cute little snake food

Bry · #1 (**permalink**) 11-23-2004, 02:01 PM

I just got a new kitten a couple days ago. A friend of mine found it near the road and gave it to me. Due to where it was found, in a very small town all the way out near Kansas, I bet it was born to one of the local barn cats at the nearby farms and gotten lost. As far as I can tell, it is male, and I haven't decided on a name yet. Seems pretty frisky and rather friendly, but also a little scared of all the big things around here. It appears to be about 8 weeks old and seems healthy to me.

Odie isn't quite sure what to make of him. Don't let the kitten's cute, innocent exterior fool you. He may be small, but he's tough as nails. They are learning that the other cat is okay to play with, but that kitten has been giving threat poses, although at the last second before it gets ready to attack, it realizes how much smaller it is, and runs and hides. Odie has shown no aggressive behavior at all, and both have just barely started playing with each other. So I'm sure the two of them will be fine as they get used to each other. It's pretty funny to see a big adult cat be intimidated by an 8 week old kitten. Anyway, here are the pics.

reptilemama · #2 (**permalink**) 11-23-2004, 02:04 PM

Very cute! Just curious, has he been to the vet yet? Make sure you get him tested for feline leukemia. You wouldn't want him to pass anything to Odie. (Geez, can you tell I'm a vet tech? Don't mean to lecture.

)

JuliusSqueezer · #3 (**permalink**) 11-23-2004, 03:46 PM

Cute!

feline leukemia is a scary possibility

dermatophytosis (ringworm) is THE most common feline skin disease and I would always assume it's presence in a "wildcaught" kitten or any new kitten that hasn't yet been checked out until you get it ruled out by a vet.

You can also count on at least one of these...maybe more: roundworms, pinworms, tapeworm, hookworms

All of these things are highly contageous to both odie and yourself (f. leukemia only contageous to odie as far as I know). Quarantining a cat is hard to do. We had to do it with Patches (adopted from a reputable rescue) because she had ringworm while Lola (Wildcaught in the bushes at Rhodes Furniture) had pinworms. Poor Patches got to spend nearly 2 months in a spare bedroom while being treated until she was clear.

BWSmith · #4 (**permalink**) 11-23-2004, 04:35 PM

Quote:

a "wildcaught" kitten

Bry · #5 (**permalink**) 11-23-2004, 05:06 PM

Alright thanks. I never thought about the parasites and FIV. I already have his first appointment set up for shots, I will have them do the tests then. Also, I was told that it's not likely the kitten was born to barn cats. Apparently, if he were feral, he would not be friendly at all. He would be scared and hiding all the time and defecating everywhere. He seems to know how to use a litterbox. So maybe he was actually born to house cats. Either way, I'll get him checked out.

Bry

BWSmith · #6 (**permalink**) 11-23-2004, 05:15 PM

The kitten I picked up at General Coffee State park was born from Ferels and he was always as sweet and friendly as he could be and learned the litterbox the first day.

JuliusSqueezer · #7 (**permalink**) 11-23-2004, 05:26 PM

Same here with Lola...She was roughly the size of ball of pocket lint when I dove into the shrubbery to catch her. She was very wild and very scared...but went right to the litter box. If you have ever seen the movie "Run Lola Run"...that's where we got the name for her lol.

Reptscue · #8 (**permalink**) 11-24-2004, 01:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reptilemama

Very cute! Just curious, has he been to the vet yet? Make sure you get him tested for feline leukemia. You wouldn't want him to pass anything to Odie. (Geez, can you tell I'm a vet tech? Don't mean to lecture.

)

Ditto.....
FIP, FelV, FIV and parasites can be a possibility. FelV can be passed by just nose touch.
Internal parasites are very common in kittens even if the mother is negative.

Oh and my cats were intimidated by a mouse and ferret.

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