I brought home a kitten today

[spinbaby]

A woman at work was giving her away. She's small for her 8 weeks, reeks of flea powder, and has a little pot belly. She's been huddled in a corner with a towel since she's come home. I have a bad feeling about her health--calling the vet first thing in the morning. She's a gray tabby and her name is Ruby.

[musette_sf]

1. please try and rinse/towel off the flea powder

it is poisonous, and a kitty that young is at much more risk than the full-grown animals it is intended for.

if you can, get some goat milk and see if she will take it. she's old enough to not need a bottle, but sounds like she could use to get some easily-digestible nutrition.

and good on you for bringing her home. i'm sure many other Loungers who are owned by cats will weigh in with advice.

[spinbaby]

2. I'll give her a good wipe down when she wakes up

The only thing we really have in the house for her to eat is Fancy Feast. That will have to do till we get kitten food in the morning. Right now I'm just going to let her crash and rest up.

[musette_sf]

5. Fancy Feast is good

to help a kitty who needs to eat. it's got all the requisite stinkiness to make kitties who don't feel well, decide to eat anyway.

do try the goat milk if she needs a boost. it's very digestible for kittens, and it's often recommended as an alternative to the ever-popular KMR when fostering newborns. she's big enough to eat regular food, but a little extra nutrition never hurts. my guys LOVED their goat milk long into semi-big-cat-ness.

[greenbriar]

3. This thread is useless without pictures

Ruby needs to be seen

[ThomCat]

4. I hope she's okay.

:(

Let us know how it goes with the vet.

[Wcross]

6. I wouldn't worry too much but DO see the Vet.

Let the doctor look at her, probably needs her first shots & a deworming anyways. You probably want to give her a bath & start her on frontline or something similar. This is a picture of my cat "Flea Taxi" the day I found him. Didn't look very happy at the time but he survived & thrived. Don't get overly concerned tonight, she is probably fine.

[spinbaby]

8. Hey, your little "Flea Taxi" looks like our Ruby

I can't find her this morning. She's GOT to be somewhere in the bathroom or bedroom, but she's nowhere to be found. I left her with food, water, and kitty litter and came to work. At lunch I'll go back to see if she made an appearance.

[stuntcat]

10. you have to come back and update on her!!!

Pleeeeaase. I hope she's just napping somewhere.
Little kittens are so sensitive, it seems like they can go uphill or downhill healthwise so fast.

[meow2u3]

14. My cat's name is Ruby, too!

Welcome to the Ruby's Mommy club.

[GreenPartyVoter]

15. Has she shown up yet?

[Arugula Latte]

17. Mine sometimes climb up into the "hammocks" under the box springs.

She might be under your bed and sort of "up" in it, too.

Hope you find her soon! Thanks for adopting her and taking care of her. :hi:

[Wcross]

21. Mine do that too!

They have torn the bottom out of the box springs & made sleeping hammocks.

[Arugula Latte]

22. My mom's kitty does that, too.

They must be passing around a secret kitty handbook, or something. :)

[stuntcat]

9. wrong place

oops

[pokerfan]

7. And today was Adopt a Pet Day!

The 140th anniversary of the founding of the ASPCA:

http://aspcacommunity.ning.com/group/april10isaspcaday">

[nuxvomica]

11. The pot belly probably means she has worms

She may behave sickly as a result but it's easy enough for the vet to cure. Please post back after her vet check.

[LynneSin]

12. CORRECTION: You did not bring home a kitten, no one brings home a kitten....

...A kitten deemed you worthy enough to take care of said kitten for it's lifetime. You have now turned your life and your home over to said kitten.

One does not adopt kittens they are adopted by kittens and you were chosen!

I should know - 2 kittens have adopted me! When I bought my house, it wasn't for me it was for my cats to have more room to play.

[meow2u3]

13. Congrats on your little Ruby!

Any pics? We must have pictures!

[Dangerously Amused]

16. Congratulations to you & little Ruby!

Best wishes for many warm and happy snuggly days ahead.

Please update after vet visit.

[Orsino]

18. Eight weeks is just old enough to leave mommy...

...so don't worry too much about her huddling in one spot. I think that's typical behavior for a new and very young arrival. Good job taking her to the vet immediately; she should get a complete check-up first thing.

Congratulations!

[DS1]

19. yay! You didn't call it a kitteh!

[applegrove]

20. You defied the picture rule. All threads containing the word "I have - kitten"

must include a pic. LOL!

[Brigid]

23. Reeks of flea powder?

Uh, oh. I think a kitten only eight weeks old is too young for flea powder. And the pot belly? Possibly worms. Yes, she needs to see a vet right away. Kudos to you for giving her a new home. :hug: