The sound of a tiny kitty being dragged around...

[Betty]

I heard a tiny kitten mewing and looked out the window to see the neighbors small dog dragging one of their kittens around the yard by the foot like a toy. Poor thing. I ran over and put a stop to it and went to let the neighbors know.

They said something like - oh - we told him not to do that but he has it out for the black one, I wonder why. As if to throw a little racist joke in at the same time. :rolleyes:

This is the same neighbor who got this tiny little chihuahua mix and made it an outdoor dog as a tiny little puppy. Their unspayed cat probably killed the rabbit they used to have (that ended up dead in the yard somehow). Just seems like they should care more.

Anyway, we go out the look at the kittens and they pick her up and I ask to hold her. She's just covered in sticker burrs from the yard - some really embedded in her little fur deeply. As I pick them out they ask me if I want her or any of the kittens.

I couldn't bear to put her back in with the dog so I took her home on a trial basis knowing my husband does not want another cat.

As soon as he walked in he made that very clear.

Then I told him the whole story of this poor little kitty. I left the room and next thing I know he's gone to go get her and hold her a bit. At the moment she's asleep on his chest as he sleeps in his chair.

She's the cutest little calico - but she's an odd color. Like an orange and white cat that rolled around in chimney soot... with white feet.

She's just barely old enough to be away from Mama if not a few days shy. They said she was eating food though and she ate and drank.

So here's the deal. There's an abundance of tiny kitties around here. Would you like one? I'm hoping the neighbor gets her cat spayed and finds a home for all of them or we're going to have a bunch of feral cats before long with the way they treat their animals. My husband would really rather not have another cat - but can't bear to see the cat go back over there with the dog.

OR

I need a name for this little kitteh.

[BarTopDancer]

I am not allowed to have cats because I haven't learned how to live without breathing and a SCUBA tank is just not practical.

So, I recommend the name KITTY! or SeAT (c a t) as the name.

[Morrigoon]

Mowgli

[Not Afraid]

The Momma cat needs to be trapped, spayed and released. There must be rescues in your area that do TNR. They may also take the kittens. It's better to get them young and socialize them - better chance of them getting adopted. The major pet sotres usually have adoption places that they work with doing adoptions on the weekends. They might have the contact.

You're right, though. You're going to have a feral cat colony in no time if something isn't done quickly.

Meanwhile, it sounds like you have a dilute tortie on your hands. She more than likely hasn't had any shots, so be careful exposing your kitty to her until she has at least one set. I wish you were closer, I give vaccinations.

[flippyshark]

My 15 year old tortie Illuminati started life as a feral, and is now the official social director of my household. My home once also had her brother Templar as well. They came from just such a captured and socialized colony, and though both prone to wanderlust, both count as among the finest citizens I've known.

[Betty]

I should say that the cats are not feral - at least not yet. The momma cat is very nice and allows them to hold her. The kittens are on the front porch of their home... but that is clearly the direction we're going in. I can't just take them all and then give them all back with shots and neutering... for one, I can't afford it and for two, that seems a bit like I'm telling them what to do with their own pets... which I would like to do but I also have to live next to them and have their son and my son's friend.

I wonder if these groups will still do something if the cat isn't feral. If I can find a group that's close and low cost, I'll make a suggestion to them and see what their response is.

NA - do you have any contacts in the 92548 area?

[3894]

Photo, please, Betty! Your new baby sounds adorable.

[Not Afraid]

NA - do you have any contacts in the 92548 area?

I don't have any specific contacts, but there is a non-shelter in Riverside that might be a good lead:

Write Us:
TLC of IE
2828 Campus Pkwy
Riverside, CA 92507

Call Us:
(951) 247-6473

Email Us:
tlcofie@gmail.com

But, your best bet would be to go to PetCo or PetSmart on the weekend and talk to the rescue that has cats and kittens there. They are likely to know the ins and out of rescue organizations as well as spay and neuter clinics.

[Betty]

Thanks NA.

[Not Afraid]

If your neighbors don't see the benefits of spay and neuter, there are a few wake-up facts:

Cats can become pregnant as early as 4 months of age
A female cat can produce up to 5 litters in one year
The average litter size is 4-6 kittens.
A single, un-spayed female cat can create a colony size of 25 cats in one year and it will go up exponentially each year after that.

[cirquelover]

Poor little kitty. I'm so glad you saved him.

We love the feral cat coalition. They have helped us get the cat population almost under control here. Now if only idiots would quit abandoning their animals I could be happy and so would the other colony owners/feeders!

[Morrigoon]

How do you tell the difference between a feral cat and somebody's own "outdoor" cat?

[Betty]

I think we're going to name her Butterscotch - or Butters for short. She's doing well - eating and drinking. She thought maybe she wanted to eat the cat litter so she's got just dirt in a box at the moment... and she's going in it. What a good little girl.

I can't get over how tiny she is. She wakes up and IT'S TIME TO EAT - URGENTLY! Like the little thing is just starving to death. Then play (so cute!) and back to sleep again.

She's a little escape artist. I've not had a kitten quite this young before and I worried that one of the dogs would bother her (they really like her and want to play but are too rough). She's barracaded with a little table and plastic box into the corner but damn is she doesn't jump on top. I wouldn't think it was possible this tiny kitten could jump so high. I don't have a big box to keep her in.

[Alex]

Generally if you can get anywhere close to a cat, it isn't feral. That isn't to say it has a home (stray and feral aren't the same thing), but it hasn't reverted (or grown up) wild.

[Not Afraid]

And, stray and feral cats have the same breeding rates. ;)

You might want to supplement her food with some Collustrum or formula. You can mix the formula with water then mix it with wet food. Try to give a high protein wet and stay away from the dry.

[Snowflake]

Awwww, need pictures, please!

[Morrigoon]

And, stray and feral cats have the same breeding rates. ;)


Well, obviously. But legally one can't go around fixing someone else's owned cat, even if that owner is being irresponsible letting it roam fertile.

[Not Afraid]

Well, obviously. But legally one can't go around fixing someone else's owned cat, even if that owner is being irresponsible letting it roam fertile.

Really? In LB you have to have a breeding permit to breed animals. You also are required to get your pet fixed at 4 months. If a person don't have a breeding permit or haven't fixed their animal, you can get Animal Control to confiscate the pet and they will fix it before they allow the person to claim their pet. Or, you can just take the cat to Clinico and for $15 have it fixed yourself. Is it legal? Which law trumps which? I'd rather have a non-breeding animal running about than one establishing a cat colony.

[Morrigoon]

Really? In LB you have to have a breeding permit to breed animals. You also are required to get your pet fixed at 4 months. If a person don't have a breeding permit or haven't fixed their animal, you can get Animal Control to confiscate the pet and they will fix it before they allow the person to claim their pet. Or, you can just take the cat to Clinico and for $15 have it fixed yourself. Is it legal? Which law trumps which? I'd rather have a non-breeding animal running about than one establishing a cat colony.

Heh, I forgot about the law there.

[Not Afraid]

And LB doesn't do enough. There are still thousands upon thousands of feral or stray cats and hundreds of kittens and cats being euthanized every week.

[Alex]

Do they run any kind of TNR program or do they just euthanize on capture (doing nothing to solve help the situation)?

[Betty]

She's so cute. Slowly crawling closer to Mousey, our little girl chihuahua. Mousey has little interest in snuggling with a cat though and walks off to be left alone.

The doggies like her much more then Oliver kitty does. He's warming up and tolerated being on the bed at the same time as she was but did run up to her aggresively earlier then run off immediately - sort of like he does with Rocky dog.

NA - I put up a note on Craig's list and had someone email me a list of all the helpful people near me that can help with fixing and shots. Hopefully our neighbor will think it's a great idea.

[Not Afraid]

Do they run any kind of TNR program or do they just euthanize on capture (doing nothing to solve help the situation)?

The City doesn't run a TNR program. TNR is is all done by crazy cat people (like me). They do offer vouchers and LA County has offered programs for reduced spay/neuter programs. Currently, Clinico has a "beat the Heat" promo going on where they will S/N for $25/$15. All of us that do rescue give vaccinations and will only adopt out spayed/neutered/vaccinated kittens. There are areas that have feral colonies and there has been an ongoing effort to TNR and tip the ferals. There is usually a volunteer care-taker for the colony as well. Everyone does fundraising of some sort of just pays for the expenses for the cats they foster.

The City doesn't euthanize on capture unless the cat is injured or very ill. They give them a whole 3 days before that happens.

[Betty]

So what you're saying NA is that without good people like you, humans would be in the minority and SoCal would be run by cat overlords. ;) Thank you. It's amazing how many liters a year they can have. So fertile!

Any tips on getting Oliver to like Butters a little better? Butters would love to play with him.

She was so funny watching him, from the bed, playing in a little box on the floor. When Oliver was done, I put the box on the bed and Butters immediatly immitated Oliver chewing on the edge. (Oliver loves to bite cardboard. He'll go down the edge of a box piercing it as he goes. chomp chomp chomp)

Oliver is clearly unhappy with the whole thing though which makes me sad.

Someone suggested some sort of anti-stress spray. Do those work or are they a gimmick - or worse? Or is it simply a matter of time?

What have you guys done when bringing in a new kitty? (they just aren't the same as dogs! Imagine that. ;) )

[alphabassettgrrl]

Good luck with the kitty-introduction! I've only done it once, and just kind of let them get used to each other. Took a couple of weeks. I made sure to give older-kitty special attention, and made sure she knew how much she was appreciated.

[Alex]

There's no guarantee that they'll become best buds, sometimes the best you get it just a tense detente. But they do usually reach at least that point where they've agreed to split the world (though a kitten isn't going to understand the rules for a while).

How old is your existing cat and has it always been the lone cat in the house?

[Not Afraid]

A lone kitty is always not happy when you bring in someone new (the other trouble is usually the youngest, or last addition). They don't remember the advantages of having a play pal and they are used to being the baby. They WILL get used to each other. They may or may not become pals, but they will be ok with each other. Boys are MUCH easier to transition than girls.

When I brought in my last 3 to foster, John Robie had a FIT. I finally sat him down and had a talk with him - literally. I told him he would always be my kitten but that I was counting on him to show these 3 little ones how to be a great cat and that he needed to be a great big brother. Strange as it sounds, it worked. He took on the role of big brother and he really raised those kittens more than I did.

At Ease or Felaway is a good product, but I wouldn't worry about getting any just yet. They just need time and Oliver needs reassurance.

[Betty]

Oliver is back to sleeping with me again. I take this as a good sign. He played on the bed with yesterday at the same time she was on the bed - so that's better too.

And every time she gets a few spoonfuls of gushy food, so does he. He also has dry food though. He's warming up some of the time anyway.

She's been scratching a bit and I've been checking her for fleas but haven't seen any... until this morning I spotted one! Eek! We've been really fortunate to not have any flea problem until now.

I previously got that diatomaceous earth you recommended for pincher bugs and it says it works on all sorts of things. From what I read online, people use it on their pets for flea control. Have you tried this? Would giving her a bath help more? (as I ponder the idea of washing a cat and logistics of this - I guess easier on this little girl than on Oliver who's a full grown beasty.)

I can tell she's already growing and she is so playful and cute!

[Alex]

For the bath, get a large jar with a mouth easily big enough for the kitten. Fill with warm water and mix of flea killer. Grab kitten by scruff of neck and dunk away.

If it has lots of fleas you'll actually be able to see them make a run for the dry face. Use a damp rag to get the head.

Here's an example of me doing our cat when she was a kitten:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/23/29125637_8b59d4dab1_o.jpg

But if it has them and has been in the house for a few days you easily could already have a problem. The other cat should get a bath too.

[Not Afraid]

DE is great for killing fleas and is pet safe, but it takes a while to work as it's not a pesticide. You may want to bathe her first then apply DE to all pets. Just Ron it into their fur. Make sure you are using the safe DE. Apply DE every few days.

Oh and do a nail trim before the bath. ;)

[Betty]

Alex you picture is both sad and funny.

I will bathe the baby. I'm afraid of bathing Oliver. He's grown into a sturdy large cat with sharp claws and teeth! He's not been scratching. Hmmmm.

[alphabassettgrrl]

I bathed our previous cat when she was little. She didn't like it but she tolerated it. And a nail trim beforehand is probably a good idea...

[Alex]

The same dipping method will work with a full grown cat. You just need a firm grip on the nape which will keep them mostly immobile.

We bathed our outdoor cats all the time growing up I never got scratched. The dogs were more difficult/messy.

[Betty]

Alex will you come to my house and wash my big cat? ;)

Oliver isn't a full year old yet so I think he remembers what it's like to be a kitten. He still loves to play. Just wait until she's a little bit bigger.

Now - is it normal for Butters to cry every time she poops? I worry that she's constipated. She pooped yesterday but today I see her go to the litter box and look like she's trying to poop, cries, then gets out. She cried yesterday when she did poop by the way and has pooped once a day since we got her.

[Alex]

Can't answer that one (though I've never had a cat do that). But with a new cat, especially one that wasn't in the best of environments, you should probably take it in to a vet for a general check-up if that is something you can afford. If they're not fixing their animals they very likely aren't getting them the proper shots, either.

And if I were nearby I'd be happy to bathe your cat. Kevy will be along momentarily to wiggle an eyebrow.

[Betty]

Apparently it was all new mommy worry. She pooped away! :P

Oliver watches her intently nearly all the time - but especially when she's playing. He is very interested. Just when I think what he really wants to do is play with her, he waps her on the head. Not hard enough to make her cry. He hisses occassionally at her. She is brave though and tends to sit and look at him when he hisses or hisses back at him.

[Not Afraid]

Find a shot clinic and get her first round of shots (and go back for the others) Really all you need is the 3 in 1 shot. The other important think to do is to de-worm her. ALL kittens have parasites.

[Betty]

We will get it done this week! :)

Oliver and Butters are getting along great! having fun playing together with Butters under the bed and Oliver outside with the dust ruffle between them. They both seem to be having a great time. But they still need supervision as it seems Oliver tends to get a little carried away but it doesn't seem to be mean.

Butters is also working on her climbing skills as she learns to climb up the side of the bed. It's a bit far to jump down from though so she cries if she gets up there and can't figure out how to get down.

And Oliver's tail is all healed finally with the matted little clump of fur on the end finally off.

[cirquelover]

I love it when a kitty can make it up somewhere but then is too scared to get back down. They always have this little puzzled expression but are ever so grateful to be "rescued"!

[blueerica]

By the way, the title of this thread gives me the sads every time I see it pop up in New Posts.

I am happy for the little kitteh, however.

Our cats aren't the best of friends in public, but I get the feeling that they're hiding some sort of romance while we're not paying attention.

Best of luck!