Stray...?

[k9Karen]

Tell him/her it was a stray and you felt sorry for him/her. Period. You don't know any history.

IF it is microchipped (which I doubt-anyone responsible enough to microchip would not let the kitten outside to fend for itself), ask the vet what to do. If he/she insists on contacting the owners - let him do it. If he leaves it up to you .... well..... your call.

[Traci]

If she's microchipped, then you have the opportunity to educate the owner.

If she's spayed, well, so what. IMHO opinion, how can a person justify spending lots of money on a spay and then let the cat out and put him/her at so much risk? (TNR excluded here). Depending on her age, if she's less than 4 months of age, chances are not all her kitten series vaccinations are done, so just let her out for her to escape or get hurt, and put her at risk for feline viral disease or rabies? And what if she isn't spayed, nor vaccinated? Letting her out justifies .....what?

I can echo Cleo's words. I've seen and know plenty of cats who seem friendly, owned etc when in fact, they are not altered, no vaccinations, no home. Again, many kittens, when acclimated to humans early on, will appear that friendly. Seems like the kitten is asking for help from a responsible someone.

How do you know she wasn't abandoned? Happens ALL the time.

I wish I could tell you the number of people I talk to and come across, those "lost and found" people who once you talk to them, really and truly didn't deserve to have a pet. Dogs escaping yards, never an ID or microchip. Concerned citizens finding, returning, only to find the dog escaped again and again and again, the owner never fixing the fence, never thinking to invest in a collar/ID/microchip. Don't bother to check the shelter or rescue orgs, just assume someone will find and return.

Cats who also escape time and time again because the owner doesn't do anything to protect them. Again, no collar/tags/microchip, half aren't even altered, nor vaccinated properly. "He/She is outside all the time and always comes home", except for that one time and that's all it took. Too lazy to attempt indoor-only acclimation. Too lazy to followup on a lost pet.

I just talked to some guy yesterday who lost a bunny. I called and reminded him to check the shelter since there is a bunny matching his description. Oh. Well bunny has been missing for 90 days, an ad was only placed for three of those 90 days, the guy never checked the shelter, then got another bunny to replace the lost one. Doesn't have a fence in the yard, just a bunny hutch. Never had a bunny before, and is allergic, but it's ok if he loses one, he can just get another one.

I'm trying to catch a parakeet who's been in my yard for the last three weeks. He's somewhat tame but the longer he's outside, the more likely I will never catch him, and the more likely he will not survive the winter. I placed an ad in various places, printed and delivered flyers etc etc etc and not one call. The parakeet is young, beautiful, chirpy and friendly, I just can't get close enough before he flies off. The owner never clipped his wings. Granted and I understand accidents happen, but prevention happens too, and too many people aren't doing enough to protect their pets.

Off my soapbox.

If you can catch this kitten and bring her in, get her checked by the vet etc, you still can post flyers, a "found ad" in the paper, etc etc. If you're worried about your conscience, then do that much and you'll feel better for having done as much as you could to find the true owner. If no owner comes forth, then you know you did the right thing.

I don't advocate stealing owned pets, lest anyone here get that crazy idea. I do however advocate responsible pet ownership and sometimes one has to do what they have to do, for the benefit of the pet, where obviously, the owner failed. I don't see this as stealing by any means. I see this as saving a kitten from the elements and outdoor hazards. If there is no identification on this kitten, the owner did NOT care that much and no one can convince me they did. If there is an owner and the kitten happens to be microchipped, you'll find out soon enough and maybe hear truth or fiction, but the kitten will ultimately be safe, right?

[slvrwhispr]

Yeah, there's no collar on her at all. I have a collar and a tag on Izzy and she's obviously indoors-only. But, y'know, just in case. And I'm getting her microchipped in a couple of weeks; there's a local vet that does it for very cheap but appointments are backed up.

I'm nervous about this. Hubby is BEGGING me to take her and not put up ads, lol. They bonded in the parking lot. I texted him and said I was going to bring her in, but I was going to try and find her owner. DH said, "I know where you can find her owner." I said where? He said, "Go look in the bathroom mirror." Jerk made me cry... lol.

I'm keeping an eye outside but I haven't seen her yet tonight...

Also, been going outside every half hour or so and tossing a few pieces of food into the parking lot. I can't imagine if she's out there and anywhere near here, that she didn't hear it. So. We'll see... I'll keep you posted.

[slvrwhispr]

Guys, I've got her. And I'm freaking out. I took her right into the bathroom because it's the only room I can close off, and she went straight to the litterbox. She's got worms SO BAD. I've never seen such a bad case of worms. And I'm scared to death because I SO do not have the money to help this cat if she's very sick. I'm hoping I can find a vet in the morning who'll treat her for free, but what do I do if I can't? I have NOTHING I can sell or pawn, and we've only got about a hundred bucks to live on until the 11th of this month. Plus new cat dander is KILLING my allergies... and now I need to go out and get a new litterbox and litter because I OBVIOUSLY can't let Izzy use the one the new cat used now...

I'm scared. What do I do?

[slvrwhispr]

Um, also, I'm not very good at this, but I think it might in fact be a boy cat. Undescended testicles? I...

It needs to be morning so I can call the humane society...

[slvrwhispr]

[slvrwhispr]

I'm 99% certain this is a male cat.

I found a clinic that does $30 neuter/rabies vac/de-worm/de-flea. I'll call them in the morning and plead my case, see if they can squeeze me in tomorrow.

Izzy is hissing-spitting-clawing FURIOUS. I obviously have new-cat in the bathroom, but there's a paw-sized gap under the door. New-cat does not like being in there; he's mewling pitifully. I spent about three hours in there with him earlier, but then I had to go get another litter box and litter. I just got a little one for now; hopefully Izzy can deal for a day or two 'til I can get new-cat de-wormed since he went RIGHT in her litter box the second I put him down. New-cat is more suited to the little one, but I'm not going to bother cleaning it out until he's de-wormed.

It's gonna be a long night... man, I wish one of you guys was around to talk to...

He's SUCH a sweet cat. The whole time I was in the bathroom with him, he was sitting on my lap just purring and nuzzling and happier than you can imagine. I wish I could let him out but Izzy would probably eat him, never mind the health issues.

There's no way I'm giving him up now, though...

[Tambrey]

WHEW!!....you done good!!

keep us posted.....and be sure to wash up well and change clothes after being with that kitty until s/he is dewormed...

sure is a pretty little thing....what is its name?!

[slvrwhispr]

I changed clothes; I gave him a dish soap bath and... he went RIGHT in the litter box afterward, so I had cat litter mud all over me anyway... lol. Stinker...

I'm not naming him until I know for sure he's not microchipped and I can keep him. Also, none of the names I've thought of seem to fit him yet. DH and I will discuss names more tomorrow after I get him to a vet.

And Izzy has calmed down a little; she gave me a couple pass-bys and head-butts on the back of the couch. She'll be okay, I think.

Man, I'm nervous about tomorrow though... I'll be heartbroken if he's microchipped...

[Tambrey]

{{{slvrwhispr}}}
think positive......and you are doing the right thing....regardless if he is or not....