Rescued Kitten

So yesterday a set of kitten showed up on my families doorstep, one that looked very worn out and tired and one that seemed very protective of the other one. Anytime we would try to get close to them they would run off a little bit and hide, but they wouldn't leave the yard/surrounding area for very long, before we would hear them meowing again. My husband took some food out to them, and the smaller of the two ate almost the entire paper plate full of cat food alone. The more protective of the two watched, then ate the rest when the smaller one was done. Eventually we were able to catch the smaller one, who is happily purring away under my bed, however the other one is still hanging around, we're working on getting him/her.

I would say they are probably 7 or 8 weeks old, based on their teeth. The small one I know wouldn't have made it another night outside. They look like someone dropped them off. The one that we were able to catch is REALLY boney. I've always had dogs or adopted well taken care of kittens, so this is all new to me. My inlaws gave us some kitty litter, but I read online that you should use clay litter for kittens, so I'm going to pick some of that up tonight after work, and kitten food too, he doesn't seem to detest eating (the litter box on the other hand is another story...) so hopefully that helps. Once I got him inside, and let him warm up to us, he started moving around a lot more, I want to take him to the vet, like last night, but my husband says we should wait until we catch the other kitten? Should I wait, or just go ahead and make the appointment?

Also, I don't know that he's peed...at all since he's came inside. He's drank a TON of water, and I have definitely cleaned up three piles of poo, but his litter box hasn't been used at all, and I don't smell any cat pee in the bedroom, will it not smell yet?

And our "teenager" cat despises him (well we call it a him, but you really can't tell he wont let me flip him over long enough to look, and hes got SO MUCH FUR) the older cat is a male, so that makes me think that the kitten is a male too?

Like I said, I have NO clue about cats, as I've primarily been a dog owner/rescuer I feel a bit our of my league at the moment, my husband has always owned cats, but he doesn't know the best way to care for this one either.

He meows when left alone, but hides when we try to get him. If we are able to catch him, he will sit on your lap for hours and let you pet him. Is this odd for a kitten?

Any information and helpful tips would be really appreciated!

Thanks!!
Zsanine

First of all, welcome to TCS, and I hope we can help! And THANK YOU for rescuing this kitten - and trying to rescue his sibling.

The very first thing you should do is isolate the new kitty from all your other animals. Until he's been to the vet and been treated for numerous things and had his vaccinations (if he's healthy enough for them), you have no idea what he's carrying around with him. He likely has fleas and/or ticks, internal parasites - and that's just the starting list.

We'd get him to the vet, and worry about getting his sibling to the vet once you've caught him. The best way to do that is to put out food at a really regular time. If he eats when you're present with the food out, put the food in a crate. Be quick about closing the door - but best if this is in the morning, and you can directly get him/her to the vet. It can be tricky getting them back in the crate until they're a little more socialized.

As to the litter question... yes, clay litter is best for kittens (only because they sometimes like to play in it or eat it LOL). Because he's never used a litter box before, he may need a little help from you. Whatever the natural cover is outside - around here, right now, it'd be leaves - we'd go grab a few and put them down over the top of the box. Sometimes it makes sense to buy potting soil (no additives) and put a light layer over the top of the litter - that helps them figure out what it's for. After that it shouldn't be a problem.

When we rescued our first kitty, he drank and drank and drank and ate - and refused to pee. We went out and got a box of soil. He laid on it. It took him over 24 hours before he used the box. He FINALLY peed (the hugest pee) in the soil. We scooped it out and put it in the litter box - and that was all it took. He jumped in there and took a poop.

So if he does pee outside the box (just because he doesn't get that's where he's supposed to go yet), soak up what you can with a paper towel and put it in the litter box - that gets the scent in the right place and will also help him. Same if he poops outside the box - put it in the box.

In fact, because kitties that have been outside are not used to peeing and pooping in the same place, I'd really recommend you get him set up in his own room with two boxes.

The "isolation" room can be any room - a bedroom, a large bathroom, a guest room - just make sure you spend as much time as you can in there. Let him hide. His life is upside down, and it'll take him a little while to feel comfortable. This is another reason to give him (them) their own space (good to isolate them together when you catch the other kitty). Cats are all about territory, and a smaller space is easier to make "theirs," and thus for them to feel safe in it. The rest progresses more easily from there.

I'll go find some threads on cat introductions - but this should be the least of your concerns right at the moment. Get little kitty to the vet, get him set up in his own room, work on rescuing the other kitty... and give them a little time to adjust to all the changes in their lives first.

We let our gang free feed on dry food, and we feed them wet food 2x a day (morning and evening). Whatever you do for your existing kitty is best to do with these guys. That said - ANYTHING you can do at a regular time, on a schedule, will go a loooooong way to helping them feel safe and comfortable. Scoop the litter boxes at the same time every day. Change out their fresh water at the same time every day. Fill up their food dish at the same time every day.... the routine will help them understand that YOU are providing for their needs - that their needs are being taken care of and people are good, and because they're young, the rest will come naturally.

Don't force yourself on them (I know, it's hard to not want to love all over them - but they don't know how wonderful pets and human hands are yet), and introduce play. They've been playing with pine cones or whatever - but wand toys usually work wonders on little kitties - as soon as they understand you're not trying to hit them with the stick - that prey instinct to chase the little thing on the end kicks in. One word of caution - do NOT leave wand toys ANYWHERE they can get at them! Ferals seem to love to eat the string, and then you'll be searching through kitty poop for a couple of days, worrying if you need to get them to the vet for surgery (the string can get wrapped around their intestines).

I'll go find some links to other threads and articles for you and shut up now.

I don't have a lot of experience with this, but we rescued 9 feral kittens this summer. What worked for us was to use a large dog crate to keep them in (we used more than one for 9). It had the food, litter box, water inside. You will have more luck with the kitten using the litter box that way. Keeping him separated in a room would work as well. Definitely keep him away from your other cats as said above since he may have something that could spread to your other cats.

They sell something called kitten attract litter, not sure if it works or not but I know they sell it at Petsmart, that might work for you with the litter box situation.

I would go to the vet now if you can. It is good that he is eating and drinking a lot but in case he is really dehydrated he may need something more.

Good Luck with catching the other one and nursing them back to health.

Thank you all so much!

If you've not trapped/caught the second one, you might try getting a trap and putting the younger one in it with food and setting it out. The second one may come inside the trap, eat, and not be able to get out. Thus you have both of them.

Here are some things that may help you.

Some good information on socializing in here: http://www.straypetadvocacy.org/soci...feral_cat.html

Article about introductions: http://www.thecatsite.com/Behavior/4...cing-Cats.html

Thread with introduction info: http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho....php?p=2955205

Originally Posted by stephanietx

If you've not trapped/caught the second one, you might try getting a trap and putting the younger one in it with food and setting it out. The second one may come inside the trap, eat, and not be able to get out. Thus you have both of them.

Click to expand...

I wish it were warmer outside because this would probably work out great! But its just too cold in PA to leave the smaller one out there at night (this is the only time the other will come around). I'm super worried about the other one now that its getting so cold and frosting over.


I'm trying the "crate training" method of litter training. I got out my dog kennel, and currently he's in there digging through the litter...hopefully he uses it!

He's doing a lot better already though, he's actually gained some weight since Sunday. He's still not to sure about us, he seems to trust me a bit more than my husband though.

Using KFC (no skin, no bones) seems to really lure them into the trap....

for trapping the other kitty - AND for this little one to use the litter box!

He's using the litter box!! He caught on a lot quicker than I thought he would (Sheesh I wish dogs were that easy to house break!) My husbands going to pick up a trap this afternoon when he gets off work and set it up this evening, so hopefully by the time I get home we'll have another kitten. I'm going to call the vets office this afternoon and make the appointment for both (hopefully) of them.

Thank you for the links BTW, they were really helpful!!
And again thank you everyone for your great advice! I'm still way out of my element, but your advice has helped so much!

To those with experience trapping - since the bigger one seems very protective of the little one that's inside now, what about rubbing a towel or tee-shirt on the little one, and putting that in the trap, along with the skinless boneless kentucky fried chicken?

To the OP - you and your husband are wonderful people, and saving one life counts for so much...I wish you the best of luck.