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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

Kitten Arrived Riddled With Fleas

93 replies

ItsSnowJokes · 19/08/2021 17:14

We have recently adopted a 16-20 ish week old kitten. She was found abandoned by a friend and then we have ended up with her. She has arrived yesterday absolutely riddled with fleas, but most of them were very slow and sleepy. We have treated her with advantage and a very good flea comb and I have indorex coming tomorrow. She is confined to the lounge at the moment which is hard floors but she has taken a space on the sofa so that is likely riddled as well!

She has lovely pink gums, but she is very very quiet for a kitten, just sleeps or hides a lot of the day, not really into playing she looks like she doesn't know how to! She is also really not eating a lot of food. She has used her litter tray for 3 wees in 24 hours but no poops (but then she's not eating a lot!). Her nose is a nice temp and wet, she just seems a very sleepy kitten.

She is booked in the vets the end of next week (the earliest I could get) but she has had her jabs as friend got those done straight away.

Is it normal for an abandoned kitten to be this quiet? I know it's very confusing for her currently as it's a new house but she is just so quiet. She has no other unwell signs other than being quiet and not eating much (she has drunk water a few times though).

I am annoyed that friend didn't flea treat her as friend has had her at their house for 5 weeks! They have had a stern message from me today! As its now costing us a fortune and we are all itching like mad. It was also unfair to leave a kitten that is tiny with that many fleas! If her guns weren't such a great colour she would be at an emergency vet for anaemia! There were about 20-30 on her and so much flea dirt.

OP posts:

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CatChant · 21/08/2021 13:13

I am so, so sorry. It is cruel news, but at least she has known love and security with you, and at this point letting her go painlessly is the kindest thing to do.

I would tell your DC she is so tired from her illness that she won't wake up but that she will never suffer any more. I'm sorry the DC will go through needless heartache because of the selfishness of others. It must have been obvious she had problems long before they shuffled her onto you.

Be kind to yourself, OP. You did the very best you could for her. She looks such a darling - I would have fallen in love with her already too.

SquirryTheSquirrel · 21/08/2021 13:15

It's natural that you love her, even though she's been with you only a short time - that makes her no less dear to you. Her last days have been filled with love and attention, which is the best we can do for any poorly pet, old or young. We were all rooting for her on this thread, she's a beautiful kitten

viques · 21/08/2021 13:18

I am so sorry. At least the poor little thing knew that she was loved and in a caring place for her short time with you.

Please try to be honest with your four year old, poor kitty was very ill, the vet gave her some good strong special medicine for cats but kitty was so poorly that the cat medicine was not strong enough to help her get better and she died. Make sure she knows it was “cat” medicine, and that the cat died, did not fall asleep, or pass away, which are ambiguous terms at best. Children are often remarkably prosaic about these things. She will probably talk about it at random moments for a few days and weeks (and probably longer) as she sorts it out in her head but is also likely to come out with requests for another kitten very quickly. Let her see that you are sad too.

ZeldaPrincessOfHyrule · 21/08/2021 13:19

I am so so sorry to read the update. I've been following the thread but not commented before because we aren't a household with cats, so I couldn't really offer anything. We are a family of animal lovers though, and it's crystal clear you've been the most wonderful thing for this beautiful little kitten. Even though it's just been four days, she's had more love and care it seems over that time than she got in all of her time before. I'd be incandescent with rage at my ex friend, as I know you are, and at this point I'd be telling them exactly what I thought of them. You're making the absolute kindest and best decision for her even though it's heartbreaking, which just makes you even more loving in my book. Huge unmumsnetty hugs, OP

SquirryTheSquirrel · 21/08/2021 13:21

it's crystal clear you've been the most wonderful thing for this beautiful little kitten. Even though it's just been four days, she's had more love and care it seems over that time than she got in all of her time before.

Yes, absolutely this. You've been marvellous, OP.

Original poster

ItsSnowJokes · 21/08/2021 13:27

Thank you everyone. I just can't stop crying. Husband is upstairs with our daughter while I am having lots of kitten cuddles.

Husband is taking her to the vets. I just can't be there today.

OP posts:

thecatneuterer · 21/08/2021 13:28

Oh I'm so upset to hear this. No one on this board will say 'you've only had her four days' or 'she's only a cat'. We all understand only too well what you're going through. I'm glad she had you to care for her at the end.

ILoveAnOwl · 21/08/2021 13:30

I'm so sorry to hear this, but thank you for making her last days so full of love.

Sleep well beautiful kitten! 😻

Original poster

ItsSnowJokes · 21/08/2021 13:35

How many lick-e-lix can we give her before she has to go? I'm going to try a lot! They make her so happy.

OP posts:

Froppysue · 21/08/2021 13:38

Im so, so sorry to read this update.

She was able to live out her final days with someone who loved and cared for her, and that is a wonderful thing

I can understand how heartbroken you are

Froppysue · 21/08/2021 13:39

She deserves all the lick-e-Lix in the world!

Plump82 · 21/08/2021 13:40

I'm so sad to hear this and have shed a little tear so I can't imagine how you and your family feel. She's had so much love over the last 4 days and this decision is the kindest one you could make.

MrsElijahMikaelson1 · 21/08/2021 13:41

SantaMonicaPier · 21/08/2021 13:51

I'm so so sorry to read this

Purplepeoniesdroppingpetals · 21/08/2021 14:16

Poor little love. You’ve been brief but great cat owners with this one and I’m glad that she had that care.

Kenji · 21/08/2021 14:22

I'm so sorry her story has ended this way. But wasn't she lucky your friend gave her to you. At least she has had 4 days of unconditional love and pampering and will be gently eased on her way pain free. Doesn't matter that you only had her for a short time, animals have a way of climbing into your heart. She was blessed to have found you, try take a little comfort from that x

Fingermoose · 21/08/2021 14:40

I'm so sorry OP. This little cat had the best few days she possibly could with you. I think she should have all the licky treats she can!

When our cat was PTS recently I explained to my five year old that Squeak was very ill, and that the vet had tried lots of ways to help but Squeak had died at the cat hospital. We had a little memorial soft toy made by Woolcat and every now and then sometime will mention him and we'll still get teary. I think it's important for your child to see that you're upset too, and don't use euphemisms like 'gone to sleep' so they don't start to worry about bedtimes.

Frazzled2207 · 21/08/2021 15:11

I’m so sorry to hear this very sad news. But I am pleased that she spent her last few days with you who showed her so much kindness and have made the right very difficult decision for her.

The “friend” should be told and should hang her head in shame.

RaelImperialAerosolKid · 21/08/2021 15:14

So sorry - no other words.

GigantosaurusRex · 21/08/2021 15:23

I'm so sorry. We had a rescue kitten in January that was recovering from cat flu but then went downhill with FIP. I understand your grief, I spent hours cleaning his eyes and nose, steaming the snot, encouraging him to eat and giving meds only to lose him, and at such a young age. Our DS was 6 when we lost two cats last year (age related issues), the first one was quite sudden and he didn't handle the shock of it very well but we explained about euthanasia when it was time for the second one and he coped so much better with it. I did explain that it was the last kind thing/loving thing we could do for him and we have a little memorial in the garden (more for me than DS!).

AwkwardSquad · 21/08/2021 15:23

Oh I’m so sorry. Poor little scrap. It’ll feel like cold comfort at first but you made sure she was as comfortable and as loved as she possibly could be in her last few days

Beamur · 21/08/2021 15:32

Sad news. You did your very best for her.

Original poster

ItsSnowJokes · 21/08/2021 15:35

The last picture we have taken of her. She is now at the vets and on her way to a better place for her.

We have explained as best we can to our daughter who has cried a lot but announced she will be in pet heaven with her friends hamster. I am sure more questions will come out over the coming days and weeks.

I am devastated. She was an amazing cat, you could see that even though she was so poorly. I have also realised that I can trust pets a lot more than I can so called friends. To think that we have been put through all this by a "friend" is unbelievable.

Thank you everyone for your kind, lovely words. xxxxx

OP posts:

TabbyStar · 21/08/2021 15:35

Sorry to hear this, it's always difficult to make that decision (we had to for our cat last year) but clearly the right one for the kitty and good that she's had some love in the meantime

YanTanTethera123 · 21/08/2021 15:38

Poor little sausage. Thank goodness she had some kindness and cuddles from you 💐

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