New kitten owner, help!

I have a question. My husband and I were given a 1 day old abandonned kitten, the other two babies that were with him were dead when they were found, and the mom was just prancing around the neighborhood I guess she didn't want to be a mom? I don't know. There was this neigborhood guy kind of stalking her also, to see when she had kittens, maybe he scared her off. Well, our little guy wasn't even moving anymore, but the person who found him cared for him through the night, and gave him to us the next day. It's 5 weeks later, and the kitten is doing well, set to have his first shots in 1-2 weeks. Neither of us has ever had a cat before, or wanted to , but we love this guy. We're clueless about cats, but have tried to do everything right. He was to the vet at 1 week old for a little check up.

Ok, my question. About 1 week ago, my husband took him outside and put him in the grass for a few minutes. This really concerned me since the kitten doesn't have his first shots yet. Should I be concerned? Could he have caught something? My husband was with him, and he walked around the grass for a few minutes, didn't eat anything. We live in an apartment complex with a lot of other animals, so I was a little worried.

Second question, yesterday we had to go over to my husband's parents' house for a long while, during kitten's feeding time, so we took him. We had to stop at the petstore on the way to buy some weaning stuff that the vet told us to get, as we're starting to wean him. It was hot in the car, and we both needed to figure out what we needed to get, so I brought the kitten in with me. There were cats up for adoption in a cage, and we let kitten look at them, but not get close. I wondered after if this could hurt kitten somehow? This pet store only had birds, and cats up for adoption. Then a pet store lady wanted to hold him, and I didn't know what to say, so I let her. Then was worried after about her hands being washed inbetween cats. Should I be worried??

Third question, also at the petstore, this girl had this 3.5/4 week old kitten she'd found a week before. She was carrying him around in one of those paris hilton doggy bags where you carry your little dog around with you to look fashionable He didn't look very healthy, and she stuck him up to my kitten's face (without their faces actually touching, just quite close) I held back because I was worried about his health and didn't want my kitten getting anything, but do you think that close encounter alone could have been dangerous??

I can't call the vet until tomorrow and am nervous that without his first shots, kitten may have been exposed to something?? Sorry, I am so clueless about this, thanks!

PS my husband petted the cats up for adoption, all very healthy, and may have accidently touched kitten once or twice before washing his hands. Should I be worried or am I insanely paranoid? lol

dcp....I would discuss with your vet the fact that your husband let this kitten outside. Personally, our rescue does not recommend allowing kittens outside until they have received their full series of shots including rabies. I am unaware of anything that the kitten can pick up from being outside (if there are no other cats around)..but I think you should hold off on any further experiences outside until 1. kitten has received all his shots 2. kitten has been microchipped 3. kitten has a breakaway collar with your information on it.

My husband and I were given a 1 day old abandonned kitten, the other two babies that were with him were dead when they were found, and the mom was just prancing around the neighborhood I guess she didn't want to be a mom?

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Actually she was probably scared off and I would be with whoever it was that was following her around. The best way to work with a pregnant stray is to keep an eye on her....not follow her around and scare her off. Also, your little guy is missing out on having his mom. If she is still in your neighborhood....I would recommend borrowing a trap from the humane society and getting her fixed. Poor girl deserves to have this be her last litter.

There were cats up for adoption in a cage, and we let kitten look at them, but not get close. I wondered after if this could hurt kitten somehow? This pet store only had birds, and cats up for adoption. Then a pet store lady wanted to hold him, and I didn't know what to say, so I let her. Then was worried after about her hands being washed inbetween cats. Should I be worried??

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I would definately be concerned about your kitten catching an upper resp. infection from being handled by individuals who handled other cats and did not wash their hands. Did you ask if the cats at the event had all their shots?? Did you ask if any of them had Upper Resp or Ringworm?? Both are highly contagious. I always carry around hand sanitizer and wash my hands thoroughly before I touch my own cats after working with rescue cats and my cats are 8.5 years old. I wouldn't recommend bringing your kitten to the store or allowing him to be touched by individuals until they have washed their hands and I would set up an appt. to have him receive his first series of shots.

Katie

Thank you so much for the response. I will make that appointment ASAP. My husband says it's not necessary and we should put it off until we have more money, but I think the shots are necessary? Am I right?

Do you think my kitten will be ok? I'm so afraid something has happened to him

PS the cats at the store did have all their shots, aside from that 3/4 week old one that girl brought in

Originally Posted by dcp

Thank you so much for the response. I will make that appointment ASAP. My husband says it's not necessary and we should put it off until we have more money, but I think the shots are necessary? Am I right?

Do you think my kitten will be ok? I'm so afraid something has happened to him

PS the cats at the store did have all their shots, aside from that 3/4 week old one that girl brought in

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First shots are due around 6 weeks of age..and yes, they are necessary. As far as the health of your kitten....just watch to make sure he does not show any signs of a URI (Upper Respitory Infection). I would also recommend that you keep him strictly indoors only for now.

Katie

What are the signs of an URI? If he gets his shots, should be be alright? I just love the guy so much

I just want to congratulate you on raising such a tiny creature from one day old, especially if you have no experience of cats. It is a difficult and full time commitment, as you must know by now, though also full of joy and satisfaction, not to mention love. FYI, watch him for sneezes or runny eyes as these are usually the early symptoms of an upper respiratory infection. And of course for any changes in eating, drinking or litterbox habits. With any luck, your little one will be fine with you watching over him as you are doing.

Originally Posted by dcp

What are the signs of an URI? If he gets his shots, should be be alright? I just love the guy so much

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http://www.doctordog.com/Drdognewsletter/uri.html

URIs are kitty colds and the shots will not prevent him from getting a URI...however they will protect him against Rabies and Distemper. Also, since he was from a stray mom, you will want to have him tested for FIV/FELV

Thanks so much for the replies. I will watch over him for those symptoms, and will get him to the vet if they appear. Also, even if my husband doesn't like it, I will get in for his shots in about a week.

This, as you said, has been quite the committment. The person who gave him to me didn't tell me he required so much work, but now I'm glad because I may not have taken him if I'd known I've always been a dog person, no interest in cats, but now I love cats! My husband too. We have been missing out for so long! I am just completely in love with this guy and want to do whatever possible to keep him ok.

It's frustrating because my husband doesn't take this stuff seriously, and actually gets mad at me if I bring it up (like don't take him outside yet, wash hands after handling another cat) I will be so upset and angry if something happens to the kitten because of this.

Hopefully he will be ok. Thanks so much for the help.

The rabies shot is probably required by law, anyway...

Another vote for "keep the cat inside". You say you are living in an apartment; this is plenty big enough for a small animal like a cat, if you play with it every day to get it exercise (otherwise the cat will become bored). Having an indoor cat means protecting said cat from the dangers of the outdoors, like cars and predators (and, even worse, sadistic humans). Your cat should be fine with an indoor life; after all, we humans live indoors quite happily, and we are much larger than cats are.

He will definitely be an indoor car, I just meant outside on a leash and stuff

Congratulations on getting your first cat, you sound like you have done a fantastic job, especially considering how young he was.

it is easy to fall for them, i have two and i don't know what i'd do without them, both are indoors only and very happy...not to mention healthy and a lot less vet bills due to fights with other cats and stuff.

like someone else mentioned, i recommend you try to trap the mother and have her spayed, at least she won't be bringing anymore unwanted kittens into the world...plus, she must be frightened with that guy harassing her.

goodluck with your kitty, do you have a name for him yet?



felicia