Help me, cat lovers.

[Godslayer Jillian]

Today I saw a baby cat, and he was alone, miawing (or however it's said)
A friend of mine tried to pet it, but the baby cat hissed at her, but when I tried to reach him, he allowed me to pet him and even carry him. Obviously I felt infatuated with him within a second.
I saw him all alone, and decided to take him home, but my mother told me to take it back to where I found him, because he's just waiting for his mother and it's just natural for him to be calling her while he's alone.
So I took him back, and I still feel sad. Probably my mother's right and I just wanted to keep it, so I need to know if I'd be doing the wrong thing by keeping the baby cat. So what should I do? Should I take him home if I see him tomorrow? Am I overreacting and he's fine?

[honeythorn]

It depends how old the kitten is. He may still be dependant on his mothers milk. Was he very tiny?

[Breathless Horror]

It depends on how young the cat is. If it's a tiny kitten, there is a fair chance that it will die if it is not taken in by either a person or an older cat. You're not over reacting at all. You're just feeling the standard human emotion of compassion, which simply means you have a good heart. I'd say by all means take the poor thing in if you see it agian.

As Honeythorne said, if he's very very young, he'll still need milk, but I'm sure you can provide that. Cats do, however develop an aversion to milk as they age...or at least mine did.

[honeythorn]

You can buy special kitten formulas and bottles/teats ct. But it is difficult to know the age of the kitten if you just saw him on the street.

[Godslayer Jillian]

He seemed not so young to me. He was a little bigger than my hand. About a hand and a half.

[Breathless Horror]

Still fairly young then. If he was just alone in the street, he was probably abandoned. I'm not quite sure if he'd still be dependant on milk, but you'd be able to look up at what point they no longer need it. My vote is still take the poor thing in!

[Godslayer Jillian]

I left him a plate with milk; it was the most I could do for it right now. Would it be ok to wait to see if it's still there tomorrow or is that too dangerous for the kitten?

[honeythorn]

You could take him to a vet and ask for advice on his age and what to feed him if you take him in. Just say he was dumped outside your house if you don't wish to say you just picked him up off the street. If it were me I would take him in. He sounds like a feral kitten to me.

[honeythorn]

Originally Posted by Godslayer Jillian

I left him a plate with milk; it was the most I could do for it right now. Would it be ok to wait to see if it's still there tomorrow or is that too dangerous for the kitten?

Don't give him milk! Not cows milk. That is really bad for cats in general.

[Breathless Horror]

I think the only danger of leaving it overnight would be that it might wander away, or get attacked by another animal, or hit by a car. All that aside, one night shouldn't be too bad.

[Sir Canvas Corpsey]

I think i'd just as confused as you Jillian, if he's still there next time, take the poor kitten in! In secret if you have to or find someone who will/can take him in.

[MollyMac]

If you can ultimately adopt him, then by all means, take him in. Bu tlook to the future as to whether you can maintain keeping him with college and all.

For food, there is a milk product you can find at PetSamart that is more saound for kittens. Cow's milk will suffice, but is not idea and can give him tummy trouble.

Look also into fostering him for a no-kill shelter. It would seem to be a compromise of your mushy heart and your mother's "no".

[Godslayer Jillian]

So there's no chance that he still has a mother?

[MollyMac]

There is not much chance if you do not see her within the immediate vicinity. Split the difference and feed the kitten for a week. Then take it in.

[Nevan]

I found a kitten like that and decided to keep her - she was only a few weeks old at the time and barely alive. It took two weeks worth of daily visits to the vet to nurture her to health again. (The vet stopped charging me after the fourth or so visit, bless him.)

Today's almost five years down the line since I took her and haven't regretted a single day! She's my best companion. If I were you, I'd take it in.

[Graveyard.Crow]

This is such a cute thread. Take the kitty in.

[korinna5555]

If he still needed milk, his momma wouldn't let him wander. So he probably doen't have a momma, or she left him. Even worse, some bastard dumped him because they didn't want him.
If you see him again, TAKE HIM IN!!!!!!! The lootle baby keekee..

[Underwater Ophelia]

Originally Posted by Godslayer Jillian

So there's no chance that he still has a mother?

There's definitely a chance, but if the cat was just out in the open, it's not likely.
Cats usually have nests in bushes and whatnot--somewhere safe--and a young kitten isn't likely to just wander away from it's brothers and sisters, so if it was found just on the street, it's more likely it's mother peaced out, or something happened to her.

[AngelikDemonik]

I was faced with a situation like yours. Our neighborhood was INFESTED with kittens one year. They were everywhere. We found a little one with an infected eye, took it in for a day, then took it to a no-kill shelter where they could properly treat the poor thing.

If your mother still doesn't want you to have it, take it to a shelter where it can be probably cared for. Like the others have mentioned, make sure it is a NO-KILL POLICY SHELTER.

If you can keep her, take to a vet to gets her vaccinations and have her get spaded (trust me, a cat in heat is one of the worst things ever).

Good luck dear.

I love kitties <3

[Delkaetre]

Pretty much an echo of what's been said above. Take it in if possible, though you may wish to check again with your mother once you've established that it doesn't have a mother of its own- she may change her mind on the whole thing if the kitten definitely doesn't have a family of its own and isn't likely to survive on its own. If she refuses despite the kitten's lack of parent and home, then find a no-kill shelter and ask them to find a new home for it. I wouldn't advertise it in the paper, as shelters tend to check up on the homes of potential adopting families and can be sure that the family will take good care of the kitten- something you may not be able to do.

[Solumina]

awww poor kitty, as others have said it is most likely on its own. I would suggest taking it to the ASPCA as they will help you with anything you need to do if you plan to keep the kitty or they can take it in and put it up for adoption (plus they have a no kill policy)

[Godslayer Jillian]

So, before going to school, I parked near where I found it, and guess what, it was still there, trying to hide in a wooden playhouse.
He recognized me, so I took him with me and left him in a friend's house while I was at school.
Now I have it here at home. I bought some kitty food for him, and I'm going to take him to the vet this weekend that I have some money.
I think the kitty's missing his lower lip. He has a jaw, but it's pretty much bone, it disturbs me to think what happened to him.

[MollyMac]

We love you for it, Jilly-bean!

[Delkaetre]

Poor little creature! I hope he recovers okay.

[honeythorn]

Originally Posted by Godslayer Jillian

I think the kitty's missing his lower lip. He has a jaw, but it's pretty much bone, it disturbs me to think what happened to him.

Awww Perhaps a dog attack or he was hit by a car or something? Poor thing..