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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.

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Original poster

Should we keep the kitten?

46 replies

cyclerunmum · 02/08/2015 08:33

Need a common sense perspective on this please as I am being swayed by cuteness too much!

Yesterday my DD rang to say a kitten had been handed in where she worked (rural place) found in a field nearby, on it's own, soaking wet and crying. She is about 6 to 8 weeks, small, very hungry and thin, has ticks on her tummy, and looks a little scraggy, but not sure how long she's been outside alone. She is also beautiful :)

We have no idea where she came from, no one nearby knows who she belonged to or if she's from a farm cat (likely, but she is far from feral).

I said we could bring her home til Monday and see how my old male cat (14 years) and dog (10 years) reacted to her, but secretly want to keep her, if no one else claims her of course.

We have the room and resources for her, but my main concern is my old cat who has hissed at her a couple of times since arrival, but is keeping away upstairs whilst kitten is downstairs for now. Old cat seems happy this morning (away from kitten) but I have read about old cats reacting badly for a long time to new cats, and their personalities totally changing. Our old boy is the most loving wonderful cat and I would hate to upset him too much....

DH is not as keen as me but may be talked round, DD7 and older DD are keen to keep her. Kitten has been a dream, is eating and drinking and using litter tray.

What do I do?

OP posts:

Fluffycloudland77 · 02/08/2015 08:39

Give it time, cats are expert sulkers. As long as she's not attacking the kitten then it's all good.

You can swap bedding over so they get used to each other's scent and feed them in the same room but far apart and gradually move the bowls closer over the week.

We introduced our resident cats to three further cats over the years and they established new hierearchys.

Original poster

cyclerunmum · 02/08/2015 08:42

Thank you Fluffy, our old man hissed and backed off, so no sign of fighting or anything like that. He is so placid normally, I am hoping after the shock has worn off he will either just rub along with kitten amicably, or make a new friend!

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 02/08/2015 10:24

You said you'd give it till Monday so they've only had 24 hours yet. OldCat will know perfectly well that she's still around - he's not daft and can hear and smell her even if she's not in his face - so it sounds reasonably positive I think.

In my experience, it's down to the cats altough introducing a single kitten is usually easier than a mature cat. The Lodger wouldn't cause me a moment's concern. (He'd be busy refreshing his card tricks and checking the contents of the cellar to share with the new arrival.) Seniorboy wouldn't cause me much actual concern either because I'd just have said NO right off. (He detests and despises other cats of any description.)

I'd give it a little longer.

timtam23 · 02/08/2015 10:47

I took in a tiny stray kitten a couple of years ago, it was completely unplanned & I also had 2 very elderly cats, but the kitten was in a very dangerous situation & impossible to leave him. The hardest time was when he got to about 12-16 weeks old as he was extremely bouncy & used to lie in wait for my old (blind) boycat & ambush him. Boycat hated this but in fact the mitten seemed very fond of boycat, used to snuggle up to him & groom him & I think boycat secretly loved this, I have lots of pictures of them snuggled up together. Old boy died last year when kitten was about 10 months old & i would say their relationship had been amicable for quite some time. My old girl cat was extremely unimpressed but in fact she died about a month after we got the kitten so although it was sad it was probably easier to manage in the long run. Just try to provide your oldie with some safe places where he can shelter from the kitten and it will probably work out OK in the end. The other solution might be to get a second kitten as they will play together and not bother the oldie (this was suggested to me & it made a lot of sense, but 4 cats & 2 small children in a small house really wasn't an option for me!)

Original poster

cyclerunmum · 02/08/2015 15:47

Thanks for your replies and advice.

We took kitten to the vets today for a full check and have decided to keep her. She was full of worms, fleas and had 24 ticks removed :( poor thing. But otherwise she is good, 7 weeks old, not feral, just abandoned.

Old cat has mooched around, past her sleeping today, and not responded at all, is still eating well and getting all the attention he is used to. So fingers crossed things continue to improve and we can all live happily together! As we got old cat from a rescue home at 10 months, I don't have any experience of tiny cats yet, so lots to learn... she is just so cute!

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cozietoesie · 02/08/2015 16:28

Poor little scrap. Was/is she anaemic after that load of nasties ?

cozietoesie · 02/08/2015 16:31

PS - and if Oldcat hasn't had a flea/worm treatment in the last very little while, I'd be dosing him also I'm afraid. (I'm thinking only about the chemical load on his body if, say, he had one last week.) Maybe buy some Indorex as well - for the carpets and soft furnishings etc?

Original poster

cyclerunmum · 02/08/2015 16:59

Thanks cozietoesie good point about flea treatment for oldcat, and spray, just ordered some now.

Not sure about anaemia, she is just very tired and lethargic now, but has eaten well, so will monitor her closely.

OP posts:

BagelwithButter · 02/08/2015 16:59

Kitten, schmitten! The rules are that you have to put a picture up before any other advice is forthcoming

It's wonderful that you are keeping her. The only other thing I could think of, is that you'll have to make sure she doesn't get out until she's neutered so, if older cat uses a catflap (and it's not a microchip activated one), you'll have to close doors etc

Microchip will be done when neutering probably, so just insurance to do. Congratulations! (I'm very as my twattish husband threw an absolute tantrum when 2 homeless kittens turned up in our house one evening. Luckily, (not for me) my lovely NDN has given them a home with her 4 cats!

cozietoesie · 02/08/2015 17:09

The tiredness and lethargy could be partly anaemia - the nasties must have been taking a fair amount of blood from her - and the meds will also be having an effect on her. (Did the vet vaccinate her as well?) Partly also, perhaps, relief at being in a warm place and being looked after.

Peace and quiet and as much food and water as she'll take at the moment, I think.

Fluffycloudland77 · 02/08/2015 17:14

Bagel

He's not coming round then?.

BagelwithButter · 02/08/2015 17:30

Not at all Fluffy

They are now having a lovely time at the NDN. She's registered them with her vets and got the 1st vaccs done.

She really knows her stuff, integrated them slowly with her 4 cats, separate rooms so they could see each other but not touch, in her room at night etc but now they're all together during the times she's at home. She has loads of scratching posts, beds, toys so they're having a great time.

Have been round a few times to see them. Had a nice cuddle and got lots of purrs when they were sleepy.

Fluffycloudland77 · 02/08/2015 17:35

Pity, there's a cat on here in Bournemouth who desperately needs a good home.

I'm sure he has good points too. Although if he comes home with a dog ltb.

BagelwithButter · 02/08/2015 17:46

Ha ha! He does have some some good points, I suppose [weak smile] He's not keen on dogs either! But I do foster 2 dogs so he just about managed to put up with that! And cats are so much easier than dogs and so much cleaner, not logical at all, the twit!

Saw the post re. Bournemouth cat, I hope she manages to find somewhere for the poor thing. On top of losing her own place to live, it's a terrible worry about the cat. Pity the people who lived down her road can't take the cat on.

BagelwithButter · 02/08/2015 17:47

*DID foster 2 dogs

Original poster

cyclerunmum · 02/08/2015 17:47

Oh go on then :) here she is! No vaccinations until 9 weeks apparently, she is 7 weeks and needs a couple of weeks to get completely well.

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 02/08/2015 17:52

Lovely wee girl.

Have you named her yet?

Fluffycloudland77 · 02/08/2015 17:56

She's a pretty little thing, 24 ticks must be a record.

BagelwithButter · 02/08/2015 18:00

Oh, she's gorgeous! What a lucky little girl to have found a home with you

Corygal · 02/08/2015 18:03

How lovely she is! Well done on finding her a lovely home. She must be so relieved, not to mention starting to feel better. Beautiful coat and eyes.

Original poster

cyclerunmum · 02/08/2015 18:05

Thank you,

She is called Betty, I can't stop looking at her little face :)

I know, I can't believe how many she had, vet said she must have picked them up in last 24 hours as they were small still, so guess she must have been out in the fields a while before she was found.

OP posts:

Sparklingbrook · 02/08/2015 18:11

Betty Kitten. That photo is too cute.

RepeatAdNauseum · 02/08/2015 18:15

Oh my god, she is adorable.

BettyCatKitten · 02/08/2015 20:51

She's gorgeous, great name

ShipwreckedAndComatose · 02/08/2015 20:57

Lovely Betty

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