The First Night with a Feral Kitten

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Welcome back to my new blog and my second post. If you read my first entry I said that I'd follow up on how I helped the feral kitten I rescued from the backyard, and I'm posting it a day earlier than expected. I plan on posting a few times a week, and it may be more often until my site is established. 

Anyway, after bringing Mitsy inside I was able to examine her. Thankfully she wasn't trying to bite me or escape. I quickly retrieved the carrier I used for my shih-tzu and lined it with a towel. I also offered her water, a little wet food, and a small litterbox made from a shallow plastic lunchmeat container. The cage would also keep her safe when I wasn't able to actively watch her. Kittens are like toddlers, and they must be supervised. 

Feral Kitten Likes Her Litterbox
Mitsy My Little Feral

Either Mitsy was at least partially weaned or she was extremely hungry and finished the food. At this point, she seemed to realize that I was a friend. She became relaxed enough to play with a cat dancer toy, and we bonded quickly. 

Separating the Feral Kitten from the Other Cats

My biggest fear, or at least one of my greatest concerns was the health of my older cats. I had brought in a previously homeless kitten and could expose the others to illness and disease. Mitsy looked healthy, but I wouldn't know for certain until the first vet visit. 

That's when I decided it was a good idea to keep her away from the others until she was cleared of communicable diseases. She wasn't kept caged all of the time, but I didn't allow her to eat and drink from common bowls and I didn't allow contact. 

The First Vet Visit for Mitsy

The next major concern I had was the possibility of a deadly disease such as feline leukemia or something equally as devastating. Thankfully Mitsy tested negative for everything, and she received her first shots. 

The vet estimated her age to be four weeks. I thought that I might have to bottle-feed her, but she was able to eat kitten food and drink water without issues. 

Surprisingly, she didn't have worms or fleas. We don't seem to have fleas in our location. In fact, I didn't use flea prevention on my dog, and he never had a problem. 

Soothing a Feral Kitten in a New Home

Another concern was the anxiety that Mitsy must have experienced that first night and subsequent nights until she felt more at home. She was used to her mother and siblings, and somehow she was either abandoned or they became hopelessly separated. 

I wouldn't be able to sleep if I thought she was scared and lonely in the enclosure. All I could do was provide a small stuffed puppy that belonged to my daughter. It would have to work as a stand-in for family, and that it did. She cuddled up against it and fell asleep. 

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Lovingly Returning the Favor

Fast forward to the present, I still have that small stuffed puppy, but it's a little worse for wear. A string hangs off the once perfectly embroidered nose, and it's a bit dirty now. When I leave it downstairs Mitsy carries it upstairs and places it outside of my closed bedroom door as I sleep. She seems to do it most often when she senses my sadness. It feels as if she's caring for me as I once cared for her. 

Best Wishes, 

Kim


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