Found a kitten outside

I'm pretty sure I know which cat out there is her momma, but I haven't seen her since I found the kitten.

The kitten is VERY young. She let me pick her up... she hissed, but then settled down. Of course I'm not a vet, so I can't be sure how old she is, but I'm thinking 5 or 6 weeks old. She's thin.

I cannot bring her into my home. I have a cat (Millie) w/ asthma, and if the kitten has any communicable diseases, it will put my Millie at risk. I also have 2 other cats and a very small apartment. There's really no room. I cannot provide for more cats than I have right now... it wouldn't be fair to any of the cats.

I'm also thinking there may be more of these kittens.

I'm gonna keep my eyes out, but if I don't see momma soon, I may try to catch the kitten(s) and get them to the MSPCA. I'm thinking that feral kittens CAN be socialized and are highly adoptable--especially if they're healthy.

Their lives would be infinitely better if I can get them to the MSPCA, tested for disease, fixed and hopefully adopted.

I've been calling the MSPCA all morning to get advice, but no one is answering the phone.

Anybody have any ideas? Should I try to catch them now, even though they seem too young? I haven't seem momma... so I'm worried that something has happened to her.

Taking them to the MSPCA is the best thing you can do.

But wear leather gloves. A five-week old kitten really kicked my ass - I mean, totally made me bleed - when I picked her up. I named her Skittles.

Good one Bertha.
:rofl:

She was so wild I was unable to catch her to get her spayed. She wound up having kittens two years ago, and that was my chance. When they were five weeks old, I put one of her kittens into the linen closet in the bathroom, and waited in the bathroom for Skittles to come in. Then I shut the door. After that I handed the kitten out through a crack in the door to Mrs. V. - and it was ON.

Even though the bathroom is small, it took a good five minutes to catch her. I cried the whole time; she was terrified. I wish there were a way to tell an animal what's going on.

All's well that ends well, even though I have an impressive scar on my right forearm.

Skittles lives up to her name. :)

I help with TNR in rural areas and that scenario sounds familiar. I know a few times many of us get exasperated and start lecturing the kitties about how we're trying to help.

I don't think I would have thought of that. Careful with the cat scratches. My FIL got a nasty infection from one.

I'm about to call mine - (Trap,Neuter, Release). Although with most adult feral cats they'll get neutered and released, if the kittens are socialble they will have them adopted out through programs associated with your local Pet Smart & Petco stores. These groups may ask for a small donation to cover the cost of neutering, varies from group to group.

leave a bunch of babies behind. Animal control caught them, but some of them were so wild I am pretty sure they got put down. :(

See if you can't corral them and find someone to take them in, even if only until you can get some help from the MSPCA. I think Wal*Mart has kitten milk for babies who haven't got a momma, but I could be wrong. If not, your vet might.

:kick:

:hug:

:beer:

You can get kitten formula at most any pet store: the brand name is KMR. There's a bottle kit, but if they're 5 or 6 weeks they should be able to drink it straight from a saucer if they're not really weak or anything. At that age I'd just get one can and some wet kitten food, they should be able to transition from kitten milk to wet cat food with a little kitten milk supplementation in a day or three, they're just about old enough to wean anyhow.

edit: If the weather's reasonable you can put them in a hard sided plastic cat carrier with a towel and a food dish and leave it on your porch or some other relatively sheltered place. They're outside already, and outside someplace secure and safe would be better.

Also, look into sending them someplace other than a municipal shelter- the adoption rates for cats, even adorable kittens, are sadly quite low most places.