Stray kitten advice please?

[tinygreendragon]

For the past couple of days now I've noticed this really small kitten wandering around our garden and meowing/crying quite a bit looking rather sorry for itself and this afternoon I went out to say hello give a bit of a stroke and I noticed it was shivering to death the poor little thing. So anyway after giving it a bit of a stroke I went to leave it to it but he darted straight past me into the kitchen and pleaded for more attention. So I kept him in for 20 mins or so till he warmed up quite a bit (and seemed a little more perky) and took him back outside to find his own way home. He then cried or just sat at the back door for the next 4 hours. I then brought him back in again because it was getting dark and cold and was worried he wasn't going to find home. He/she also has no collar.

He's wonder-fly playful and very inquisitive, certainly not shy/timid and from what little I know of cats, he also seems pretty healthy and regularly fed. I've had a little look online and from what I can tell I would guess he/she is only 8-10 weeks old and from what I've read this is far too young for a kitten to be out and about certainly in this weather (-4!).

Do I send him back out there tomorrow and hope he wanders off home? or do I keep him in and start asking round the neighbours and put up posters? My only worry is its freeeezing out there at the moment and doesn't look like the temps will be much above 0c even during the day and I'm not sure a kitten of its age/size should be out there in the snow.

I'm just so hoping this little one has escaped somehow and got lost and isn't just an unwanted christmas present :(

[tinygreendragon]

Hey, sorry for late reply but yes there was some success with finding its owners.

The kitten was from 2 doors down and was only given to her from a friend who wanted to get rid of it and my neighbour doesn't really want it either. She works alot and doesn't really have time for it and lets it out for most of the day. She even offered us to keep it (which we declined) but also said she didn't mind if we let it in our house if we wanted to.

Its been bitterly cold the past week or so and always felt sorry for the little thing and couldn't leave it outside in the snow so we've brought it in during the day and took him back to its owners in the evening only for the very next morning for him to back at the back door again.

I fear this routine isn't doing much good for the cat because I guess he now feels that our house is its new home and its rightful owners aren't really being helpful as she is obviously just letting it out everyday.

Now I would love to keep this kitty and give it the proper home it needs but we simply could not afford any vets bills (inc vaccinations/neutering) or any cattery fees if we were to be away for some time. I think I may need to suggest for them to think about rehoming it but I don't want to offend my neighbour. :(

[issey6cats]

poor little kitten you havent got the finances to take him on, your neighbour dosent really want it, i would suggest that one of you gets in touch with a local rescue who would be able to find it a home where he would be wanted, cats protection do neutering vouchers which range from part cost to full cost, vaccinations are a once a year expense, and my four cats hardly ever need to go to vets i have a savings account for them if they do need to go if your near halifax i will take him

[Sparklingbrook]

issey is right. He needs a new home. You are totally right not to keep it if you can't afford the bills, and your neighbour's heart isn't in cat ownership either. I am sure there is a home out there for him.

[mollymole]

It is not your fault at all but the neighbour who lets a very young cat out AT ALL is being stupid as it will not be vaccinated and is certainly not big enough to keep warm. Even adult cats need some shelter on cold nights.

If you cannot affotd to keep it take it to the local cat rescue. Your neighbour is not fit to have the animal.

[cozietoesie]

And another underlining for issey's post. Taking on a cat is a long term commitment and if finances are tight, you're quite right not to enter into it.

Is there really no way you could introduce the subject of a further home to your neighbour? (Perhaps putting it on yourself, temporarily, as in 'I'd love to take him but...... so have you maybe thought about...... because I can't do it.'

As he's young, he'd adjust to a new permanent home much more quickly than a grown cat and it's better to start investigating now, I think, when there's not the same degree of pressure as there could be later on if your neighbour moved or became fed up with the situation.

[TheSilveryTinsellyPussycat]

Cat share?

[tinygreendragon]

Thanks you all for the great advice.

I've spoken to the neighbour and she seemed quite relieved when I suggested I could take care of him full time and look into rehoming him. So for now he's staying here till I can find a cat rescue or shelter who can rehome him. :)

[Sparklingbrook]

Oh tiny that's progress. Well done. Have you got a Cat's Protection near you?

[cozietoesie]

That's good news, tiny. I'm prepared to lay 50p that you won't be able to give him up in the end and he becomes the family cat though!

[Cailleach]

Just so you know: when their eyes are changing from blue to whatever colour they'll be in the adult cat, that cat is very very young indeed: that colour change occurs between two to three months, usually.

Ideally, they shouldn't leave their mothers before three months; the mother does a lot of social behaviour training with them at the two to three month mark which is essential for them growing up to be well adjusted cats.

Unbelievable that that woman threw that tiny baby out into the snow. Well done OP for picking up the slack: you've probably saved the poor little sod's life.

[issey6cats]

glad to hear that you are going to foster him till a rescue can find him a home where he will be loved forever :)

[tipsytrifle]

Just wanted to add my thanks to you for saving this beautiful little life!

*ahem ... many vets do free neutering programmes, just got to check when the next wave is on! Watch out for what they call a vaccination amnesty too! Check around as vet prices vary dramatically too ....