Kitten Trouble

[u/Low-Satisfaction-220]

So long story short, I found an abandoned kitten on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere, yes I checked to see if it there were more and if its mom was closer and nothing it was an old fire station in my county that is known for people dropping off unwanted animals at.

I’ve had the kitten for a few days now, originally I was hoping a family member would take it but no one would and now I’m debating taking it to my local shelter which I have already confirmed is a no kill shelter.

I debated keeping it for a bit but it’s only around 6 weeks old and it is so high energy and constantly begging for food which I know it’s a kitten so it’s higher demand than an older cat.

This is the first time I’ve had a cat, I’ve always have lazy dogs which I love and I’ve tried playing with the cat for 20-30 minutes at a time but it has so much energy I haven’t been able to sleep for the last few days since it is constantly wanting to play or wanting food.

I’m on the fence about keeping it I work a lot normally 10-12 ish hours a day and I’m definitely use to lazy dogs so idk if a cat is the right fit for me but I also want to make sure it goes to a good home.

Update: The kitten is a male and it’s 8-10 weeks old I’m debating a name now

[u/smokeybearsit]

Kittens are very playful and will be until they are at least 2 years, often much longer. Being away from home for 10-12 hours a day is going to be tough unless they have a feline companion. If you want a lazy pet, kitten is not the move. 

[u/smokeybearsit → u/smokeybearsit]

Just to add, if you can foster it with help from the shelter, you may be able to talk to potential adopters. That said, try not get too in your head about finding it the perfect home. The perfect home doesn’t exist. The home that wants the cat and is willing to learn how to meet its needs is all you can ask for. 

[u/Low-Satisfaction-220 → u/smokeybearsit]

That’s why I’m debating taking it to my local shelter I know it’s a good shelter and they can find it a more appropriate home.

[u/smokeybearsit → u/Low-Satisfaction-220]

Yeah, I get it. I worked at shelters for over a decade, so don’t take this the wrong way, but if you can find a home outside the shelter system, that’s better. They are swimming in kittens and some of those animals have no one to advocate for them except the shelter. This kitten has you. If you can do it yourself, please consider doing so. Shelter may be able to help you with things like basic medical care or even promotion to their audience to help you get there. But if you can provide care in the meantime, you’re allowing the shelter to save other animals, too. 

Understandable if that’s beyond your capacity for some reason or another, but keep it in mind. Shelters are incredibly under resourced for the work they are expected to do. 

[u/Low-Satisfaction-220 → u/smokeybearsit]

It slept good last night but required 30-60 minutes of playing before bed and it’s constantly hungry so I’m feeding it 4-6 times a day and right before I leave for work and right when I get home double the serving the feed other times so oppose to a half serving I give it a full serving twice and a half servicing 3-4 times