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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.

Original poster

HELP! Garage have found a tiny KITTEN under my bonnet!

328 replies

timtam23 · 19/08/2013 10:39

Took car in for service this morning and garage phoned to say they'd lifted the bonnet & found a tiny tiny kitten...After recovering from the shock I walked over to pick it up & it's absolutely tiny - maybe 5 weeks? Eyes are open...All I've managed to establish so far is it's male - white with tabby patches - it's hungry and it's covered in fleas! We are a cat-loving household & have 2 very geriatric cats, hadn't bargained on a kitten at all but have to admit it's very cute. But I'm clueless about kittens - 18 years since I had one! Have given it a bit of chicken/ham food for adult cats, which it devoured, and phoned the vet, but what else should I do?

OP posts:
Original poster
timtam23 · 10/09/2013 22:43

Yes, in a way it has helped to have Dudley as I was dreading having to watch the old ones gradually failing & having them put to sleep, it will still be hard after all these years but at least there will still be a cat around the house when they're gone.

cozie yes I think there is a bit of a power battle going on, and some kitten testosterone flowing Wink

Exit our house is pretty small and with one of the cats being blind, it's hard to shut them away as the blind one gets confused if things change. We did keep Dudley downstairs when he first arrived, and the old cats had our bedroom as "theirs", but he's a lot bigger and stronger now so is running up & down stairs. When he's asleep, all is calm, but he's a demon when he's awake and just wants to play. I have an empty Feliway plug thing so I think I'll buy a refill to put in, it can't do any harm can it?

OP posts:
ExitPursuedByADragon · 10/09/2013 22:46

It is just nature.

The young ousting the old.

My old girl learned to cope with BadrardDog.

Original poster
timtam23 · 10/09/2013 22:56

Yes, I suppose it's harder to watch because the old cats have been my pets from kittens, and the only pets I've ever had (apart from a couple of guinea pigs when I was 8!)

It would have been easier last year, when boy cat could see properly and lady cat was less stiff & sore.

OP posts:
Horsemad · 10/09/2013 23:16

We took in a stray last year when our old blind, deaf, lady cat was in failing health.
When old lady cat was pts I was so glad we had the new cat to help us through it.

It's a year tomorrow since old lady cat left us Sad but new cat has helped enormously.

cozietoesie · 11/09/2013 09:48

How is your old girl today, timtam ?

Original poster
timtam23 · 11/09/2013 20:40

Thanks for asking cozie, she has perked up a bit again and ran to meet me when I came home from work, and was keen to have some food

DH says she's been under the bed all day, I think that's her place of refuge from Dudley

I guess we are going to have good & bad days with her and she isn't going to bounce back quickly, because of her age

The old blind boy cat seems to be getting on better now though and is a bit more relaxed

Dudley wants to sit on DH's lap 24/7!

OP posts:
cozietoesie · 11/09/2013 20:54

That is one bright cat! Is DH nonchalant about it?

Original poster
timtam23 · 11/09/2013 21:04

DH was apparently a bit fed up with Duds today as he was trying to get lots of things done around the house & Duds kept shinning up his trouser leg Grin

But yes they are getting on fine, and DH has been taking him into the yard & sitting with him a lot to get him used to being outside (lessons postponed today due to rain!)

OP posts:
cozietoesie · 11/09/2013 21:11

That will be an 'apparently'. (The reality is that he'll be loving it.)

Grin
DifferentNow · 11/09/2013 21:15

Oh, he is lovely. Poor little mite.

cozietoesie · 13/09/2013 23:21

How is our Dudley?

Smile
Original poster
timtam23 · 13/09/2013 23:40

He is falling asleep on DH (again) Grin

Getting livelier, much to the disgust of the other 2 - the poorly one really hates being ambushed, we're trying to protect her as best we can.

I'm glad we've got him now though, I was dreading the old ones dying but we will still have Dudley.

OP posts:
cozietoesie · 13/09/2013 23:44

Yep - livelier with more food, then a bit more sedate with some extra months, then off like a teenager again with hormones, then calmer with the snip, then.....then......

They're a roller coaster ride.

ZebraOwl · 16/09/2013 02:31

Glad Dudley's doing so well & I hope the older cats stop finding him such a menace soon...

Original poster
timtam23 · 16/09/2013 16:29

Zebra we have sadly had to have the oldest cat put to sleep today due to old age & kidney failure. But it may mean that the remaining old cat settles better with the kitten. Old boy has been a lot more relaxed in the last few days and my Feliway order has just arrived as well (bought mainly for the deceased cat's benefit but will plug it in anyway and see what happens)

OP posts:
ExitPursuedByADragon · 16/09/2013 16:31

Sorry to hear that timtam23 Always heartbreaking when you have to let one go.

cozietoesie · 16/09/2013 16:32

Very sorry, timtam. You did the right thing though from the sound of it.

Sad
Original poster
timtam23 · 16/09/2013 16:37

Thank you Exit and cozie

I have written a massive post on the "kidney failure" thread as a kind of debrief! But maybe Dudley turning up a few weeks ago was meant to be! Old girl was never going to survive much longer, I have to be realistic about that.

OP posts:
cozietoesie · 16/09/2013 16:47

I rather think it was meant to be. He arrived out of the blue after all - all you did was give him shelter.

Horsemad · 16/09/2013 18:59

Oh timtam Sad

Sorry to hear about your cat, it's horrible when they get old & we have to make these decisions.

I agree, I do think Dudley's arrival was meant to be Smile As I said upthread, my new cat definitely helped soften the blow of our old girl going.

Hope your remaining oldie settles - sounds like he is.

Original poster
timtam23 · 16/09/2013 20:32

Thank you Horsemad, I remember you saying that your cat had died and the kitten had helped. I've had a few wobbles today, mainly when I think about never seeing her again, or wishing that we'd taken more photos of her, but it's hard to stay very very sad when Dudley is around, he's so funny.

OP posts:
Horsemad · 16/09/2013 21:11

Yes, it's a very raw feeling when you lose a beloved pet timtam Sad

Be kind to yourself & enjoy Dudley's antics, your cat had a lovely life with you and now it's time for another little cat to experience that.

Original poster
timtam23 · 16/09/2013 21:32

thank you again

Just for completeness I have put a photo of her on my profile. I know I'm biased but she was - is - beautiful.

OP posts:
ExitPursuedByADragon · 16/09/2013 21:34

Gosh. The fluffy one? She really is lovely.

Horsemad · 16/09/2013 21:44

Aww, what a lovely cat Smile