Help!! A kitten wandered into my porch!

chris.m

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Hi folks! I found a little kitten last night when I arrived home from work. The little bugger was holed up in a corner on my screened in porch. He was shaking he was so scared.

I am pretty sure he is someone's pet as he is well groomed, has clean ears, and just looks healthy (see image below). Plus, I don't think a feral cat would have been so scared as to hide in my porch like that. I have already posted "Found Cat" signs up around the neighborhood.

I immediately called a 24 hour vet and got some advice on nutrition and care. I actually have been around cats most of my life but not kittens. So I went out to the store and picked up some food, one of those disposable kitty litter trays, and a toy. He ate, drank, and peed last night; he has not yet had a bowel movement.

He is in my room where there is rather little trouble he can get into. All is well except one thing. He is still scared out of his mind, even this morning. I left the TV on with the volume low when I left, I also left the window open to get some warmer air in there. He is in the corner of the room under my bed. I want to gain his trust and relax him while he is in my custody. Any tips?

www.deadpixelsociety.com/kitty.jpg
 

huggles

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oh wow this little one is adorable
bless you for taking him in!!

for him to gain your trust you just need to take it slow - I am no expert by any means and someone with better experience will come along shortly and help - but I believe its best to let kitty take things at his own pace. his life has been turned upside down in the last 24 hours and he probably doesnt understand what is going on.

leaving the tv on is a good idea for the noise - he cant get out the window can he?

do you have any plans for him if you cant find his owner? and its probably best to take him to the vet to get him checked out if you cant find an owner shortly
 
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chris.m

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Originally Posted by huggles

he cant get out the window can he?

do you have any plans for him if you cant find his owner? and its probably best to take him to the vet to get him checked out if you cant find an owner shortly
The window is screened, so he can't get out. I am not sure what I'll do if we can't find the owner. I doubt I could keep him (I have two roommates, soon to be three). My mom (she lives nearby) said she would hold onto him until we could find a home. I have options, just not sure which to exercise at this point.
 

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Sounds feral to me, and yes when they separate from mom, they hide wherever they can find a place. Pehaps a dog chased him onto your porch. I would get him to a vet- if he is part of an outside litter he has fleas, possibly worms and could have other problems as well. Thanks for bringing him in.
 
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chris.m

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Thanks hissy. I'll do that.

Any suggestions on calming him down? Also, in regards to the fleas, should I give him a bath? (the poor thing is so scared now, I can only imagine what that'll do to him)
 

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Don't do anything more that will traumatise him. You are doing hte right thing by leaving him somewhere quiet and safe. Get him to a vet asap for defleaing and dewormimg - that is the only safe way and will be less stress for the kitty. Then feed and water him at regular hours, sit in the room but don't try to pick him up or stare at him, and he will gradually start to feel safe around you. You are a good person for looking after this little one.
 

eatrawfish

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He might feel more secure if he were in a carrier or a box with a cover on it (like the box in the picture with a blanket thrown over it). But you don't want to let him hide TOO much because then he will not be well socialized. So I'd still bring him out and pet him some too. Leave the TV and voices on....
 

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You are wonderful for taking care of him. He is very handsome!!!

I agree with the others, a vet visit is in order to take care of fleas and deworming. Over-the-counter products can harm him, so I wouldn't try and get any of those products at a petstore.

A bath is not a good idea, as if he is feral, he may scratch/bite you up pretty good and traumatize himself even worse.

Again, you are awesome for taking care of him. Please keep us updated!!!
 
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chris.m

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Thanks so much for all the help everyone, I will definatly take your advice!! I will post updates!
 

hissy

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trust me, a bath by you is not a good idea. Let the vet deal with the health issues, let the vet be the bad guy-
Make sure the kitten can't get out the window, once he decompresses, he will probably try. Our windows are blocked with decorative plastic sheeting, the type used in gardens to train ivy and roses to climb. The air can get through, but the cats can't get out.
 

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Originally Posted by chris.m

The window is screened, so he can't get out. I am not sure what I'll do if we can't find the owner. I doubt I could keep him (I have two roommates, soon to be three). My mom (she lives nearby) said she would hold onto him until we could find a home. I have options, just not sure which to exercise at this point.
He is real cute. If you give him to someone you don't know well, make sure to collect a fee.
 

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I agree with everyone, I have 5 feral kittens that I got when they were about 10 or 11 weeks old but they weren't to wild and they are the sweetest, most loveable babies now, I have had them about a month or 6 weeks, I also got mommy had her spayed and taken care of so she's like part of the family here in the house, I am planning on vet trips next week for the kittens 5 girlie kitties, it just takes Love & Careing for them to trust you, I have rescued 16 so far, it's work but the babies sure made it worth while, Great Luck to you and Bless you for careing
 
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chris.m

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Hi everyone! I have an update, but I am also looking for a little more advice (read on).

So yes, it turns out that the kitten is feral. Saturday morning, my mom came over and we were going to bring the kitten to the vet. We put the little guy in a carrier and head out to the car. Opps, I forgot my glasses, went back in, and on the way up the basement stairs, I see Momma cat outside! And another kitten further back by a hole in the fence.

Long story short... we aborted the plans for the vet for that day. About two hours later, Momma and baby were lounging in the neighbor's backyard. My roommate walked around the front of their house and into the backyard. He startled Momma cat; she bolted and jumped the fence. Baby ran into the neighbor's shed. So we got our neighbor and together we cleared out the shed and found the kitten. www.deadpixelsociety.com/kitties.jpg

The babies already have a new loving home. It broke my heart to take babies from Momma, but I know that in the long run, it is the best thing for them. Momma would come to my basement window and meow in through the window to her babies, and they would cry back. It was so sad. If I were in a rural area, I don't think I would have done it. But really, though a suburb of DC, Arlington is really a city. These little guys would only have a small chance of making it to adulthood, and almost no chance at a full life.

I will be going with the new adopting parent to the vet this week. The babies are doing well though, they are both eating and using the litter pan. Once they were reunited, the first one relaxed a lot. Their names are Maynard (left) and Chester(right).

My question at this point is what I can do about Momma? I don't think I can catch her. I actually had her enclosed in the screened in porch, and she went berserk. She climbed the screen and pulled it off the wall and got out! It was really amazing. I am moving in a month, so if she has more babies, I doubt I will be around to rescue them. Any suggestions?
 

eatrawfish

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The best thing to do would be to trap her using a trap, and get her spayed. You don't need to ever let her out of the trap until you release her back into the outdoors, so she won't escape.

You can probably rent/borrow a cage from someone in your area. I don't know VA too well, I think TNR1 is in your area and maybe she will come by and have some suggestions.

Meanwhile, if feed Momma regularly it will make trapping easier.
 

eatrawfish

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Oh! And the kittens are adorable.
I'm so glad they are going to a good home.
 

laceydf

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those kittens are adorable!!! Pretty markings!

As for the mom, I agree with the others. I would try to set a trap for her and get to to a vet to be spayed, and then you could release her again.

You are doing a wonderful job!!! Please keep us updated!
 

tnr1

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Originally Posted by chris.m

Hi everyone! I have an update, but I am also looking for a little more advice (read on).

So yes, it turns out that the kitten is feral. Saturday morning, my mom came over and we were going to bring the kitten to the vet. We put the little guy in a carrier and head out to the car. Opps, I forgot my glasses, went back in, and on the way up the basement stairs, I see Momma cat outside! And another kitten further back by a hole in the fence.

Long story short... we aborted the plans for the vet for that day. About two hours later, Momma and baby were lounging in the neighbor's backyard. My roommate walked around the front of their house and into the backyard. He startled Momma cat; she bolted and jumped the fence. Baby ran into the neighbor's shed. So we got our neighbor and together we cleared out the shed and found the kitten. www.deadpixelsociety.com/kitties.jpg

The babies already have a new loving home. It broke my heart to take babies from Momma, but I know that in the long run, it is the best thing for them. Momma would come to my basement window and meow in through the window to her babies, and they would cry back. It was so sad. If I were in a rural area, I don't think I would have done it. But really, though a suburb of DC, Arlington is really a city. These little guys would only have a small chance of making it to adulthood, and almost no chance at a full life.

I will be going with the new adopting parent to the vet this week. The babies are doing well though, they are both eating and using the litter pan. Once they were reunited, the first one relaxed a lot. Their names are Maynard (left) and Chester(right).

My question at this point is what I can do about Momma? I don't think I can catch her. I actually had her enclosed in the screened in porch, and she went berserk. She climbed the screen and pulled it off the wall and got out! It was really amazing. I am moving in a month, so if she has more babies, I doubt I will be around to rescue them. Any suggestions?
This would be perfect for you to attend if you can make it. Call and see if you can still attend.

June 27, 2005
Arlington, VA
Are you feeding outdoor cats? Are you concerned about their increasing numbers and safety?
This workshop will not only explain the difference between stray (tame) cats and feral (wild) cats, it will also provide invaluable tips and instructions on how to humanely reduce the outdoor cat population in your community.
If you are interested in attending, please e-mail or call workshop coordinator Jennifer Conger at least two days prior to the date of the meeting you would like to attend. [email protected] or 703-626-4288

If you can't...I would still contact them about borrowing a humane trap. You can also contact:

http://www.metroferals.org/

703-528-7782 and ask about borrowing a humane trap from them. Chances are the organizations will ask you to do the trapping yourself...but better to trap her now than have her pregnant again.

Katie
 
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chris.m

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Katie, that is GREAT. I won't be able to make it tonight, but I think I will definately participate in the TNR program. I do have a question though. If her kittens were about 8 weeks old (my best guess) could she be pregnant already again? And if she is, what is the protocol?
 
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