I'm so happy to have found this site - this is my first post.
About a year ago, a mother cat came around with her three adolescent kittens - all beautiful orange/white males. The mother has an ear tip, so she has been spayed, but the three boys were intact. One was lost to a coyote, another that never put on weight no matter how much he was fed died and the third is still with the mother, but very shy. A while after they showed up, a small gray tabby kitten (Tidbit) did as well. I was able to handle him early on, and he now loves to come inside my house, being pet, played with, etc, but wants to go outside after he's had enough. I wish I had made him my inside cat early on, but didn't, and now he is older and not sure if I can turn him into an indoor pet. The two boys have not been neutered (yet).
Now a 2nd new kitten has showed up. The other 3 cats are not crazy about him and leave the feeding dish when he comes to eat. He is VERY shy and runs if he sees us. I don't want to make the same mistake with this little one that I did with Tidbit. He is very fluffy but I can see his little ribs when I sneak around the corner to watch him eat. I would like to bring him inside but not sure how to go about it. Also, I have been treating Tidbit monthly with flea drops since he comes inside the house. I am unsure if bringing the kitten in is going to infest my house with fleas unless I treat him, but he is so little not sure he can be treated yet.
I've had cats all my life but the past 10 years have been cat-less due to my landlord stating he was "allergic" to cats. I'm going to bring all 4 with me when I move, but would like to begin by getting the newest little one rescued and used to be a pet. Any advice will be welcome. And does anyone know why a single kitten shows up out of the blue?
About a year ago, a mother cat came around with her three adolescent kittens - all beautiful orange/white males. The mother has an ear tip, so she has been spayed, but the three boys were intact. One was lost to a coyote, another that never put on weight no matter how much he was fed died and the third is still with the mother, but very shy. A while after they showed up, a small gray tabby kitten (Tidbit) did as well. I was able to handle him early on, and he now loves to come inside my house, being pet, played with, etc, but wants to go outside after he's had enough. I wish I had made him my inside cat early on, but didn't, and now he is older and not sure if I can turn him into an indoor pet. The two boys have not been neutered (yet).
Now a 2nd new kitten has showed up. The other 3 cats are not crazy about him and leave the feeding dish when he comes to eat. He is VERY shy and runs if he sees us. I don't want to make the same mistake with this little one that I did with Tidbit. He is very fluffy but I can see his little ribs when I sneak around the corner to watch him eat. I would like to bring him inside but not sure how to go about it. Also, I have been treating Tidbit monthly with flea drops since he comes inside the house. I am unsure if bringing the kitten in is going to infest my house with fleas unless I treat him, but he is so little not sure he can be treated yet.
I've had cats all my life but the past 10 years have been cat-less due to my landlord stating he was "allergic" to cats. I'm going to bring all 4 with me when I move, but would like to begin by getting the newest little one rescued and used to be a pet. Any advice will be welcome. And does anyone know why a single kitten shows up out of the blue?