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OT: Found kitten on my doorstep last night

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Posted 10/19/2011 1:17 AM (GMT 0)
This is really off topic but I need some advice. Sorry it's long. When I came home from work last night, there was a kitten sleeping on the welcome mat outside the front door of my 2nd floor apartment. I have no idea if she is someone's lost cat or if she was from a stray, but it seems she's been around people because she came right up to me and slept in my bed with me last night and is really affectionate. She's probably around 2-4 months old. I asked a few of my neighbors and she wasn't theirs. I took her in and gave her food and water and she's still here tonight.

I thought she might belong to the only other upstairs neighbors (we have outside seperate entrances but they're right across from each other) and I rang their doorbell and knocked and they were home but didn't answer the door. I also left a note asking "are you missing a kitten? I found one on my doorstep" that they removed from their door today, but they didn't write me back. It's three Chinese girls and I don't know if they speak English or can read English, but you'd think if they were missing a cat they'd be answering their door or looking for her.

Here's the kicker...I absolutely love cats but I am really allergic. I grew up with cats and took allergy meds and tried allergy drops (like the shots) for three years, and all of that helps a little but I still am sneezy, runny nosey, puffy,  etc. So, she is the most adorable kitten I've ever seen, and I want to keep her but I don't know if I want to feel like crap for the next 15-20 years. I also have enough trouble just taking care of myself most days.

One other interesting thing -- when I found her, the fur on the back of her neck was a little wet and all messy but the rest of her fur was soft and normal. I'm wondering if possibly a mama cat carried her up the steps in her mouth?? Because they're pretty big steps up to my apartment for a kitten. It's all strange.

Post Edited (Sara14) : 10/18/2011 7:32:27 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 10/19/2011 1:26 AM (GMT 0)
Wow! Sounds like she is a gift from heaven.... Are your allergies bothering you since she has been sleeping in your bed? The wet neck does sound odd. I am not sure what advice you are looking for. I love cats and have 2. I wish I could have another. My cats are a real comfort to me when I am lonely or not feeling well.
Posted 10/19/2011 1:27 AM (GMT 0)
That is strange Sara. I hope you can keep her, it sounds like it is meant to be aside from your allergy.
Posted 10/19/2011 1:28 AM (GMT 0)
I don't know. I just am freaking out because I don't know if I should keep her because of my allergies. Yes, they are bothering me even though I took singulair and allegra. I didn't want to let her in my bed but she's too cute to say no to. I feel like she'd be sad. I just wanted to talk to someone so thank you for responding. :)
Posted 10/19/2011 1:33 AM (GMT 0)
I made an appt. with an allergist for this Thursday already so maybe there are some other meds I could try or something. I think I've tried most of them though.
Posted 10/19/2011 1:41 AM (GMT 0)
Maybe a vet might have some suggestions too, as far as the allergies. If you do keep her you should probably take her to the vet and have her up to date on shots, dewormed, etc. I guess you could put up signs that you found a kitten if you wanted to try to find her possible owner. What color is she?
Posted 10/19/2011 1:59 AM (GMT 0)
Calico....white belly, mostly black and brown really pretty pattern on her back. She's loving the toys I bought her.

I put a Craigslist "found kitten" ad up. I may put one in the newspaper as well. I'm going to call a vet tomorrow. Even if I don't keep her, I don't mind paying for shots, etc., for this adorable kitten. I just wish I didn't have to feel sick to keep her.
Posted 10/19/2011 2:02 AM (GMT 0)
I wish you could keep her. It sounds like you are taking good care of her:)
Posted 10/19/2011 6:30 AM (GMT 0)
Hi..maybe see if your doc can put you on Singulair...that might help with your allergies.

You're a perfect cat owner...weird about the wet on her neck. Nice the cat can read!!  smilewinkgrin


Of course, you don't know what shots she's had...maybe a blood test initially?  The vet can check if she has a chip.

was it raining outside last night? 

Hope you keep her..ooo, do we get to give name suggestions? lol
q

Posted 10/19/2011 10:31 AM (GMT 0)
Hey quincy. I'm actually on Singulair for allergies already. I used to take it when I lived at home with cats when younger and I re-started it the other night. It does help control my wheezing pretty well. It's just the runny/stuffy nose and sneezing mostly now. Sudafed helped last night but I don't know if I can take that long-term??

It wasn't raining when I found her, but it started raining later that night so I'm glad I found her when I did! But it definitely wasn't rain on her...it was just a bit moist only on the fur at the back of her neck. And that fur was all messy.

Yes, give name suggestions! So far I've thought of Pumpkin which I like. She's extremely playful but also really well behaved for a kitten. I love her so much...I don't think I can give her away.

I've noticed her using the litter box quite frequently. I hope she doesn't have a UTI or something.

Thanks, beeswax. I love kitties and dogs and would've gotten one long ago if it weren't for these pesky allergies.
Posted 10/19/2011 3:20 PM (GMT 0)
You could wipe her down with something from the pet supply store that could help cut down on the dander...but she'll lick more possibly.

Feeding her good food could help as well as what kind of litter. Yes, she could have a uti...hope they can check with that. But...they do have little bladders, especially if she's eating a lot. Try and feed her both wet and dry in measured amounts, not free feeding .

A nice bath and light blow dry might help get the outside stuff off her..I'm assuming she'll be an indoor cat, so that will help.

Sudafed is more decongestant, maybe that when you need it and taking a low dose allegra or arius or reactine can be of help.

vacuum daily..lol..

Pumpkin is cute.

Keep us posted!
q

Posted 10/19/2011 3:28 PM (GMT 0)
If her neck seemed wet it could have been that someone applies frontline or some other flea med to her. That stays wet looking for a couple days. Just a thought. :) Hope you figure out something for your allergies...sounds like you would be the perfect Mommy for her. :)
Posted 10/19/2011 5:30 PM (GMT 0)
If you do decide to keep the cat...........

1. keep the cat out of your bed
2. if you can, get a HEPA filter to keep air clean
3. ask your vet for Allerpet, a liquid that you can wipe the cat down with (it reduces cat allergens in the air)
4. after petting cat, wash your hands


good luck!
Posted 10/19/2011 8:30 PM (GMT 0)

sherbear46 said...
If her neck seemed wet it could have been that someone applies frontline or some other flea med to her. That stays wet looking for a couple days. Just a thought. :) Hope you figure out something for your allergies...sounds like you would be the perfect Mommy for her. :)

 

Could be, but it's just so strange no one seems to be looking for her. If someone had a cat and cared enough about her to put flea med on her they'd probably be putting an ad in the paper or calling the Humane Society if they lost her. Good thought though; I hadn't thought of that! Thanks.

Posted 10/19/2011 8:36 PM (GMT 0)
I made a vet appointment for tomorrow evening.

Thanks, Michele. I didn't let her in my bedroom last night and she seemed so sad. I felt so bad, but I couldn't sleep with her in there. She tries to lay right next to my face and she was "suckling" on my ear like she was nursing or something...never had a cat do that before.

Thanks, quincy. I just had a really funny image of you blowdrying a cat since you're a hairdresser (even though I don't know what you look like). lol. I'll ask the vet the best way to give her a bath. We tried a few times with our cats growing up but the cats would always freak out so we rarely bathed them. Right now I started on singulair and allegra two nights ago and I've been taking Sudafed at bed. I think the allegra takes a couple days to kick in from what I remember. I go to the allergist tomorrow morning.

Thanks for all the comments and nice advice.
Posted 10/20/2011 8:03 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Sara...looking forward to the update from the vet.

Personally...I'd not advertise anymore about the kitten.
Instead, I'd watch the posters/newspapers, etc to see if anyone's listed her as missing.

I never thought of flea medication regarding the wet area..thanx sher for that info.

Hey, thought of 2 names Hallie (halloween soon), Punkin (Punky) instead of Pumpkin... that Halloween thing again.

Cute about the ear sucking thing...I've heard of that before, but never experienced it with any of my cats.

One thing if you do end up letting her in your bed....vacuum it daily with a hand vac dedicated to only the bed..and keep a blankie specifically for her when she's on the bed so that it can be washed frequently.

q

Posted 10/20/2011 10:55 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks, q!! I was actually thinking of "Punkin" or "Pumpkin.". Punkin sounds a little cuter, maybe. I appreciate all the suggestions from everyone.
Posted 10/20/2011 3:07 PM (GMT 0)

Somebody said...
I didn't let her in my bedroom last night and she seemed so sad. I felt so bad, but I couldn't sleep with her in there. She tries to lay right next to my face and she was "suckling" on my ear like she was nursing or something...never had a cat do that before.

If this is a very young kitten, then she/he is probably suckling because it needs the momma cat. As far as you feeling bad, don't. That's human emotion, not a "cat" emotion. :-)
Posted 10/20/2011 7:28 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks, Michele! :) I think she's probably about 2-3 months old, but I'll know more after the vet tonight.

My new allergist is awesome! They put me on a nasal spray, singulair, allegra and gave me an inhaler. I have to not take the allegra for a week though so they can do skin testing. She said if I get really wheezy during that week she'd call in pred for me!!!! I was like "No, I don't want that!" hahaha.
Posted 10/20/2011 10:19 PM (GMT 0)
I don't think it would be flea meds on the kitten's neck, unless whoever may have owned her was uniformed. A kitten that young should not be given frontline or anything like that. You also would have probably been able to smell it and the fur would not dry normally and quickly but would seem a bit oily.

Let us know what the vet says! Glad your allergist is awesome. I would say no to the pred too!
Posted 10/20/2011 10:37 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks, beeswax!

Just got back from the vet. The kitten did really well! She got shots and the vet said he guesses she's about 12 weeks old. Interestingly, he said he thought the wet stuff on the neck was flea meds but I really am not sure because if she had an owner who cared enough about her to buy flea meds, then why aren't they out looking for her or putting an ad on Craigslist at least?

He said the suckling is because she was weaned from her mom too soon probably.
Posted 10/20/2011 10:42 PM (GMT 0)
A little orphan adopted you, it seems. I hope she'll bring you good luck! Agree with Michelejc, though, that you should keep her away from your bed due to your allergies. I'd say the same if it were a dog, and it may be easier to keep dogs off furniture than cats. Give it a try, anyway. Maybe you can get her interested in a small beanbag or basket. The cat of a friend of mine took over a shiny red beanbag belonging to her son. He would step into it very gingerly, turn in a circle a few times, and then settle himself for a contented nap. It was like a ritual for him! Cats are very interesting animals. Since this newcomer is a calico, you won't have to worry about her getting preggers, either. / Old Hat (30 yrs with left-sided UC; presently in remission taking brandname Colazal)
Posted 10/20/2011 11:33 PM (GMT 0)
Sara -

I hope you can work things out with the allergies. I was thinking the same thing when you said she was wet on the back, that it may be a flea medication but I don't know if people would put that on their pets this time of year, the fleas were bad in august & sept but the cooler temps seem to have killed them off.

Perhaps you should just print up some signs in case her owner is near by. Really if they were a good owner, they would be putting the signs out looking for her. I think pumpkin is a cute name. I always call my little dog pumpkin or pumpy, pumpernickel too, lol.
Posted 10/20/2011 11:54 PM (GMT 0)
Well I guess you can put frontline on kittens at 8 weeks old. I just can not imagine putting those chemicals on a kitten so young. It is strange that no one has been looking for her, at least out calling her name...

I love to sleep with my cat next to me at night; that is when she tends to be the most lovable. However, there are lots of small cat beds you can get that she can crawl into to feel safe, something squishy that is good for kneading. Maybe just make it into a routine of putting her in there before you go to bed at night, with a nice soft toy, of course!
Posted 10/21/2011 1:24 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks guys! Pumpkin's sleeping peacefully on my lap right now. I feel blessed for having her come into my life even though my allergies suck, but hopefully the allergist can help me with that. She's going to start me on the shots soon.

The vet gave her some flea med and said I could put it on her neck in two weeks if I wanted to...so I guess it's safe at the ~12 week mark.

Calicos cant get pregnant, OldHat?
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