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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:
GibberTheMonkey · 29/08/2013 22:55

I'm glad I've never found a kitten. I would have to keep it and as dh is severely allergic he would have to go. I quite like him so...
A puppy on the other hand

Now going to have a look at the gorgeous Dudley. Logging in properly especially

Original poster
timtam23 · 03/09/2013 21:58

It's so lovely to see people still posting on here. Dudley continues to do really well, he had his 1st injections today and he has put on 450g in 2 weeks! (he was only 700g when we got him). I'm not really surprised, as he has been eating nonstop, but when I thought about it I suppose he was very close to starving to death when found. DH wonders if he had perhaps realised that he had no hope of survival on his own and had crawled under our bonnet to take himself off to die...Sad

I can't add any pics at the moment as Duds is asleep on my lap, but this afternoon he and my old blind cat were curled up asleep next to each other on the bed for a few hours - and blind cat definitely knew he was there. There is still a lot of hissing, and Duds keeps wacking their tails which they really hate, but I think the oldies are moving towards tolerating him which is all I had wanted.

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cozietoesie · 03/09/2013 22:01

Excellent news, timtam. It sounds as if they're reaching an accommodation.

Is DH his slave?

Original poster
timtam23 · 03/09/2013 22:04

Yes we are all his slaves but DH is the most slavish Grin

DH is actually being really proactive with the attempts to get the cats more used to each other, he is trying to get the old ones used to sitting in the same room as Dudley when he is asleep (it's a bit much for them when he's awake and in one of his crazy bouncy play phases)

OP posts:
cozietoesie · 03/09/2013 22:05

PS - the old blind cat will be coming to think that the tail whacking an chirupps are all there's going to be so will likely be relaxing gradually. And Dudley will just accept him as a bigger cat so hopefully won't aggress much if at all. The timing was pretty good, really.

cozietoesie · 03/09/2013 22:06

'chirrups' - Gawd.

ExitPursuedByABear · 03/09/2013 22:25

So glad he is doing well.

RosesInTheRain · 03/09/2013 22:31

I don't even like cats that much but seeing the update has cheered me up after a crappy day. Glad he is doing well :)

Original poster
timtam23 · 03/09/2013 22:34

Thanks cozie and Exit, he is such a lovely little kitten and I still can't quite believe all the coincidences which led to the MOT being arranged for that particular day & him being found, I'm sure he would have died under that bonnet if left much longer. I wish he could talk, as we'll never know his story!

OP posts:
Original poster
timtam23 · 03/09/2013 22:35

Thanks Roses I hope you have a better day tomorrow! I can recommend kitten cuddles Smile

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Original poster
timtam23 · 03/09/2013 23:01

Dudley has nipped off my lap for his usual 11pm mad half hour so I've put another pic on my profile, of him and Old Cat asleep on the bed together, awww!

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ExitPursuedByADragon · 03/09/2013 23:33

Oh stop it! Sooooo jealous.

ExitPursuedByADragon · 03/09/2013 23:35

Is that the blind cat? Loos like my treasured boy I lost at 12 months.

ExitPursuedByADragon · 03/09/2013 23:35

Looks.

Original poster
timtam23 · 04/09/2013 00:30

Yes Exit he is 17 now & I've had him since he was about the same size as Dudley (he was another stray). He is a beautiful cat and lovely-natured, his health has been on the decline since last year (thyroid removed then high blood pressure & started to lose his sight) but as long as his quality of life is ok we will nurse him along...

OP posts:
Horsemad · 04/09/2013 09:12

Cute pic of him cuddled up with your old boy Smile

RabbitsarenotHares · 04/09/2013 13:40

That's such a lovely photo of the two of them. And I must say, Dudley looks much bigger and healthier! Yay!!!!!

Keep the updates coming!

puffinnuffin · 07/09/2013 12:28

He looks beautiful- so glad you are keeping him. Lots of Rescue Centres round here are so full they can't take any more cats.

cozietoesie · 09/09/2013 22:53

How's our favourite engine cat doing?

SomewhereBeyondTheSea · 09/09/2013 23:21

Lovely thread :-)
I love a happy beginning (*not ending).

I acquired an accidental kitten about three months ago (moronic workmate of a friend bought a kitten an then changed his mind, pet shop wouldn't take it back). Was told it was a boy - vet had to tell me she's a girl Shock

My cat (Her Majesty) was - and still is - Not Impressed. But they're gradually reaching an equilibrium.

Well done you both for taking him, he is ADORABLE!

Original poster
timtam23 · 10/09/2013 21:04

Hi cozie, Dudley is continuing to do very well, he has a lovely temperament. He is having escorted time in the back yard but needs close supervision as he keeps climbing the trellises and escaping over the wall! He is absolutely desperate to spend time outside and keeps mewing by the back door.

The old cats are fading away a bit though, I had to take my old female to the vet on Saturday as I thought she might be dying - she kept being sick and went to ground under the bed, very withdrawn. Turned out to be most likely a gastric upset from Metacam (she has arthritis and has been on a few trials of meds recently). She perked up over the weekend but has been very quiet and off food again today. Also Dudley sleeps a lot but when awake he really hassles the older 2, launching himself at them and they get very upset. There has been a bit of weeing on carpet but we are not sure which cat it was Confused

The vet said it sounded like a nightmare trying to juggle the various health problems & the kitten, I have to say it seems relatively ok for us, I just wish the old cats could have a few days of peace and quiet to regroup, but with the kitten and 2 small children around that's unlikely to happen.

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ExitPursuedByADragon · 10/09/2013 21:53

Aw poor oldies.

I am sure they enjoy it really.

Original poster
timtam23 · 10/09/2013 22:03

Exit I'm pretty sure they aren't very impressed with any of it!

It's a shame for them, as we were quite content to pamper them through their final illnesses (old lady cat probably has months rather than years left, due to kidneys starting to pack up) but Dudley has kind of shifted the goal posts. We are making a fuss of them but can tell they're always wondering where the next attack will come from...

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ExitPursuedByADragon · 10/09/2013 22:07

I added the second sentence to be kind. I really feel for your old cats as I nursed my old girl through her dotage. Is there no way you can separate them?

cozietoesie · 10/09/2013 22:12

Dudley 'feeling his oats', eh? (I said that once in a high powered meeting and all the men present started fumbling with their papers! )

The oldies will fade of course. It's the way of things.