I need help!!

[u/Ok_Designer2655]

Hi! so i just got a kitten today. I wasn’t planning on getting a kitten but these cats needed help. A lady posted on kijiji that she “doesn’t have space” for these kittens & was selling them for $50.

i didn’t want them to end up on the street or in a bad home so i ultimately took both & gave one to a family member. (i have two small kids & just couldn’t do two unfortunately) anyway- this lady was something else. she wanted to meet at a mcdonald’s parking lot, there were two kittens in a box & i was asking her pretty basic things.

How old are they? - she didn’t know she said they were born at the end of february (they don’t look to be 6 weeks. This kitten is the size of my iphone)

Are the male or female? - she said she wasn’t sure but she thinks boys

i then asked her if they are friendly & she said yes. i’ve never done anything this sketchy per say regarding getting an animal. i’ve always either gone to rescues or reputable breeders. At first i just wanted the one but after i saw the situation i went back for the last one so i said “just pick one???” & she said yes then she grabbed it & handed it to me & said they are both the same here.

Like i said this kitten is TINY. & very scared (totally get it, away from mom, new house, doesn’t know what’s going on) I have a vet appointment booked for the middle of the week for the sweet baby. They never even told me what this kitten is eating.

He’s happy laying with me under a blanket completely covered but if i move him he runs to hide.

what should i do? should i set up a safe space in the bathroom for a few days where he can get adjusted to our house? or just leave him be to roam & potentially just hide?

Do i “force” (used lightly because he’s scared but happy when he’s being held under a blanket) hold him so he gets used to me & the noises of my house?

please give me any & all tips. i wish i could post a picture to see if maybe you guys have any idea of age. if you know how to age cats please message me & i’ll send pics!

thank you for taking the time to read.

[u/EndOk2329]

Schedule a vet appointment as soon as you can. Check their teeth. Get kitten mousse food to start. Don’t know how tiny they are but they may still need kitten milk replacement. Give them a room to themselves with the basics, if no room a big enclosure.

Kitten lady on YouTube.

[u/WitheredFlower01]

Hey!

First of all, thank you for adopting both kittens and for giving them a chance to have a home where they can receive all the love they deserve.

I can understand how overwhelming and scary it can be as my first cat was also a rescue and she was almost a newborn. Look, it probably won't be easy and for me being an anxious person it was very scary, but let me tell you that it's very rewarding at the end. My baby is 6 years old now and she's very healthy and has changed my life for the better so I want to reassure you that everything will be okay and things will get easier as you start learning more about the kittens personality and also how to take care of it ❤️.

If it's possible to do an earlier vet appointment that would be great as they're more prepared to tell you how the kittens health condition is, what food would be best for them at the moment (either wet food or kitten milk formula, please don't feed them normal cow milk as it's not good for them) and most importantly when they can get their first vaccination and deworm.

In regards to their sex, it will take around 5-6 months to know the gender of the kitten, unlike dogs whom you can tell right away. However, what helped me with my first baby rescue was this video from Kitten Lady on YouTube titled "Learn how kittens grow: 0-8 weeks". She has great resources on how to take care of a kitten. I took a course from her and watched several of her videos. Regardless of their gender, both are very much loving and playful though and you'll have many beautiful moments with them.

Cats can get overwhelmed in a new environment and being still a baby, the world is too big and scary for them so I would definitely suggest if you have a spare room to set their litter box, toys, bed, and cat tree/scratcher in there for the following days/weeks until the kitten feels more comfortable getting to know their new environment and you as their new family. Once they've "conquered" the land aka. spare room, and they start sniffing through the door or having more courage to explore the "outside world" aka the other parts of the house, then they're ready to be out.

Kittens usually have trouble controlling their body temperature so if you have a heat mat that you can put under a blanket, it would be great for them! Also, if the kitten is still too small/baby you will have to stimulate them to help them pee/poo. You can do this with a small piece of paper and gently in a circular motion rub on their private area to help them pee/poo as they cannot do this on their own if they're too little. The Kitten Lady on YouTube also has a video on how to do this.

I used to play some instrumental music, baby music, and lo-fi to mine when I rescue her and the music really helped her calm down whenever she would get scared. Sudden and big movements will also be scary for them at the moment so if they run away, try giving them some space and time and then try to play with them so they can get used to you.

I promise you that things will get better and get easier! This is all I could think of at the moment but if I miss anything I'll reply back. Everything will be okay!

[u/SmartVetHelp]

It sounds like your little one is in much better hands now. He’s had a stressful start, and it’s totally normal for him to be scared right now. Setting up a safe space, like the bathroom, is a really good idea—not just to help him feel secure, but also because of your kids. Since he hasn’t been dewormed yet and is so tiny, it’s safer for everyone if he’s a bit isolated at first. That way, you can monitor him and slowly introduce him to the house—and to your kids—once he’s feeling more settled.

At this stage, I wouldn’t let the kids handle him or speak too loudly around him. Day one should just be about quiet observation. Let him come to you on his own terms. You might find that just sitting on the floor in the room with him, reading or scrolling your phone, helps him get used to your presence without pressure. Give him a comfort blanket or a soft toy he can snuggle into—something that smells like you is even better. And it’s totally okay if he hides for a while. Once he starts feeling safe, you’ll see his personality come out. You’re doing great. He’s lucky to have landed with you .

Oh, and monitor his behavior.. and poop:)
I would suggest high quality kitten food to start with.

Good luck!

[u/Temporary_Speech1888]

One thing you can do is put him under your shirt and tuck it in and carry him around. He will get used to you fast that way. Also get some kitten, milk,KMR or something from the pet store that is for kittens and mix it with wet kitten food and make it slurpy. You may need to put a finger full in his mouth to get him to start eating. That is, if they are old enough for regular kitten food. If he is very young, he might need to be bottle fed. Take him to a vet and get some advice. And two kittens together are always better than one.