Found a stray kitten - now what?

[ClaraB]

DS came home from school this afternoon carrying a little tabby kitten that he found under a car on the street. We didn't see a mother around. I'm guessing it's at least 4 weeks old - it's able to walk around and its eyes are open, but it's not really "frisky". I'm not sure if it's feral or not, since it lets us hold it :confused: . We've given it some water and a bit of soft cat food, both of which it took. It's sooo cute (aren't all kittens?), but complicating matters is the fact that we already have a cat - we've put the kitten in DS's bedroom with the door shut for now. What else do we need to do for the kitten?

[DmOrtega]

I'd call the vet to get information. Are you going to keep the kitten?

[mcgeiger]

KEEP THEM APART!!!!
This kitten needs to see the vet for some tests (FeLV/FIV), deworming, and possibly vaccines before you let it interact with your cat at all (this includes your family washing hands!). Make sure your son washes his hands very thoroughly after touching the kitten, and you or DH should clean the cat litter until after a few dewormings.

If you don't plan on keeping the kitten, take it to a humane society so that it can be fostered (socialized) properly, as well as tested for these diseases.

If you decide to keep the kitten and have more questions, just ask!

[ClaraB]

Thanks for the replies - we've decided to put the kitten in the spare bedroom for now, since kids and litter boxes don't mix. We are most definitely keeping them apart, but the reminder to wash hands is a good one (I'm an RN, so I'm already a bit obsessive about it ;) ). We're going to put signs up in the neighborhood, but if we don't find its owners, I suspect this kitty will have a home :) . I knew there was a reason why we got a Dyson vacuum :cool: ....

I'd love to hear any more advice/suggestions people have - I'm also wondering what the best food is for the kitten. I'm also going to see if there are any vet clinics open this weekend, but if not, can the vet visit wait till Monday? (The kitten looks healthy - I don't see any fleas, no sores, eyes, ears and nose look clean...)

[AZLorena]

Clara, hubby and I have fostered many, many litters of kittens in the past several years. You have gotten some great advice so far. Please feel free to PM me with any specific questions. I have seen it all....our house was practically a mini-vet office for a while. We were set up for any kind of treatable kitten ailment you could imagine.

On the food. I have had good luck with Science Diet and Iams for wet food. The main thing is to keep it consistent for now. Little 4 week old kitten digestive systems can be kind of fragile. Please watch closely for loose poop and diarhea.

Lorena

[AZLorena]

As long as you are keeping them seperated...and the kitten has a good appetite ...and good elimination.....you could probably wait until next week.

Lorena

[JJeannette]

Sitting on my lap right now is a kitten I raised from 3 weeks old. May I suggest that you get some dry kitten milk replacer to add to whatever you decide to feed your little guest. I mixed it with warm water and then soaked dry kitten food in it until luke warm--. If you have or can borrow a largish pet carrier, that's a good way to keep track of the little guy when you can't watch closely. I lined it with newspaper and added a small plastic container with cat litter in the carrier. I also fed him in there--it kept the other cats and the two dogs from getting into his stuff and kept him separated from them until he was old enough to join the crowd.

[mcgeiger]

Canned kitten food is best, depending on how well he is eating, you may need to water it down a bit (think gruel ;) ). Go for Iams, Science Diet, Eukanuba, or a brand that has an AAFCO feeding trial statement on the side. Based on what you said (thanks for the info!) the vet visit can wait until Monday. I wouldn't go much longer in case he does have any problems (like FeLV, etc. that is prevalant is certain areas) and you get too attached :( --not to be a downer, just practical...
Make sure he is fed often, drinking well, and is in a place he can stay warm.
Good luck!

[AZLorena]

the vet visit can wait until Monday. I wouldn't go much longer in case he does have any problems (like FeLV, etc. that is prevalant is certain areas) and you get too attached :( --not to be a downer, just practical...
Make sure he is fed often, drinking well, and is in a place he can stay warm.
Good luck!


Unfortuanately, the tests for FIV/FeLV are not completely accurate on kitties that young.....(unless they have some new-fangled test since I have been out of the fostering game for about a year) From what I understand, they could read a false positive at that age.

[mcgeiger]

They can read a false positive (or negative) at any age. I believe that the problem with testing that young is the mom's anitbodies (from milk) can interfere. I will double check this info though (tomorrow! ;) good night!).

[mbrogier]

McGeiger, would it be a good idea to put a towel at the door to keep Clara's cat from sniffing the kitten? If the kitten does have a communicable illness, couldn't they transfer it by sniffing at each other under the door or touching each other's paws?

Good luck on your new family member, Clara.

[mcgeiger]

In theory, yes this could happen and a towel isn't a horrible idea, but the liklihood is small...so up to you!

[Kristilyn1]

absolutely do what we did! We decided to hold onto the kitten until we found a good home.








Five years later, a good home just hasn't come along yet. :D

Kristi

[testkitchen45]

Maybe our experience can help. Years ago, we had a huge, friendly (neutered) male cat and wanted a kitten too. Not finding one at a shelter (1st choice to look), we got a teeny female at a pet store, whose owner said she was 8 weeks old. Immediate vet visit confirmed a 5-week age: she still had milk teeth, and had some dandruff from being weaned too early. Stupid petstore owner; poor kitty. Here's what we learned:

1) Get vet's advice on all things: food, setup, sleep requ'mts . . .

2) Keep cats separate for weeks! Introduction: put new kitty into carrier and let current kitty sniff, growl at kitten, establish dominance w/o having to attack kitten (and w/o having opportunity). It's good that your kitten has its own room/food/litter for awhile; this is essential b/c cat will see it as an invader.

3) Handle kitten often, but let it get its sleep. Our kitten bonded w/ me, even sucking on my finger w/ nursing instinct. To this day, 15 1/2 years later, that cat still thinks "mommymommymommy" whenever she sees me, I guess: she follows me everywhere and sleeps near me in bed (despite DH).

4) Don't get discouraged! Established cat had adjustment time: some stress, some throwing up . . . we gave him tons of love and kept up the kitten-in-carrier visits before beginning SUPERVISED visits in closed room. Because of carrier idea, cat could establish dominance but kitten was safe. Soon (6 wks or so?), cats were great friends and would nap together & give each other baths.

Good luck!!

[wallycat]

When are you going to post a picture :D :D ?

Gosh, I wish my brother/sister kitties got along better :mad: :mad:

How lucky the little guy is...named yet??

I can't wait to see photos!!! :p

[Robyn1007]

Maybe our experience can help. Years ago, we had a huge, friendly (neutered) male cat and wanted a kitten too. Not finding one at a shelter (1st choice to look), we got a teeny female at a pet store, whose owner said she was 8 weeks old. Immediate vet visit confirmed a 5-week age: she still had milk teeth, and had some dandruff from being weaned too early. Stupid petstore owner; poor kitty. Here's what we learned:

1) Get vet's advice on all things: food, setup, sleep requ'mts . . .

2) Keep cats separate for weeks! Introduction: put new kitty into carrier and let current kitty sniff, growl at kitten, establish dominance w/o having to attack kitten (and w/o having opportunity). It's good that your kitten has its own room/food/litter for awhile; this is essential b/c cat will see it as an invader.

3) Handle kitten often, but let it get its sleep. Our kitten bonded w/ me, even sucking on my finger w/ nursing instinct. To this day, 15 1/2 years later, that cat still thinks "mommymommymommy" whenever she sees me, I guess: she follows me everywhere and sleeps near me in bed (despite DH).

4) Don't get discouraged! Established cat had adjustment time: some stress, some throwing up . . . we gave him tons of love and kept up the kitten-in-carrier visits before beginning SUPERVISED visits in closed room. Because of carrier idea, cat could establish dominance but kitten was safe. Soon (6 wks or so?), cats were great friends and would nap together & give each other baths.

Good luck!!

There are some great points here but I did want to mention the time it takes to introduce them will differ with every cat. I recently took my 10 year old cat to my mother's house for 4 weeks where she has a 1 1/2 year old cat. It took about 3 days to introduce them and we continued to keep them separate when we were out of the house but within the first week they were playing like they'd been together for years and had us in stitches nightly with their antics. When I left after 4 weeks both cats were extremely sad and I've never cried watching cats part before but I did that day. Mom's cat spent days looking in all of my cat's sleeping places. My guy has found new energy and almost nightly runs back and forth through my little apartment as if remembering the game of chasing each other.

[mom2garret]

five years later, a good home just hasn't come along yet. :D

Kristi[/QUOTE]

oh YES it has!!!! :D

Great advice has been given so I just want to wish you well with the new addition to your family!!!! Don't forget the pics.
Jodi