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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

Help - she’s lost the kitten

83 replies

ConstantlyChanging · 16/04/2021 18:00

My sister got a long-awaited kitten today for her 11 year old. The 11 year old was meant to keep kitty in her room till he settles in and appeared soon after kitty arrived saying kitty was missing. Despite the fact kitty was meant to be contained, 11 year old is not confident that the door was shut at all times and so may not be in her room. Her room is small so hard to see where he could be if he’s in there. They can’t find him anywhere. Door to the outside was closed so it must be in the house. Other complication is that they have a dog and introductions haven’t happened yet. Dog is now in the porch (kitty definitely isn’t) but sister is tearing her hair out at the fact that kitten could be anywhere in the 3 bedroom house and doesn’t know basic things like where the food, water or litter tray is. What will happen? What can they do?
I’m v far away so can’t go and help look (plus - Covid) and am feeling helplessly worried about the poor scared thing, incredibly annoyed with my niece but also, aware that niece (adopted) would be severely traumatised if this kitten doesn’t turn up. She’s had a lot of loss in her life and has been desperate for her own pet for years. All tips and positive experiences appreciated.

OP posts:

Veterinari · 16/04/2021 20:19

Microwave some sardines or tuna in spring water (not brine) until smelly (not hot)
Check temperature won't burn kitty
Place on a dish in the room.

Wait for kitty to follow her nose

bluebluezoo · 16/04/2021 20:22

Keep the dog corralled or send to a neighbour if you can do the kitten won’t hear it moving/barking

Just me that would send the dog to find the cat then

Friend of ours has an indoor cat that gets out occasionally. First thing she does is knock to ask if we’ll do a round with the dog as he inevitably tracks it down..

Wingdefender · 16/04/2021 20:26

Check carefully under pillows and douvets. No one sits on a bed until kitten is found

Wingdefender · 16/04/2021 20:29

I took my large adult cat to the vet yesterday. He hid when we got home and has yet to emerge. This is his normal response to being taken to the vet. I have no idea where he is. I can’t find him if he doesn’t want me to. In the house somewhere. He’ll probably appear miaowing loudly for breakfast at 4 am tomorrow morning, to let me know I am forgiven

Original poster

ConstantlyChanging · 16/04/2021 20:31

It’ll be in her room, very very small somewhere that looks impossible. What colour is it? I’d advise your niece just sits very quietly with the lights off and waits. I know 11 year olds aren’t too patient (especially worried tearful ones) but it will come out. Eventually. Smelly food will help...

I’ve just been through her room with her on FaceTime. So frustrating not being able to get stuck in and do it methodically and instead have a chaotic 11 year old rummaging around while she leaves me/the iPad staring at the light.

He’s grey and white (lots of white) so I think should be reasonably easy to spot. Very pretty boy.

OP posts:

Theunamedcat · 16/04/2021 20:33

Take the bottom drawer out

crimsonlake · 16/04/2021 20:35

Possibly managed to get inside the bedframe if she has one? My kitten found a small gap where the lining had come loose under our settee and hides inside there.

marthastew · 16/04/2021 20:37

Be careful when looking. They are very fragile at that age.

Butternutsqoosh · 16/04/2021 20:42

Ours disappeared and we only found it when we randomly opened a wardrobe drawer in absolute desperation and there he was all curled up, snoozing, had gone under wardrobe and clambered into the drawer from the back

user1481837070 · 16/04/2021 20:47

We thought we had lost our kittens the day after we had got them. It turned out they had got under the kitchen units/drawers - when the
drawers were open you couldn’t see underneath as there was a bottom shelf. They came out by themselves when the house was quite (when the children were at school!). When we knew that’s where they were we knew they were there going forward - they’re much too big now to get back underneath! I hope the kitten is found soon.

ReviewingTheSituation · 16/04/2021 20:51

Our chunky 3 year old nervous rescue cat did this to us. Twice. Both times getting into places that I swear are impossible to squeeze into. They're just very good at getting into teeny tiny places. Sitting still and quiet is key. Rummaging around probably won't make it come out.

quizqueen · 16/04/2021 20:53

Under the mattress, behind a drawer if they were open- they climb inside then over the back so pull them all out.

theemmadilemma · 16/04/2021 20:57

Oh god the agony of missing kitties. I eventually found one curled up in a bath boat toy tucked up in the house bit under step sons bed. It took me 2 hours to find her.

Toomanyricecakes · 16/04/2021 20:57

Oh god this brings back the worst memories ever from the night we got our kittens. I went out and left OH in charge of them. Came home to one kitten snoozing happily next to him and one nowhere to be seen.

My god the scenes in our house that night

Turns out the little monkey was under the bath, had sneaked behind the bath panel as there was a bit of a gap there.

You seen to thinks DNs kitten hasn’t left her bedroom? Could DN have left the door open at some point but be scared to admit it? Sorry if I’ve missed something!

nopenotplaying · 16/04/2021 20:58

Tell her to go in the room, dim the lights and sit quietly. Oh and shit the door! She'll hear her soon enough..you may have to do this for each room in the house!

nopenotplaying · 16/04/2021 20:58

Sorry, shut not shit

tinselandlights · 16/04/2021 21:33

We got a new kitten earlier this year and lost her on the first night - looked literally everywhere, my DH was on the edge of tears.

Eventually in desperation I pulled out the sofa cushions and the little minx was staring at me from between the back of the sofa

I hope your DS's turns up soon OP.

Original poster

ConstantlyChanging · 16/04/2021 21:36

I suspect he’s still in her room because although she left the door open that was after she initially couldn’t find him, all other upstairs doors were shut and so he’d have had to climb down a big (curved) staircase to be anywhere else. Maybe he did or maybe one of the other doors wasn’t shut upstairs but I still think he’s most likely in her room.

OP posts:

nixso29 · 16/04/2021 21:40

Really hope he turns up 🤞

imalmostthere · 16/04/2021 21:44

Definitely microwave some tuna and leave in a dish and he will come out eventually!

SuzanneV · 16/04/2021 21:48

I have 'lost' kittens at the back of drawers and also curled up asleep in the sleeve of a cardigan! Don't give up hope!

AlbusSeverusMalfoy · 16/04/2021 21:48

@bluebluezoo

Keep the dog corralled or send to a neighbour if you can do the kitten won’t hear it moving/barking

Just me that would send the dog to find the cat then

Friend of ours has an indoor cat that gets out occasionally. First thing she does is knock to ask if we’ll do a round with the dog as he inevitably tracks it down..

I'd put the dog on a short lead and get the dog to sniff out the kitten 🤷🏻‍♀️

Zofloramummy · 16/04/2021 21:51

I lost my kitten a few times in the first few weeks and usually she was in a drawer, it was quite a surprise opening the cutlery drawer to find her lying in it! Also bedroom chest of drawers as she could climb up the gap in the back.

It’s perfectly normal for a kitten to hide, really important that she leaves out food, water and puts a litter tray in the room. Probably at about 3-4am when the house is really quite the kitten will emerge.

QueenPaw · 16/04/2021 21:53

My cat is full grown and I still lose him! He is black and likes to sleep on black clothing, then gets cross when I don't see him and he gets sat on

theotherfossilsister · 16/04/2021 21:54

We lost ours behind the books in the tightly packed bookcase. Still no idea how he did it. He's five now and rules the flat.

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