Hi,
I found a small kitten in my front yard. It was just there huddled in the grass under a shrub. I looked around and could not see any others, only this one.
I have seen the mother walking through my yard before, the reason I know it is it's mother is it has the same colourings (both are grey with white socks). I originally thought the mother belonged to someone in our street but I think it may actually be a stray cat. I plan to check with people along the street tomorrow.
I have nicknamed her Smokey and have set up a cardboard box with an old soft fluffy jumper in it as a mattress.
I rang a vet after I found it (it was after hours) and got some advice. Give it lactose free milk and a warm, quiet and dark place to relax is what I got from the vet. I went to the store and bought some lactose free milk for kittens and I bought a satchel of whiskas food for kittens also.
The kitten has not touched the lactose free milk but hooked in to the small amount of the satchel of kitten food (whiskas). I have since given him a small container full of fresh water and have laid out the water, more food and lactose free milk alongside the bed.
The kitten does not appear to be using the bed or even seem to be remotely interested in the bed either. At first he huddled behind the entertainment unit the TV is on. After that he huddled behind the bin, then under the dining table (that is where he ate the whiskas I left for him).
He has since gone for a lap around the loungeroom and settled once again behind the entertainment unit.
I am wondering if there is anything more I can do for this kitten. I am planning on taking him to the vet tomorrow. It is late in the evening here (almost time for bed) and I am wondering whether I should pull an all nighter to keep an eye on the kitten. He does not seem to trust people and is scared of us. He is probably a little stressed as he is in a foreign environment.
Any and all advice would be appreciated. I have never owned a cat before much less a tiny kitten (it fits in the palm of my hand comfortably and does not weigh much at all, it is small). I have only ever owned dogs.
I took the kitten to the vet today (there is no microchip) and $107.00 later I am pleased to say it looks like it will be ok. I am going to keep it. I was calling it a him most of last night but have found out it is female.
I am still going to call her Smokey. The vet gave her an injection of antibiotics and told me she had hurt her toe (her claw has fallen out) and told me she was a little underweight. He wormed her while I was there and I have also gotten a flea treatment (Frontline) and a heartworm treatment from the vet. I also bought worming medications for future use and a packet of science diet kibbles for kittens.
She seems to prefer the beef flavoured whiskas over the chicken flavour so I am getting my fiance to pick some more beef ones for her on their way home.
I bought her some cat toys and a basket today with a nice comfy mattress in it. She is snoozing in it right now after eating her chicken mince whiskas.
A funny thing happened on the way back from the vet. My mother drove me so I could comfort Smokey and on the way back home she did a pee on me!! LOL!!
I have afew questions given that I have never owned a cat vefore... those being;
Is it hard to toilet train a cat?
Are cats ok with being left alone at times for a few hours or do they claw up the house?
Do you bath cats? I am aware they groom themselves and I have heard some people in the past state they do not necessarily bath their cats. If I can bath her, at what age are you able to do this?
How territorial are cats? Sure, she is getting used to her surroundings at the moment but I have a dog. Will they aregue and are there tricks to making a cat and dog get along from the beginning? I have had my dog staying at my mothers since I acquired the cat as it was very scared of almost everything when he first got here. I figured I would introduce my dog at a later stage (in the next few days) is this too soon? Should I have my dog here sooner?
Once again, any and all advice would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
I found a small kitten in my front yard. It was just there huddled in the grass under a shrub. I looked around and could not see any others, only this one.
I have seen the mother walking through my yard before, the reason I know it is it's mother is it has the same colourings (both are grey with white socks). I originally thought the mother belonged to someone in our street but I think it may actually be a stray cat. I plan to check with people along the street tomorrow.
I have nicknamed her Smokey and have set up a cardboard box with an old soft fluffy jumper in it as a mattress.
I rang a vet after I found it (it was after hours) and got some advice. Give it lactose free milk and a warm, quiet and dark place to relax is what I got from the vet. I went to the store and bought some lactose free milk for kittens and I bought a satchel of whiskas food for kittens also.
The kitten has not touched the lactose free milk but hooked in to the small amount of the satchel of kitten food (whiskas). I have since given him a small container full of fresh water and have laid out the water, more food and lactose free milk alongside the bed.
The kitten does not appear to be using the bed or even seem to be remotely interested in the bed either. At first he huddled behind the entertainment unit the TV is on. After that he huddled behind the bin, then under the dining table (that is where he ate the whiskas I left for him).
He has since gone for a lap around the loungeroom and settled once again behind the entertainment unit.
I am wondering if there is anything more I can do for this kitten. I am planning on taking him to the vet tomorrow. It is late in the evening here (almost time for bed) and I am wondering whether I should pull an all nighter to keep an eye on the kitten. He does not seem to trust people and is scared of us. He is probably a little stressed as he is in a foreign environment.
Any and all advice would be appreciated. I have never owned a cat before much less a tiny kitten (it fits in the palm of my hand comfortably and does not weigh much at all, it is small). I have only ever owned dogs.
I took the kitten to the vet today (there is no microchip) and $107.00 later I am pleased to say it looks like it will be ok. I am going to keep it. I was calling it a him most of last night but have found out it is female.
I am still going to call her Smokey. The vet gave her an injection of antibiotics and told me she had hurt her toe (her claw has fallen out) and told me she was a little underweight. He wormed her while I was there and I have also gotten a flea treatment (Frontline) and a heartworm treatment from the vet. I also bought worming medications for future use and a packet of science diet kibbles for kittens.
She seems to prefer the beef flavoured whiskas over the chicken flavour so I am getting my fiance to pick some more beef ones for her on their way home.
I bought her some cat toys and a basket today with a nice comfy mattress in it. She is snoozing in it right now after eating her chicken mince whiskas.
A funny thing happened on the way back from the vet. My mother drove me so I could comfort Smokey and on the way back home she did a pee on me!! LOL!!
I have afew questions given that I have never owned a cat vefore... those being;
Is it hard to toilet train a cat?
Are cats ok with being left alone at times for a few hours or do they claw up the house?
Do you bath cats? I am aware they groom themselves and I have heard some people in the past state they do not necessarily bath their cats. If I can bath her, at what age are you able to do this?
How territorial are cats? Sure, she is getting used to her surroundings at the moment but I have a dog. Will they aregue and are there tricks to making a cat and dog get along from the beginning? I have had my dog staying at my mothers since I acquired the cat as it was very scared of almost everything when he first got here. I figured I would introduce my dog at a later stage (in the next few days) is this too soon? Should I have my dog here sooner?
Once again, any and all advice would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.