Abandoned kitten! Happy Ending!

[PoohJen]

Wasn't enough that we just adopted a 9 week old shelter bound kitten (Harry James Potter) less than 2 weeks ago...

Tonight at our Cub Scout Pack meeting at a local church, the boys found an abandoned kitten outside. It was badly shaken (and shaking), and clearly has a hurt hind leg (won't put any weight on it).

Looks to be no more than 4 weeks old? But SO adorable. We've tentatively named her(?) Hermione.

We agreed to take it home and try to determine what is best (also to see if anyone leaves a message at/around the church to claim it). It was late evening when we got home, and our Saturday schedule is already beyond full (3 boys in sports ALL day in every corner of the city!). So I can't get shots, deworming, leg x-rays etc until I-don't-know-when. also looks like may have ear mites.

Any suggestions in the meantime? Is it okay to handle the little thing? I am keeping him in a spare bathroom away from our other cats. I wash my hands after each handling, and instruct the kids to do the same. We have set out a small litter box, and have soaked some kitten food in milk/water - he attacked that! Clearly starving.

He also has a raspy voice, can't seem to meow. Is that just an age thing?

TIA!

 

[disnut1149]

Hi
I'm sorry that I don't know anything about cats since I've always had dogs, but just wanted to say that it was so great of you to take care of this kitten. He is adorable!! Good luck. (My friend at work had 2 cats, and thought she wouldn't get any more, then found a stray kitten and kept him too.

 

[Cruisin]

Aw, isn't he just the sweetest thing.

I'm so glad that he picked you to help him out.

I would think as long as he doesn't mind being handled and you are gentle that he would probably welcome the attention.

Maybe his voice is raspy because he meowed so much because he was lost

 

[eclectics]

Gotta say, that's the cutest kitten I've seen in a long time! I sure hope you can keep him and give him a happy home. I think as long as he's watered and fed, left by himself (away from other cats) and gently handled, he'll be okay until you see the vet. Good luck and God Bless You for not leaving the poor little guy to fend for himself.
Oh, raspy voice might be from him just overcrying. You don't know how long he's been abandoned and wandering around.

 

[PoohJen]

Gotta say, that's the cutest kitten I've seen in a long time! I sure hope you can keep him and give him a happy home. I think as long as he's watered and fed, left by himself (away from other cats) and gently handled, he'll be okay until you see the vet.

Thanks everyone. I think that's most what I needed to know - am I hurting her/him by not being able to get vet attn for the next few days. I was never a cat person, but over the past few years we've adopted to different strays that have wandered into our yard (we live in the country, I guess "drop offs" are not uncommon). Both those cats were about a year when they showed up, so were already "housebroken", etc. Harry too was already dewormed and litter box trained and could eat dry kitten food; I still need to get him shots and other -ahem- vet attn. This kitty looks so little, like it should still be having mother's milk, so worried about the food thing.

When we brought this pretty kitty home, I called a local DIS friend, and she volunteered to give him a loving home! Now, I may not be able to pry him out of DH's hands, but either way, know the kitty WILL have a happy and loving home.

 

[maddiemouse]

Sometimes I think think there are only two types of people in the world, the ones who throw the kittens out, and the ones who save the throwouts.
I think you are doing the exactly right thing til you can get him into the vet's.
If you handle him, the worst thing you can get is ringworm, very easily cured, but keep him away from your other cat's until he's been determined to be free from the feline leukemia virus.
BTW, the one who save the kittens are the ones who get to cuddle them in heaven, the ones who throw them out don't get to cuddle nobody.

 

[solferino]

Good for you. Thanks for picking up the little guy and helping him out. I have a soft spot for the yellow/orange boys, they're the bestest kitties ever.

 

[Hannosmom]

Thanks everyone. I think that's most what I needed to know - am I hurting her/him by not being able to get vet attn for the next few days. I was never a cat person, but over the past few years we've adopted to different strays that have wandered into our yard (we live in the country, I guess "drop offs" are not uncommon). Both those cats were about a year when they showed up, so were already "housebroken", etc. Harry too was already dewormed and litter box trained and could eat dry kitten food; I still need to get him shots and other -ahem- vet attn. This kitty looks so little, like it should still be having mother's milk, so worried about the food thing.

When we brought this pretty kitty home, I called a local DIS friend, and she volunteered to give him a loving home! Now, I may not be able to pry him out of DH's hands, but either way, know the kitty WILL have a happy and loving home.

It's my kitty. Stop posting pictures...everybody will want him/her.

 

[PoohJen]

I dunno Linda - she's REALLY cute! I'm a sucker for those beautiful blue eyes!!!

 

[Hannosmom]

Oh well, she is a beauty! I get petting rights when I visit.

 

[Saphire]

Oh MY!!! That sweet little kitten looks so forlorn. Bless you, Jen for taking her in. Do you have a local agency that will take stray cats? We have several 'fostering' programs in our area. They will take the kitten and give it basic medical care, while putting the kitten up for adoption on a website. That is how we got Charlie, in picture below. Good Luck, I know you will do your best.

 

[Bouncing4Tigger]

OMG he is THE cutest kitten I have ever seen. Thank you for helping the little guy

 

[katiebsmom]

What a sweetie pie!!! My little kittie looks just like him and we got her at about the same age and at church no less!!! LOL!!! She rode home in our engine so DH and I joke that it was DIVINE INTERVENTION. How can you argue keeping a pet "GOD" sent to you LOLOLOLOLOLOL!!!!!

 

[Virgo10]

If the kitten will eat dry kitten food, chances are it's older than 4 weeks. Most kittens that young still haven't figured out the food thing yet.

Ideally, it would be great if you could get it to the Vet ASAP. Is there anyone who could maybe do it for you, a friend, relative?? If not, try and keep it separate from your other cat just in case it's got any type of disease.

Oops, just re-read your post and see that it is eating. That's a good thing!

Just keep it warm, handle it gently and give it lots of TLC. What a little beauty. Many for rescuing this baby.

 

[gabbyrosebud]

Good for you. Thanks for picking up the little guy and helping him out. I have a soft spot for the yellow/orange boys, they're the bestest kitties ever.

I love yellow/orange tiger cats too. I have to say that this kitty is absolutely adorable. Look at those eyes!

We had a yellow/orange tiger cat that we loved so much. His name was Bailey and sadly he passed away. We've just recently adopted another kitty. Bless you for taking in these kitties and giving them loving homes!

 

[DMRick]

What a doll. I assume he's either a little older, since he's eating well, or someone has been feeding him to get him used to eating. Is he chewing the food like an adult, or sucking it up?

Water is fine to mix with the food, but milk will give him loose stools. If you can pick up some kittem replacement milk, that would be great.

If that's crustiness around his nose (and not just a sloppy eater lol), he may have an upper respiratory infection as well as the ear mites..so it's good to continue to keep him isolated and wash good before picking up your cat.

Thanks for being there for him!

 

[horseshowmom]

Hi, OP! I just wanted to add to everyone's best wishes for the kitten.

We seem to be in similar circumstances. Last night about 9 p.m., DH and I walked out to the barn to give the horses fresh water. On the way out there, my lab mix and my Chihuahua were aggravating Boots (one of our barn cats), and I got on to them. After that I heard a mew that sounded like a kitten, but DH asked me a question, and I immediately forgot the mew.

In a few minutes, out of the corner of my eye I saw the dogs annoying Boots again. When I turned around to fuss at them, I realized it was a yellow kitten (older than yours, this one is about 3 or 4 months old). He was standing right up to the dogs though!

I went over and picked him up and realized he has a large injury across his shoulders. The hair and skin has been scraped off an area about 2" x 2" (pretty large on a small cat). The worst area is bordered by an area where the hair is scraped off, but the skin is still there.

I'm guessing it was a car injury (scraped by the fan or something). We're not near anything, so I'm not sure how he got here, but he's very friendly and acts like he's been well treated in the past (not skin and bones like I sometimes get).

I've treated him (with as many animals as I have, I have most of the most useful medications in my cabinet), and he's doing very well. Of course, he'll need his shots and neutering very shortly.

Good luck with your baby too!

 

[Virgo10]

Hi, OP! I just wanted to add to everyone's best wishes for the kitten.

We seem to be in similar circumstances.

You should name him Lucky. He sure was to have found you!

 

[horseshowmom]

You should name him Lucky. He sure was to have found you!

I really wonder how he wound up out at the barn. I might have expected to find him under the carport, but it's a pretty good distance around the house, then the backyard, and back past the garden to the barn. Apparently, he was in the garden when we walked by and came out when he heard us.

Anyway, he'll have lots of company, and he certainly seems to be happy! He's a real sweetie!

 

[Saphire]

How is Hermione doing today, Jen? Hope all is well.