If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Feral kitten and litter box
Folks,
I am crossposting this to health+behavior and rescue. I posted an introduction about the feral kitten I'm suddenly responsible for on the rescue group, but I now have a specific question that I would welcome help with from either group. I will repost the introductory post at the end. My current issue is that the kitten feral, probably about 6 weeks old, doesn't know what a litter box is for. I've put him down in it after meals, but he doesn't do anything. Over night he left poop in one corner of his cage and pee in another. Neither was in the litter box. Is he not old enough to have good enough control yet to use the box? Or what? We're guessing he's six weeks old from a telephone conversation with a vet. We're taking him in for a checkup and parasite treatment in a day or three, depending on when there's an appointment available. His eyes are open (and a beautiful deep blue), he's teething (and one can feel the beginnings of his teeth when he closes his mouth on a finger or the like -- like the end of my nose, heh heh), and he chomps down on canned kitten food and sardines with vim and vigour when you put him next to the plate, but he loses interest when the plate's just on the floor of his cage with him. He's extremely friendly and seems almost desperate for holding and attention. He purrs and cries, but does not suckle inapropriately (i.e. I think he's fully weaned) and only occasionally kneads. He can be held in one hand, but overflows the palm a bit. He's still wobbly on his feet, and his head seems too big for his neck, but he's very interested in exploring his surroundings and likes to play with the edge of my nightgown or the sheet or my hands (I know -- I have to train him out of that) or with actual soft toys. He's got a round belly but is pretty boney otherwise. I think vet attention to parasites will improve that. He's a darling little guy, but I want to be able to leave for a conference at the end of the week. My mother is coming down to sit my older cats, and I've told her about the surprise kitten in the guestroom, but I don't know about leaving if the kitten isn't using its box. There's only so much one can/should ask from one's 80 year old mother! ;-) (She is a cat person, though.) Any suggestions? Thanks! Priscilla Here's the original post: This afternoon my stupid neighbors caught a feral kitten whose mother would probably have come back and gotten it if they'd left it alone. After it was caught, who knows if she would? And then they didn't want the kitten! One family said "no" to their daughter who wanted it for a pet and the other has a daughter who's allergic, so guess who's taking care of the kitten? On the upside, this is the most friendly feral kitten imaginable, and, yes, we're sure he's feral. It's a small street, and no-one has a cat with kittens. We're estimating its age at about 6 weeks. Its eyes are open and deep blue, it's got teeth barely coming in, and it laps up wet food now that it knows it's food. I had to put some on my finger and then smush it on his face before he got it and waded into the dish (yes, two forepaws firmly in the goop) and slurped some up. He loves to be held and petted, so all those instructions in how to socialize a feral can be tossed right out the window. The first chance my friend Melissa and I will have to get him to a vet for a check-up -- and probably worming and anti-flea treatment -- is Wednesday evening. For the time being he's in the big cat cage in my guest room with a towel-lined box, a pillow-case covered hot water bottle, a dish of food and one of water, a kitten-sized litter pan, and a stuffed animal (fox). I'll sleep in there with him to keep him company -- in the room, not in the cage! There are limits to my suckerdom. ;-) I'm keeping my three cats out of the room. He's black and white, more a leotard than a tuxedo, as I described him to someone this afternoon. White paws, splotches on chest & tummy, and one funny mark on his mouth. In the sun you can see the tiger markings under the black. Too cute for words. He fits into one hand and has tiny claws like needles. He very occasionally hisses but frequently cries if he's not getting petted or otherwise having attention paid to him. Melissa was petting him and found his "sweet spot" under his left ear. She had him totally blissed out. Wierdest feral I've met, but then he's very young. He seems quite healthy -- not emaciated, nice round tummy even before discovering wet kitty food -- curious, interested, playful. One eye is watering just a little bit, and I want to keep an eye on that, but aside from fleas he seems in very good shape. And we think he's a he. So far names being tried on are Sprocket, Freckle, Spock (he has pointy ears), and Sunshine Junior. If all goes well, he will become a part of Melissa's family, but even if it doesn't work out we are both determined he will be going to a good home. Heck, he's already socialized! ;-) |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Very old cat and feral kitten | Alice Adams via CatKB.com | Cat health & behaviour | 12 | December 3rd 04 12:33 AM |
Feral kitten and litter box | Priscilla Ballou | Cat health & behaviour | 90 | September 1st 04 12:34 AM |