Kitten hunt

This morning we couldn't find the kitten we brought home last night. She was supposed to be in the bedroom or bathroom, but was nowhere to be found. Well, we figured, she must have found a hidey hole to nap in. We left food and water and went to work.

So I get home early to track her down and take her to the vet. She's got to be in that bedroom somewhere. I get out the flashlight, look under the bed, under the dressers, behind the furniture, in the closet, in shoes, behind doors. No kitten.

Uh oh, maybe she got out.

I start searching the house. Under and behind the furniture, I uncover a lot of fluff, two cat toys, a netsuke the cats had appropriated as a cat toy, a styrofoam peanut, and a coupon for Smuckers jam. I start looking inside the furniture--the sleeper sofa and the easy chair. The cats are looking at me like I've lost my mind. By this time we've long missed our vet appointment.

I go back upstairs to check the bedroom again.

Scritch.

Scritch, scritch.

I follow the sound.

The kitten had wedged herself into a two-inch space behind a freestanding wardrobe and found a small space on the underside of the wardrobe to tuck herself into.

She didn't look pleased to see me.

I gave her a bit of strained chicken. She licked it and lost interest. I took her to the litter box. She peed. Then she crawled under the couch.

Now I've got to decide if I've got a sick kitten on my hands that needs to be driven 30 miles to the emergency vet or just a scared, overwhelmed kitten that needs a bit of privacy.

If she ate a little and peed she's probably OK for now. Can you keep her in a place where she can't disappear and you can watch her until you can get her to a vet for a checkup? Maybe she'd feel more secure in a small, enclosed space like a kennel.

Just leave some kibble type food for her & some water. She will eat once she becomes confident she isn't in danger. She is in a house full of strangers so she needs some time.

If you can catch her again, put her in a smaller space, like a bathroom. Put her toys, food, litter box and a comfy place to sleep in there as well. She'll get comfortable in that space and then you can introduce yourself and slowly allow her to venture into more of the house.

The poor thing is completely overwhelmed!

On edit: I just saw your other post. She's 8 weeks old? She's probably also very homesick! Put yourself in her situation...she's a baby, she just "lost" her mom and siblings, and she's in a HUGE place that smells funny, looks funny, and has lots of weird noises. Definitely contain her more. She needs a small, comforting space. And visit her in that space often...she's lonely too!

:(

I hope a bit of patience pays off. :hug:

Seriously, they do so much better with a playmate when they're left alone during the day. Are any of her littermates still available. They make the ideal buddies.

Not washed, just smelling of YOU in there too. Might help with the transition, non-threatening. Good luck, it will work out!

She was just taken to a new home, misses her mom and littermates, and is in unfamiliar territory. I suggest you put her in the bathroom, with food, litter, and cat toys, for about a week, using it as her kitty nursery. Then you can gradually acclimate her to your house and the other cats.

BTW, is that your Ruby you're talking about? That's how my Ruby acted when I brought her home; I kept her in one room (with me).

I hope she perks up, I've thought of her since yesterday.

by hand. Maybe some cream? I don't know.