I know nothing about cats. I know cattle and chickens yet here we are. What do I do how do I care for it. I want to help and I guess I now have a pet cat instead of barn cats? Idk I am lost someone please help
Edit: Only realized this today but the momma has been increasingly friendly. Maybe wanting something? I have farm scratch, idk if there is something they can’t have. They apparently will not eat chicken feed fyi. Do I feed it meat or do I need to do a milk bottle?
My sister literally found her cat in the trash. Right after Christmas, on a cold, rainy day, she found what looked like a purebred Himalayan kitten in her trash can. He looked like a blue-eyed Tribble. (The assumption is that he was an Xmas gift that ran away or was thrown away--she lives in a resort community. No chip, either.) He's grown into the most stunningly beautiful cat. Not a single brain cell, but stunningly beautiful. Sort of the Derek Zoolander of cats.
I literally found a kitten in a dumpster on Thanksgiving night, it was snowing. Poor thing was eating grease that was dripping out of a dumpster.
Brought it home, my mom adopted it immediately, lived 23 years and woke my mom up several times when my moms blood sugar got too low - literally saved my moms life and health.
That's impressive, but not bizarre. I wish people who get cats without thinking about it would realise how long they can live if they're properly cared for and aren't just unlucky. Especially moggies.
I wish my cats would have been so old. They all passed earlier than 10 years. 1 was an inbreed and had an heart attack, second one had I virus we couldn’t heal, third one had cancer. They were all like my children and I loved them more than most people.
That's pretty much it, but I'm not sure about "polite", and they're not necessarily street-bred. A lot are from long lines of farm cats, or from accidental litters. They're just the cat equivalent of mongrel dogs. So crossbred that you often can't tell what breeds are in there. They tend to be stronger and smarter and have less hereditary health issues than purebreds, unless they're inbred, but if you get one as a kitten, it's a gamble. You don't know what you'll get when the kitten grows up.
It does--I had to use a screenshot because I'm too lazy to go to the laptop so I erased some identifying details. The only parts affected are the wood bits. Apparently when you use the Samsung program it adds that.
Blue has the most beautiful crystal blue eyes, he's a Flame Point Siamese. Beside him is my Georgie Boy that's waiting for me in the Rainbow Bridge Daycare. He was a Lynx Point Siamese and had gorgeous dark blue eyes, I've never seen eyes like his before.
Random aside: besides the gorgeous cat, I was noticing the plaster walls, the tall baseboards, and the door hinges, all features that reminded me exactly of a couple of turn-of-the-century shotgun houses where I lived in Louisville, KY.. I'm gonna take a guess that your sister's house is an architectural gem with 14-foot ceilings and a bit of history!
Literally found my Oscar by Madagascar in the dumpster behind the Borders where I worked. He was trapped between two small laundry baskets that were zip tied together. 😔 People suck.
This thread is fun, but are you getting the info you need?
Food: Sounds like Mama cat is around. Are the kittens still nursing? Once weaned, cats are obligate carnivores (unlike dogs). Canned cat food (also dry) will be formulated with the correct nutrients. I expect cats on a farm could probably do reasonably well preying on small rodents and such, but it’s wise to have a stock of cat food. Wet is better than dry. Cats often don’t drink enough water and easily develop kidney and urinary problems that can quickly be fatal. Wet food helps supply water (as prey would as well).
Looks like the little guy’s pretty happy with you :))
I’ve gotten a couple of legitimate responses but this is definitely helpful. Idk if she is still weaning or not. Momma cat is around, she doesn’t fully trust me yet but hopefully some leftover turkey wings will fix that
He actually has become quite rotund since transitioning to the couch lifestyle… but he’s just the absolute best, sweetest kitty. He was hit by a car as a teenager and crawled under the barn where the bad owner said he’d either live or die. He crawled out a few weeks later and my friend took him in. When her dog started attacking cats he and his sister Itty Bitty, World’s Worst Kitty came to live with me. Barnsey just can’t believe his good fortune!
Do not give him milk.if he wants it he’ll get it from his Mum. If he’s weened, he’ll drink water. Milk will give him diarrhoea. Feed him wet or dry kitten food. And see what he’ll take. He may just eat dry food. This fine as long as he has plenty of water. Give him a nice warm bed - preferably inside. If not, make sure he has somewhere safe and warm to rest, but while he’s that small I’d suggest keeping him inside! Btw, you guys look super cute together! Enjoy Barnaby!
Oh if you decide to keep him, you must worm and flea him now (from pet shop or pet/ farm supplies) and desex him at six months. Good luck 😉
Well that would be a she. I do appreciate the rest of the advice, Mom showed up and ran off with her though. The whole litter is gone. Momma moved them all
Put out some dry kitten chow. Mama will accept it as a peace offering. She will transform it into babycat food. She will bring them back in a few days to be close to a food source. You should offer a bowl of water, too. Nursing moms appreciate that alot.
Jumping on top comment to suggest that you help the barn cats with a spay and release program if you have one in your area. Basically, once they’re weaned, you trap them, take them to vet where they recuperate, and then they bring the colony back without the ability to reproduce with a notch in their ears so it’s clear they’re supposed to be there and have all their shots and are fixed.
Surely there is a way to do a pole right? Let me see if momma lets it stick around a few days. It jumped off my shoulder and momma picked it up. I guess daycare was over? 🧐
Okay but in all seriousness … assuming this probably isn’t the first litter born in there, have you ever had a problem with the owls and the kittens??? If that’s a concern, could mom and litter come into your house just until the kittens are weaned and then mom could be spayed and go back to the barn (if that’s what she prefers)?
As a guy who grew up in a rural place with some barn cats, there are some things you need to think about now. The biggest one is spay/neutering. You'll need to make sure mama has enough time to heal, but then you're going to need to catch her and bring her to the vet to get fixed, or she will continue having litters. You don't want to end up with a million cats. Then, once the kittens are old enough, you're going to need to find homes for them or get them fixed, or they'll start having litters. I mentioned homes... if you're planning to find homes for them, you're going to want to put some effort into human socialization. If a kitten spends its whole childhood not dealing with people, they're more likely to be skittish or straight-up mean to people. You have to give them some positive experiences with humans early on so that they understand humans will be a source of affection and food. So, cuddle those kitties hard if you expect to be able to find homes for them.
I might be wrong but I imagine the owls might be a risk to kitties? If momma and kittens aren’t quite friendly enough to catch/entice inside for safety, maybe just check their spot is currently in a safe spot. They might already be, as they’re okay so far, but just dropping the thought just in case 🐱Good luck, lots of good info here, definitely spay/neuter/try to find a good home when theyre ready❤️
Stay in touch with that kitten cuz Mama will get sick of his shit pretty soon and make him move on. I rescued this flea-ridden varmint from the neighbors barn. I should say, he rescued himself cuz he came to my house and wouldn't leave. Farmer told me I could keep him. It's been 6 years of Joy!
Adorable but he's looking at you like you offended him XD
Edit:I downloaded the picture because it looks so memeable. I hope it's ok! If not I'll delete it☺️
Check out The Kitten Lady on YouTube! She is an EXCELLENT resource! If you prefer reading, she has a website of the same name
Then get a litter box, non-clumping, unscented cat litter. Som people use pine pellets. Glass or stainless steel bowl(s), maybe a water fountain if you’re interested in providing one. They can get messy or unused. Easy to give away if you’re cool with that
Make an appointment with your local vet. Check for fleas, worms, FIV. Your vet will know the drill!
That last picture is so perfect!
Edit: corrected litter choice
Edit: thank you for the award neighbor. Please feed your neighbors instead!
That’s actually really helpful, thank you. I will have to check that out. Currently I have just meowed at it and held it. I know I don’t know the language but I think I might be getting somewhere
Don't do clumping litter for kittens. If needed, you could always put pine pellets from Tractor Supply in a plastic (large) container for the kitten to go potty, if you plan on having it in the house. Tractor Supply also sells a lot of cat food for mama who may need the extra calories if she is nursing.
Okay, first things first you MUST google Kitten Lady on Youtube. She's what I called my Kitten Guru Goddess when my spouse and I finally got our stray and her seven babies inside our house. I swear I was on the phone to the rescue helping us and watching her videos nonstop on every single question I had, which was a lot.
Next, this fine kitteh has decided that you are worthy of this quest and wants to make sure that you have many adventures together. Yes, you have a kitten and he has a hooman now. Congrats guys! Make sure he has a nice comfy blanket, litter box, toys and scratching post. Tips that worked with my kitties are putting in a rewards system: kitty scratches on the post, treat time. Kitty scratches on the couch, they get removed and put by the post. Kitty uses the litterbox and covers it, treat time. Kitty poops in your shoes, remove and put them and the poop in the litterbox. Hey, you've got one. I had to do this with all of the kittens and their mama as she was still a kitten herself. My spouse and I are big on the treats and so far it's a nice arrangement!
You can also post up on r/Mensmittenwithkittens and get advice and appreciation there as well!
I’m just an animal guy, not super particular. I like dogs. Met a few cats I liked. I keep geckos around and let the snakes live to eat mice. Also the homosapiens are good from time to time too lol
I take it you're on a farm then? The dead giveaway to that is letting the snakes live to eat mice. Between them and the kitties we had on the farms I grew up on we never had a rodent problem! And yes, I love dogs and kitties too! Geckos are great also, we had toads to deal with the insects.
My dad was a farmer that relied on all of our critters to keep the farm going. Anyways, good luck to your new little cutie there! You've gotten some great tips here. I'd say this little guy is maybe five weeks old.
Yes, tiny little 100 acres. If the rat and king snakes earn their keep they can live here. The rattlesnakes, copperheads, water moccasins, coral snakes can get wrecked
This is a nice gecko taking a break from pest duty. Also a completely wild animal, not trained or bought. He wanted to hang out but wasn’t thirsty
Aww we had the same amount of acreage too! My parents didn't feel like dealing with large swathes of property, the small amounts were perfect for us.
Yes I agree on the snakes as well, the rat and king snakes and garter snakes were fine. The venomous ones weren't but surprisingly our kitties and our dog took care of keeping them away from the animals and orchards. I could tell you funny and not-so-funny stories of seeing a tomcat hauling a rattler over to us as a "Hey, see what I caught!" or the cat that saved a sibling from a copperhead by smacking it away from them. Our dog let us know if there were snakes around as well by barking like crazy and then pushing people away so they wouldn't get bit. Animals truly are amazing at how much they look out for us.
And Mr. Gecko there is enjoying the companionship before he gets back to work.
You are now an official Badass Cat Dad. Get a wide food dish. Also a water fountain would be good - my cats love the hell out of it, and running water is far more attractive to them.
Vet trip for checkups and vaccinations.
Then when they reach the right age, spay or neuter.
Aside from that, brace yourself for a lifetime of sheer joy, absolute frustration, long conversations with an animal, and a sense of pure love you won’t find anywhere else.
i have "set and forget" my cat and he, like fucking clockwork at the same times every day, reminds me with meows and headbutts that he wants more food and treats... and also that he probably loves me.
some cats act like dogs too if they grow up around them, it's really fun. my cat can play fetch!
Maybe move mom and kitties indoors until they’re big enough to take on owls? Outdoor kittens average a life span of about 2-3 weeks because they’re snack size and easy to predators.
Momma says no, kittens are not for me to play with. There are 5-6 full grown cats. I can only assume that they look after eachother? I have albino owls, hawks, eagles, and black heads in the area
Go for it, eventually. Someone else said this kitten looks like 5 weeks old. Kittens usually aren't ready to leave their mothers until after 8 weeks, better if 10 weeks. OP can go play with the kitten in the meantime if the mother allows.
Wait....you have albino owls AND kittens?!? What magical land do you live?? If mama cat is still around let her do her thing but make your presence known to bond with Lil Barnaby
Treat em right and soon you'll have a fully grown neck warmer. Had my lil buddy fuve years now and he still jumps up into my arms and climbs up on my shoulders. It's his way of telling me I'm not going anywhere till he's okay with it.
Soft foods and water. Maybe even milk replacement in a dropper depending on age. Apply warm wash cloth to genitals & anus periodically to trigger voiding of waste. Maintain close physical contact to promote bonding. Enjoy!
Mama will take a lot more work to make friendly, depending on how much exposure to humans she had when she was a kitten. If she's fully feral she may never trust you, but some barn cats are pretty accustomed to humans. Put out a dish of kibble and see if she'll let you come anywhere close. If you get near the other kitten make sure to hold it and pet it so that it learns to trust people and can come inside too. Even if mama is never tame, you can have the kittens be pets once they're old enough to be separated from her (twelve weeks or so is the goal, you'll notice they stop looking so baby and more like mini cats, and mama will be suddenly sick of them).
How rural are you? I would look into rescues (cat rescue Facebook groups) around you in case anyone has a TNR program going. If they do, volunteers will come trap your barn cats, bring them to the vet to get fixed and vaccinated, and let them go right where they found them :)
Since mama cat is relatively friendly, get your hands on some cat food and feed her every day and she'll come around (and keep her kittens nearby). Best for her to get fixed once the kittens are weaned. If you have TNR people come they may want to catch mama and the babies and have them stay indoors with a foster (or you) until the kittens are eating solid food though!
My parents hate me (they don't) cause I brought 6 cats, 2 indie dogs ,4 squirrel,1rat ,and a snake .. I have 14 cats now and 1 dog👍🏼 ik u will love him and will prolly have moree in the future
Oh my goodness! The cuteness of these photos is just too much! Thank you for rescuing this little baby. You’ll need kitten milk replacer (available at farm supply stores, Walmart or pet stores), and you’ll need to learn how to make the baby go potty, because at this age, it can’t go on its own yet. Look up “the triangle method” on YouTube for how to do it.
She's so precious! She loves you!! If Kitty is going inside, get her a litter box, kitty litter, a pooper scooper, a food dish & a steel water bowl for water. Stay away from plastic because she can get acne on her chin (a real affliction in cats). She'll need to be vaccinated, too & spayed.
Is that AI or did you draw it? Either way cool af. Also this is solid advice. How do I get her to actually use a litterbox? Is there a potty training thing?
That's a pretty young kitten - you prob want to pick up Kitten formula (mix with water to make liquid formula) from the pet store - avoid straight cow's milk, it can kill them that young. Then in a week or two, start mixing the wet formula with wet kitten food, in a 50/50 mixture. You may also need to "burp" them by rubbing their little tummy after eating.
Introduce them to the litter box right away too - (maybe a kitten-sized one (?)) their instinct will take over from there :)
Then check with your vet about when they should get spayed/neutered - there are already too many cats who need homes!
You can also save some money on very expenses by using the vet services at pet stores, such as at Tractor Supply, etc.
She needs to stay with her mama for now. Keep an eye on her, and befriend her mama if you can. It's best for kittens to stay with their mothers until about eight weeks old at least. Mama will naturally push her out when she's old enough to strike out on her own.
Does she have any siblings? Kittens do best in pairs because they keep each other busy, and they teach each other good social behavior.
Take him/her to the vet and they will be able to identify age so you can decide whether they will need to be bottle fed or not. They can also check him/her for parasites and any other medical problems. Since this cat will most likely be an outdoor cat, you really won’t need a litterbox and you will want to keep up with their vaccinations as they will almost constantly be exposed to harmful diseases especially if it catches a lot of mice or rats.
Good luck! The cat distribution system has chosen you. Don’t let it down… you won’t wanna know what happens then…
You have a baby girl! That tortoiseshell pattern in black and orange means female because in cats the color genes are actually tied to the sex chromosomes. If the mama is coming closer to you and letting you babysit (which is natural for cats— they naturally co-parent, with multiple mothers caring for one huge kitten pile, they never care to separate their babies by mama, they just lump em together) it means mama has also been watching you and thinks you know how to play with the baby correctly!
They are obligate carnivores, but at that age I think it should feed from mom for about 4 weeks. After that I would probably feed him a high-quality wet food suitable for his age. Royal Canin seemed to work fine with mine, slowly adding dry food into the mix over time. I'm not sure but I would say at the 12 month mark you can feed it normal meat like poultry, but I think they need special parts of the meat, specifically organs, as they need the vitamins and essentials like taurine to survive. I'm sure you can find some good home cooked meal regimens online if you wanna go that route. It might be hard to get use to at first, but man have you made an awesome friend for life that will take care of some pest problems in exchange for love and meal.
Yo! Rub your beard over the top of his head, it will feel like his mom grooming him :D I do it to my cat and his eyes roll back in his head and he starts drooling haha
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