Please read. Very concerned about neighbours new kitten and urgent advice needed!

[CrazyCatLadies]

As a non cat owner, this is my first foray onto this particular part of MN. I didn't want the hyperbolic outrage of AIBU so I came here to get sensible and reasoned responses! Thanks.

Last weekend, the children next door proudly showed me their new kitten. It's a beautiful little thing.

They had just brought her home and told me she was 6 weeks old. First concern.

Then, this Saturday morning (and now 7 weeks old), she came into our garden through a gap in the hedge at around 9am. I took her home and told the neighbours she shouldn't be outside alone. I had woken the parents up by knocking as they were still in bed. They took her back and said the childen must have let her out and they'd speak to them. The children weren't outside at all.

But, last night, at 10pm, I was sitting in the garden and the kitten came into the garden again. None of them were in the garden with it and the children were in bed at that time.

My partner took her back round and explained that the kitten was far too young to be outside unsupervised and needed to be at least 4 months old, spayed, vaccinated, microchipped and settled into her new home before she was allowed outside unsupervised (sorry for any inaccuracies, we've never owned cats and this was a quick Google check!)

I have heard them in the garden with the kitten and talking to it and understand that this is already a much loved pet but I am very concerned about this kitten and its welfare.

I can't do nothing. Hopefully, the neighbours will have taken on board what my partner said and not let her out again but that obviously doesn't change the fact she was rehomed too early and I have no idea of the impact of that (but assuming both health and psychological implications?).

Aside from the cat specific issues around this, we have foxes and owls in our gardens and, from my garden she could get straight through a gate and down onto the road.

My gut feeling is that, if she does come into the garden again, I won't return her and will take her to the local vet to ask for advice. But I'm also not sure if that's appropriate or even legal!

Does anyone here have advice or a better solution. Thanks.

There’s various opinions on this.

most people who own cats do settle new kittens into their homes by keeping them inside at first.

but not everyone gets their cat microchipped or spayed, and those who do get it spayed it’s usually six months onwards by which point most people have let a kitten out.

my cat had kittens at home (underneath my son’s bed, he was not best pleased) and she took them where she felt they were safe (often on the garden shed roof). In situations where a cat has given birth at home it’s generally advised to let mum do her thing.

I’d also be worried about this.
I have two cats, one I adopted from a shelter, the other we semi-rescued as a kitten from a friend of a friend (the entire backstory was nuts) but she’d also clearly been taken too young.
Letting a kitten into the garden by itself (at 7 weeks old) at night is crazy in my opinion. But I also know parents who shouldn’t have children let alone pets.
It’s a bit of “not your circus, not your monkeys” and a bit of kidnap the kitten and take it to a vets? 😂

Thanks. That's interesting and thanks for the info on spaying etc. Obviously, Google only ever has part of the answer (hence my caveat!)

But my concern is that this kitten isn't from a litter born within their home. It's one they've bought.

If they were seasoned cat owners, I'd be less concerned and assume they'd know what they were doing.

But this kitten has no other cats at home, isn't with its mother and is outside in the evening when the owners aren't aware it's outside. She isn't even the minimum age for rehoming and has been there a week.

I have nothing against my neighbours! And I'm not looking to criticise them. I think they've probably got her from a dodgy breeder and haven't been given any advice on care or welfare.

I don't have cats but do keep other animals.

I'm just very concerned about this kitten.

Shocking a kitten that age was rehomed in the first place and that it’s managed to get out so many times! Your right to be worried. A fox or other cat could come and attack it. They don’t sound like responsible pet owners

I know! 😬 that's why I came here to ask and didn't kidnap the kitten.

When I took it back, no one knee it was outside. When my partner took it back, they didn't know it was outside.

If its a case of not my circus, not monkeys then I'll do nothing and just look forward to the visits.

Thank you. That's my thought.

But I don't know if there is anything I should do.

If not, then I won't but I'd hate to think I should have done something to protect it and didn't because it was 'none of my business'.

This.

Honestly? If it happens a 3rd time I'd take it to your local vet and say you don't know where its come from. Kitten obviously too young to be microchipped so Vets would have to post on FB/sm to find the owners. Maybe your neighbours would then get a good talking to if/when they get it back.

I'm not a cat owner @CrazyCatLadies but I am a cat sitter and I do love cats and take looking after them very seriously indeed, as I look after other people's cats I err on the side of caution.
I get it that you don't want to upset the neighbours and that you feel they're acting out of ignorance rather than neglect. But in this day and age is there any excuse for ignorance? They must know the kitten's too young to have been taken on in the first place and now to be outdoors alone?
Three strikes?
I think - and it's easy to say what I think I would do but I'm not you in the situation- but I think I'd kidnap the poor wee scrap and take it to the vet the third time it was loose and alone...

That is not the worst idea I've heard! As long as you can keep it anonymous.....

That was what I was thinking.

The bottom line is that, if it can get into my garden twice in two days when they don't know it's even outside, it can get anywhere and no one is making sure it doesn't.

It shouldn't even be away from its mother yet.

Responsible breeders will only let their kittens go at 12 weeks and have had their first shots, if not the boosters too. They shouldn’t really go out until a couple of weeks after they’ve had their boosters.

By law they must be chipped before 20 weeks. A good source of information is Cats Protection https://www.cats.org.uk/

Poor little thing is probably trying to find some peace and quiet in your garden. Apart from the idea above, can you check your neighbours do understand about vaccinations and chipping? Will need diplomacy if you don't want to cause upset.

How did they get such a young kitten? I know people who’ve found them abandoned, which is why they’d had them under 12 weeks. They should still learn to look after her properly, though.

BTW my vet doesn’t recommend spaying under 6 months. Apparently it messes with brain development doing it any younger than that, so they’ll need to keep a close eye on her and not let her out around that time as lots of young cats go into their first heat then, and the spaying needs to happen afterwards!

grumpygrape thanks for the information. I did know that some breeders keep them until 12-14 weeks.

Just nothing about this whole situation feels right to me.

PineappleSunrise

Well, that's the question, isn't it?

It clearly wasn't a reputable breeder but, yes, I agree that even if they'd taken her on as an act of mercy, they would still have a responsibility to care for her properly.

I keep rabbits and I take their welfare very seriously. I know that a couple of years ago, the children were very interested and were asking their parents for rabbits. One told me that their parent had said they could have a kitten one day so I think this was a planned ownership.

Oh heavens, agree about the spaying….. Another reason not to go out too early. One of our queans came into season at 18 weeks.

People who aren’t going to get their cats spayed shouldn’t be allowed to have cats.

The rescue I volunteer for, and most others that I know of, are practically on their knees because of the number of irresponsible, uncaring idiots who can’t be arsed to get their cats spayed. We have kittens coming in who are pregnant at 6 months, which is far too young to give birth safely,

Being spayed / neutered is better for cats’ wellbeing & health as well as cutting down on the number of strays.

I agree but my concern at this stage is that it won't reach an age where it can be spayed!

I’d be tempted to take it to the vet, too, if it happens again. Ask to remain anonymous so if and when the neighbours claim it back, it can’t be traced to you

6 weeks is too young for a kitten. I am assuming they got the kitten from a private seller and not a rescue or reputable breeder. Or rescued the kitten if it had been abandoned, but either way, they are not properly caring for it or being responsible.

The kitten should not be going outside at this age, it won't be spayed or vaccinated so it isn't protected from disease. It might get pregnant , or it may get attacked or ran over. Escaping twice already in a short space is a red flag, once as a mistake you can forgive, but this kitten is vulnerable. You are right to be worried about its welfare.

When it inevitably comes into your garden again, grab it and take it to the vets/shelter. Don’t feel bad about going the right thing.

I agree OP. Catnap her and take her to the vets. These people obviously don't give a monkeys about the poor little thing, she's just a play thing for their kids - until the novelty wears off. She's obviously the product of scummy "breeders" too. She's so lucky to have someone like you next door.

The problem with catnapping it is the possibility of them just going and getting another one.

I think one attempt at education would hopefully be better. 🤞🤞🤞

youve tried education.
it didnt work. they still let it out.
catnap and take to vet.
poor cat.

That's what my partner tried to do last night when he explained about not letting her out until she'd been vaccinated and spayed etc.

I'm hoping that twice in two days will be a bit of a wake up call to them.

Unfortunately, I do also agree with the plaything for the kids comment.

Thanks for the responses, I'll have to see what happens and take it from there.