I hope I'm posting this in the right place and hoping to get a reply to this soon. I found a mother cat and her litter of kittens yesterday morning (there were six that I could see) near a construction site by my house and was unsure what to do with them. The mother was very friendly and her kittens were walking around her (they look about 3-5 weeks old). I've been wanting a cat for a while now, but I couldn't take all seven of them home with me so I panicked and figured that if I couldn't help and take in all of them I could just take one of the kittens home for now and give it better chances of survival. I realize now that this was probably the worst thing to do after researching kittens and I regret this decision so much as I only wanted to help her, not put her in more danger by taking her away. I bought formula and a bottle and a litter box but she fusses a ton when I try to feed her the formula milk and I don't want to have to tilt her head back too much since I'm worried she might choke. She's used the litterbox once so far (I put her there immediately after feeding) and has slept a few times (both on my bed and in a nest of blankets I made for her.) I am willing to learn how to properly care for her but I have also just read that the best thing I could have done was left her outside with her mother and so I'm very conflicted as to what I should do.
I want to know if I should bring the kitten back to its mother as soon as possible? I've heard that the mother might not accept it if it has a human's scent but the mother was incredibly friendly with me when I first saw it and might take it back? I was being selfish and should have done so much more research before just taking it and I feel so so so horrible and desperately just want what is best for this little kitten. If that means giving her back up then I will do that, but if I should keep it at this point I really need to know how to take care of it. I have classes from the early morning around 7 and can't come back home until 4 pm. Does the kitten need to be bottle fed during this period or can it drink from a small bowl? I have family that might be able to stop in to feed her, but that might not always be the case everyday. I really just want to do what is best for her and I'm freaking out a bit. I know this was incredibly irresponsible of me and I should not have taken her so carelessly and now I just want to help her as much as I can.
Sorry for all of these questions but like I said I'm a bit helpless at the moment and in need of some serious advice. Thank you so much in advance.
I want to know if I should bring the kitten back to its mother as soon as possible? I've heard that the mother might not accept it if it has a human's scent but the mother was incredibly friendly with me when I first saw it and might take it back? I was being selfish and should have done so much more research before just taking it and I feel so so so horrible and desperately just want what is best for this little kitten. If that means giving her back up then I will do that, but if I should keep it at this point I really need to know how to take care of it. I have classes from the early morning around 7 and can't come back home until 4 pm. Does the kitten need to be bottle fed during this period or can it drink from a small bowl? I have family that might be able to stop in to feed her, but that might not always be the case everyday. I really just want to do what is best for her and I'm freaking out a bit. I know this was incredibly irresponsible of me and I should not have taken her so carelessly and now I just want to help her as much as I can.
Sorry for all of these questions but like I said I'm a bit helpless at the moment and in need of some serious advice. Thank you so much in advance.