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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 I have found a kitten in my garden

89 replies

technicallychallenged · 07/12/2013 21:23

So yeah just that really
It's a little tabby kitten and it looks youngish I would say less than a year old.
DD(5) told me there was a strange cat in the garden I told her to leave it be. (She usually says things like that to get out of going to bed)
Anyway I went to take the rubbish out and there was a cat looking at me. It looks very thin and pitiful and it had no collar and it broke my heart so I took it in and gave it a little water and a little tuna.
I am wondering what to do now. Any help please?

OP posts:
qazxc · 07/12/2013 21:26

When you say kitten, how small is it? old enough to be away from it's mother?

Gileswithachainsaw · 07/12/2013 21:29

Tbh. Vet. Kittens get soooo sick so quickly and I know it's not yours but it's cold and if it's tiny he really should be with his mummy. :(

LaurieFairyCake · 07/12/2013 21:30

At a year old it's a full grown cat Confused

Is he angling for some warmth and snuggles cos his mums put him out?

cozietoesie · 07/12/2013 21:30

I think you may be stuck with it for the night. Do you have a cat of your own or any neighbours who can give you some cat food or something to serve as a cat tray?

Is it a girl or a boy do you know?

LaurieFairyCake · 07/12/2013 21:31

Keep it in until you find out whose it is?

Original poster
technicallychallenged · 07/12/2013 21:31

It's definitely old enough to be away from it's mother. Having said that I don't really know how old it is exactly because I have never had a cat myself so I am sure about it's age/size.

OP posts:
crazynanna · 07/12/2013 21:31

Knock on the neighbours to see if they have lost a kitten? But if it's thin, it may have strayed quite a way maybe and been lost a while.

Otherwise, take it to the vets to check for microchip. If not...then congratulations! You are now a cat slave/human Wink

cozietoesie · 07/12/2013 21:31

PS - is it settling or anxious?

SkateLife · 07/12/2013 21:36

Agree with others, ask locally and get it scanned at the vets for a microchip.

Bet your dd is pleased.

Original poster
technicallychallenged · 07/12/2013 21:36

No-one on this street has a cat as far as I know which is why I took it in. I will take it too the vets as soon as I can to check the micro chip if it has one. And I will ask around. I am waiting to call my DH who has actually owned cats before so he may have a better idea than me.

OP posts:
Original poster
technicallychallenged · 07/12/2013 21:38

It seems settled it's sitting on a chair just looking around.

I haven't showed DD the cat but I can see an I told you so mummy coming when she does see it.

OP posts:
crazynanna · 07/12/2013 21:39

If he/she is lodging with you, you need a makeshift litter tray and somewhere to sleep that is quiet and warm (blanket in a box).

Old square washing up bowl/roasting tin lined with newspaper sort of thing.

FeastOfPhteven · 07/12/2013 21:40

Can you pop a photo on so we can see him? Might be able to guesstimate an age and I love a kitty photo

Gileswithachainsaw · 07/12/2013 21:41

Don't give it any milk. :) water only to drink, can u etbykir dh to bring some cat food home? Failing that chicken and tuna is ok but get some cat food ASAP

crazynanna · 07/12/2013 21:41

for litter tray that is (old washing up bowl,etc) Sorry..red wine

Gileswithachainsaw · 07/12/2013 21:41

Get your dh. This phone is pissing me off now Blush

Original poster
technicallychallenged · 07/12/2013 21:44

Thanks crazynanna I shall get too it.
I can't post a photo because I am on the rubbish laptop and DH took the nice one to work.

OP posts:
cozietoesie · 07/12/2013 21:49

If it's just sitting that's fine - you know me. I was busy imagining a young Mum who was desperate for food and has left her babies somewhere.

See what you can do about a makeshift tray - a seed tray or a roasting tin with some shredded paper will do. (Just needs to be reasonably roomy and low lying.)

Phone your DH. Does he pass a supermarket on the way home?

cozietoesie · 07/12/2013 21:52

I do hope Sparkling doesn't find this thread. Destiny is beginning to seem a little adversarial to her!

Original poster
technicallychallenged · 07/12/2013 22:58

DH reckons the cat is about 9ish months old however she is on the small side. We shall ring the vets tomorrow and try to take her down but I don't know how it will work on a Sunday.

OP posts:
cozietoesie · 07/12/2013 23:06

I don't know where you are, technically but do you have a Pets at Home Service near you? I've not used them myself but other posters have and I think I recall that they have a Sunday Service at reasonable cost. (You'll always get a vet on Sunday but some of them use pretty expensive Out Of Hours services and as you're only really wanting a quick check and a chip scan (?) that may be too much for you.)

My own vet would do a chip check for free but I don't know whether that would be the case for an OOH vet.

Other posters may comment.

Do you think you shall be keeping her if an owner can't be found?

Original poster
technicallychallenged · 07/12/2013 23:19

Thanks cozietoesie there is one not far from us, we shall ring round tomorrow and ask about prices.

I don't know if would keep her. We could afford to and it would make the DCs Christmas but there is the responsibility of a cat which has to come into it plus we don't really know her temperament yet and how she will react to the DCs/ whether she may have other behaviour problems.

OP posts:
girliefriend · 07/12/2013 23:24

It will be expensive to see a vet on a Sunday I would have thought, maybe try the cats protection league for advice. They are normally very helpful.

have you checked him/her for fleas? Does it seem keen to get out again?

Otherwise provide food, water and somewhere for it to go the toilet!!

cozietoesie · 07/12/2013 23:24

The responsibility of a cat does have to be taken very seriously - although I do think it's good for youngsters to be brought up with that. (And the fun of a pet also, of course.)

Her behaviour sounds immaculate so far, at any rate for a cat who has maybe been on the streets. I'd be guessing she was brought up in a household at the very least because she doesn't sound too wary of humans. You'll be able to tell over the next short while.

girliefriend · 07/12/2013 23:25

When I was worried about my cat one wend I rang up the oohs number and she said it would be £90 for a consultation Shock

If you can make wait til mon I would Grin