having someone other than me to pester play with, but he was less than impressed.

OP posts:

Jux · 15/05/2012 19:12

Badger, well done!

It's not a bad idea to have two, as they keep each other company, and if they become friends then they groom each other too. You will have to teach young Coco to wash herself some time! I had to do it to a kitten once but I was greatly helped by the presence of a large cat who would occasionally come round and show her how to do things properly

Haven't had to wean a kitten for many years and can't remember when it's supposed to happen, but it's a gradual process and if her bowels aren't sorted completely, I don't know whether it's a good idea to start.

IIRC they start getting interested at about 5 weeks, but need a fair bit of time. Kittens need fairly innocuous food. We had one a few years ago who was, apparently fully house trained, but still only 6 weeks old. She suffered unspeakable farts! and vast diarrhoea from kitten food. We could get James Wellbeloved stuff which is for younger kittens and she was OK after that. In the event you can't get stuff like that then boiled a few bits of chicken and rice - no salt or anything - and put it through a mixer. Make it fairly wet, runny, at first. Don't put her on ordinary cat food for quite a while.

She is lovely.

Original poster

3littlebadgers · 15/05/2012 19:24

Jux You have made my day I did chicken and rice for dinner what are the chances?

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Jux · 15/05/2012 21:08

serendipity follows me everywhere (if only).

Lovely to revisit your lovely two, Pinot. Aren't they all growed up?!

Fluffycloudland77 · 15/05/2012 21:43

Back online.

Two kittens is better than one as they play with each other rather than our hands. I had lovely hands once, then the bengal destroyed them.

You need to have a word with coco, the love bombing of your DH needs to be stepped up a notch. Cue lots of lying on his chest, gazing at him lovingly.

We got two of our cats by them hanging around because we had cats.

Sparklingbrook · 15/05/2012 21:52

Sounds like it's going well 3,

Original poster

3littlebadgers · 16/05/2012 05:43

Righto I'm guessing non of you will be online at silly o'clock but I've been out to the stray kitten outside and she is a wee bit ferral. She will come to me when I call and let me stroke her head but if I get close to her body or she sees one of my children she scarpers. I have given her a bowl lid from a peanut butter jar full of kitten food and she gobbled it up.
I don't want to stress the poor thing out by catnapping it because lets be right the first thing I'd want to do is give it a good going over with the flea powder but should I persevere and coax her in or should I just say rollox to it and bring up an emotionally dammaged Coco all on her own?

OP posts:

Sparklingbrook · 16/05/2012 05:54

Mmm difficult one. Doesn't sound like it's up for being catnapped. But you would end up with two kittens that are going to need spaying for a start, or you could end up with a lot more kittens. How exciting.

You are going to become known as 'mad cat lady' you do know that don't you?

Original poster

3littlebadgers · 16/05/2012 06:26

Sparklingbrook at 'mad cat lady' esp as I dashed out in my PJ's before DH could get up to nab the little rascal. I never go out in anything but pretty pretty outfits NEVER!

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Sparklingbrook · 16/05/2012 06:32

3 this is you.

ripsishere · 16/05/2012 06:48

mad cat lady of Turkey.
Coco sounds as if she's doing well, if my DH wasn't too fussed I would be inclined to try to entice Feral Freda into my house and in to Coco's life.
I've got two, and much as I moan about them, they are great. Good company for each other. The can fight and groom themselves and the other one.
Currently, ginge is lovingly licking greyheads ears. This is generally a prelude to biting them.

ripsishere · 16/05/2012 06:49

If you do manage to get Freda - that will be her name if you don't mind, into your life youlll probably end up with cats like mine.
Ginge is very loving, adores being stroked and will sit beside or on me all day given the chance. Greyboy is a different kettle of fish. He is not interested in anything but his brother or food.

Original poster

3littlebadgers · 16/05/2012 07:30

about Freda and Sparking Who gave you that picture of me? Was it one of the neighbours? Don't think I don't see their disparaging looks when I appear on the balcony stroking my pussy

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ripsishere · 16/05/2012 08:08

Ooooh, will you call your newest kitten Freda? even if it turns out to be Freddie.
How does your DH feel about these feline acquistitions? I know mine would be very cross. He isn't keen on the ones we've got.

Original poster

3littlebadgers · 16/05/2012 08:13

Yes he's not too chuffed but lets be right he's at work all day and it's me who'd be looking after them. Freda it is (if I can convince her that is). I nearly wet myself when I read the name as she really looks like a freda Very fluffy and sturdy. Appologies to any Freda's who may be reading this. I am sure you are neither fluffy or sturdy

OP posts:

Sparklingbrook · 16/05/2012 08:14

If it is a Freddie don't let him near Coco.

Original poster

3littlebadgers · 16/05/2012 08:24

Heaven forbid! Her tummy is so stuffed full of eyeless demons worms that I think she'd pop if she had anything else in there

OP posts:

ripsishere · 16/05/2012 08:37

at Freda and Coco - they sound like a pair of spinster sisters or a lesbian coupling.
Dont' be fooled by size and reproductive capability. When we lived in Oman, we had a brother/sister pair. Boy was trying to give his sister one when they were about five months old.

OTheHugeManatee · 16/05/2012 09:00

OMG a kitten thread, and I only spotted it 400-odd posts in!

Those photos are über-cute, OP. More please!

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