In article 95rYc.165271$sh.125185@fed1read06,
"Cat Protector" wrote:

Well I think the OP said this kitten was about 6 weeks old so they may get
used to a litterbox without the dirt trick. I have to wonder where the
mother cat is though. 6 weeks seems kind of young to be taking this kitten
away from the mother.

Hmmm. I thought that was covered in the initial posting. The full
details are that my idiot neighbors used a water hose to drive the
kitten out from where it and a sibling were hiding behind some steps.
They claimed they were "stuck." I think their mother tucked them there
for safety while she went off hunting.

I managed to convince them to leave the second one alone (with a dish of
sardines and one of water close by) in hopes that Mom would come back
and retrieve him. The one that they'd already "saved" had been handled
so much that I was worried that Mom might reject it based on smell.
NONE of them wanted the kitten! One family had a daughter who wanted
it, but the parents said no, and the other family had a daughter who is
severely allergic. They had called me down the street because they know
about cats, so they kind of turned to me and held out the kitten. So I
took it, figuring that was the best of a lot of alternatives.

I've now had 24 hours to bond with the kitten and see it progress in its
trust and comfort level, and a little while ago the girl who wanted the
kitten came knocking on my door asking for the kitten back to give to
her aunt. I told her: 1) my friend Melissa and I were now in charge of
the cat and I had to talk to her, since she was probably also wanting to
take it and 2) it was too young to go anywhere yet. No way am I giving
that kitten to relatives of those idiots. They let their dog run loose
on our (admittedly quiet) street, and they let their daughter's first
cat go outside.

I'm not letting that kitten go to anyone until 1) it's had its vet
checkup and had its parasite problems and eye discharge resolved and 2)
it's at least 8 - 12 weeks old and figured out what its litter box is
for and that the dish of food in its cage can be eaten any time and it
doesn't have to be deliberately fed by a caregiver.

They have to understand that they handed over responsbility, and I've
taken that responsibility!

End of sermon.

Priscilla