New Kitten

[littlepinkgiraffe]

DP has rescued a kitten at work today. We have been to the vets and she's been checked over and seems to be fine. DP wants to keep her - what costs are we looking at assuming she has no future health problems?

We have bought some kitten food and milk on the advice of the vet. They've said to leave it a little while before having her vaccinated and neutered and let her settle for a week before worming her.

The vet advised the annual vac would be £52 but didn't say the cost of neutering. They also put some flea spray on her - how long do we need to leave it before we can let her on the sofa / let DD stroke her?

Give Cats Protection a call, they may help with vouchers for neutering (they have rules but my local one breaks them all the time and gives vouchers to anyone who asks).

I'd also ask them which vet(s) they use.

I used to foster for CP but can't now since madam moved in but I use the same vet they use.

The vet has a 'plan' that you pay monthly for and it proves vaccines, annual health check, flea treatment etc. I don't use it, I just pay as and when.

I have Tesco pet insurance, recommended by someone on here, but I have not used it so no idea how good it is.

Such a cute little kitten! My only advice, is make sure you get a definite yes or no to the cat flu. Some insurance will and some insurance won't tell you but if she's had cat flu then she will possibly never be covered for cat flu, eye disorders, calicivirus, herpes, respiratory system disorders and I'm sure there's something else. Feel free to pm me if you want to know more about pet insurance at all. Other than that, enjoy her. She looks absolutely lovely and I'm glad your DP found her.

That's interesting about the cat flu and insurance - I didn't know that so will look into the small print in my quotes.

I have emailed cats protection and they've advised they should be able to help with the neutering so that's good.

I will find her a little teddy to cuddle into and look into nearby vets plans for her to see if the price works out better for us.

Have her microchipped whilst she is under anaesthetic when being spayed.

I agree with the poster who said find out which vet CP use. They seem to avoid the big chains.

Don't the bigger chains give good payment plans though? My medivet is £15 a
Month and it's only a small practice so we see the same one every time

Maybe so but I think they do try and up sell a lot more so in the long term it isn't so reasonable. I know all businesses are about profit but are the people at the top of these big chains vets or know much about animals? Or are they more interested in profit than animal welfare?
I also think they're wiping out decent independent practises who may have a lower staff turnover.
Sorry I feel quite strongly about this and don't like how vet care is going.

Tesco insurance was quite good and paid up without a quibble, but when your cats reach 12 or so, the costs shoot way, way up! i changed, and I'm pretty sure the one I am with now is going to prove tricky to get to cough up the cash. CandleCat2 has a thyroid problem and also vomits quite regularly. There is nothing to find with his tummy, he is wormed etc regularly, not sore, so he gets antacids every day. He is 14 though, so I don't want to put him through a lot. I am just keeping an eye on him and if he gets too frail, I will PTS, much as it break my heart to do so.

Mouse is so sweet! Your vet sounds a bit pants. it is worth asking around to find out who your friends use. I would be wary of any vet at Pets at Home - I have heard some real horror stories.

I dunno really at medivet we only see Dora and she adores my two cats it could be an act and is always showing me photos of her dogs. It's a big company but has a small vet feel to it. Very basic nothing flash. If you ring up they keep you talking for ages! I'm happy with them but my eldest is only a year so I'm not experienced. They have a hospital about ten minutes away as well.

Little kitten seems to be settling in well. We have let her roam the living room a bit tonight and she was bitey to begin with but is getting a bit more confident.

We have brushed her through and she was snuggled up on my shoulder for quite a while.

We are keeping her in her box again tonight and probably the next few nights until she gets a bit stronger and more comfortable. We have found her a teddy bear too!

Mouse is THE most ENCHANTING kitten in the world! I am glad others had the same advice re avoiding kitten (and normal) milk - my first kitten had kitten milk and I got told off by the "good" vet - he said water only and Willyum was never sick again! It was heartwrenching to see him vomiting and calling Mama-Mama - I cried and cried for him and then when I found out it was my fault I cried again. May I suggest a little igloo "bed" for Mouse? All my kitties loved to tuck themselves inside the igloo and peek out!!! I am totes in luv with Mouse little sweetie! You are so very kind taking on a scrap of a kit. Ahhhhh! >^^

Oh, she is very beautiful, and lucky your DP found her. Just one thing to add to all the other advice - keep her 'roaming' area limited and only expand it gradually. Having a small safe place she can go to will help her feel secure.

Once she's used to the sitting room, you could maybe turn the box on it's side in there so she has somewhere to retreat to, but can explore a bit more on her own. Also, along with you and the teddy bear for cuddles, perhaps pop a hot water bottle under her blanket for a while to heat it before she goes back in the box so there's something else snuggly too.

PS I meant to say! Sounds odd but do you have a gently ticking clock? Kitties when so young like a lil tick-tick-tick or a low-playing radio when they are on their own when everyone is asleep. I used to tuck a ticking clock under the thickest part of the bedding - I think it may mimic the sound of their Mum's heart or something?? Also the low radio be it talking or music is to "show" they haven't been abandoned - a night to us humans is quite "quick" but to a kitty is a bit of an endless silent and dark time for them. I hope I don't sound a bit "ooh I'm a right expert" (!) its only my time with Cats Protection.....

PPS Sincere apols here for keep posting - I forgot something; errrrrrrr as she is tiny and its assuming she is 6/7 wks old - she does need gentle human handling and stroking quite a lot (they call it socialising) in order to "lose" any feralness and be the best cat in the world that ever did! This is something v e r y highly recommended by all cat charities so that there is no fear. I imagine a teeny kit seeing a 5ft 6" (or wotever!) human looming must be a dreadful thing to behold at first - gawd I may have to get another kitten as my hormones are shrieking Get One, Get One !!!!!!!!

Is that litter non clumping? If it's clumping & she eats it it'll do her serious harm when it expands in her stomach.

We were taking about the igloo beds last night funnily enough so that she has somewhere sheltered to retreat to once she's out of the box. Also so we can teach DD (2) to leave the kitten be when she's in her bed.

Thanks for the tips re water bottle, sounds and the dark - will look into getting her some bits to keep her comfy.

We've been handling her again today and will continue doing so throughout the day to get her used to us and make her feel safe. We have been shutting the door in he living room so she can't go too far as I read that it's best to keep their space small to start.

Our NDN gave us the cat litter so I'm not sure - I will ask her and make sure we buy non clumping - thank you

She's adorable! Where did your DP find her?

He found her near his work, she was very scraggly and weak and her eyes were glued shut with gunk. He didn't want to leave her as didn't she would make it if she was left alone so brought her home and took her to the vets.

They asked if we wanted to leave her with them or take her home so she became ours.

She's a lucky fluffball!

My beastie drinks out of puddles. Classy mog! Yours is lovely and will soon start cleaning himself so I wouldn't bathe him unless he is really filthy.

Mouse update:

DP took her to a different vets this afternoon, they weighed her and she is 290g and a maximum of 6 weeks old. They gave her some worming treatment and said the previous vets should have done that then.

We bought some kitten formula on the advice of pets at home but the vets have said to stop as it seems to be upsetting her stomach and to keep up with the kitten food.

They also said to give her a bath as she'll feel lots better and lots of socialising and cuddles.

Awwwww bless her 😍
Ozzy was only eight weeks when he came home with us. The first two nights I slept downstairs with him and put a cat purring noise on TV (played it through YouTube on the PS4).
He's so spoilt!

Oh that's tiny! Mine was 1.2kg at 7 weeks she's a little dot. Did u join a scheme?

Oh - glad you found a different vet - she is really tiny though, isn't she? ne of ours, when we rescued him (was thrown out of a car in a bag), could comfortably fit in DH's palm when sitting upright. He definitely could not do that when full grown as turned into an enormous cat.

Moonlight that's awful! How can people be so cruel?

We have registered with that vets, have looked at insurance but can't put that in place until she's at least 8 weeks old via Tesco.

One final photo showing our lovely new fluffy and clean kitty!