Found kitten, need advice on what to do.

markw

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We found a stray kitten with a very bad eye infection today.  The vet says its about five weeks old.  We have two indoor cats about four years old who were raised together.  Can this kitten co-exist with the other two?  They are generally ignoring it but hiss at it whenever they walk close to it.  We have closed the kitten in a bathroom with an open cat carrier for the night.  Should that work OK?  Does a kitten know how to use a litter box instinctively or do we have to teach it to use one?  The vet says wet cat food should be OK, but should we give the kitten that powdered cat milk sold at pet stores? Any other suggestions for us amateurs trying to do the right thing?  
 

ashyfulz

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We've had 3 litters of feral kittens this year, 2 of which had eye infections and all were younger than that.

If the vet gave you eye drops or ointment, be sure to give it to the kitten as instructed.

Being in the bathroom with an open carrier should be ok. Just remember to keep giving her lots of love and attention too and provide food and water for her. If you let her wander around the house or a big room, make sure there's a couple shallow litter boxes around so if she needs to use one, one will be close by. If she has accidents, don't be mad. She's a baby and it'll happen until she gets stronger bladder muscles.

Some kittens pick up on the box right away, others need help figuring it out. Put her in it after meals or if she looks like she has to go (ours start doing a funny little waddle with their back legs if they have to go)

The bigger cats should get used to the little one. It may take a while, but they'll warm up to the stranger eventually. It's a strange little creature that's invading their space. They're going to be wary and tell her who's on top and where she belongs.

I would still give her some formula, even if it's just out of a dish. Extra calories and nutrients can't hurt.

If she has fleas, a bath using Dawn dish soap and then combing the living fleas out once they dry and cleaning the flea comb off in a bowl of hot water with a drop or two of soap will help get rid of the fleas. Dawn is amazing at killing fleas, and gentle for the little ones.

Lots of play time and people time and cuddling! Make sure she keeps gaining weight and eating well and if anything seems off, call a vet because kittens can go fast.

Good luck and enjoy your new baby!
 

StefanZ

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Ashy gives lotsa of good advices. I want to add and stress, keep the little one in the bathroom at least several days, as a quarantine. So you are fairly sure no sickednesses develops or so.

Im saying it as you hint they already did met...  Too early.  

They will surely accept her with time, that is no problem, the medically reason quarantine is.

Unless your cats are very healthy, used to roam outside, perhaps even ex homeless themselves.

Tx for caring!

Good luck!
 

glitch

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Your other two cats will warm up to the kitten quickly! Kitten formula is a good idea & if its too difficult for the kitten to drink out of a bowl you can go to Walmart and get a bottle designed for baby kittens or else try an eye dropper. Make sure she gets lots of fluids, kittens can dehydrate very fast & its very difficult to save when there on that downhill slope! If they gave you eye drops I'd use those but if they didn't I'd use a soft warm wet rag to gently clean the eyes. I'd make sure that your other cats are frontlined just in case the kitten has fleas! That way your other ones don't get them too. I hope all goes well!
 

jennyr

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Bless you for taking this little one in! I am mooving htis thread to the Pregnant Cats and Kittens Forum where I am sure you will find more advice.
 
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