Found a kitten need some suggestions?

Question

I was at work last night, and i heard a kitten crying. She ran away from me at first so i know she has to be 6-8 weeks old. I have decided to keep her also. I already bought her dry kitten food, Witch she is eating. She was also infested with fleas so i gave her a bath using cat/kitten flea shampoo. I put a flea collar on her for about 11 hours, But i later read that you shouldn't do that with a kitten, So i took it off.

I am just wondering if ive taken the right steps so far, and what else should i be doing? As i havent owned a kitten sense the 3rd grade.

Answer 1

It's great to see there are people like you who care about animals. You've done a pretty good job up to now, I'd say. :-)

Just a few tips I can think of.

Firstly, she's young to be away from her mother, so I'd also give kitten milk as well as kitten food and water. You should be able to get that from the vet or from a pet shop.

You're right about the flea collar. Most OTC medications are not very effective and some can be dangerous, even more so with kittens. Because she's so young, you'd be best getting the prescription-only medication from the vet. If you go for something like Stronghold, it's perfect for kittens so young and will offer protection against worms as well as fleas. Kittens are notorious for having worms. lol

I'd take her to the vets to be checked over too, as well as for the medication I've mentioned. He'll be able to give you a more firm idea of her age, and will start her on her vaccinations, as well as giving her a clean bill of health.

Of course, you won't need to do this if the kitten belongs to someone else who's trying to find her. Let local vets and shelters know you have her. I doubt whether she'll be microchipped as she's too young, but she might already be registered with a vet.

Good luck!

Answer 2

You're doing great. Yes, keep all flea collars away from kittens, especially Hartz brand products. They have a chemical that could possibly cause severe throat damage.

If you saw any fleas on her you need to take her to the vet and her dewormed. Probably wouldn't be a bad idea to do that anyway. Most vet visits for the first time around run about $100 for all of the vaccinations required by state. In another few weeks or so you can have her spayed. Try to look for a spay/neuter certificate from your state, you can call or look online.

She needs a litter box. Use litter that has charcoal in it so she doesn't get UTI's from sitting on the litter. Cats like privacy so if you can get the type would the hood that would be best.

I've fed every one of my cat's Purina Kitten Chow for as long as I can remember, have never had any issues.

Instead of spending money on toys just yet, give her a small empty box with some crinkled paper in it or an empty toilet paper or paper towl roll.

Congratulations on your adoption!


P.S. Every once in awhile I would give my kitten a very small bowl of milk with a tiny bit of sugar in it. Just as a treat. Like once every four months or so.

Answer 3

You shouldn't use a flea collar with any cats or dogs, even adult ones. For one thing, they don't work, so there's no point.

Don't use ANY products from pet stores, including shampoos. The stuff from stores is often dangerous, particularly for such a young kitten.

Get some proper treatment from a vets, like Frontline. Since the kitten is so young, it'll have to be Frontline spray, this can be used on kittens from 2 days of age.

Keep her in your house until she's ready to be neutered, from 5 months of age. Also, the fact that she ran away from you is no indication of her age, it just means she was scared!! Old cats run away too! I suggest taking her to a vet for a check up, proper flea treatment, to find out how old she is so you know when it's time to neuter, and to find out for sure what sex she is.

Chalice

Answer 4

Good first steps!!! Next she needs to be wormed. If she was outside alone, she has parasites. You can get the worming medicine from most feed stores but since you haven't had a kitten in a long while and since you're going to have do this anyway I would go ahead and take her to a vet. He can worm her, start her vaccinations and give her a heads up on health. Also, he can tell you what type of flea killer it's safe to use on her. I am so happy you found her, it sounds like you will do well together! I hope this helps, I wish the two of you the very best and God bless!

fishergirl

Answer 5

It sounds like you are doing a fine job so far. It may take longer the tame her as Farrow cats can be skittish. I gave a friend a kitten I had found at at first she would not let anyone pet her. Then she would let you pet and play with her, but she would turn on you and scratch. Just be prepared for this type of behavior. I think everything else you have done is right on the mark. For any questions, I would suggest asking your vet when you go in for her 1st checkup and other than that, I would just suggest keeping up with her vaccinations as they will promote a healthy life for her so you can enjoy her for many years. Wishing the both of you a healthy, happy life...

Answer 6

Don't give her milk. It will give her diarrhea. Most people think kittens need milk.

Just use some common sense and do some Internet research and you will be fine. Cats are meat eaters and don't need the assortment of veggies that dogs need.

Most flea things are hard on kitten systems until they get older. but if she is an inside cat you should not have a problem. I sprinkle a garden product call 7dust into my carpet and it keeps the fleas and flea eggs GONE.

Answer 7

i lost my cat about a week ago then a stray cat came in the house,he was week old,he made himself at home,i did report it to rspca,but no one came forward,he was very thin and he was eating like he had eaten a meal.i took him to the vet who confirmed he was abour 8 weeks old,he gave him something on the back of the neck to get rid of the flees and also it gets rid of worms as well,he had his first vaccination last week,and he is going to be neuted,which is best for the cat it stops the going off as well as other things,i had never had a cat that age so didnt know how much to feed him,the vet said 2 kitten sachets a day broke down into 4 meals and also leave out some dried kitten mix,he looks rearly healthy now,and put some weight on,his flees have gone and the worms have gone too,i couldnt put him out,even though i had just had to have my cat of 6 years put to sleep due to a bllod clot and i also have a dog they get on rearly well,you have done a good thing by giving him a home poor little mite
,forgot to say get a litter tray my stray used it straight away,also the rspca helped me with the bill as he was a stray and i was keeping him they have been rearly good
i wish you all the best with him

Answer 8

She's too young to leave her mother so you will have to give her a lot of affection. Also she is too young for dry food unless you put it in cat milk or water to soften it. She will need regular kitten food too, not just the dry stuff. You should get some kitten milk from the pet store.

Answer 9

ok well what you have done so far is great and all the right steps. but for all you know it could be a young girl in the 3rd grades kitten! you should maybe ook for any posters of lost cat or something or take her to the vet and see whether she is microchipped to an address, if not i think she could be yours!
good luck xx

Answer 10

So far so good.

Next step is a vet check up. Ask any and all questions about raising a cat? Buy her some toys and scratching post and a place to hide. Helps save you furniture.