I really don't need another cat, I really really don't...

[TheCokeMachine]

I was driving home tonight and got to the road next to mine - the car in front of me drove slowly over something, it looked like a black bag.

I stopped the car to get out and look at it as I didn't want to wreck the bottom of my car driving over something hard. When I got out to look I found out it was a black kitten, about six months old, covered in fleas and poo - a wretched looking little thing.

I tried to catch it but it darted under a car. So I went home, got a towel and a box and went back and managed to crawl under the car and grab it. I took it to the animal hospital in Wanstead, and rang the RSPCA to get a log number so it could be treated.

It doesn't appear to be damaged by the car, but it's anemic, hyperthermic and very weak. It may not survive the night, I have to call in the morning to see how it is. I really don't need another cat (I've got three cats and two dogs - all but one are rescues) but I know that RSPCA are euthanising everything that comes in at the moment because they are so full.

I'm feeling very sad about this, could I foster it and rehome it - would anyone really want a scraggy black kitten, would I just end up with another? Should I just walk away and forget about it :(

Face it, if it lives you have another cat.

If it lives. I can't believe it survived being run over.

Black cats are fab.

Poor little kitten. You simply have to adopt it, it needs you.

3 cats and 2 dogs - you won't even notice another one, surely ?
Hope the kitten is OK - sounds to me like you already know what you want to do.

my bloody heart breaks

The local shop near me have this "12 week" kitten,that looks more like 8 weeks, a beauty tabby girl. She is put outside the shop 247,dives under parked cars when it sees a dog, is so bony it's shoulder blades are protuding. I want to report it...but if RSPCA are PTS everything...then I may as well just steal the little blighter.

Could you walk away knowing what the RSPCA will do?

I am seriously thinking about it Tough. I have a 10 month old spoilt rotten girl that has my undivided attention and is treated as royalty. Will she be really jealous and hate me? And do dirty protests?

Now to work out the way to steal her.

The shop has big windows and the till is near the window. The kitten does not venture far from the door.

Maybe a distraction technique...get someone to go into shop and get staff to help with something off the shelf at the back...and just put her in my shopping bag.

I am really tempted. She looks so pitiful

Crazynanna don't call the RSPCA - the advice I received from my vet (who was luckily the one on call at the animal hospital tonight) was that there are way too many cats at the moment.

They have even changed their policy so that they won't allow vets to report anything that is brought it, it has to come from a private individual. Hence I had to make the call.

I will see how it is in the morning and then try to work out what to do.

You don't need another cat, but the kitten needs a home. Try Cats' Protection - I know they are full but you might be able to foster the kitten until they rehome it. Kittens tend to go quite quickly.

crazy

Tempt it with ham, more ham, the odd bit of chicken, gradually get it further and further away - leave a trail of temptation.

at trail of temptation.
Cokemachine, you won't even notice another cat will you?
I am in the opposite situation. We are off on our travels again. Malaysia this time. I have to take my two spoiled boys back to the shelter we got them from.
It is heartbreaking, but I've seen the facilities in SE Asia for animals. It is much kinder our way. DD doesn't see it like that

The lady over the road has 4 cats. When the 4th one arrived she said it didn't make that much difference.

Shamelessly marking place.

FWIW, our cat followed me home was blatantly a stray, spent hours trying to trace owner etc, hubby said no way to cat. Fours years on she's still bloody here and the best thing we did :)

Some vet hospitals rehome directly from there. I know ours does, rather than having to deal with the RSPCA, although they are very limited in the numbers they keep, they usually have a waiting list for kittens.

The kitten has survived the night, I have to call back later this afternoon to discuss options.

DH said that if it survives it will have to come home to us and we can try to re-home it privately among our friends. The last one we took in to re-home is sitting on the stairs giving me 'cut eye' now, it's been here three years!

Walthamstow, East London.

Arf at trail of temptation, I can recommend turkey ham as an ideal cat enticer!

The thing is now though-will the kitten have any continuing health problems due to being run over? that's a huge commitment.

Thanks Toughasoldboots - I'm not even a cat lover per se - I just tend to acquire them, feed them up and allow them to give me disdainful looks.

I've had a call from the vet hospital, they are going to keep her for three days, if she is ok they will spay and vaccinate her (I will pay for it) and then bring her home afterwards with a view to finding her a good home at a later date.

Is she home yet?