I found a kitty - HELP!

[Ann]

Yesterday when I got off school I found a kitty. It was raining, and there was a little black thing lying close to my bike, giving off whimpering sounds. I picked it up and discovered it was a kitty. I tucked it under my jacked and biked home the fastest I could and then buried it under tons of blankets and stuff. S/he was very apathic at first but today she seems to be better...

I am supposed to be in school now actually but I went home to be with her/him. The problem is that my parents are furious and don't want me to keep her/him. To top it off s/he has a lot of fleas and other insects on her (I did find her on the dirty ground near bushes). So I just bought some expensive flea shampoo along with a pair of protective gloves that the instructions said to use. So what do you people think; should I bathe her/him?? I think s/he has a cold cause there were some light-greenish goo around her eyes this morning (and there was some when I found her too, but all dried though). Give me some input please... My parents and I got in a huge fight over the kitty already but I don't have the time to talk about it all here... They put her in a little box out in the washing room where s/he is all alone, just because she has fleas. So I figured that if I bathe her with that shampoo the fleas will go away and I can have her in my room, but I'm scared of worsening her cold! Please let me know what you think...

I'm looking for an apartment too heh... I'm not gonna give up on this lil kitty, I'd rather move out before doing that.

I'll try to post more about this later and let you know what's going on. I know I haven't been at Pet Talk in ages but that was honestly not my own choice. I hope you all have been good, I missed you guys.

P.S. I know I should be taking her/him to a vet, I know that very damn well. But I don't have a car nor a driver's license and even if I could get to the vet somehow I don't have money to pay for it (my last money went to buying that shampoo).

Oh Ann , what a difficult situation ....! Of course , a vet's advise would be the best , but as you cannot afford it , I would try that shampoo . But , have you any idea of that kitten's age ? Some products are NOT to be used on very young cats ; my vet used a spray for my youngest kitten Inka . I have her since one week ; she was found too and had fleas as well . They all have dissapeared now !
Wash your kitten very carefully (in luke-warm water) , and be sure to do this in a warm area ; be sure also that NONE of the shampoo gets in her eyes !!
Also get her dry as good and as soon as possible !
Good luck Ann , youare so sweet to take care of that lil one !
Let me know how it goes , okay ?

ps. you can read all about the changes in my fur-family on my brandnew website !

[Ann]

Thanks Lut! Your Inka is sooooooooo adorable (I see her pics in your signature)!! I'll check out your site too!

I don't know how old the kitty is, but s/he has teeth and is bigger than my hand and got colored eyes (as in not baby-blue). I have fed her/him real food and s/he eats that like crazy. Which brings me to my next worry: S/he hasn't peed or pooped yet!!!! Could something be wrong? How can I help her/him do those things??

As a matter of fact, at the store they had flea spray as well, but I thought the shampoo would be better... Now I regret that! Maybe I should have gotten the spray instead...

cannot you go back and ask to get the spray instead ?It is worth the try !!
It sounds like your kitten could wear a flea-collar ! helps a lot too : it is for kittens , starting from 5 months .

[Ann]

Ok, I just called the vets... I barely even mentioned that s/he might have a cold, and they still said I shouldn't bathe her/him but get the spray... So I'm gonna wait til my boyfriend (who's on my side) comes home and get some money from him and then go down to town and buy some spray instead.

Aside from my previous questions, does anyone have any suggestions on what I can do about my parents? I can't bear to loose this little kitty... I just can't. And I mean, I remember what happened to the foster kitties we took care of before so I don't trust that at all either...

[Miss Meow]

Hi Ann

Definitely beg or borrow from your boyfriend (that's what friends are for ) and see the vet re the eye infection. Might be an eye problem, or a respiratory infection, poor little thing.

We don't have the spray over here so I can't comment. But flea collars and shampoos usually only kill fleas that are on the cat. You may also need a treatment that kills baby fleas if any adults have escaped into the carpets or floorboards and start breeding. (Fleas can live up to two years in floors without food - erk.)

He/she might simply be starving and dehydrated and hasn't consumed enough excess to need the toilet yet. Again, the vet will have a better idea.

Hopefully your parents will relax a bit once the kitten is looking better. Fingers crossed. Good luck.

[Karen]

Yes, I would be very careful about handling her, or letting her too near Oliver until she's been checked by a vet or a clinic - fleas in HIS fur would be a disaster - so hard to find! So good for her that you found her, plenty of liquids are important, as someone mentioned dehydration ... I'd return the shampoo, get the spray, but the green goo sounds like infection in her eyes (don't want Ollie-boy getting that either - so she should see a vet soon. (Wash your hands after playing with her before touching Oliver).

Perhaps you can tell your parents that it's temporary, and if she gets healthy you'll find her a new home. Then, if they fall in love with her while you are getting her healthy, she might get to stay anyway!

Good luck and keep us posted!

[Edwina's Secretary]

Ann....I'm so glad you are back. I have missed you.

I haven't much to add I'm sorry to say. Is there an animal rescue group you can call for advise on this kitty? They might even be able to help you treat her for the fleas and the eye. You might even be able to email questions to one if the phone calls are too expensive.

I be eagerly watching for progress reports....

As for your parents...I agree with Karen...they will probably come around when she's less buggy!

[Chinadoll]

Oh my...that poor kitty! I don't know what to tell you about your parents other than if their is objection is fleas, tell them that you are taking care of the flea problem and the kitty will be flea free very soon.

This reminds me of when I found Scout. He was a tad dehydrated and malnurished. I syringe fed him food and water and he still didn't potty. It took about a day for him to urinate and and it was about a day and a half from when I took him in that he pooped. I was so frantic at that point. If he didn't potty by the time I was home from work, he was going to the vet. I didn't care where he went(although he did decide to go on my nice wool throw rug :P )as long as he went potty. I'm sure once your kitty has enough food and water in her that she'll potty. If she doesn't within a reasonable amount of time and she starts vomitting, she may have some sort of blockage and needs to go to a vet. Could she have gone potty somewhere you haven't seen? If she's still ill (cold and her eye), perhaps there's a vet that will let you work out payment?

Good Luck with her and with finding your own place. I moved into my own apartment this past July and it is so nice not to have anyone nag me about my pets. Even though I took complete financial responsibilty for their care as well as completely saw to all their needs...I was still nagged about them. Good Luck.

[Kirsten]

What a complicated situation, too bad that your parents are against that little poor kitty!

I agree with those who said spray might not be enough. Here in Germany, we have a treatment against fleas, called Advantage. It's available at the vet's and it's not that expensive. And her cold has to be treated, too!!

Can't your boyfriend help you out with the vet costs? Maybe the kitten can even stay with him or another friend of yours until you can move into your own place and keep it yourself. If not, I think Edwina's Secretary's advice about the rescue group is a good option. But I wish your parents will eventually reconsider!

Please keep us updated!

Kirsten

[toughCookie]

if you have read any of my recent posts, then you know about Patches, and the others. the green goop in the eyes you mentioned worries me, that means there is probably infection.
be very careful about letting the kitten near Oliver! the kitten could have a virus of some kind.

when I got my Lucy, she was covered in fleas, I bathed her in the bathroom sink, and had to do it again the next day, then the fleas were gone. she was just 9 weeks old then, that was 20 years ago, I didn't know anything about cats then, but it worked out fine.
the kitten will need shots, and to be tested for disease/viruses.
glad to hear you have got another bike
good luck with the kitty, keep us updated

also-- you might want to ask how much the blood test costs, but don't let the vet assume it is just upper respiratoy, thats what they thought about Patches...long story!

as far as keeping the kitty, well you have cared for Oliver well haven't you? ask them to consider keeping the kitty separate from Oliver, and for a trial period, say a couple weeks, then after that long, if they think you are not caring for it then you give it to someone. maybe posters at school? ((of course, they will probably get attached to the sweet kitty in that time and then won't want to give it away))

[anna_66]

Oh Ann, what a difficult thing for you at this time. I don't know very much about kitties, but I hope you can at least get the fleas off & get s/he to the vets. Hopefully your parents will come around to the little sweetheart if it isn't sick. Crossing our fingers & paws for you!

[toughCookie]

maybe you can post a pic after you take care of the kitty?

[Nomilynn]

I was thinking you might be able to consult with a rescue group too. Also, some clerks in come pet stores are fairly well educated about what types of shampoos and products are good for certain problems. Maybe someone at the pet supply store could help you out with that too?

I really hope it all works out for you though.. it sounds like this kitten has fallen into the right hands!

[krazyaboutkatz]

Ann, everyone here has given you very good advice so all I have to say is good luck and I hope that your parents come around and let you keep him. Please keep us posted.