We've decided to keep a kitten that we found today, what do you think?

Question

This morning my daughter and I were in the kitchen when we heard this awful pitiful meowing sound from outside the window.

We have a lot of cats that run free around my neighborhood so, I thought maybe one of them was trapped somewhere or hurt. I sent my daughter outside to look for it.

She located the source of the meowing and yelled back to me "Mom hurry! There is a little kitten up in this tree!"

I put my shoes on and ran outside and just as my daughter and I were looking up into the tree, this little kitten came crashing through the branches and literally landed in my arms.

He was so tiny that I didn't want to put him back down to run free. I looked around to see if there was anyone else outside to ask about the kitten but, there wasn't. So, I told my daughter that we should just bring him inside.

My husband came home later from work and I explained the situation. He decided we should bring the kitten to the vet to see if it was micro-chipped or if anyone had reported it missing there.

We got to the vet and she checked him for a micro-chip and he didn't have one. She estimated him to be about 10 weeks old. She also said that he had so many fleas and mites that he must have been outside for quite some time. She was appalled that someone would let him run free at such a young age, and in her opinion this is a stray kitten. NOT a pet kitten that happened to escape out of the house.

Other than that, he is perfectly healthy. She gave him a worm pill, flea pill, and his first vaccination.

We picked up some kitten food at the store and brought him back home. He attacked his food and gobbled it down. Since then, he has fell asleep in our arms and played with us. He seems to be quite content right where he is.

We've decided that we are going to keep him and we named him Ricky. We aren't going to actively pursue looking for an owner. If we do see a lost poster up then that is a different story.

But, the way we see it is that if he did have an owner then they weren't obviously taking very good care of him. We already brought him to the vet and got him medical care, good food to eat, and he seems quite happy.

So, do you think it is okay for us to keep this kitten?

Thanks!

Answer 1

Definitely keep the kitty!  You have been blessed and are doing all the right things.  Bless you for being so welcoming to a creature that needs your support and love!

Answer 2

I would still attempt to find the owner. It's possible that the kitten was adopted by someone who has every intention of taking good care of the kitten.

If the kitten is 10 weeks old , it's old enough to be away from it's mother which means it's about the time when someone would have advertise that the kitten was ready to go to a new home.  At 10 weeks old it's too young for anyone to use any flea medication on and it's quite possible the kitten received the fleas from it's mother.  Also at 10 weeks of age the kitten would not know how to get back to it's new home if it had wondered off or in this case may have been chased up a tree by a dog.

You never know the reason behind why the kitten is in the state it is at but if it was your kitten and someone had found it wouldn't you want that person to at least try and find you?  

Answer 3

I did the exact same thing on Dec. 25, 1982.  I came home from an Xmas dinner, and at my door was this wet, gray-appearing kitten that was crying. After I bathed it, it turned out to be cotton-white. The kitten was about 8 weeks old, (turned out it was born deaf), and became the best pet I ever had.  It was a male, grew to 17 pounds, and was the sweetest, most affectionate animal I ever had.  On Jan. 20, 1995, after it had developed advanced stomach cancer and I had to have it put to sleep...it broke my heart, but I will never forget my cat, Napoleon.  It was definitely one of the best decisions I ever made!  Good for you!

BTW, chances are it was a kitten born to a stray, as I assume my cat was.  However, some jerks whose cat has kittens will put the kittens out as soon as they are done nursing.  KEEP IT!

Answer 4

Woww that is like the sweetest story I've ever read!  Of course you did the right thing!  That's so cute how the kitten fell right into your arms like it was supposed to be there all along :D Thank God there are people like you and your family out there to help little kittens in need.  Thank you so much for taking him in ! How sweeeeeet.  Love this story.  Will never forget it!

Answer 5

Absolutely keep the kitten.  You and your family have been heaven sent to this little cat.  Bless you all and may you all enjoy each other.

Answer 6

Keep the kitten?  You surely *deserve* this kitten!  He probably was someone's kitten once, as ferals aren't that friendly.  Perhaps one of a litter born to someone's unspayed outdoor cat, who just wandered off.  Even if he is someone's kitten, they weren't caring for him, and if they were that concerned, you'd have seen lost kitten flyers in your mailbox and all over your neighborhood.  You saved him from harm outside, took him to the vet, gave him a name - I'd say you have yourself a kitten!  Congratulations!  

Answer 7

I think it is admirable to keep him. I agree that if he had an owner they certainly don't deserve to have him back. Just be certain that the vet did a blood test for Feline leukemia and FIV. And good job starting the vaccinations! Good Luck!

Answer 8

Yes I would do as you said. Look for "lost" posters but it sounds like kitty was homeless if he was such a mess. You sound like loving owners. Dont forget to chip and spay/neuter Ricky...but somehow I think you wont! (forget to do that I mean...!)

Answer 9

Congratulations!  Bless you and your daughter for taking the sweet little soul in!

Answer 10

Awww, this is such a sweet story, it sounds like the kitty chose you the way he fell into your arms!!

You did the right thing!!

Keep him he is yours, cats don't just land into peoples arms ya know?!?!?