Took in a stray kitten please help!

mizushi

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Hello,

I've owned a few cats so far but they were either adopted form the pound or neighbors that were "getting rid of them".  This spring in the parking lot behind my work we accumulated a …nest I guess… of cats, the guys form the back shop feed them and this spring we had a few kittens. One of the boys is a very friendly little guy so we decided to adopt him before the winter hits.

I took him in this morning and he has been to the vet to get checked out. He has an eye infection that I’m treating with a cream and has to take medicine twice a day to clear out the virus. He’s in my basement bathroom with food, water and blankets, along with a few t-shirts of ours to start getting our sent.

All the resources I’ve ready say to leave him alone for a period and take it slow let him come to me and build trust, and positive associations, my question is: how do I take it slow when I need to medicate him 5 times a day? He’s still very friendly so no real worries about biting and scratching, I just don’t want him to start associating me with medication. Does anyone have any advice?

Thanks
 

jcribbs

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If he is friendly and you have no other animals, I personally would not isolate him in the basement bathroom. If that's where you want his litter box to be, that's fine but I would not isolate him where he could not get to me if he were friendly.

You want him to bond with you and be part of the family.  You can camo his meds by putting it in yummy foods.  And he will love you for just taking care of him..

Also after his meds are calmly given, give him a little snack for being a good boy.  

Jen
 
 
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smitten4kittens

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I think the advice you were reading may have been for a very scared, skittish cat who doesn't trust people yet. If he is friendly I would give him lots of love and attention !
There is no need at all to leave him alone unless he seems to prefer that.
 

purrfectpaws

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You've already said he was friendly, so i would let him roam the house and get to know his new home. He obviously feels safe around you, or he wouldn't have allowed you to take him from the colony. Give him a treat after medicating him, he will love you for it. My cats somehow seem to know that I am helping them when I medicate them. I make it a warm experience by brushing or cuddling with them before and after. All of my cats hate the medication, but never hated me after giving it to them. Quit worrying about how the cat feels when you medicate him, he won't hate you. lol!
 
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mizushi

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The reason he is isolated is because I do have another cat in the house. I have also been going in frequently and just being in the room with him.
 
 

StefanZ

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I think the advice you were reading may have been for a very scared, skittish cat who doesn't trust people yet. If he is friendly I would give him lots of love and attention !
There is no need at all to leave him alone unless he seems to prefer that.
Correct  interpreted!  Also this leaving alone is for the first hours, for them scared freshly caugh to have time to cool down, and realize  nobody evil is after them.

With a friendly one you dont need this "fuzz", not in the same way.

Although one tip if you must do unpleasant medication several time every day is to have them in a cage. This way,

1. you dont need to chase them around every time.

2.  You are letting them out, so you do come as the welcome break.

Another tip, which I think may be useful here in TS´s  case, may be to wrap him in a thick towel during the eye medication.  Nice and cozy, and they become  submissive while wrapped up.

Used often on home cats who do hate to have their nails clipped.

Welcome to our Forums, Mizushi!

Good luck!
 
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