Feral Kitten help

Hi everyone,

I have been reading throughout this forum and have found many useful posts. This past Friday, I trapped a feral kitten with the intention of TNR. However, after examination, the kitten has a leg wound (vet says it def from a bite) and will neuter the vet in a week or so. He gave him antibiotics, the wound should heal fine. My concern is that Dr. recommended the kitten be kept indoors for 6 months and no other contact w/ other pets in the house for 45 days (just in case he show s/s of Rabies), which he hasn't thus far and the wound is probably at least two weeks old.  He other labs (FIV, etc) are negative.

I live in a one bedroom apartment, and kitty is currently residing in my bathroom.. B/c of this concern regarding Rabies, my apartment is in chaos. My elder cat is restricted to bedroom/living w/ baby gates, plus I have two birds (in cages)... Of course, it's blazing hot outside, I have one a/c which is in the bedroom. In order to keep quarantine, I have set up the kitten in a decent size dog crate in the bathroom. He seems OK, he eats, pees and just started playing with a fuzzy feather thing yesterday with me. He seems calm with me during his activities... no hissing, spitting.. but hasn't yet approached me. 

Last night and this morning he began crying... I feel terrible. He is quiet most of the time... I work, but have a flexible schedule and try and spend as much time as possible with him. I do not like to keep him in a cage.. I have opened the cage door, he ran out for a second, then darted back not the cage. My older kitty loves attention too, so I am EXHAUSTED!!

At this point, do you think he is progressing? Any ideas on curbing the meowing (so I can sleep)!!

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

He's returning to the vet in a few weeks for rabies vacc/nueter.

Sorry, just to clarify, he ran back into the cage. He was also alone for a few weeks living under my shed before I trapped him...

Thank you for helping him!  It is a challenge - a bit like having a newborn.  If his other tests came back negative, I wouldn't worry too much about rabies.  If he had it, the signs would most likely have shown by now.  Even if the signs are not obvious, if an animal with rabies dies, he or she was contagious only during the ten days prior to death.

The crate is an excellent idea - keeps him out of mischief and allows him to see the other residents of the house.  He's probably lonely - hence the crying, so doing you best to keep him company is all you can do.  For the time being, until he can be properly introduced to you other critters, it is what it is.

As long as he has food, water, a comfortable bed and some toys, he should be fine.

Try putting a sweaty t-shirt in there.  The smell will remind him of you and may calm him down some so you can sleep.

Hi,

Thank you for the advice!! Well, a few things have occurred since I last posted. #1: I had a meltdown (lack of sleep, working another job, etc) and let the kitten back out into the yard. He disappeared for a day or two but came around again. Once again, I set out to trap him, vowing not to break... He was not falling for the Have A Heart Trap again, I got a drop trap... successfully captured eight days ago!

#2: After 8 days, Simba has let me touch him (kinda pet his head, pet with his front paws, lick chicken baby food off my fingers). I believe these are all good signs. It does get tough at night, especially 12:00-2:00 am. He's wide awake, playing, meowing, just a total nocturnal nut job!

Still living in my bathroom, sometimes he's in the cage, mostly sleeps out of it, plays with various toys.

Not going to lie, he has his moments, today I was petting under his chin and he gave a quick "hiss", no biting though... He's a bit moody!

Next plan is to have him neutered, additional vaccines, etc...

Fingers crossed that this crazy situation some hoe works out... either way, I don't plan to let him back out..

Thanks everyone!!