Rescued kitten

Netanya

Hi all,
Just yesterday I came upon a little kitten huddled under a car in the town where I live. After asking people in the local shops it appears she had been there for the last few weeks (the car hadn't been moved due to the weather) I could not leave the poor thing under there. She survived the last two weeks of awful weather on her own and she couldn't have been more than 6 weeks old, to my mind she deserved a break. It took me an hour to catch her with much cajolling and half a pack of ham.

After finally getting her I brought her round the corner to the vets thinking they could hold her there and get one of the local shelters to pick her up (The weather had stranded my car otherwise I would have brought her) but they said they had no room, deflea-ed/ear mite/ wormed her and sent me home with the numbers for shelters saying that one would surely come get the cat.

I took her home, quarantined her (have another cat) in the bathroom and set her up with food etc. Needless to say by the time my partner got home she'd worked her green eyed magic on me and I wasn't going to be calling no animal shelter.

So here comes the bad bit. She hadn't gone to the toilet by 7 this evening in over 24 hours and I was getting worried. Her little belly is distended and hard. So I brought her back down to the vet. Poor little Belle (we've named her now we have to keep her) is so malnourished that because she only just started eating good food thanks to me that she's literally full of it. I was told not to vaccinate her because she might not survive the next *few days. Now I don't know what to think because an hour after I got her home she started to use the litter tray and while it's not loose stool there is a hell of a lot of it. Since she used the tray she's gotten far more active and playful. I just can't equate the vets "she might not make it" to this little fighter I've gotten to see in the last day. Am I deluding myself should I trust the vet and prepare for the worst? I really hope that with a little love, good food and water she's going to be fine. Has anyone else taken in a malnourished kitten and is there anything else I can be doing to improve her chances?

tudlytops

Well done for being so kind and shame on the people that knew she was there for so long and done nothing.

i have had pets all of my life and they all come from the streets.

I never had the problem you having because for the first couple of weeks i always controlled their food and fed them less then the others, as they will eat to much thinking that they may not have it tomorrow.

Yes the vet may very well have a point, but i never give up on an animal and i have had a few very ill.

i would give her only a couple of feeds a day (kitten food) and very small ones for the next few days, plenty of water (no milk at all).

And let her rest if that is what she wants to do, as she got better (hope she does) i would then increase her food slowly until normal.

I'd keep her worn and around people, company can do wonders for a sick animal.

Hope she does make it, don't give up until she does.

Whispered

Ah fair play to you op. How is your other cat taking to the new kitty being in the house?

Kittens are amazingly resiliant. She could be very ill and still a little bundle of fun. However the fact she has gone to the toilet is great, and I'd probably relax a bit now if I was you. Tiny meals many times a day and constant access to water is the way to go now. Make sure she is drinking, and keep her warm.

you've done a wonderful thing, imagine how happy she is now, all warm and full and safe. well done.

pics?

The Sweeper

Good food. No milk. Warmth, love, positivity, cuddles. She might just amaze you.

Netanya

Well Belle made it through the night ok and her belly has gone down a little. I'm doing the little meals all day and while she's complaining that she's hungry I don't want to give in and make her get sick by over feeding her.

My other cat hasn't been introduced because as she isn't vaccinated I don't want them to give anything to each other. I'm washing my hands before and after handling her and wearing a big fluffy cardie she seems to like so that there is no risk of spreading anything. I had another kitten who wasn't vaccinated catch flu off a cat who was vaccinated because he was a carrier and I won't let it happen again.

She is a very affectionate little kitten and I get a meow of hello and then solid purring until I leave the room. A little angel really.

And because you asked, pictures!

She had just arrived in my house and did not look pleased at all

This was an hour or two later and she seemed much happier

This morning she was much more inquisitive and wanted to know what I was doing and why I wasn't petting her

Up and about and looking a lot healthier than the 9th when I found her

NoQuarter

She looks a lot older than 6 weeks to me, id double that.

Netanya

The vet was the one who said between 6-8 weeks based on teeth. I'm quoting her. But you could be right. She does appear big in the pictures but she's actually quite small.

Mink

Did you find this kitten in Kilcock?

My OH & I came across one exactly the same down in Kilcock village. We coaxed her out from under the car & actually got hold of her & then she escaped again across the road & under a van. An old guy came out & put out food for her. I was going to take her home if could get hold of her again & was going to see if could get her again.

Fair play to you for actually getting her & taking her in. I love hearing stories like this. I have two cats & one of them was a stray I rescued, the other from DSPCA & had been turned in as a stray.

I hope this is the kitten in Kilcock as I was worrying about her.

Netanya

It was the the kitten on new lane in kilcock.

I'm glad other people were trying to help her.

Hope your minds at ease now

Mink

Yes! She was gorgeous. I was gutted when she legged it across the road. Well done!

Bubs99

hi,
I am almost 100% I know what kitten you are talking about, it is (i think) a gorgeous little tricoloured one with little white front paws and a pink nose.

She has been on that road for atleast 3 weeks now. When I first found her, she was under a car infront of the gallery and I also spent over an hour trying to catch her, tricking her with food etc. but to no avail.

i too went to the local vets and asked for help and a cat trap which they said they dont have (but pretty much all vets do!).
I rang a friend of mine who catches ferals and neuters them and lets them free again, she also helps the sick ones and sometimes tames the young and keeps them...anyway, she said she couldn't go to the town as its too far away and gave the idea for the trap.

i just did a veterinary assistant course and tried my best to do all I learned but she was too fast and I just couldn't catch her. from then on, some local shop owners and I have fed her tinned cat food and light butchers scraps. (I know its not the healthiest for a kitten but she needed something). She's adorable and Im delighted you caught her.

i have been taking care of a family of feral cats where I live in the village for two years now and they come to me daily. Your kitten isn't part of them...just to reassure you.

tudlytops

She's so cute...well done on actually taking her home and looking after her

You doing all you can, now she as to do the rest.

Bubs99

Oops, i just noticed the photos now...yeah, it that kitten for definate. I just want to say I also rang the kildare spca and got no answer 9several times) and I emailed with no reply so I tried.

Thanks again for saving her, I admire you!

Netanya

Maybe I should go into the practice of catching kittens!

Thank you everyone for replying. Another day of good food and rest and she has finally started to bounce around and cause just as much havok as a kitten should. Hopefully this is a good sign. I'll continue to update you all until she's well and truly out of the woods. Especially those of you who were feeding her until I could catch her.

Also thanks Bubs99 for letting me know she's not part of the feral group. Good to know.

Bubs99

Im so happy she's indoors in the warmth with proper love and food. She is sooo cute, she was very affectionate until you go to catch her and she jumped back, never scratched or bit, such an angel for a kitten.

I knew she could be tamed. Im so happy she has the chance to. I was so worried about her in the freezing nights last week.

Thank you

Netanya

Another day and she is really bouncing back. In fact now every time I go into her room I get scolded for leaving her in the first place. She has become very vocal and really makes her demands be known.

Bossy just like me

My other cat, Sandy has taken up camp outside the door to her room and is purring, rolling around and in general playing the gap under the door. Belle doesn't seem to pleased with this and hisses at the door every now and then. Hopefully she gets a bit more friendly before their face to face introduction.

As she has gained some weight and become more active we are going to bring her for her vaccinations tomorrow. Hopefully the vet will think she's up to them.

I'll post more pics of Bossy Belle tomorrow so you can all see her bright eyed, happy little face.

Cherry Blossom

This is great little pre-christmas happy ending story, loving your updates OP

MaryK666

Netanya wrote: »

I'll post more pics of Bossy Belle tomorrow so you can all see her bright eyed, happy little face.

She is really beautiful and well done to you for managing to catch her and give her a home. Vets can be quite pesimistic on the outcome for young rescued cats as they see so many that don't make it due to malnutrition and disease. The only thing I can say to you is to trust your instinct in a situation like that and, as you know, it paid off with Belle.

I can't wait to see more pics of her and find out how the big introduction goes.

Silcocky

Just wanted to say...I'm so pleased I read this - three people so desperately trying to help the kitten - restores faith in humanity!! I even had a tear in my eye . But then, I'm pregnant, I've an excuse!!

I was NEVER a cat person. Hated them, wouldn't go near them!
Earlier this Summer, we were adopted by a young feral kitten who camped in our engine one particularly hot Summers day. My other half, determined to free him, spent an hour and a half getting him out and then, despite my protestations, took him home in the car.
He's now my little bed fellow and I love him!!! I hate letting him out in the cold!

Delighted to see that Belle is doing so well!! Well done to all involved!

Bubs99

Im delighted Bossy belle is doing well. Hopefully she'll warm to your other cat soon. Great timing for catching her as it's meant to snow and freeze again this week. Keep up the good work. x

Netanya

Sorry I was supposed to get on to post these this morning but it just didn't happen.

We rescheduled vaccinations to tomorrow evening but I don't really mind because she'll be even stronger after another day. I had to go out for some of the day so I really got told off when I got back.

I'm just going to give the link for the whole album because she's just too cute for one or two pics

Thanks for all the lovely replies everyone, as if it wasn't enough that her going from strength to strength makes me feel like I did the right thing. I have all you lovely people reassuring me too.

MaryK666

She is such a cutie and has such gorgeous eyes.
Hopefully all will be well with her and you'll have lots of very happy years together.

Mink

Silcocky wrote: »

Earlier this Summer, we were adopted by a young feral kitten who camped in our engine one particularly hot Summers day. My other half, determined to free him, spent an hour and a half getting him out and then, despite my protestations, took him home in the car.
He's now my little bed fellow and I love him!!! I hate letting him out in the cold!

Delighted to see that Belle is doing so well!! Well done to all involved!

That's how I found my stray kitten - in the car engine sitting on the battery, only 7 weeks old. I had brought her up to the pound as I already had a cat but she tugged on my heart strings & I brought her home & now I wouldn't be without her!

boomerang

Bless you Netanya, you're an angel.

And your kitten is such a sweetheart and sooooooo pretty!

I feel all Christmassy and tearful now after reading this thread. Thank you!

Rochester

You've got yourself a gorgeous little kitten there. Best wishes and you are so good to take her on.

Netanya

Just to keep you all updated we went for a trip to the vet today to get our vaccinations. Different vet today and after a more thorough exam it turns out she was born in around April, but is really malnourished and this is why she is so small. So sorry NoQuarter, I and the other vet were wrong.

So now we're all vaccinated the introduction to sandy can happen in about 4 or 5 days but the vet says as long as their not in the same room she can be in other parts of the house other than her safe room. Yay!

I'll let you all know how the introduction goes and hopefully by the end of the holiday season we shall be a happy integrated two cat family!

FastFuse

Hi Netanya,

Do let us know how the introduction went. I hope Belle is still doing well.

sandra06

i tried to catch her to in the square ,well done on catching her ,dont pay to much notice to the vet in kilcock .i brough a stray kitten to her she told me it was healthy died next day

irelandspurs

I found a kitten yesterday morning about 6-7 weeks old 1 eye missing and bleeding and the other bulging out,took to the vets and they said it looked like cat flu that had been left,people must have just chucked her out instead of treating her.Discusting :mad:
She's been put to sleep now.

joyce2009

such a beautiful face,,well done for saving her,,thats one lucky kitty:D

bowsie010

She's lovely netanya.Very angry looking though lol.
I'm sure shes very grateful.

Netanya

So the introduction is not going as well as I had hoped. After several days of the two cats sniffing each other under the door and one moment where sandy came into a room accidentally and froze when he saw her before being herded back out by my OH. We thought on Monday we would begin by putting Belle in her cat carrier and putting her in the same room as him for 5 or 10 minutes.

Even though he was sleeping when we put her in the room he was up and walking around the carrier very promptly. Then he started pawing through the cage. She cowered in the back and wouldn't go near him. The next day we let them touch noses through the crack of a door, he went into a defensive crouch and pawed her through the crack. When she playfully lifted her paw (didn't even reach for him) he went into ears back hissing mode and ran away....not good. Then when I came back from putting her in her room and sat down he jumped up on my knee settled for a sec then sniffed me. Realised he could smell her and jumped up hissing and spiting and ran away again. Double damn!

This morning we had a house guest who left the door to the room she was in ajar by accident. Sandy came bounding up the stairs as she sleepily wondered out and came looking for me. She was totally uninterested in him and was just looking for humans. Second he saw her he went into a crouch again, hissed and ran away.

I don't want to push him and I know he needs to establish his dominance but in all honesty if he can't even be in a room with her without running away that's not going to happen for a while. We already have had trouble with him where he used to attack me all the time and corner me etc but after changing his food and my doing some cat behavioural things to establish that I was the boss and not him he totally settled. Even becoming a bit tubby and wanting to cuddle (which he never did before).

I'm going to go back to the sniffing under a door stage again and work from there. Also we did put him in her room for a while on monday too...he tried to climb out the window and was clawing at the door to get out.

Heroditas

It'll take a while for them to fully tolerate each other.
Our two have finally accepted the stray who adopted us back in September. Granted, they have all only been in the house together for about 5 weeks but there are rarely any fights bar the occasional crafty swipe with a paw and some chasing.
Have patience. In the end, they all finally accepted each other when they were fed at the same time. I think the first two realised the newbie wasn't a threat if they all ate together.

Netanya

Merry Christmas to Everyone who posted about Belle and all the people who were trying to help her over the last few weeks. This is the Lady herself very unsure as to whether she's really digging this whole Christmas malarkey.

Alicat

Give them time, it took my two ages to settle with each other. Just let them do it in their own time No point in trying to force them together.

Delighted you were so kind to take her in, well done

Netanya

quick update; had a great Christmas she's gotten a bit bigger and bolder. Having a little issue the vet is looking at due to her coughing everynow and then. Could be hairballs because she's excessively grooming (apparently cats who have been abandoned can do this as a psycological reaction, like a self comfort thing) or could be asthma. We're trying the hairball treatment first if that doesn't fix the problem we'll have to test for asthma.

We went and got spayed today. Nothing like a groggy half bald kitten trying to follow you even when she can barely stand to make you feel like an evil person. "I love you even if you do give me to mean people so they can poke me with needles and remove my organs." That's what she's saying.

Cherry Blossom

How is she getting on with your other cat now OP?

Netanya

Not well at all. We still can't get him to put up with her. They'll eat food in seperate bowls near each other but the second the meal is over he starts growling, yowling and getting super aggressive. She doesn't know what to do and is starting to get angry back after 2 weeks of a bad reaction. We can't have them in the same room and if he smells her he's gotten so aggressive he'll actually attack us. Gave my other half a nasty cut on his face.
As the dominant cat I know he wants to be sure of his place and we are trying to do that by lavishing attention on him etc. But he's demanding to be let out the second he hears her meow or smells her. After doing everything by the book I don't know what to do.

Cherry Blossom

That's such a pity, she'd probably be great company for him if he would relax a bit. I've never had cats so can't really give you any advice on that front unfortunately

Bubs99

I love the christmas photo of Belle, how sweet.
Im so sorry to hear about your cat not accepting her. Like what was said already, Im not 100% familiar with cats and their behaviour, Im a dog person, so I cant give you any tips Im afraid. Keep trying what you're doing and lets hope for the best.
Im just relieved shes still not out under the cars in the frost any more.

My stray cats missed me alot over Christmas (I was away), delighted to see me and give them their regular meals again, yes, they still hunt for birds and mice (found a few bird corpses and feathers). Thats the circle of life!

Good luck with Belle and good on you!

Coeurdepirate

I read through this thread and it's so nice to read from when the vet didn't know if she'd make it to now, when she's a healthy and happy kitten. It's a pity about the other cat not accepting her, but hopefully he will with time.

muppet_man

Netanya wrote: »

After doing everything by the book I don't know what to do.

Maybe one of those plug-in cat diffusers might relax the dominant cat.
Never used them myself so can't say how well they work, I'm sure others on here have.

Bubs99

Hi, I was on the same street as Belle used to stay on yesterday when I saw another little stray/feral kitten. He/she was gorgeous, a jet black fluffy one with bright green eyes, still has fluffy coat and he/she was very small, so Id say they're only 3mths.

This kitten was way more shyer then Belle though. Belle would come up to you but the black one I saw last night looked at me and ran under the parked cars. The black kitten didnt have a collar so I doubt its lost, id say they're feral.

I was going to give them some scraps of meat I had but they just ran, I dont know what to do. I hate seeing the poor little cutie out in the cold alone.
I tried my best with Belle, I asked the local vets for a cat trap (said they had none) and I rang the KSPCA and another friend who neuters ferals and lets them go again (only does it in Dublin). KSPCA never answered or replied ever!!!

Any suggestions?

Netanya

How about Last Hope they have a kitten cottage in Meath. And seeming as that is the Meath side of Kilcock they might actually help? I'll try and call them now and post if they are willing to come out so you can get in touch and meet with them when they do.

Bubs99

Hi Netanya,

Thank you for replying. Ive went on to the website and got Maires number (the lady in charge of the kitten/cat rescue).

I have'nt seen the black kitten since the other night so i thought the best thing I can do is...the next time I do see the kitten, i ring LAST HOPE straight away. This kitten isn't as tame as belle was/is.

Thanks for telling me about LAST HOPE. Ive heard of them but did'nt realise they were so near.

Thank you.