captured a stray kitten

caitlinhewkins

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Hi everyone,
on our street there are a couple of stray cats that have been wandering around. they are all quite feral, and we have finally found someone who will take them and spay/neuter them all! the man who is doing it has also found a home for all of them too. apart from one, which is a little kitten (who unfortunately was the only one to survive from the last litter). no cat sanctuary/rescue can take the kitten as they already filled with kittens (because of kitten season i suppose). the kitten (most of the time) was always alone, and would be bothered by other male cats on the street. so we caught the kitten, we’ve put it in our spare room with food, water, litter etc. but the only problem is, it is very scared. which breaks my heart, but i know it was the right thing to do as it would’ve died like their siblings without the proper care it needs.we currently have four cats who were strays, and our past cats were also strays. but they were quite older so this is our first time dealing with a stray kitten really. is there any suggestions of what me and my family can do to make the kitten feel more at home? and not as scared as it is? we want to be able to take it to the vet but don’t want to do it when it’s still scared
 

tabbytom

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..............but the only problem is, it is very scared. which breaks my heart, but i know it was the right thing to do
:hellosmiley: and welcome to TCS!

Thank you for taking in this little kitten and for giving this kitten a warm and fur-ever loving home and a safe sanctuary to live out it's life :clapcat:

It is non;ly natural for this kitten to feel afraid as it os just taken off the streets and without it's siblings and on top of that, to a new unfamiliar place. Just make sure that the kitten has food and water to drink and a litter box away from the food and prepare a cardboard box for the kitten do that it can seek refuge in it. Visit the kitten often and whisper to him/her and do slow blink eyes with the kitten.

Give the kitten some time to settle down. You may leave a few pieces of your clean, unwashed non perfumed clothings with the kitten so that the kitten can get use to your scents. Spend time with the kitten while sitting on the floor to make yourself small and not like a giant which is very intimidating for the kitten.

For now, there's not much you can do except to win it's trust in you. Just don't rush through. Remember to have lots of patience, love and routine to win it's heart.

Do ask questions if you have any and do keep us updated and we'll move on from there. Some of our members who have experience in this area will be able to chip in and help.
 
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caitlinhewkins

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:hellosmiley: and welcome to TCS!

Thank you for taking in this little kitten and for giving this kitten a warm and fur-ever loving home and a safe sanctuary to live out it's life :clapcat:

It is non;ly natural for this kitten to feel afraid as it os just taken off the streets and without it's siblings and on top of that, to a new unfamiliar place. Just make sure that the kitten has food and water to drink and a litter box away from the food and prepare a cardboard box for the kitten do that it can seek refuge in it. Visit the kitten often and whisper to him/her and do slow blink eyes with the kitten.

Give the kitten some time to settle down. You may leave a few pieces of your clean, unwashed non perfumed clothings with the kitten so that the kitten can get use to your scents. Spend time with the kitten while sitting on the floor to make yourself small and not like a giant which is very intimidating for the kitten.

For now, there's not much you can do except to win it's trust in you. Just don't rush through. Remember to have lots of patience, love and routine to win it's heart.

Do ask questions if you have any and do keep us updated and we'll move on from there. Some of our members who have experience in this area will be able to chip in and help.
thank you so much for the reply and help! i’ve taken your advice and have now put in a little cardboard box with clothes from me and my family, we have got an appointment tomorrow for the kitten so fingers crossed there is nothing seriously wrong. the only thing i see physically is how malnourished it is. i have been going in there now and again and whispering to it and sitting on the floor! hopefully this helps the kitten settle down and realise that we are now their family❤‍🩹
 

tabbytom

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thank you so much for the reply and help! i’ve taken your advice and have now put in a little cardboard box with clothes from me and my family, we have got an appointment tomorrow for the kitten so fingers crossed there is nothing seriously wrong. the only thing i see physically is how malnourished it is. i have been going in there now and again and whispering to it and sitting on the floor! hopefully this helps the kitten settle down and realise that we are now their family❤‍🩹
B23897A4-51D3-4BD3-9BCF-7803C930DEA6$L0$001~photo.GIF


Hope that thew vet's visit will go fine and nothing serious wrong with the kitten.

You can buy KMR Milk Replacer for cats and give it to for the kitten to beef him up since he has not enough nutrients as he did not get enough from his momma. You can either get the powdered ones or in liquid form. Maybe powdered form is better as it can be kept longer after opening.
Also besides letting him drink the milk replacer, you can also mix it up in his wet food and let him have both at the same time. Buy wet food meant for kittens as they need all the nutrients and minerals for their growing year. Or you can but food labeled 'For All Life Stages'. This way, you can feed him through kitten to adult age and no need to transit him over to adult food when he is a year old.

I believe you and your family can make it right for this kitten.

Just remember no loud noise or loud talking or sudden moves. He really need to trust you guys and don't betray his trust. If you can, do show us photos of this kitten.
 
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caitlinhewkins

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View attachment 421371

Hope that thew vet's visit will go fine and nothing serious wrong with the kitten.

You can buy KMR Milk Replacer for cats and give it to for the kitten to beef him up since he has not enough nutrients as he did not get enough from his momma. You can either get the powdered ones or in liquid form. Maybe powdered form is better as it can be kept longer after opening.
Also besides letting him drink the milk replacer, you can also mix it up in his wet food and let him have both at the same time. Buy wet food meant for kittens as they need all the nutrients and minerals for their growing year. Or you can but food labeled 'For All Life Stages'. This way, you can feed him through kitten to adult age and no need to transit him over to adult food when he is a year old.

I believe you and your family can make it right for this kitten.

Just remember no loud noise or loud talking or sudden moves. He really need to trust you guys and don't betray his trust. If you can, do show us photos of this kitten.
when it goes to the vet tomorrow, we are planning on ‘cat proofing’ the room as it is currently hiding in little box we have in there and little corners. we don’t really want to disturb it alot as it is frightened as it is. we have also ordered feliway and we will have a look for some milk replacement aswell. i have provided some pictures down below of the kitten before we captured it, i will try and provide some pictures of it when it stops hiding in the spare room :)

507CD5E6-B5F3-449E-9FB0-D1E62531CFD5.jpeg
C5D7FB86-0B3A-491E-B419-DFE8DC9F3AD9.jpeg
 
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caitlinhewkins

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I've dealt with stray kittens, try spending time with it little by little. Don't seem intimidating. Try to not seem big and scary.
This always works for me.
thank you! trying the best to make it feel okay, we’ve always dealt with older stray cats so a stray kitten is new territory for us
 

kittychick

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Definitely way up on the adorable meter!!!

What a fantastic, caring thing you’ve done —you’ve certainly saved the kitten’s life (as you noted — the kitten’s siblings didn’t survive — sadly most don’t). And it’s so wonderful you’re willing to take time to socialize her too!!!

Glad to hear you’re setting up a “kitten safe room” — that’ll be a big help in socializing. I’ve done lots of socializing unsocialized kittens (as have many other members here) —— and we’re always happy to pass along tips & answer questions. It definitely takes patience, time, determination & love. All of which I’m guessing you have lots of to give to this baby! And you’ve got us to back you up!!!

Since it’s late I’ll keep this short (or shorter then myusual posts 🤣). Promise tomorrow I’ll post some tips that have worked for me in the past. Having her separate from your other cats in her own, kitten-proofed room is a great start — she needs to learn to feel safe. And sitting with her is a great start too —- at the top of my tips list! So know that what you’ve done so far is wonderful. And you’ve got lots of members behind you. SO happy this little ebony beauty is going to be safe forever!:rock:
 
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caitlinhewkins

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aw thank you so much! it’s nice to be reassured, because seeing the little kitten so scared really broke my heart - being cruel to be kind really!

it went to the vet today and we found out it’s a girl (which i had already assumed since all the male cats had been following her). she is also 10 weeks, we are planning on booking her to get spayed when she’s abit older. there is nothing wrong with her, other than the fact she’s abit small - she is staying at the vet for the night and tomorrow will be coming back sometime in the afternoon. but we’ve already cleaned the room she is currently staying in out and will be doing more ‘cat proofing’ tomorrow. we will also be getting anymore necessities that we are lacking.

the mum of the kitten has also come back and is trying to get her (she is staying in our conservatory, in which the mum can see through the windows) so the plan is to leave the kitten in the cage, open the door and wait for her to come in and shut her in aswell so atleast they can be together. the mum has been the most difficult one to catch so fingers crossed this works! the mum is only young herself and is also being bothered by the males, so we want to get her spayed before another litter happens (she has had two). my aim is to socialise her as well! the vets told us it doesn’t need it’s mother anymore for anything, but we feel like this may make them bother feel better and get two females off the street with predominantly male cats wandering around.

what me and my family have currently been doing is getting on the same level as her (sitting) and whispering to her about anything really. i’ve been trying slow eye blinks too, which she has done back (whether it is intentional or not i’m not sure but it sure does make me feel happy when i get it back🤣) we’ve got few old our clothing in there aswell and we have been trying to make a routine with her. which we will continue to do :)

once the kitten calms down and allows us in close proximity to her, we want to bring in our cats one at a time (while holding them) so they can get used to the scent. my cats are aware there is a kitten inside the house as they’ve been trying to get into the conservatory🤣 all my cats have been spayed/neutered so nothing like will happen either! we would also like to do to the same with the mum if we are able to capture her aswell.

any advice or help will be great, and i’m willing to try anything for these guys and take it at a pace they are comfortable with! thank you again!
 
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caitlinhewkins

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caitlinhewkins

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update
she is back home now, at first she was anxious and annoyed. she would not stop meowing for a good half hour, but i sat in the room the entire time. she would also come near me which she didn’t want to do yesterday. i put on some ‘cat music’ and that seemed to help and she started settling down. i took the opportunity to give her some food, so i would take some and place it by her. she was okay with this and ate infront of me :) but would not eat off my hand, which is okay! im just glad she would allow me in close proximity of her and come close to me aswell. she is currently underneath some blankets on a little chair and sleeping. she has also done her business in the litter tray too, which is the first time that she’s done that!

i have high hopes for her that she will turn out just fine :)
 
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