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Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsFound this kitty meowing loudly behind my house.
It was in the woods a little ways. No mama to be found. There are hawks and foxes around, not to mention feral cats and I suppose this is one of the little ones. I brought it in. It nestled in my arm and stopped meowing. I'm thinking of keeping him (I think it's a male).
My goodness, kitteh is a real cutie.
Looks to be about six weeks or so, do you think so? Any advice on food?
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LisaL
(47,420 posts)He is very cute. You can go to a pet store and buy some wet kitten food.
He will also need a litter box.
He hasn't shown interest in the little bit of wet food I put near him but he's probably just wondering what's going on. I will need to get him a vet visit too I suppose but that's ok.
LisaL
(47,420 posts)calimary
(89,950 posts)Easier to eat for those little baby digestive systems that are just starting out. Sometimes people tuck a ticking clock under a blanket in the corner of whatever little pen or bed or whatever. It seems to be soothing. They think it's Mom's heartbeat.
Lex, you did a very nice thing!
Triana
(22,666 posts)whatever you do, don't feed kitty regular cow's milk - would make him sick.
Wash his little face, eyes, and nose gently with a soft cloth soaked in warm water. The ticking clock isn't a bad idea either! Maybe a cuddly animal he can snuggle up to when you're not there.
What a cutie! Thank you for rescuing that little fella!
tblue37
(68,423 posts)I've never used a clock.
Even when I was married, our cats slept on our bed.
Triana
(22,666 posts)My kittehz sleep w/ me too!
tblue37
(68,423 posts)They don't *have* to cuddle with me, but I do encourage them to. I even keep a couple of toys on the bed to play with them when I wake up, since I don't always want to jump right out if bed.
GreenPartyVoter
(73,393 posts)is harmful to cats.
calimary
(89,950 posts)AikidoSoul
(2,150 posts)and if they're fussy about their food, go to COSTCO and get their great goat or sheep Romano cheese. Grate some on top of the food and it will attract great interest... and most often they will eat the food. Cats don't have much in the way of taste buds, but have great "smellers". That's why they love "stinky" food. Don't give them dry food as a regular thing as it is not good for them, and males end up with severe kidney issues from it.
Hugs to you for taking the little one in.
We had the exact same situation but there were two abandoned in our pole barn. They left looking for their mom and we heard a heart rendering series of screeches which sounded like a wounded bird... but no, it was two freaked out Maine cats, one male and one female. Hovering nearby was a red winged hawk. We got them just in time.
roguevalley
(40,656 posts)tiny 5 week old tuxedo stray and she won't eat anything else even six months later. She won't eat meat or wet stuff unless its buried in gravy and then she will only eat the gravy. I always wonder what their story is and how they made it to you but someone once told me that if you need on they come.
tblue37
(68,423 posts)kitten food, then gradually increasing the ratio of adult to kitten food.
Adult cats' dietary needs differ from those of kittens.
TexasTowelie
(127,243 posts)At that stage he probably will need either a softer kibble or a pate. I hope you treat him well and have a new buddy.
Normally feral kittens would hiss and spit if they haven't been around humans so keep an eye for other kittens in the litter. It's also a time to see if he would like to get that fur brushed.
He has a little hiss when I pick him up, but then snuggles in the crook of my arm and goes to sleep.
savannah43
(575 posts)I have a 14 year old orange feral cat, ironically found in Catskill, NY, on Christmas Eve with her head stuck in an orange juice can who has never let anyone touch her except me. She was about the same age and size of your new friend. I'm the one who feeds her, so apparently that is an advantage. The more you handle them, the more they begin to trust you. Many always remain suspicious of strangers, especially when they first meet them.
Moms start to wean kittens around this age, mainly because their teeth are quite sharp and they need meat more than they need any more milk. Congrats on your new friend.
CurtEastPoint
(20,010 posts)Lex
(34,108 posts)what a cutie he is.
Le Taz Hot
(22,271 posts)You're his now. He needs a name, good kitten food, a litter box and a vet check. And lots of snuggles and loves. And as the poster above stated, look around, there are probably more. Unfortunately, if they're in the woods, they may have fallen prey to predators.
And, btw, squeeeeee!!!!
Keep us posted.
ETA: He's probably too little to use a regular litter box. I've always found an aluminum pie tin with a little litter in it will work until he's old enough to jump into the big boy litter box.
Lex
(34,108 posts)for litter needs at this point. I did look around for any brothers or sisters of his, but saw nothing. I'm going to look again too.
dixiegrrrrl
(60,157 posts)We have lots of feral cats around here and I foster the young kittens when Animal Control finds them.
I use a cat carrier, put a large soft towel in it, and a soft teddy bear type stuffed animal. The kittens always curl up to the teddy bear at night.
I cover the carrier with another towel at night, after their last meal, to avoid drafts.
They do a good job of going right to sleep.
I put food outside the carrier, and a small litter box, and watch as they eat.
The minute they are done eating, esp. first thing in the am, they start looking for the potty place, so I put them gently in the litter and sorta scratch the litter a bit in front of them.
They almost always squat and do their duty.
My favorite foster kitten is 12 years old now, he adopted me.
Lex
(34,108 posts)the stuff animal -- definitely going to do that. He has now eaten a few little softened Iams kitten kibbles.
AikidoSoul
(2,150 posts)chemicals and perfumes. And.... it's a LOT cheaper. We get it at our local Lowes.
Arugula Latte
(50,566 posts)I'm so glad you took him in and saved his life!
I wouldn't be surprised if he has fleas and/or worms and/or earmites -- those are very common. At least they're pretty easily treated. Hope he doesn't though.
Lex
(34,108 posts)In addition to the other more common things. It looks like his feral (I'm guessing feral) mother took good care of him.
glinda
(14,807 posts)He is beautiful!!!!!! Congratulations and good going! I recommend only higher end foods personally if you can get them such as Honest Kitchen, Sojos, etc.....plenty of moisture to keep those kidneys good as long as possible.
demigoddess
(6,675 posts)little kitties like that are craving love and really need all the cuddling they can get. That way he will feel safe and loved. Like with a human baby.
TBF
(36,589 posts)you need a vet visit, litter box, kitten food, and some little balls for him to play with. Have fun!
stage left
(3,300 posts)I'm a sucker for the orange guys.
smallcat88
(426 posts)When my cat had kittens in '08 I had trouble getting them onto solid food so I tried human food. Cut up little bits of chicken, beef or ham into very small bite size pieces. Only did that twice and they quickly transitioned to cat food (kitten chow). Of course, they still had their mother around for regular nursing (not an option for you unfortunately).
One nice trick for litter box training: After kitty eats or drinks watch closely for at least half and hour since he's likely to look for a place to go soon after eating. Take him to the box and lift his tail, use a slightly damp paper towel or cloth to wipe his behind to stimulate him to go. Mother cats lick their kittens rear ends to accomplish the same thing. This is a good way for a human to imitate what mom does. I easily and quickly litter trained all the kittens within a matter of a day or two using this trick. Just make sure to keep the box clean or he'll quickly find somewhere else to go!
BTW - I'm a cat lady if you couldn't tell.
Lex
(34,108 posts)I had a pet kitty years and years ago so I'm brushing up on my kitty skills. I need all the refresher pointers I can get.
LittleGirl
(8,999 posts)I didn't know that and will keep that in mind if I get a kitten that isn't trained yet. My last kitty was already trained in a litter box when I got here. Never had any accidents either.
magical thyme
(14,881 posts)to become the proud slave to a cute little kitteh!
KT2000
(22,137 posts)He also has the "M" on his forehead which means something that I forget.
Lots of good advice already so I will just say - Congrats!!
Looked it up and there are several legends of the M.
Mohammed rested his hand on the head of his favorite cat.
Virgin Mary gave the cat the M so everyone would know the cat kept Jesus warm in the manger.
and more....
usually means Maine Coon. Or at least a little Maine Coon in his ancestry.
KT2000
(22,137 posts)with a couple of the legends - one is that Virgin Mary made the M so everyone would know that the cat kept Jesus warm in the manger.
Another is that Mohammed rested his hand on his favorite cat's head.
There is another one from India about the kingdom of heaven.
The Maine Coon thing is probably more accurate though.
smallcat88
(426 posts)but all could be true. Different societies always come up with imaginative stories for stuff like this. But I heard the Maine Coon story on Animal Planet, on a couple of different programs. One about cat breeds and an episode of Too Cute that covered a litter of Maine Coons.
MrsMatt
(1,666 posts)So I don't think it is exclusive to Maine Coons.
GoCubsGo
(34,890 posts)It's a coat color thing, rather than a breed thing. It doesn't matter if the tabby cat is a Maine Coon or your run-of-the-mill alley cat.
TexasProgresive
(12,729 posts)means the cat is a tabby.
hamsterjill
(17,562 posts)Legend has it that the baby Jesus was crying and Mary couldn't get him to stop. The cat came close to the manger and started purring and the baby slept. To show her thanks she bestowed the "M" mark.
Whether someone is a believer or not, I think it's a sweet story.
SoapBox
(18,791 posts)For helping out another soul that was in need.
LaurenG
(24,841 posts)You could take him to the petsmart clinic. Such a cute little love!
eShirl
(20,229 posts)whenever that is...
Male orange cats are the sweetest, and they just get even sweeter with age.
tblue37
(68,423 posts)sexually mature a few days shy of 5 months. I took him in for neutering when that became obvious. They start spraying if you wait too long, and once that starts, it doesn't usually ever get completely cured!
When I took my precocious boy cat in for neutering, the vet was a bit surprised, but after checking him out, he agreed that it was time to get it done.
Paper Roses
(7,630 posts)dem in texas
(2,681 posts)We live at the edge of a wood and there are a lot of feline cats around. I had one house cat, Princess, that I'd let go outside and another cat, Polly that was given to me by my ex-daughter-in-law who was an indoor cat only. This cat loved to sit on top of my computer monitor (the old bulky find). I would have to move her tail, because it would twitch across the screen. I was very fond of her. We fed the feral cats and one was sick, we took it to vet and she said it had leukemia and we had to have it put down. Our inside/outside cat had all her shots. I called my ex-daughter in law and she said she'd never gotten a leukemia shot for Polly. My husband took Polly to the vet and I was heartbroken when he came in with the cat carrier empty. Polly had leukemia and had to be put down, too. The vet said our other cat probably carried in the house and she told me to not get another cat for 6 months or so. After that, I always made sure that my cats had their shots as soon as I got them. We still have feral cats out in the woods and we still feed them If I we tame them enough, we will take them to the vet. I have one that we did tame, she showed up as a little kitten just like yours and now she is my fat calico sitting in the window watching me as I type. My husband has a favorite, a black and white tom who is very skittish and won't come near us. Hubby puts food out in the morning and the tom is sitting in the ivy waiting for hubby to go back inside so he can come eat.
Lex
(34,108 posts)last fall and I have seen a couple of feral cats, off and on. I may have even seen the mama of this baby. I've also seen a gray fox just at the edge of dark one night, several possums, a fat raccoon that likes climb the tree to take down my bird feeders at night (until I figured out how to use twine to keep him from doing that), an enormous blue heron that feeds at the stream and sometime flies across the backyard (the wingspan is huge), and I even saw a large copperhead snake scoot across the back at the wood line. I let him be. There's a hawk that likes to occasionally swoop down near my bird feeder and tries to nab the slow doves that feed on the seed in the grass--I've never seen him succeed. At night I can hear an owl calling out but I've never seen it. And about a dozen squirrels, some gray and some more reddish in color. They annoy the birds trying to feed, but mostly they get along ok.
dem in texas
(2,681 posts)That is one reason we feed the feral cats, they are good about keeping the rats and snakes away. We live in a hilly limestone rock area and the rocks are full of snakes of all kinds, mostly grass snakes and blue racers. But we have seen chicken snakes and copperheads. Foxes and bob cats, even saw a road runner one time.
salib
(2,116 posts)Get that cat checked out now.
I had two similar experiences. The first one, we thought the cat was pregnant (female, large tummy). However, not hungry. Since she looked pregnant we (fortunately) took her to the vet right away. It was peritonitis and contagious. Very fortunate not to have infected our other cat.
Adopted a six toe cat (like the Hemingway cats) and did not have her checked out right away. She was incredibly smart. Also, had a strange habit of watching jets streak across the sky outside. Anyway, she began to show a number of ill effects all at puberty. Again, turns out she apparently had some severe glandular issues. Her kidneys were not functioning properly. Her liver was not either. And she could not regulate her temperature. We kept her from shivering that night after seeing the vet by using a hair dryer frequently. Having her checked out earlier would not probably have made much difference. But, you should really do it and as soon as possible.
GreenPartyVoter
(73,393 posts)clean bill of health.
Rozlee
(2,529 posts)My daughter found a little six week old white kitten wandering in the cold on New Years Day. The temperatures were below freezing and she had frostbite on her ears. The vet trimmed them and they're tiny and round now. People always ask her what breed of cat she is because they've never seen one with short round ears before.
Skittles
(171,620 posts)I bet that little chap has you wrapped big time (omg that expression)
Divernan
(15,480 posts)I adopted a stray, young adult ginger tom last fall (from the woods behind my house whence ALL my adopted strays originate. He has proved a very affectionate addition to the household.
But it turns out being ginger is actually quite cool - for cats.
New research shows ginger moggies are cat owners favourites, because they are perceived as friendly and lovable.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2228428/Ginger-cats-felines-tabbies-temperamental.html#ixzz32fbtRmi2
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
And a cute Brit article about Ginger Toms:
Stray ginger cats: the pros and cons of taking one inhttp://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2013/oct/10/stray-ginger-cats-pros-cons
Over the past few years a succession of feral gingers have turned up on my door, from Mike 'The Wino' to moon-faced Graham
Let the ginger one in: if one turns up on your door, they could bring sunniness to your life.
It was six or seven years ago that I first witnessed a ginger cat break into my house. His name was Samson and, while "cat" was one description you might have applied to him, another, arguably more accurate one was "ginger beach ball that just happened to have a cat's head on top". Having established his identity, and that he belonged to Ruby, a lady in her 80s who lived across the road, the two of us became friends: me allowing him to steal my cats' biscuits, him allowing me to stroke him while staring up at me in a beatific, stoned kind of way. Had he been able to speak, I sense the vast majority of his sentences would have ended in the word "dude".
When Ruby died in 2009, a friend of a friend who lived several miles away adopted Samson. A strict diet followed, which, in the photos I saw, left Samson looking less like a beach ball and more like a smaller cat wearing a baggy ginger jumper. While he had been around, I had moaned a little about my extra cat food bills and feared for my armchairs and sofa Ruby's were so violently clawed, you would be forgiven for thinking they had been slashed open in a police drugs raid but in the year or two after he'd gone I missed him a lot. I had four cats of my own then, after my large fluffy and intellectually challenged mancat Janet died in the winter of 2011, just three. All of whom, being either black or tabby, were either troubled and intellectual or troubled and narcissistic. I missed the "live in the moment" sunniness that you tended to get with ginger cats: their Buddhist approach to life's many stumbling blocks.
Lex
(34,108 posts)He seems like a sunny little guy. Still a bit aloof but his surroundings have changed. One thing a vet told me years ago is if a prospective dog or cat adoptee will look at you in the face they may be more sociable than ones who look everywhere else but at your face. (Not in a challenging way, but will just engage with your face, if that makes sense.)
TexasProgresive
(12,729 posts)Happy kitty,
Sleepy kitty,
Purr Purr Purr
Lex
(34,108 posts)WhiteTara
(31,258 posts)What a sweet bundle of fluff.
Canned cat food and kibbles and always a bowl of fresh water.
GreenPartyVoter
(73,393 posts)Regret it. I believe it to be divine intervention. You were meant to take care of this poor orphan.
Flaxbee
(13,661 posts)Does not mean Maine Coon. Though some Maine Coons are tabbies.
If you ever do feed your cat baby food (sometimes helpful if they're very young or very old or under the weather) make sure there is NO ONION in it... bad for cats. Bad.
We have two female orange tabbies. More often than not they're male, but don't be surprised if you have a sweet little girl kitty ...
S/he is adorable; I hope you have just found your best friend.
Spitfire of ATJ
(32,723 posts)mgcgulfcoast
(1,127 posts)im glad it has a good home.
aquart
(69,014 posts)Kittens need Mom for that but you can do it with a few quick flicks of a damp finger to the appropriate orifice. He doesn't seem too distressed so it probably won't be necessary.
Yep. Off to the vet.
840high
(17,196 posts)a little water. Get a litter box. Small one.
niyad
(132,230 posts)all the advice you have gotten is good--baby food, clock, blanket, toys, pie pan for litter box, and. . what you are clearly already doing--LOTS of love. many happy years to you both.
Hun Joro
(666 posts)He looked much like yours, longish hair, but blue-grey. About the same age. He was starving, filthy and covered with fleas, but I bathed him and took care of his other issues and he's been my best buddy ever since. I wish the same for you and your new fuzzball.
Solly Mack
(96,923 posts)I'd call him RouLou. (for red Lou)
Even if it is a girl...RouLou
NutmegYankee
(16,477 posts)Step 1 is a visit to the vet. He may very likely have intestinal worms, ear mites, and fleas. The vet has medicine for all three that will greatly help with growth and general health. Get a test for feline HIV. Don't worry, it's not dangerous to you, but a cat with it will need a little more care to stay healthy.
BrotherIvan
(9,126 posts)He is definitely part maine coon. The fluff coming out of his ears is a dead giveaway. We have two stray maine coons and they are the most lovable cats. They trill instead of meow when they want to play. The older one who was a feral outside for at least three weeks took a while to be less skittish. The smaller one can't get enough love from anyone.
He'll probably grow up to look like this

Hope he has a new forever home!
Brigid
(17,621 posts)But watch out on the baby foods. Some contain onion powder, and I've heard it can be toxic to cats. Ask a vet.
ETA: It's true. Skip the baby food.
http://www.catbehaviorassociates.com/nine-foods-you-shouldnt-feed-your-cat/
padruig
(134 posts)take your new familiar to a vet immediately - cats that have spent time with feral populations can pick up a host of diseases which if treated early can be resolved easily
find a good vet who specializes in cats
Festivito
(13,879 posts)He'll lick it off, then eating will be natural.
Milk, cottage cheese, baby food until ready for kitten chow. Don't get the cheap stuff just yet.
Iwillnevergiveup
(9,298 posts)Good for you, Lex....he's a beauty. I've had 2 orange and white males over the years show up at my place. The first one was a tiny feral all the way...I'd have to leave food and water out for him and walk away for a couple of weeks. Then I'd remain kind of nearby and talk to him. Another 2 weeks he was in the house and became very affectionate. He's now 11. My other one, more fully grown, but still young, would appear every now and then, but he finally came inside, too. Getting him neutered made all the difference. He stays very close by and has discovered the joys of being regularly fed and choices of nice, soft spaces to sleep.
You've gotten lots of good advice here, but I have an awesome toy recommendation for you. It's a plastic ring with a ball inside. He can stick his paws inside and knock the ball around and around. I got one with a flying mouse attached with a spring that both of my boys love. They attack it, roll over with it, and never, never lose the ball. Worth it's weight in gold.
Congratulations on your new family member - you're in for years of fun and games.
tofuandbeer
(1,314 posts)JNelson6563
(28,151 posts)Omg, do want!
.
obxhead
(8,434 posts)He was older 1 to 2 years. He's my buddy now. Follows me around the house wherever I go. Hell, he's at the door meowing his butt off by Tue time I get to it, he hears the car pull into the drive.
I couldn't ask for a better friend. Sometimes he becomes just too much, demanding to sleep in my face, but I'm grateful. He's a good cat and companion.
Congrats on the new family member.
trueblue2007
(19,238 posts)Lex
(34,108 posts)For anyone wanting an update, here goes. He's a boy, and his name is now "Nemo." He's so sweet and cuddly. The first day he ate water softened kitten kibbles, a little salmon in tiny bits, and drank some warm "lactaid" milk. Now he's drinking water out of a saucer and can eat dry kitten kibbles without them being softened, but he got some tiny pieces of chicken today too. I have a starter litter pan but he hasn't caught on to that yet but I'm working on that with him. He also has the best purrs.
I've combed his fur and cleaned his nose and eyes. Don't see any fleas, but I will get him to a vet this week to get checked out for everything. Here are 2 more pictures--one a Big Yawn, the other a "Buddha Kitty" peaceful rest:
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marzipanni
(6,012 posts)and the yawn made me LOL- looks like he's practicing the Yoga lion pose.
Lex
(34,108 posts)I caught him in mid-yawn like. He's a real sweetie.
Arugula Latte
(50,566 posts)I think he's gonna be a big boy -- look at those paws!
myrna minx
(22,772 posts)Le Taz Hot
(22,271 posts)I'm so glad you added updates. As for the litter box problem, some cats just instinctively know what to do, others, not so much. I find it helps if I sort of do the scratching and let him watch. If you see him about to do his business somewhere he's not supposed to, try to pick him up and put him in the litter box and scratch the litter. Eventually he'll get the hint.
LisaL
(47,420 posts)Sweet Freedom
(4,065 posts)What a cutie pie. He looks like he's quite content with his choice of humans.
Baitball Blogger
(52,301 posts)heaven05
(18,124 posts)nutrients for brain and body development. Not cat, kitten food.
MadrasT
(7,237 posts)Much good advice in this thread so just
SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEE
from me.
AnneD
(15,774 posts)probably just scared. Give it water. He is maybe more thirsty. Warm moist wash cloth on the tummy can stimulate peristalsis in GI tract thus stimulate appetite. That is why mom cats are always licking babes-besides grooming.