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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

I've found a stray kitten

52 replies

Nicehooves · 02/06/2017 17:44

Looking for some advice. For the past week I've notice a black kitten running up and down the street. It struck me as slightly odd because he seemed too little to be out alone. On my way to work this morning he was in my front garden and up close he looked a little worse for wear. I fed him some kitten food (gobbled it up) left some water and went to work. He was waiting on my doorstep when I got home.
He's very timid and scratches if I try to touch him so I'm pretty sure he's a stray. Not sure what to do! I have a kitty of my own and I'm 38weeks pregnant so taking him in isn't an option.

I've found a stray kitten
OP posts:
viques · 02/06/2017 21:05

Wow Dumble, talk about a pussy makeover! He looks gorgeous, how lucky he turned up on YOUR doorstep. (Wink wink!!!!)

Original poster
Nicehooves · 02/06/2017 21:37

Thecatneuterer I have no idea if he's a boy and there's no way I'm lifting its tail to find out! My dcat is a boy so just saying 'he' out of habit. What's your opinion on cat traps you can buy from amazon? I could try to trap him/her and then deliver to Celia Hammond? I can't leave him on my front door step!

OP posts:
Dumbledoresgirl · 02/06/2017 21:40

Thank you for the appreciation of my kitty. His looks are not even the half of his attractions. He has the most adorable personality too.

And, if I tell the truth, he did not exactly turn up on my doorstep. I arrived home one day to find a man lurking at the bottom of my drive. He has just witnessed kitty being knocked by a van (apart from that little cut on his jaw, he was uninjured by that btw) and asked me if I knew who he belonged to. It was obvious to me that he was a stray, so I volunteered to take him to the vet, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Oh, and my two old boys did not really get a say, but I was able to keep kitty separate from them for long enough for them to get used to him. They seem to get along ok now.

thecatneuterer · 02/06/2017 22:13

I had no idea you could buy cat traps on line. I wouldn't trust them. It sounds like a fairly easy trapping job, so hopefully they will be able to get to you before too long. But he/she will still have to come back. So he will still be on your doorstep regardless.

picklemepopcorn · 02/06/2017 22:43

How about putting a box and towels in a corner of your front garden so he has somewhere to be overnight? He may get used to the idea, too.

UrsulaPandress · 02/06/2017 22:47

Shameless place marking.

I still miss Pinot

ElizaDontlittle · 03/06/2017 08:29

Me three with Fluffy and Sparkling Grin
It doesn't sound the best place for a kitten. Do they ever get used to humans? He's absolutely gorgeous OP - does he interact with your cat at all? Good luck with your baby too.

Original poster
Nicehooves · 03/06/2017 09:43

Thanks ElizaDontlittle, counting down the days. My Dcat only has access to the back gardens and stray puss only has access to the tiny, paved front so they haven't had any contact. Stray puss was waiting at the front door for me this morning (also left a giant poo in the front garden!) so I've fed him / her and left a box outside with some blankets and a few treats but straypuss doesn't seem too interested and prefers to sleep on the front door mat. Still very scratchy so I've taken to wearing ski gloves when I feed him/her. No luck contacting anyone who can help. Celia Hammond not answering, Battersea will take him but I have to get him there and i have no idea how I'd do that... also they will put Straypuss down if he's too feral to rehome and I think there's a 50/50 chance he might be...

OP posts:
Vinorosso74 · 03/06/2017 09:51

Try Cats Protection in Mitcham if no answer fron CH, they might have a trap you can borrow (I know North London do so would assume they do). Not sure how far Mitcham is for you. If he's feral they'll also neuter and release but being a kitten there may be hope.

pumpkinpie5 · 03/06/2017 09:54

Try blue cross in se London. They can take him in with a home fostered, will get him vet checked and socialise him.

Original poster
Nicehooves · 03/06/2017 09:56

Thanks Vinorosso74. Posting another picture just in case there's some nice SE Londoner with a cat trap lurking who's willing to help a giant pregnant woman and a tiny stray cat!

I've found a stray kitten
OP posts:
Veronicat · 03/06/2017 10:01

sparkling and fluffy
I live on a farm and quite often I get kittens dumped on the track. If you can get to Scotland, the next lot can be yours!
Here's the last lot we had. I managed to get them rehomed through the local CPL.
I also have two that moved into the house and three that stayed semi-feral.

I've found a stray kitten
thecatneuterer · 03/06/2017 10:01

CHAT only answer the phone for routine calls during office hours. Battersea will put him down! Why not let CHAT catch and neuter him/her and give him a chance.

No charity will be able to take in a feral. Yes he may be tameable, but there is a strong chance he won't be. He will be ok where he is with access to food. It's better than being put down.

witwootoodleoo · 03/06/2017 10:06

This is going to sound mad, but try making a high pitched squeal if he scratches or bites. The idea is to mimic the noise a litter mate would make if he played too rough. We taught a semi feral not to scratch and bite that way.

If he's going to stay semi feral try to get some wormer in him. Maybe a spot on one applied whilst he's eating would work?

Original poster
Nicehooves · 03/06/2017 10:09

Ok catneuterer I'll try Celia H on Monday. It's warm so he'll be fine on the mat for the moment but there is no real shelter for him long-term. It's a tiny concrete front garden, usually filled with bins and the porch gets wet when the wind comes from the wrong direction. I'd prefer to give him a chance at rehabilitation and a better life. I'm hoping his/her cute little face will work to his advantage!

Veronicat- they are lovely! Not tempted to keep them?

OP posts:
Original poster
Nicehooves · 03/06/2017 10:10

witwootoodleoo Great advice, I'll try that at the next feeding.

OP posts:
thecatneuterer · 03/06/2017 10:14

Yes, a chance at a home would be great. But if he's feral he won't get that. He will be put down at Battersea. CPL can't take in ferals. No charities can take in ferals. CHAT do take in a few and find them feral homes, but there are so many millions of ferals and so few feral homes that we can only do that for the ones in very immediate danger. CHAT will keep him for a few days post op anyway and will obviously assess him/her during that time. If there is any chance they will do their best. If there isn't then he is better living on the street if he's being fed.

If you want you could put a cat shelter in your front garden. If you don't, he will find shelter somewhere and come to you for food. It's what ferals do.

thecatneuterer · 03/06/2017 10:15

He will be wormed by CHAT if they come to get him/her.

Veronicat · 03/06/2017 10:17

I would have but they deserved to be proper house cats.
I seem to have just been adopted by a feral skinny ginger and white. I think it's wandered up from the next farm .

thecatneuterer · 03/06/2017 10:19

If the Lewisham branch aren't able to come to trap in a couple of weeks then I promise I will. I would rather stick to my 'patch' and leave it to Lewisham, but I promise I will come to you if they can't. pm me.

thecatneuterer · 03/06/2017 10:23

Oh and a cute face doesn't help at all if the cat isn't friendly. No one looking at taking on a cat wants want they can't touch. There are so very many cats needing homes, people are naturally going to choose the ones that come to them. You often hear people say 'go to a rescue place and your new cat will choose you'. What that really means is that the very friendly ones will get the homes.

Plus he's black. Even friendly black cats have trouble getting homed. There is very little chance that he will be homed in the normal way. Yes it would be lovely if the world were full of people wanting to take on 'cat projects'. To give a semi feral chance to tame up. But unfortunately that is just wishful thinking. There are very few of those people indeed and many millions of cats in that position.

Original poster
Nicehooves · 03/06/2017 11:03

Thanks Catneuterer. I'll try Lewisham Monday morning and PM you if I'm not having any luck after a week or so.

OP posts:
thecatneuterer · 03/06/2017 11:10

Don't use the word 'he' when you call. Stress that you don't know whether it's male or female. Females have a much higher priority.

Original poster
Nicehooves · 03/06/2017 12:06

Ok good tip and I honestly don't know either way.

OP posts:
dailydance · 03/06/2017 20:35

Just because he's/ she's scratchy doesn't mean he can't be tamed or is semi feral. One of mine was like that when I started feeding her...Always on the attack. I worked out it was because she was so hungry and defending her food from me (she's not clever). Now that she trusts me and moved herself into my flat, she's actually got the sweetest temperament and is really friendly towards people. I think they can lash out when hungry & scared, same as any animal. I would take your stray in but I have 3 females and my flat wouldn't be big enough for a 4th... wouldn't be fair on any of them. I can ask a mate who has a farm in Essex if you like?

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