Stray Kitten Help [Archive]

MLA

10-13-2006, 09:30 AM

we also have a neighborhood stray which my complex has kind of adopted. we feed him and he lives in our condos' driveway. do you think this cat will attack the kitten bc he thinks the kitten is invading his territory?

Male cats have been known to kill litters of kittens so that the mothers would go into heat again sooner. But I don't know if a male cat would attack a kitten that's not attached to an adult female cat. But the fact is there are a lot of bad things that can happen to a kitten on the street, so trying to get him indoors is the best thing you can do. I hope you catch him soon!

Sophia

10-13-2006, 09:39 AM

ignuttz - thanks for the site. that's helpful bc i believe he is a feral kitten. one of my old coworkers was an animal advocate, and she said feral kittens are much harder to catch than domestic kittens.

Yes, this is definitely true. Be prepared to get some nasty scratches when you catch him--I've worn leather gardening gloves in the past to avoid this. Good luck.

fuzzy

10-13-2006, 09:45 AM

It took me months to get our formerly ferral kitten to trust me enough to let me touch her...on most days (three years later) she's still not keen on me holding her! So, yes, be prepared to get some scratches (and make sure you clean them well, if you do get some).

Once you do get him/her indoors, keep him/her confined to a small room. Its really overwhelming for those little guys!

Sabrina

10-13-2006, 09:50 AM

I don't have too much to add, just wanted to say thanks for caring about this little kitten :)

I would suggest Tuna Fish or Jack Mackrel (you will find it in the tuna aisle at the supermarket) as stinky foods to use in your "trap". Also, check out the boards on http://www.cats.about.com, the posters over there are always catching strays and feral cats and may be helpful.

ETA: if you catch him...please post pics!

BSBC

10-13-2006, 09:51 AM

Good luck! My MIL rescued our cat last summer. She was under 1 year old (and already pregnant) by the time my MIL was able to capture her. It took about 1 month to capture her. Even though she was ferral, she has turned out to be a great pet. She is very affectionate and fun to be around.

Asha

10-13-2006, 10:32 AM

well, still no sign of the little kitty. i keep checking outside. maybe, he'll come around again when he's hungry or at night when it gets colder.

he's really cute. he has long grey hair and green eyes.

diam124

10-13-2006, 12:28 PM

Poor little guy - I hope he found a warm place to sleep off his meal. I used to occassionally feed a couple of stray cats at my old job and they always seemed to show up around the time I was leaving for the day. I think most cats sleep during the day.

We used to have a really big flowerpot with pansies in it outside of my old job. A lot of times the flowers would be smushed down when I arrived in the morning. I always thought they were droopy from the lower temperatures at night. Then one night I was coming home (lived very close to where I worked) and I saw a really big, really pregnant cat sleeping in the planter! She was actually really smart because I'm sure the planter was warmer and softer than the cold hard ground.

I tried to take her in, but she wanted absolutely nothing to do with people. Later I wondered if she was my cat's mommy.

fuzzy

10-13-2006, 12:53 PM

I hope he found a warm place to sleep off his meal.

Oh, I forgot! We also turned a nice sturdy cardboard box on its side and put a soft fleece blanket in there. It was in a quiet, out of the way location. Sure enough, the kitten started sleeping in it after a few days.

vwinkel

10-13-2006, 01:23 PM

You have gotten some great advice already. As MLA mentioned, I took in a feral stray kitten earlier this year. We trapped him with one of those humane traps (I think my dad uses it to catch ground squirrels or bunnies) and I brought him into the spare bathroom for a couple of weeks. He was very wild and not used to humans. It took about two full weeks before he started to come to me and not be scared anymore. I would feed him each morning and night and then spend at least an hour with him.

Food is the way you will get him to come to you. Smelly food like tuna or canned wet food will be the key. It sounds as though he is willing to try and get closer to you so that is a good sign.

If I were you, I would put out a shelter for him - cardboard box with a blanket in there. We put out dry food and wet food for him at first so that he would come back. My mom would even heat up the milk to try and warm him up a bit. The food would be gone each morning!

Patience is the key. When my parents took in a different stray last year, I sat out there for 2 hours each night getting him to get used to me. I would sit still and next to the food. I would gradually move slowly - more each day while talking softly to him (a foot here, a nose scratch there, etc.). After he was used to me, I just scooped him up and held him against my lap until he calmed down and realized I was stronger. Sure enough, after some serious wiggling, he just sat still (terrified I'm sure), but he knew I wasn't going to hurt him. I pet him and talked softly (I even made purring sounds - yes, I am a crazy cat lady at times). I would do this each night and finally he knew I wasn't snatching him up to hurt him and he would crawl onto my lap on his own.

Good luck and keep us updated! Feel free to PM me if you want.

Asha

10-13-2006, 04:00 PM

thanks for all the advice everyone.

he's back. he was actually in the street!! well, i have gotten him to come up and sniff me, but as soon as i make any movement he moves away. i just got some raw salmon and he came up and got that. i feel so bad bc he is shivering like crazy and so am i as i have been out there with him for an hour now.

gotta go. he's crying like crazy, and and through the window i see he is headed back towards the street. i've also put some salmon on my porch.

i will also try the idea of putting a box with a blanket or towel for him.

Asha

10-13-2006, 06:15 PM

HELP!!!

she's inside now and completely freaked out. i just left the door open to my house and she came inside. when i closed the front door, she freaked out and starting running in circles. i know she is in either the coat closet or hall bath bc i hear her crying in there. i don't want to freak her out more so i'm leaving her alone. i put some food right outside her door. what should i do for a litterbox in the meantime?

***
well, she's been here for an hour now. she hasn't ventured much past the front hall. she's been crying a lot but now she's quiet. i'm still trying to leave her alone a bit bc i think i might be too intimidating right now. my neighbor said its normal for cats to be freaked out when put in a new env't. i am just worried about her. i put the box with the blanket in the hall and put some water out there. dh is bringing home some soft cat food and litter. he's not exactly thrilled with the prospect of having a cat, but he wouldn't want a baby cat freezing outside either.

MLA

10-13-2006, 07:38 PM

Yay! I'm very glad she's safe inside your home with you. Even though she's scared, I'm sure she's much happier than she was outside in the cold.

If you can get ahold of her, you should put her into the bathroom or another small space where she can sort of chil out. In the meantime, can you put the litter box in the closet with her? Or at least some wee-wee pads?

Asha

10-14-2006, 05:33 AM

i haven't been able to get close enough to hold her which is a bit problematic bc i would like to take her to a vet today as she was a stray and i am not sure what diseases or illnesses she may have. she seems rather thin even for a kitten, and she is walking a bit funny, but my mom said its normal for kittens to walk funny. she is also scratching some, so i am afraid she has fleas.

she did cry some of the night, but was quiet most of the night. looks like she slept on one of our padded dining room chairs as there is hair all over it. this morning she was under the couch. she came out and ate some food, and she has been exploring some, going up and down the stairs and wandering around the main level. since she has been exploring i figure its best not to confine her to a small room since she seems fairly confident to be walking around. though the minute i make a move towards her, she runs away.

i am concerned about how much to feed her. since yesterday afternoon, i have fed her several pieces of salmon and she's eaten about 3/4 can of cat food. that seems like an awful lot for such a small kitten, but she may have been starved.

she didn't use the litter i put out for her, but i don't see any signs of urine or poo. i know she went to the bathroom outside yesterday afternoon, but she's bound to need to go again. i wish i could get a hold of her so i could put her in the litterbox. how do i go about finding where she went to the bathroom since she didn't use the litterbox?

i am also worried bc we have my il's coming for a few days, and i think that will scare her even more. perhaps, when they come i will try to confine her to one room.

dh isn't too keen on keeping her. he obviously likes her and is concerned about her, but he thinks she is going to be too much work and distracting. i've been wanting a cat for awhile now, so of course i want to keep her. i know once she gets settled it won't be a lot of work bc cats are pretty low key pets.

Asha

10-14-2006, 06:47 AM

here's the wee one

you can't find me!
http://static.flickr.com/92/269200326_58c5aa24df.jpg?v=0

i don't like it here
http://static.flickr.com/80/269200327_a1530324f0.jpg?v=0

my favorite spot
http://static.flickr.com/87/269200331_f6f0c9da10.jpg?v=0

Sophia

10-14-2006, 06:52 AM

Check along all the walls, in corners, and behind furniture to find where she relieved herself.

I really think you should try to confine her to one small room now. It'll be easier for her to find the litterbox if she doesn't have as many other options, and you'll also have an easier time gaining her trust because she won't be able to run to the other side of the house if you spook her. One way to get her into a particular room is to block off all but one route to that room by closing doors or having your husband stand in the way to block alternate paths. Then you can slowly follow her to "herd" her in the direction you want. You can also put bait in the room you want her to go in to lure her in. Just be careful you don't make her feel like you're chasing her, because that will freak her out more.

Go slow. She'll be skittish for a while, but if you go into the room you confine her to, sit near the food, and make soothing sounds she'll eventually get the idea you're there to help, not harm.

Until you're able to pick her up, I would show her the litterbox by scratching my fingers in the litter (it'll be clean if she hasn't used the box yet). The scratching sound will get her attention and she'll realize that's a good place to go.

Sophia

10-14-2006, 06:53 AM

OMG, she's so tiny! I would say she's no older than 10 weeks. What a cutie! She (or he) looks to be in decent health. The ears are clean and there's no eye gunk oozing out.

Sophia

10-14-2006, 06:54 AM

Is the date stamp off on your camera? They all say 8/15/2006. :confused:

Asha

10-14-2006, 06:58 AM

sophia - thanks for the tips. i think i'll wait until dh comes home to try to get her into one room. it'll be hard to do it myself bc she's so fast, and my living area is one big open space so its pretty hard to block off one area. i do have all the other rooms blocked off, so she is technically in one space; although it is a very large space not a small space like you suggested. i will try the scratching with the litterbox, and i will hunt for the poo. would she go the bathroom in her hiding spots or would she go somewhere else where she doesn't rest?

***
my dh thinks i need to hold her and pet her as soon as possible bc he think she will never liked to be held and pet if i don't do it early. i think that will just freak her out more. in my experience, you have to wait until cats are ready for affection. he's never had a cat before, so he really doesn't understand their temperament. she is coming around me and walking near me. also, she sometimes starts crying when she is alone, but when i come in the room, she calms down.

Asha

10-14-2006, 06:59 AM

Is the date stamp off on your camera? They all say 8/15/2006.

yup, my dh is the camera junky in the home, and he is the one who changes the dates, and i don't bother, so that's why the date is wrong.

sophia - my neighbor says she looks pretty healthy too, and she said since she is so young there's less of a chance that she caught any diseases or is sick. she is a little scruffy; eventhough, she is cleaning herself. am i going to have to bathe or brush her once she gets used to me?

****
eta - i spoke with a rep from the north shore animal league. she gave similar advice to sophia to keep her in a small room and put all her things in there. she said to wait a few days to take her to the wellness center bc she needs to get used to me first, and she said that will give me a chance to get an overall sense of her general health. she gave me some advice about feeding her too, but she said it would be a good idea to go to the pet store, and they could reccomend me some things.

diam124

10-14-2006, 08:48 AM

Aww - he's a cutie. I'd definitely try to confine him to one room, preferably an extra bathroom in case he has an accident on the floor. It might seem kind of mean but it'll probably be less overwhelming for him and you can give him time to get used to you. And, if he has any illnesses it will lessen the chance of having problems down the line if he has fleas or ringworm or things like that.

After you can get him checked out by a vet you can let him explore a little.

pocket

10-14-2006, 08:57 AM

Aw! What a cute kitten! Yeah, he needs to be in a smaller space he must be totally overwhelmed. Let me get my sister in here - she has raised several feral kittens. She and Hank actually found their cat on the freeway when he was just a teensy little thing! Rubik lived in a box in their bathroom and would hiss and spit at you whenever you came near. My mom was afraid to even go into the room. I think they would wrap him in a towel and force pet him to get him used to them. He is seriously one of the nicest cats I have ever met - smart, playful, cuddly, independent, with a great personality and he comes like a dog and goes crazy for broccoli.

greenbunny

10-14-2006, 10:05 AM

I'd also recommend putting a worn tee shirt or socks in the room with him. That will help him get used to your scent in a non-threatening way.

What a doll!

Asha

10-14-2006, 11:00 AM

diam - that's a good point about the illnesses spreading. do you think it would be cruel to put him in a bathroom the size of a powder room bc that's the only extra bathroom right now? we might just put him in the computer room bc its a little bigger and would have room for all his things.

pocket - thank goodness he doesn't hiss and spit at us. though, it might be a different story when i pick him up for the first time. its good to hear that force petting isn't going to damage him since your sis' cat turned out well. though, it is a good suggestion to wrap him in a towel. that's what the lady at the animal league suggested too.

greenbunny - good suggestion about the worn t's and socks.

****
good news - he did use his litterbox. i scratched around like sophia suggested and he was really interested in it when i was scratching around. when i came back from the grocery store, i saw that he used it. he is also coming closer to me and not hiding as much.

jnettie

10-14-2006, 11:18 AM

So cute!

I'd suggest giving him time and space before you try to pick him up. Our kitty Sissy was very skiddish for a good year when we first adopted her and now 3 years later doesn't like to be held. What I did was just sit still in the room with her for a long time and let her come to me. Slowly, I'd get closer and just sit. Then, I'd extend my hand for her to sniff. Finally, I'd reach to pet her. This whole process took weeks, BTW. Just grabing and holding him now won't help, despite what your DH thinks.

diam124

10-14-2006, 11:36 AM

No, I don't think it's cruel at all. We had to keep our cat in a small powder room for 3 weeks because she had tapeworms (that were all over the place and then we thought she had ringworm and then she had surgery on her tail and was spayed so she wasn't allowed to jump or climb.) We actually had special clothes that we would wear when we went in there to spend time with her in case she did have ringworm.

I found a very large cardboard box that was the size of a large mirror and I used that as a gate for a while until she was big enough to jump over it so we could leave the bathroom door open for a bit.

Now there is no way we would be able to keep her in a small room for days on end, but back then I really think she was just happy to have a safe, warm comfy place with food. It's a lot better than being outside! She also ate a ton when we first found her - I think she was truly starving.

I had never had a pet when I found our cat so it was really stressful for me to take care of her when I had no idea what I was doing but the first time she sat on my lap and cuddled with me I knew it was worth it. :) (and I had no intention of keeping her either - I was "just keeping her until I could take her to a no-kill shelter" ;) )

Asha

10-14-2006, 02:17 PM

jnettie - sissy is a great name for a cat that doesn't like to be held.

diam - oh gosh, now i am worried that she has ring worm and tape worm and she has been all over our living area. then my friend got me worried saying she had to get their whole house fumigated for fleas after they took in a stray. when you took in your cat was she a kitten or an adult cat? were there any signs she had ringworm/tapeworm before you took her to the vet?

ok, so you think the best place to put her before the inlaws come is the powder room or the computer room? the computer room is much bigger but then again its upstairs and an area she hasn't been before so she could possibly spread around whatever she may have upstairs. i am just so afraid she will be miserable in the powder room bc she has had free reign downstairs and isn't hiding anymore down there. well, we are definitely confining her to one room, regardless, bc the in laws are coming and don't want them to catch anything she might have and they would scare her.

diam124

10-14-2006, 02:38 PM

We found our cat when she was about 8 weeks old (3 lbs - probably pretty close in size to the cat you found). We didn't think that she might have any diseases either, so at first we let her run all over the house. About a week and a half after we got her she started losing fur all over her belly and legs. That's when they did the ringworm test (which turned out negative but took 10 days to confirm). I looked online for pictures of ringworm (DO NOT DO THAT!). The photos I saw are probably on the extreme side of things but very disturbing. I was crying at work because I was afraid me and DH were going to get it. The vet wasn't all that concerned and said once you're exposed to it you'll either get it or you won't. I think ringworm is one of the more common illnesses that people can get from cats. Also, I think it's more of a problem if you have carpeting (which it looks like you don't) because the fungus can get in the carpeting. We never did figure out what caused her fur loss.

As for tapeworm - that didn't show up for a couple of weeks (around the same time as the fur loss) and basically she was shedding little worms from her rear end. They curl up and die and look like little sesame seeds. I don't think they're a danger to people, but again, not something you want in your carpet.

She was also de-wormed in case of roundworm (I think they look like spaghetti), but she didn't have them.

Oh, she also had coccidia (I think it's another parasite) and basically her poop smelled beyond horrible (not just regular poop smell). MIL cats also had that when she took them in and they had diarrhea and smelly poop. WE used disposable litter boxes until she was rid of that so we would just throw the whole thing out.

And lastly she had ear mites - looked like coffee grounds in her ears.

Like I said, I don't think most of the things are really a danger to people, but just a pain to have to clean up.

She did not have fleas so I can't speak to that.

I would probably put her in the bathroom, but that's just me. OUr cat definitely wanted out, but we would take turns sitting in there with her and we had a couple small toys for her.

I think after we had her examined by a vet he said that he recommends all strays be quarantined to one room for 10 days to 2 weeks to allow for any issues to appear, but I think it's more important if you have other animals so they don't pass anything on to each other.

ETA - I hope I didn't scare you with the ringworm talk. I do have a friend that got it from her dog and it was just a small patch on her chest - not a big deal at all. It's just that when I saw the photos of extreme cases I got totally freaked out. I think those cases are really rare though.

MLA

10-14-2006, 03:10 PM

Wow. She's adorable. What a sweetie!

Definitely confine her to one room for a while. That will help her figure things out, and I really like the idea of a t-shirt or sock.

She's a very lucky kitten. :)

Asha

10-14-2006, 05:23 PM

diam - thanks for all the info. its ok to scare me a bit bc i need to face a little reality. we have hardwood throughout most of the house except we do have some area rugs. we don't have a real litterbox yet, so thats a good idea to just throw out the cardboard box for each change and replace it with a new box. lucky me that i procastinate putting out the recycling so we have a ton of cardboard boxes.

thanks mla.

***
i called the animal wellness center, and they said its ok to wait until friday to bring her in bc that's the day i can take her plus i have a few dr's appts of my own to take care of. i asked about catching anything from her, and they said it is very hard to catch something from a cat, so they said not to worry about it, but they did say it would be a good idea to keep her to one room.

we're still not sure if we're keeping her yet. if we don't, we will give her to a no kill shelter.

Kanga

10-14-2006, 09:52 PM

Have you tried catnip? I'm not sure if it's ok for young kittens (look on the package), but if it's not you could rub your hands/fingers in it and then let her sniff you. Seriously, it's like kitty crack. They just love the smell of it I guess.

I don't think it really makes a difference between the rooms to confine her. I'd go with the powder room if you have carpeting in the computer room, but if they're both hard surfaces, then the computer room.

Oh, and cats naturally like to burry their waste so they're usually very easy to get litter trained.

Ringworm isn't really a big deal and can't be spread if it's being treated. It's actualy not even a worm at all, it looks like a small worm underneath the skin in the shape of a worm and the skin turns pink/red around the area.

pocket

10-15-2006, 08:26 AM

ringworm is really not a big deal. my sister and i have both had it and we neither caught it not gave it to our pets. it's like getting a foot fungus - you rub some cream on it and it goes away. and all kittens have worms of some sort or another.

here's something interesting about catnip - it doesn't get cats high until they go through puberty! it's somehow related.

sounds like the little kitty had a better night than last night out in the cold! i'm so glad s/he's indoors with you!

tlew12778

10-15-2006, 11:00 AM

S/he looks so young! I would get some KMR from the petstore. We adopted our boys at 4 weeks and they were on KMR until at least 3 months (but probably longer).

The cat will probably like being confined for the time being bc it will become "his/her" space IYKWIM.

vwinkel

10-15-2006, 06:32 PM

SO CUTE!!

I agree with PP, confine the kitten to one room. I would personally choose the room with less places to hide. That will make it easier for you to find the kitty and for the kitty to be forced to get to know you and get used to you.

It's a great sign that he is walking around and still coming out to see you. Like someone else said, get out his food and sit down next to it. Let him come to you. You can usually pet the cats while they eat. They are not like dogs that will snip at you.

I agree with your DH, force him a little by holding him and petting him. This doesn't need to be rough or for a long period of time. However, since he is still coming out to you, I think he will laying in your lap in no time!

Asha

10-16-2006, 07:37 AM

thanks everyone! the lil one is doing really well. dh wanted to keep her in the living area, and she seems to be happy with that. she is now approaching us, and rubbing against our feet. she also follows me around while i am downstairs, and i need to remember to be careful bc she is constantly under my feet. i was worried about the il's scaring her, but she was approaching them too. this morning when i left them all, she was walking around them and getting in my dh's way while he was trying to cook breakfast.

dh was able to pick her up. she was wiggling around, but she wasn't shaking or trying to bite or scratch him. he pet her and i pet her too.

the only concern i have is that she seems to have something wrong with one of her legs bc she is walking funny, but i don't know if that's just how kittens walk. she is also still scruffy looking, and i worry that she doesn't know how to properly clean herself.

tlew12778

10-16-2006, 07:52 AM

Little kittens are scruffy looking. It's totally normal. They lose the scruffy look around 2-3 months.

That's great that she's rubbing up against you guys. It means she feels comfortable and she trusts you. You should decide soon if you're going to 1) keep her and 2) let her sleep with you bc if you don't want the latter, you should start preventing that now (hindsight it 20/20 :rolleyes: ).

Oh and if she's really really young (she looks it), she could be bow legged still. They tend to walk funny until they can get the hang of not sliding around.

diam124

10-16-2006, 08:01 AM

Sounds like things are going well! Looking back at photos our cat's fur was a mess when we first found her. The vet gave her a bath at her first visit because she had motor oil in her fur. After a week or so of eating good food we noticed a huge difference in her fur.

I'm impressed that she's rubbing on you so quickly- we call it "hugs" when our cat does that to us. I think she's rubbing your scent on her (or is it vice versa?).

Our cat hates the ILs and hisses at them when they visit. I think that's because they have cats themselves so they try to pick her up and pet her right away without letting her get used to her. She doesn't mind my family though because they ignore her!

fuzzy

10-16-2006, 09:00 AM

I think she's rubbing your scent on her (or is it vice versa?).

I think it's vice versa. :) IIRC, cat's scent glands are in their cheeks and rubbing on you puts their scent on you, thus "marking" you as her territory. :D

I bet her fur will look nicer after some proper nutrition. Under-fed cats generally look a little scruffy (hence, the stray we took in has the name "Scruffy").

Just keep an eye on that leg and let the vet know. I think if it were really bothering her, she'd let you know when you picked her up.

greenbunny

10-16-2006, 09:12 AM

Yup, scent glands are in their cheeks, along their ears, and at the base of their tails.

It's possible that she might not know how to clean herself if she left her mother too early, but you have no way of knowing that. Based on a guesstimate from your picture, I'd agree with a PP that she's about 10 weeks, and if she was with her mom right before you found her then she should figure it out.

vwinkel

10-16-2006, 09:35 AM

If she is limping or walking funny, it is very possible that something is wrong with her leg. I've never heard of kittens just walking funny. You should have your vet check it out.

Sophia

10-16-2006, 11:10 AM

If she sems to be limping you should check her pads to make sure she doesn't have any burrs or cuts on her feet. If that's all ok and she still seems to limp, definitely have a vet check it out. I'm glad she's being so friendly already! It'll make caring for her a lot easier.

Kanga

10-16-2006, 12:07 PM

What does your dh think about the cat? Has he given you any inclination on whether he's considering letting you keep the cat or giving it to a shelter? Not that my vote counts, but tell your dh I think you should keep him/her:D

His/her fur should be much better once s/he is on good food. 2 of my cats were stray kittens being fed teh cheap grocery brand cat food by the neighborhood. Once I took them in and fed them good quality food (I really like Nutro, but there's several others), it was only a matter of a few weeks, if that, before I noticed a dramatic improvement in their coat.

Kittens do walk kind of funny, but you shouldn't be able to pick out one leg that is the culprit. They remind of toddlers - not too stable yet, but it's not like they're limping or hobbling around.

Good luck! Enjoy having a kitty, even if it's only temporary, and thank you for caring so much about this little guy!

Asha

10-16-2006, 06:25 PM

hey there everyone!! thanks for the continued advice.

it looks like we probably will keep her if she gets the all clear from the vet. dh doesn't 100% want her as he thinks she will be too much work and money. i tried to explain to him that cats aren't a ton of work or money, but since he has never had cats he doesn't really understand. though, i think i'll be able to keep her as dh knows that this will make me very happy as i've been asking for a cat for quite awhile now.

pocket

10-16-2006, 06:46 PM

Congratulation, Asha! I hope s/he gets a clean bill of health soon. I'm sure DH will come around. It's pretty hard to resist a kitten.

MLA

10-16-2006, 06:53 PM

Yay for the new kitty! I'm very happy for you and happy for her!

ETA: Have you decided on a name? And is she a "she" or a "he"?

Tonysweetie

10-16-2006, 10:02 PM

Just popping in to say congrats on your new kitten. He or she is soooo cute! Kittens are so fun!! :)

vwinkel

10-17-2006, 08:34 AM

I'm so glad you are keeping him/her! Your DH will see that cats are not that expensive or hard work (well, not usually). Post some more pictures if you get a chance!! :)

fuzzy

10-17-2006, 09:07 AM

Sometimes I think the best furbabies are the ones that find you...rather than the ones you seek out.

Enjoy your new addition! :D

diam124

10-17-2006, 09:17 AM

Sometimes I think the best furbabies are the ones that find you...rather than the ones you seek out.

I agree! It's funny how things work out sometimes.

I think cats are really easy to take care of. My daily cat chores take less than 5 minutes (food, fresh water, litter box check).

Kittens can be kind of exhausting but they grow out of it fairly quickly. I remember the days when we were so thrilled when our cat finally took a nap on the couch (rather than constantly running around).

One thing that I wish we had done differently was to get a second kitten when ours was still fairly young. We were so overwhelmed at the time, but I really wish we had gotten another. I don't think it's much more work to have 2 and I think it's better for most cats to have a companion when you're gone.

Unfortunately ours is now pretty stuck in her ways and freaks out when she sees other cats (hisses, lunges, etc.) but I think she would have been fine if we had introduced another kitten when she was young. Especially since ours appears to have been separated from her litter at a young age, I don't think she fully learned kitten socialization techniques. She doesn't quite understand how to play without her claws or biting without really sinking in. (She hardly ever scratches or bites me but she does to DH. That's because he plays rough with her, so I don't have much sympathy for him). But, I would be afraid that she would unintentionally hurt a kitten if we got one.

Asha

10-18-2006, 06:24 AM

again many thanks everyone. no time for detailed updates as i am in the middle of midterms and taking care of kitty.

today she let me pet her for the first time. she really seemed to like it and was purring the whole time and coming up for more petting!!

Asha

10-20-2006, 09:30 AM

its official we are keeping her!!!

i took bili to the vet today, and she got a clean bill of healthy except for fleas, so they gave her some meds for that, and they said she should be fine. they said she is underweight - just 1 1/2 pounds, but they said once she eats she'll catch up. also the vet said not to worry that she's still a bit dirty bc she said when kittens are abandoned it traumatizes them, so it takes them awhile to get settled in and start cleaning themselves properly.

actually transporting her to the vet wasn't too traumatic. i got a small carrying cage, and put a soft towel in the bottom of it. i just scooped her up and put her in it, and she just sat quietly in it. i put a shirt over it, bc i figured that would make it a little more safe feeling for her. when we got home, she didn't immediately jump out of the cage, but sat there for a little bit before coming out.

bili is quite attached to the both of us now. she follows us around the house, climbs into our laps, makes dough, and happily purrs. right when we wake up in the morning she is outside our bedroom door. dh even loves her now too, though, he's still not too happy about the cost, but hel'll get used to it.

someone said she is a lucky kitten, but i think i am the lucky one. i have been wanting a cat for awhile now, but dh never agreed. this kinda forced him to agree. plus, i've been kinda down lately, so bili is keeping my mind off other things, and making me happier. i

i'll post another pic when i get another good one of her. she doesn't like to stay still, so its hard to get a good pic of her.

diam124

10-20-2006, 09:44 AM

Yay! I'm so glad that she's healthy and that you're keeping her. That's great that she is so attached to you already. Wow - 1 1/2 pounds is really tiny! I wonder how much she's gained since you've had her.

Our cat does the same thing with the carrier when we take her to the vet. At first she's not crazy about being in there but it becomes her safe place (she always crawls right back in after she's been handled by the tech or the vet) and she lingers in there after we get home.

Asha

10-20-2006, 09:51 AM

diam - yeah, dh thinks she has gained weight since we've gotten her. though, she is still skinny as i can feel all her bones when i pet her. she ate like crazy the first few days we've had her, but now she has slowed down the pace of eating.

vwinkel

10-20-2006, 10:03 AM

YAY! I'm so glad for you. I completely feel like a cat can be therapy. I got my Sassy after DH dumped me in college. She helped cure my broken heart at that time. :) I'm sure Bili will help lift your spirits.

It's a great sign that she is warming up to you so quickly. Pretty soon she will be sleeping in your bedroom! ;)

Asha

10-20-2006, 10:08 AM

Pretty soon she will be sleeping in your bedroom!

lol! dh was trying to convince me last night to let her sleep in the bedroom. funny for someone who didn't even want her!!! i'm trying to keep her out of the bedrooms bc i feel like at least part of the house won't be filled with fur and stay a little cleaner. plus, i think it will make her more sociable if we keep her in only in the living areas. though, i did feel guilty having to close the door on her last night.

greenbunny

10-20-2006, 11:18 AM

I predict she'll be on your bed inside of four months. Ever see Lady and the Tramp? She won't stay in the kitchen. ;)

In all seriousness, cats tend to navigate to where they feel most secure, especially if they're alone during the day, and what makes them feel secure is your scent. That's why they are always wanting in to your bed. When I leave for work, I put a worn tee shirt on the bed for Bella to snuggle with. You can do the same thing by tucking a shirt or socks into the couch or a fleecy bed for her.

Asha

10-20-2006, 11:25 AM

greenbunny - that's good advice about putting an old, used shirt with her. she seems to like her carrier as she is now going in and sitting in it on her own. maybe i will put a our t's in there for her, so that could be her bed.

do you think its bad to use her carrier as a bed as long as i have soft things in there for her?

what are are some things i should pick up at the pet store for her? i need to keep it on the cheaper side if possible.

do i need..
a bed
toys
special litter
treats
a scratch post
anything else????

MLA

10-20-2006, 11:35 AM

do you think its bad to use her carrier as a bed as long as i have soft things in there for her?

No, I think it's great. If she can become comfortable with her carrier, it will make your life a lot easier when you need to take her to the vet.

As far as what to get from the pet store, you'll need:

kitty litter (I like Swheat Scoop -- it's clumpable and flushable)
a litterbox (I prefer covered boxes because they help w/smell and litter tracking)
toys
scratching post
good quality kitten food

I wouldn't worry about a bed, as she seems to already have one. And I wouldn't do treats, especially if she's going to be an indoor cat. You may not be able to imagine it now, but if she's anything like most indoor cats, she'll have weight problems as she gets older. Better not to get her hooked on treats now and then have to take them away later.

Asha

10-20-2006, 11:41 AM

thanks, mla, for the advice. we had cats growing up, but we never bought anything special for them as they were indoor/outdoor cats, so they were pretty low maintenance. we already have some good kitten food, but i am sure we will need more soon. do you have any tips on how to get her to scratch the scratching post rather than our rug and bamboo shades? i have been shaking the keys loudly at her when she starts scratching stuff up. though, i know they need to scratch, that's why i need the post, but i am afraid she won't use it. the vet said to wait on a real litterbox as its kinda hard for kittens to use. she suggested those disposable aluminum food trays you can get at costco. thanks for the suggestion on the type of litter.

MLA

10-20-2006, 11:52 AM

thanks, mlado you have any tips on how to get her to scratch the scratching post rather than our rug and bamboo shades? i have been shaking the keys loudly at her when she starts scratching stuff up.

Make sure to get a scratching post that's sisal rather than carpet. I know for my cats, texture is everything. Anything nubby will be scratched (which is why we now have microfiber furniture -- they'r not at all interested in it), and they love the sisal scratching posts. I'd say steer clear of carpeted scratching posts. Remember, also, that some cats prefer to scratch things that are horizontal rather than vertical, so you'll need to pay attention to her scratching patterns and make sure to have the right scratching post for her.

To get her interested in the post, you can rub it with cat nip. I know this sounds crazy, but one of my cats was never very interested in the scratching post. Once I started to scratch on it myself, he started to do so, too. I know, I'm a crazy cat woman! To get him to focus on the scratching post rather than the furniture (this was before the microfiber furniture we have now), whenever he'd scratch on the post, I'd praise him and give him a quick pet (not too long for fear I'd end up being the scratching post then :p)

Shaking the keys is probably a good deterrent from scratching things you don't want her to. I know for some cats a squirt with water works (my scratcher just sits there and looks at me like I'm crazy if I try to squirt him with water; then he just continues doing whatever naughty thing he'd been doing :rolleyes: )

Asha

10-20-2006, 12:04 PM

Make sure to get a scratching post that's sisal rather than carpet.
ahhhh, that's why she loves our rug - its sisal. dh gets freaked out every time she starts scratching and fears she is going to destroy our house. luckily she hasn't scratched the sofas. maybe, she isn't that interested in leather. yeah, when i shake the keys at her she freaks out and runs away. she was sitting on the table for a couple of days, but i haven't caught her since i shook the keys at her. though, who knows what she's doing while we're not home.

greenbunny

10-20-2006, 12:20 PM

If you want a litter box with a lid, be prepared to take it off if necessary. My one cat refuses to use a box with a lid. (And my other one needs one because she pees standing up, so it's a bit of a headache!)

They do make ramps that help a small kitten walk up to the litter box, then you can take it away when she's big enough to get in by herself.

I use Ever Clean scent-free litter. That's the only thing that's worked for our PITA and what the behaviorist recommended for "problem" cats. Hopefully yours will be easier to manage.

diam124

10-20-2006, 12:24 PM

Our cat really likes to stretch against her scratching post, so one of the standard kinds like the one below won't work for her (since she just tips it over).
http://www.petsmart.com/media/ps/images/products/detail/standard/February06/54390_53ead.jpg

Ideally, we'd get her one like this that is really really sturdy.

http://www.petsmart.com/media/ps/images/products/detail/large/February06/lg_54399_53e81.jpg

In the meantime though, I like these cardboard ramps. They're cheap so we have a few in different rooms and you just replace the cardboard insert when it gets worn out.

http://www.petsmart.com/media/ps/images/products/detail/standard/October05/54486_4e78b.jpg

We have used both Yesterday's News and Feline Pine litter (before we got a Littermaid) and both worked fine.

I'd also get a small container of treats just in case you need to coax her out of hiding or something.

Kanga

10-20-2006, 12:57 PM

Congrats on your new kitty!:D I know you've been wanting one for awhile, so you must be pretty excited (and nothing like a cute furball to distract you from studying:cool: )

Ditto what everybody else has said about stuff that you'll need. Although I do like treats for kittens as for mine it helped them understand the rules a little bit better, but we never gave them on a regular basis so they don't expect them. This won't work if you're going to use them for training, but we use canned tuna for treats because they love it and it's super cheap. Otherwise for rewards/training, commercial cat treats work the best becuase there's no need to refigerate and they don't go bad as fast.

This is the scratcher we got from Wal-Mart for like $5-$10 or so. We also have a cat house they like to hide out and play in, but for scratching this is definitely their favorite. I think they like it because it has catnip in it.
http://www.petco.com/Assets/product_images/1/1158920442B.jpg

I wouldn't worry about your furniture if it's all leather, most cats hate it. My parents have a leather set and the cats won't even go on it because they don't like the feeling (not sure if it's the coolness or the texture). Along with shaking the keys when she's scratching something she shouldn't, re-direct her to something she can scratch and give her lots of praise once she's on/near the scratcher.

The cheap litter works fine, but the clumpable is much easier to scoop.

It wouldn't hurt to have a metal comb. You won't need it if the cat is a shorthair, but it definitely helps to control the shedding. Oh, and for you and dh, you'll need lint rollers, and lots of them;) I don't what we were thinking when we picked out or cats, but we have a black one, a white one, and a gray one so no matter what color we're wearing, fur shows up. We have them all over the house, but mainly in the bathroom and glove box of our cars.

Food and water dish if you don't have one already.

Microchip, a collar with tags, or both just in case she gets lost. Around here microchipping is pretty cheap when shelters and such have specials ($25), but I know your area has a significantly higher cost of living, so maybe like $50? Totally guessing on the cost part, but even if it were $200, I'd do it as collars can get lost. They can do it at the same time she is spayed or seperately as it's very minimally invasive and I believe only takes a minute.

It's a good idea for her to have a space she can call her own. The only problem (and I'm hesitant to call it that as it really depends) I can potentially see as her carrier being a bed is that most cats hate car rides and the vet, so she might have a negative association to the carrier. If she doesn't seem to have negative associations with it, then there's no problem with it doubling as a bed.

Toys - My cats love the cheapest ones you can find. The play mice are always a favorite, especially the furry ones, and the wand toys with feathers, bells, fabric, etc at the ends.

Asha

10-20-2006, 01:06 PM

greenbunny - thanks for all the suggestions.

diam - those cardboard scratchers look perfect. won't really go with my decor, but i don't really care.

kanga - wow, such a thorough, informative response. do you think microchipping is necessary since she is an indoor cat. unfortunately, i don't think anyone in the neighborhood would think of turning her in if she got out since they all ignored her when she was a crying kitten, so i don't know if it would be very useful. plus, animal control doesn't really pick up stray cats in our area. as we speak, she is sleeping in the carrier, so i don't know if she associates it with bad things. she didn't seem to mind the ride to and from the vet too much as she was quiet, and didn't try to run away at the vets. right now, its in our bathroom, so she might like it since i am sure the bathroom is filled with our scent, and greenbunny said that the cats like our scent.

MLA

10-20-2006, 01:22 PM

Regarding your leather furniture -- you shouldn't have any problems with her clawing it, as the lack of texture won't interest her.

greenbunny

10-20-2006, 02:35 PM

You might decide to wait and see how she acts as she gets older before you decide on microchipping. I have one cat who will dart out the door at any opportunity, and the other one wouldn't dream of setting foot outside.

You can also call around to your local shelters/rescues and ask about their policies. All the major groups in my area check for chips as a matter of course on any new animals, and they all have scanners for the three major brand frequencies. If your local groups don't have the equipment, it might not be worth it.

I do plan to chip both my girls just to be safe, which reminds me I need to make an appointment for that.

Regarding leather furniture--I have only had one friend who had a problem with her cat clawing up her leather sofa. That cat was pregnant and acting totally nuts from the hormones. Which leads into reminding you to have her spayed as soon as she's old enough. :D

Asha

10-23-2006, 06:01 PM

poor bili is sick. she has only eaten a few nibbles of food in two days. i tried feeding her cooked salmon this am and she ate that all up, but this evening i came home and discovered vomit on the floor. i took her down to her water to make sure she doesn't get dehydrated, and she drank a fair amount of water. she refuses to now eat regular cat food. i am afraid to feed her salmon again as i think that's what made her throw up. i am wondering if the shots they gave her made her sick. i couldn't get an appt with the vet until thursday. she seems to be ok physically bc she is still running around a bit, but she seems to be sleeping more. though, i am not sure how much a kitten is supposed to sleep. i try to get her to play, but she only plays for a bit and then just want to curl up in my lap and sleep.

is there anything i can feed her that will give her the calories she will need, but not make her throw up?

TriSigmaNC

10-23-2006, 06:04 PM

Maybe just a can of wet food that has alot of juice. She may not eat the food, but will surely go over and lick the juice off of it and maybe have a bite or two.

Asha

10-23-2006, 06:10 PM

Maybe just a can of wet food that has alot of juice. She may not eat the food, but will surely go over and lick the juice off of it and maybe have a bite or two.

well, i have put the wet food only out as i was afraid that it was the mix of dry with wet that caused this, but she still won't even approach it. she just sniffs at it, eats maybe a bite, and then backs away. i tried staying with her while she eats, but that only encouraged her to go up and sniff it, but she wouldn't eat it. i am going to try just getting the juice part and adding water to it, and see if she will eat that. thanks trisigma for the advice.

diam124

10-23-2006, 06:16 PM

What kind of wet food have you been feeding her? You might want to try some Fancy Feast kitten food - I don't think it's very nutritious at all and I wouldn't do it on a regular basis, but I think it's sort of like kitten junk food.

Asha

10-23-2006, 06:18 PM

i have been feeding her science diet wet food. would fancy feast be a bit better? do you think i should run to petco and try to get her some kitten milk?

diam124

10-23-2006, 06:32 PM

It can't hurt to try it. I think it smells more fishy than Science Diet so our cat would eat it right up. I think we used to buy ocean fish flavor. I'm not sure about the milk. I also think I read somewhere that boiled chicken can settle stomachs.

TriSigmaNC

10-23-2006, 06:43 PM

Mine prefer the Fancy Feast stuff or Whiskas....very juicy.

pocket

10-23-2006, 06:45 PM

Fancy Feast is crack for cats.

Kanga

10-23-2006, 06:59 PM

I've heard chicken and rice helps settle stomachs. It could be a reaction to the shots. It's been awhile since my cats' first set of shots, but I remember my dd sleeping like crazy after her first set. You could start a new post, or just pm one of the vets on the board (the two I know of are jesvet and petdoc, there might be more). I'm sure you'd get a few ideas on how to get something into her and what might be causing it.

pocket

10-23-2006, 07:09 PM

Asha, please don’t fret about the vomiting and the sleeping. it might be a sign that the kitty is sick, but cats are pretty resilient. My cat threw up twice this weekend and then was feeling well enough to kill a mouse last night. Personally, any time my day starts with - Hey! What are you guys licking? – it’s not good. As for sleeping, as far as I can tell she seems to sleep MOST of the time.

Asha

10-23-2006, 07:14 PM

thanks guys! gosh if i fret this much over bili, i am going to be a basketcase with mabye baby.

fuzzy

10-24-2006, 06:36 AM

She may just be one of those kitties with a sensitive tummy. One of my cats has kitty IBS and really can't tolerate much beyond very bland kibble -- wet food makes him vomit.

In fact, anything containing any fish or fish by-product makes him rather ill. I agree that kittens can be a lot tougher than they look, but if you are concerned, you could boil some chicken and see if she consumes that.

Also, cats sleep a *lot*. Once they get to be adults, cats will on average sleep between 18 to 22 hours a day. Your kitten may have spent her first few days in the house doing a lot of exploring -- I bet she's catching up on some z's now that things have settled down.

tlew12778

10-24-2006, 07:15 AM

Boiled chopped chicken breast will calm an upset stomach.

Also, royal canin makes a formula for sensitive stomachs.

Kate&Joey

10-24-2006, 09:11 AM

Congrats on your kitty! She is such a cutie!

Not to freak you out, but I wouldn't feed her any more salmon or tuna. DH saw a "cat care" video at the vet's one time and it specifically said to NOT feed cats salmon or tuna.

Some of the other cat mommies probably know better than I do, but since this is our first cat, we didn't want to risk it and we haven't ever given DF (dear feline) any salmon or tuna.

Oh, and DF adores those cardboard scratcher things, too. Best purchase by far!

Good luck and I hope she's feeling better! :)

jnettie

10-24-2006, 09:56 AM

Ah, yes, my Jade is a regular puke bucket. We've had her checked, there's nothing wrong, and she's not sick. But I'd say we wake up to a pile of previously eaten kibble once a week.

I remember when she was a kitten, and she'd run around and play like a crazy fool, then just completely zonk out for HOURS! She'd even snore! It was most adorable when she'd crawl into my lap for her nap. She'd be so sound asleep, I could clip her nails without her stirring.

Oh, and my vet let me know that the vac shots will make cats drowsey. I've noticed that they both nap all the way home from the vet after their shots. And Jade hates the car.

Asha

10-25-2006, 05:43 AM

well, now she is eating, but refuses to eat the wet food. we gave her two different kinds of wet but she won't touch it. she is gobbling up the dry food, so as of now we are just feeding her dry. dh is proud of himself bc he felt like he figured out that she only will eat plain dry. ;) also, when i called him from work yesterday, i asked what he was up to. he said he was sitting and petting bili. :D

i'll keep the boiled chix in mind if she gets sick again. also, i thought tuna was only bad for male cats bc of uti's. is that true for females too. i guess i'll stay away from the salmon anyways bc its expensive to feed her our salmon.