Wiping kitten?

I have a kitten I found a week or so ago and I think she is about 4-6 weeks old. She's seems very healthy (I have yet to take her to a vet but I will once I have enough money!) I gave her a bath last weekend since I had found her outside and unsure if she had fleas.

I know you can't always give a cats a bath but I think I read somewhere that I need to wipe her after every meal and after she uses the restroom. I keep her in a box and sometimes she may sit in awhile after peeing or so overnight. When i wake up should I wipe her straight away and change the blanket?

I would hate her for her to get sick or maybe get me sick when if hold her. Does it matter what i wipe her with? A little dawn on a warm wash cloth or maybe kitten wipes from the pet store? Do I need to wipe her after every meal or just at the end of the day? I do plan to make some space for her soon so she can easily get to a littler box when i start to train her but at the moment I am unable to do so. Thanks in advance and any other advice would also be appreciated!

EDIT-

Actually, I just put her in a cage in the garage as my parents do not want her wondering the kitchen if she escapes and thats what worries me. She's so small and the bars are quite far apart (its meant for bigger animals) could she possibly squeeze through the bar? I can no longer keep her in a box she seems to jump out a lot. It makes me feel like I'm not giving her enough attention and being cruel :/

kickstarts said:

I would hate her for her to get sick or maybe get me sick when if hold her.

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Hi, Im not sure if I understand everything you say.

This wiping seems overdone. IF you wipe, you do it mainly when it is needed. Say if they have diarrhea.  I think you do have some mix up with the stimulation with very young kittens, who do need stimulation to do their "needs".   Kitten wipes, or even baby wipes, should be OK.  If she does have diarrhea, and is longhaired, she will get of course soiled.  You can cut off some hairs from around the bum (very carefully, use a comb as shield)

If it is very dirty, you can prob use a little of this very diluted dawn on a damp cloth.

Pity you cant have a litter for her already now.  You should strive for it as soon as possible. So she can herself go in there as soon she needs.

So you keep her closed in? At first in a box, and now in a cage?   Would be much better if you  can have her in a bigger room. The bathroom for example. Or even - your bedroom.  Now when you are fairly sure she doesnt have fleas or such on her.

Yes, she can prob squizze from this cage. They can squizze through astonishing small openings.

Nay, you cant get sick from her.  Cat diseases dont go on humans, and human diseases dont go on cats.  Fleas are the only real exception.

There IS one disease pregnan women theoretically can get from used cat litter. But these bacterias are quite common in earth, so the most common source for women of getting sick is, from bad washed vegetables.  Or from working in your garden...

Welcome to our Forums!

Good luck!

I'm sorry, that was a big type on my part! But I think you got what I meant.

I know it needs to roam around a bit since its a kitten but there are small children around and I would rather have them not get to it and we don't have any extra room. I currently live with my parents and they won't allow it any other areas of the house. I think I'm going to be taking her to a shelter tomorrow as I don't think i can take her care of as much as I wish I could :/

She should have a low-sided litter box.  If she's old enough to eat solid food, she's probably old enough to keep herself clean.  Can you post some photos so we can judge her age a little better?
 

I did just that and just bought a couple of disposible roast pans and put litter in it. The first try wasn't successful but I'll be trying again. I already tried taking pictures of her but she won't sit still long enough for me to take any. I'll try that in the morning as I'm getting ready for bed at the moment.

kickstarts said:

I know it needs to roam around a bit since its a kitten but there are small children around and I would rather have them not get to it and we don't have any extra room. I currently live with my parents and they won't allow it any other areas of the house. I think I'm going to be taking her to a shelter tomorrow as I don't think i can take her care of as much as I wish I could :/

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"A shelter" is a dangerous place.  If it isnt not a good managed one, risk is great she will be just put to death as soon as they can manage.   In such shelters only tame, home raised cats have a chance, and kittens who do manage themselves.

Other can have cooperation with a network of fosterers, and have good homes awaiting.  So some shelters are OK.

So if you dont manage yourself and want someone else to try - best is probably if you can find someone among your friends, school mates, or neigbours. Someone you know and rely upon not to be tiring at first difficulty...

OR, if you check and find this shelter is one of the good ones, and they do have place. This is OK too.   Btw.  The difficulty for most shelters is, they dont have place, but they may have the will to help.

It is not unusual, if you are registered as the fosterer,  they help you with vet costs including spaying when the time coming  (VET is the most costly part), perhaps even cost for food and litter,

But you did found, you began, the quest is yours,  Best is if you can proceed.

It is essentially you do talk with your parents, and have their cooperation and full acceptance.

As said, you cant get diseases from the cat!  Once you are sure she hasnt no fleas on.  Dewormed etc is good, but cat worms dont go on humans either.  

Scratching and bites?  Normally, they dont bite nor scratch. Just only when needed.  

Dont force her to defend herself, so she wont.

You must of course litter train her before you give her roam of the house.

What is it about the younger children?  Are you afraid they wont be nice to the kitty?  Drawing it in the tail, etc??    She will not scratch them, if they are normally careful not to overdo.

If you are careful and superwise, and talk and explain with them children, it goes usually well.  Children and kittens DO belong to each other.

If they arent mean, it should go wonderfully well.

Good luck!

I'm sorry it took me so long to reply! I've decided against the shelter and the kitten is doing very well, adjusted to the litter box right away!

I'm very afraid the younger children will harm the kitten and I would like to wait to take her to vet before I introduce the kitten to them. I have set an appointment on  Monday, I know i waited awhile but I didn't have the funds to take the kitten to the vet just yet.

The kitten has been very playful lately, if i pet her she will turn around and playfully bite or scratch. At least I assume that's being playful, I have done nothing for it to defend its self. I do however have a lot of scratches on my arms and it even crawls on to my lap and starts climbing onto my tshirt to get to my shoulder. I think this is normal? I'm starting to think the kitten was the runt as it's very small but is doing quite a lot for being so small.

Here's a few pictures

http://imgur.com/DV4Ur.jpg

http://imgur.com/wM5jQ.jpg

He looks about 6 or 7 weeks to me but I'm no expert. Someone probably dumped him as soon as him was weened Terrible!

Anyways, if he bites and scratches you during play you need to redirect him with a stuffed animal or toy to chew on and scratch. It is normal kitten behavior, but he doesn't have his littermates and mom to tell him when it hurts and right from wrong. You are now mommy, so you must do that.

If after you've given him something else to take his aggression out on- he still bites and scratches you say Oh!!! Really loud and turn your back to him and stop playing for a minute or 2. He'll learn. You want to stop that behavior now when he's little.