Kitten Viewing Me as "Mom?"

Well I found this beautiful little girl outside yesterday, and she is so small! I took her to the vet before bringing her inside, and the vet said her teeth look like she's about 7-8 weeks, but she was most likely not getting all the nutrients she needed, because physically she appears to be more like 6 weeks.

Anyway, she is SO sweet! I haven't decided to keep her yet, and I am fearing that she has already adopted me as her surrogate mom! She spends really lengthy amounts of time laying in my arms or on my chest, just watching my face. She watches my face for about ten minutes before getting distracted. Sometimes she even puts her paws on my face gently, like she's reading braille or something. It's VERY cute, but I'm worried she might be viewing me as her mom at this point and getting too attached! What do I do? Is this even possible?

First, thank you for helping her!

I don't think you need to worry too much about her getting too attached to you, but if you are you could always have some other people interact with her and see how she does with them.

Adorable kitten.

Oh yeah... you're mom to her, what else COULD you be? 

That much being said, she is very young, so it is highly likely she is very "flexible," if you find that she isn't winning you over. What I mean is that at this age they are easily socialized and can accept just about anyone as "mom" if given the chance. But basically, you feed her.... you're mom.

So you've got a decision to make - since she choose you, welcome her and return her love, or find her someone else to love. She looks adorable.

You haven't indicated if you have lived with a cat before, so if you are new to cat guardianship, note that there are quite a number of stickies with help on this site that perhaps an advisor will direct you to (because kittens don't come with an instruction manual) should you choose to adopt her.

But as for your original question - it is natural for her to bond to you, but too attached? What does that even mean? She is young, she would adapt to another mom easily, but it would be stressful to her if that experience involved being put in a cage with other rescue cats. Certainly that is better than the alternative, so thank you for caring for her so far... (Note, I'm not an advisor, just a guy with kittens who has read waaaaaay too much stuff on cats.), these opinions are my own only.

I do agree with both posters above!

That said, this total acceptance and bonding inside of 24 hours IS early and quick.   So myself I want to interprete this as Gift from Above.  You had been Chosen to be a Mom, to have a new family member...

Obey your Fate!   Its also your big chance in this life.  You do perhaps have reumatic difficulties?  A cat between your knees may do marvels!   Mine does.

But if you by any reason dont wish to keep this precious Gift, find her another good adoption home. Preferably by your private contacts, not by surrending her to a shelter.

Good luck!

We might be keeping her... just the thought of giving her away already breaks my heart. She depends on me so much and follows me wherever I go. I just don't know if I can count on anyone else to give her the attention and care she needs!

I did the same thing with a kitten 2 yrs ago. She and her sister came into the rescue at 2 wks old (they had been abandoned by the momma cat.) I was fostering a litter off 6 at the time, so 2 more wasn't a *big* deal. Sassy was not quite so dependent until she got very sick at about 6 wks old. Her temp spiked to 105.8 in about a 4 hr period and was breathing but unresponsive when I found her. She made a relatively quick recovery, but not before suffering some brain damage (she is 2.5 yrs old, but acts more like an 8-10 wk old kitten.)

Ever since, she has been VERY clingy and has separation anxiety. I tried taking her to a few adoption events; but, she regressed after each one. I decided she would just stay with me. =)