Found stray kitten

yessie

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Today my husband found a little kitten when he got off of work, who looks to be no more than 4 weeks old, I bathed and fed her, she was flee infested, the poor thing. my question is I have 6 three month old kittens and their mom, is it safe for me to put them together? I don't want to leave the kitten outside I'm scared she won't make it, since shes so small.
 

talkingpeanut

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Definitely do not put the stray kitten back outside. However, it should not be around your cats yet. Have your cats been vaccinated at all? The stray needs to see a vet and then kept in quarantine for a time to make sure all is well. Can you make a small nest in the bathroom or another isolated room?

Can the kitten eat from a bowl?
 

ondine

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If you bathe her with the blue (regular) Dawn dish soap, it will kill most of the fleas.  Use a flea comb to get the rest.  She will need to be rid of them, as they can make her anemic very quickly.  Plus, you don't need fleas in the house.

Keep bottle feeding her but you can also make a slurry with wet kitten food and kitten replacement milk.  It is messy but the softer food will be easier for her to eat.

Thank you for helping her!  She would not have made it without you.  Once she is vetted and you are sure she is healthy, you can begin introductions to the others.
 
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yessie

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Definitely do not put the stray kitten back outside. However, it should not be around your cats yet. Have your cats been vaccinated at all? The stray needs to see a vet and then kept in quarantine for a time to make sure all is well. Can you make a small nest in the bathroom or another isolated room?

Can the kitten eat from a bowl?
they haven't all been vaccinated, we're on a budget so I'm doing one at a time. I'm taking it to the vet first thing Monday morning I'm neutering one of my cats this weekend. I'm going to keep her in my daughter's room for the meantime and yes she can eat from a bowl she's very small but I think it's due to her being Malnourished. Thank you for replying
 
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yessie

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If you bathe her with the blue (regular) Dawn dish soap, it will kill most of the fleas.  Use a flea comb to get the rest.  She will need to be rid of them, as they can make her anemic very quickly.  Plus, you don't need fleas in the house.

Keep bottle feeding her but you can also make a slurry with wet kitten food and kitten replacement milk.  It is messy but the softer food will be easier for her to eat.

Thank you for helping her!  She would not have made it without you.  Once she is vetted and you are sure she is healthy, you can begin introductions to the others.
Thank you! I'll be sure to do that. I checked her mouth and she has all her teeth I was sure she wouldn't since she's small, is that normal? I'm new at this
 

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Thank you! I'll be sure to do that. I checked her mouth and she has all her teeth I was sure she wouldn't since she's small, is that normal? I'm new at this
Outside born are often looking smallish - ie youngish, because they tend to be undernourished.  So she is hopefully somewhat older than 4 weeks.

I agree with the others, its not safe to put her together with the other kittens. Momma will prob accept her, but you dont to take any risks.  If momma too is a ex homeless, or at least, very used to go outside, she has probably good immunity, so the dangers for her arent so great. But the kittens has weaker immunity...

Dont take the risks if you arent forced to it.

Have also a different litter for her, and keep her in another room, till you are entirely sure she is defleased, dewormed and healthy.

Does she eats on her own?   If so, it makes everything immediately easier.  its "just" to find suitable food.  Goats milk is always OK, so is kitten milk replacement - kmr...(but avoid Hartz and Sargeant brands).  Children unflavored food is usually good. Gerber has good types, pure turkey or chicken, they make.

Wet cat food, paté style is good.   Cow milk we dont recommed but  Some plain unlavored youghurt is OK.  A little cheese.  

Minced meat - but not from pork - is classical first food for kittens here in Sweden - perhaps because we dont have these Gerber brands.   :(

If she isnt eating on her own, you must use bottle or a needleless syringe, and handraise her essentially alike an orphan.

You can begin and let her lick off your fingers.  For fluids, you can alternatively try with a little sponge, for example such in make-up sponge...

Let her suckle off the sponge, and with other hand, you drop the goat milk or kmr on the sponge with a dropper....

Make sure the fluid are body warm - but be careful with micro - shake the contents vigorously so the heat is evenly.  Safer is to warm up in a water bath, in a bigger bowl filled with water.

Please come back with further reports and questions.
 
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yessie

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StefanZ StefanZ very good advice. She's eating on her own which makes everything easier, I checked on her this morning and I noticed that she looked very sad so I picked her up and she started eating. She's looking better already.
 

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yessie yessie

She will be delighted when she can join the other kittens! Is mama cat still nursing at all?

Kittens get their baby teeth at 4 weeks, and adult teeth at 12 weeks. I'm sure she will grow more quickly with a steady diet of good food.

Can you post a picture of her please? [emoji]128571[/emoji]
 
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yessie

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yessie yessie

She will be delighted when she can join the other kittens! Is mama cat still nursing at all?

Kittens get their baby teeth at 4 weeks, and adult teeth at 12 weeks. I'm sure she will grow more quickly with a steady diet of good food.

Can you post a picture of her please? [emoji]128571[/emoji]
Yes momma cat is still nursing but I noticed that when I passed by with the kitten the mom hissed at her, should I be worried?
 

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Yes momma cat is still nursing but I noticed that when I passed by with the kitten the mom hissed at her, should I be worried?
Mommas are protective, and if they arent sure what is played, they do hiss, its often no serious threat, but a way to warn, to buy themselves some time...

Anyways, as you arent putting them together as yet, its no problem for you (as yet) momma wont come sneakingly out and suffocate her in the darkness of the night. :)

I see the new foster dau is a grey one, or blue, in the language of cat fanciers.  Its the best sort!    :)
 
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yessie

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StefanZ StefanZ yes, that's something I'll have to deal with later. She's beautiful, she'll fit right in once they warm up to her, soon I hope.
 

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What a cutie! I love grey cats!

Mom will warm to her quickly when the time comes. It does not usually take long with kittens.
 
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yessie

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I'm
What a cutie! I love grey cats!

Mom will warm to her quickly when the time comes. It does not usually take long with kittens.
I'm looking forward to it, im sure she'll be great with them.
 
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yessie

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**update
So my 6 kittens have been hissing at me ever since I brought in the stray cat. One of them even try to scratch me. Should I be worried?
 

Sarthur2

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Are you speaking about the new kitten? Your older kittens are reacting to the new smells, which they perceive as a threat. Continue to reassure them!
 
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yessie

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Sarthur2 Sarthur2 yes, the new kitten. I will. Thank you
 
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