We found a kitten

**kettel6** · 07-18-2006, 07:27 AM

Yesterday one of our dogs had a little kitten cornered in the backyard. With it being hot out, me being a sucker for little furry things, and the fact that it let me pick it up it's now inside. So not being a cat person I need some help. I gave it some dry food last night that I had moistened and it ate some of that and has drank some water. Hubby says it's still so little it needs to be bottle feed. The kitten also has green stuff in one eye and this morning that eye is swollen shut. Can anyone give me some advice about what to do for the little thing? It also has fleas. Any home remedies or OTC medicines. I've already invested $20 in it so it's now a member of the family, hehe.

**MirandaK** · 07-18-2006, 08:01 AM

If it ate some moistened dry food you should not need to bottle feed it. I would go to the pet store and buy a few cartons of Cat Milk. There are minerals and vitamins (like taurine) that cats need that aren't found in cows milk. The cartons of cat milk are pretty reasonable and you can just put it in a dish...no need to bottle feed.

Unfortunately, I have no advice on the eye other than go to the vet. You could call around to local animal shelters. Some offer free or discounted vet care on certain days of the week.

I would also give the kitten a bath in the sink. Run the water deep enough to cover it's legs then put it in. You can get cat shampoo really cheap at the store or you could use soft soap. I would use a cup of water to rinse the kitten (don't turn the faucet on while you have the kitten in the sink as the noise and water flow will probably terrify the kitten.) Make sure to towel dry the little bugger off really good and avoid getting any water in his ears.

Kudos to you for taking in a little kitten! I promise it will reward you with lots of cuddles and purring down the road.

**kettel6** · 07-18-2006, 08:23 AM

Thanks so much! It is the sweetest little thing, it wants to be close to someone. All the little thing did yesterday evening was cry. Hubby got the idea to put hand warmers (the ones you shake, people use for hunting) in the basket that it's sleeping in, ds#2 also put a stuffed animal in the basket. Anyway the kitten curled up in there and was asleep in seconds. To sweet! I didn't hear a peep until this morning when me 2 year old got up and went into the bathroom to "play" with the cat. She was squealing more than the cat because it actually was coming close to her, silly kid. So new heat packs and it used the litter box, I'm so proud, and it's now back to sleep.

**frugalfarmwife** · 07-18-2006, 09:42 AM

I second the Vet on the eyes, this is a fairly common condition in strays and can get bad quickly if not treated, the little bugger probably also needs dewormed.

And with the bath you'll have a lot of the fleas hopping off in the water, I know ICK! You'll need to find out from the Vet on flea treatment too, you need to be careful with such young ones.

Congrats on the new family member, lol, they worm their way into your heart so quickly!

kj

**SewCrafty** · 07-18-2006, 11:58 PM

I agree about getting to the vet. If you can take them all at once, generally you only pay one office visit fee.

For the eye, just take a warm cloth and every time you see it 'gunking up' clean it gently. The vet can give you an ointment to use in the eye, but no people med that I know of can be used. Also I have found that if you don't get a handle on this eye infection, not only will the others get it too, but it can turn into an upper respitory infection really fast.

For the fleas, kj is right, you have to be very careful what you put on little ones as flea meds are in essence, toxic. I would bathe them, I just use baby shampoo, most animal flea shampoo's are way too strong for kittens and some are deadly! Make sure you rinse them really, really well and yep I do hold them under the faucet. When they are little like this they don't like it but it is much easier to make sure they are rinsed well. Just take care that you don't get it into their eyes and ears. I use a washcloth on their faces.

Next snuggle them up in a towel and try and get as much moisture out that you can. The best thing I can tell you to do for the fleas is to invest in a flea comb. Either pick one up at a pet store or you vet may have them for sale. They run about $1-$2. When you start combing them, be in an area with a hard floor, not carpeting, And KILL each and every one of those buggers!

Can you show us a pic with something for reference so I can see how big they are? That will help to see if they still need milk etc....

**NeonMartini** · 07-19-2006, 12:34 AM

If you have some handy, it is a common herbal remedy for eye infections (yes, even in pets...this is safe for pets AND people!) to wipe the area clean with a moist, warm CHAMOMILE tea bag. Repeat this a few times a day until the infection clears up. It works like a charm.

**SewCrafty** · 07-19-2006, 08:13 AM

Hey Gin, thanks I never knew that!

**kettel6** · 07-19-2006, 11:19 AM

Oh I have tea bags! #1 does not look good at all this morning. I spoon-fed it some sugar water and I have it beside me. The others are okay except for being sick. They are eating and playing. Since they are eating dry food do you really think they still may need milk? It will be a couple of days before I can get them to a vet, if even then. It was pretty much all I could do to get cat food and a litter box. I am going to bath them afterwhile then each kid can snuggle a cat, hehe. I'll try to post a picture soon. Thanks everyone.