Found Kitten

silverbook

TCS Member
Thread starter
Adult Cat
Joined
Aug 29, 2005
Messages
150
Purraise
1
I found a kitten today. I am almost positive she was dumped because she was in a closed box near a dumpster.

I'm guessing her age to be about 5-6 weeks.

I have limited experience and knowledge about kittens. I have always had adult cats. I called the local rescue and they told me that they would need to see if they could find a foster home,but they didn't think they would find someone before Monday. I called the vet, and they are swamped today, and told me unless I thought she was sick, to wait until Monday.

I checked her fur, she doesn't seem to have fleas or ear mites. She is not scratching herself.

At the moment I have her isolated, so she can't give anything to my 3 year old cat.

So far she has had some water and a little canned Wellness. She hasn't used the litter yet though.

Is there anything I need to do or look for that I haven't already done?

Thanks in advance.
 

cutekittenkat

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Mar 1, 2009
Messages
1,562
Purraise
3
Location
Canada
The poor little thing!
Has she ate any food yet? As long as you keep her warm and she's eating you don't need to worry too much. A five-six week old kitten can do a lot, so just keep her company. If she doesn't eat, then that's another story, but let's start here.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #3

silverbook

TCS Member
Thread starter
Adult Cat
Joined
Aug 29, 2005
Messages
150
Purraise
1
She ate a little. She doesn't seem to be scared of me, which makes me pretty sure she was used to people. It also looks like someone trimmed her nails. When I found her I looked to see if there were any other kittens, but I didn't see any. I'm glad I found her because it was right near a busy intersection.

So far my 3 year old kitty doesn't seem to know the kitten is here. If I do end up keeping this kitten, once she gets a clean bill of health from the vet, how soon can I gradually introduce her to my kitty?
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #5

silverbook

TCS Member
Thread starter
Adult Cat
Joined
Aug 29, 2005
Messages
150
Purraise
1
My one concern is she is crying a lot. I'm sure it is because she misses her mom and littermates if any. When I hold her she is fine, but I am also trying to make sure I devote time to my adult kitty ( who I actually adopted just a month ago). I live alone so I feel like I'm torn between the two of them. Also if I end up keeping the kitten, I don't know what to do for her while I'm at work. I hate to think of her crying all day. I also live in an apartment, so I don't want the neighbors to complain.
 

cutekittenkat

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Mar 1, 2009
Messages
1,562
Purraise
3
Location
Canada
Once she gets older, she should calm down a little. She's probably just confused and scared. You could try giving her a teddy bear or something because, beleive it or not, it sometimes comforts them
 

claydust

TCS Member
Adult Cat
Joined
Jan 4, 2009
Messages
253
Purraise
13
Location
Ontario, Canada
Originally Posted by silverbook

I found a kitten today. I am almost positive she was dumped because she was in a closed box near a dumpster.
It is amazing how ignorant and cruel people can be, leaving an animal like that.

I think it is great you took her in, from my experience, if you keep her, I expect you will have a friend for lfe, they seem to be like that, especially when rescued, I think somehow, they know it.

Originally Posted by CuteKittenKat

Once she gets older, she should calm down a little. She's probably just confused and scared. You could try giving her a teddy bear or something because, beleive it or not, it sometimes comforts them
Our "old girl", Molly, the silver tabby who passed away at 14 in early 2007 was like that as a kitten. When she was a small kitten, as soon as we were out of sight, even just around a kitchen counter, she would start squeeking. I used to feel bad about it, too.

She did grow out of that as she got a bit older.

Introductions take time, sometimes, there are some experts on it on this forum.

We were even able to introduce Kasey, the tortie, who was at least 8 at the time to Morgan and Taz. Kasey has "tortitude" and I took her from a rough environment, it took time but things settled down.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #8

silverbook

TCS Member
Thread starter
Adult Cat
Joined
Aug 29, 2005
Messages
150
Purraise
1
I'm pretty sure my torbie smelled the kitten on me. But she didn't seem upset, just curious.

I turned the bathroom defogger on and the noise seems to comfort the kitten.

The last time I had cats introduced was 20 years ago, and I was only in elementary school at the time. So the memory is not the best.
 

claydust

TCS Member
Adult Cat
Joined
Jan 4, 2009
Messages
253
Purraise
13
Location
Ontario, Canada
I brought Kasey home on May 21, 2008.

After getting a clean bill of health, the introductions started; of course, the difference from your situation is these were all adults about 8 to 9 years old.

We started with things that "swaped sents".

The let them "communicate" through the gap under an interior door for a while (hissing and posturing" for a while.

As that settled down, the face to face stuff started slowly, with supervision.

Beacuse of the age and Kasey's history, it took a while, where it might not, with younger cats from a better environment. Things are fine now.

I think, now, I would always have at least two cats, rather than one on his/her own. While they differ from dogs in their social structure, I think they interact and benifit from each other, in their own way.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #10

silverbook

TCS Member
Thread starter
Adult Cat
Joined
Aug 29, 2005
Messages
150
Purraise
1
One of my main concerns in keeping her is my building mangement. I have to pay an additional fee and they have a declaw mandate. I'm against declawing and refuse to do it. My torbie was declawed by a previous owner. Granted management has never asked, and I live in a large complex. I think it would only be an issue if maintenance came and was clawed by someone's cat. Maybe if I keep her claws trimmed or in caps, no one will ever know.
 

finsterhead

TCS Member
Young Cat
Joined
Oct 26, 2009
Messages
38
Purraise
1
Location
Newfane, NY USA
Oh I agree about the declawing. I wouldn't do that to a cat ever. Just a suggestion because I have five week old orphan kittens here. I still leave a stuffed animal in with them. They love to cozy up to it. Also, I still heat a rice pad for them. Granted mine have had that since one day of age, but they really enjoy cuddling up to that and the stuffed animal. Mine are still on KMR...replacement milk. If that baby just came from momma, it may want some milk replacement (not regular milk). YOu can get it at any pet store. Good luck to you...keep us posted on how things are going. And bless you for taking this little one in..you are an angel
 

Willowy

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Mar 1, 2009
Messages
31,886
Purraise
28,287
Location
South Dakota
Generally speaking, as long as she doesn't damage anything you should be OK. But they might ask for proof of de-clawing from your vet. I know of at least one person who had their vet apply Soft Claws and put that in the note, and the landlord accepted that.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #13

silverbook

TCS Member
Thread starter
Adult Cat
Joined
Aug 29, 2005
Messages
150
Purraise
1
I don't think they will ask for anything, I'm just a worrier by nature. They never asked for anything on my late kitty who moved in with me. No documentation and they never asked to see him. And they haven't seen my current kitty. They also mandate that the cats be spayed/neutered and be in compliance with any vaccination laws, which I am in agreement with. But they have never asked for documentation. Mandate or not, I would not want to live with an adult cat who was not spayed/neutered.
 

cutekittenkat

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Mar 1, 2009
Messages
1,562
Purraise
3
Location
Canada
You can also get animal nail clippers for a few bucks, and just keep her nails shortened. I find that that helps a lot too.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #15

silverbook

TCS Member
Thread starter
Adult Cat
Joined
Aug 29, 2005
Messages
150
Purraise
1
Just an update, she peed in the litter box (well the disposable cake pan that is pretending to be a litter box).
I wasn't sure if she would know how to use it since the first few times I put her in it and scratched, she just would lay down in it.

I just don't get it. To me this suggests that she was with her mom until just recently. Why would someone go through all the time of letting her get this far with her mom, and then just dump her? Part of me wants to believe the person just panicked about something. Maybe so that I don't have to think that she spent so many weeks with someone who was cruel.
 

laureen227

Darksome Duo!
Top Cat
Joined
Sep 3, 2003
Messages
19,260
Purraise
387
Location
Denton TX
Originally Posted by CuteKittenKat

Once she gets older, she should calm down a little. She's probably just confused and scared. You could try giving her a teddy bear or something because, beleive it or not, it sometimes comforts them
my Firefox used to sleep w/some of my small stuffed kittens when she was still isolated!
some links that might help:
Just Born milk replacement - i preferred this to the powdered stuff.
SnuggleKitty - i think you can get these @ Petsmart!
Hand Rearing Kittens
we'd welcome
whenever you get some!
 

hissy

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Feb 19, 2001
Messages
34,872
Purraise
76
Most people will dump the kittens and keep the momcat. Or it could be that this was the only kitten in the litter and the person just grew tired of it. You would be surprisd what people will do with kittens. www.snuggleme.com has a great tool for orphaned kittens. It will bring her great comfort when you are not around.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #18

silverbook

TCS Member
Thread starter
Adult Cat
Joined
Aug 29, 2005
Messages
150
Purraise
1
How many hours can she be on her own at this age? I work full time, so if the rescue doesn't find a foster, I will keep her. My parents don't live far from me, and my father is retired. I may be able to convince him to come over during the week and check up on her. He is not really a cat person, so he would check her food and water, but he is not likely to hold her or anything.
 

cutekittenkat

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Mar 1, 2009
Messages
1,562
Purraise
3
Location
Canada
Physically, she should be fine with food and water, but she may get a little upset without anyone with her- but that shouldn't go on very long if you have someone check on her
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #20

silverbook

TCS Member
Thread starter
Adult Cat
Joined
Aug 29, 2005
Messages
150
Purraise
1
She doesn't seem to have pooped yet, but it has been less than 24 hrs. Although maybe she buried it. I'm not too worried about that yet.

I'm hoping I can get someone to check on her during the day. Most of my friends work full time the way I do. And if I do succeed in getting my dad to come, he won't do it everyday. And it wouldn't be fair to ask him to do it everyday.
 
Top