New parents of an orphaned 3-4 week old kitten,.....need advice

[carlyhippy]

2 cats at home already, one is not too happy, hisses at the kitten and has ignored her otherwise, the other is ok, but a little scared of her. Socialization at this age is very important, any advice on how to positively introduce the kitten into the home so this will be a positive experience for the little one? Persian kitten, cute but very very tiny. I fed her some science diet wet kitten food and drank some kitten fomula, it has little tiny sharp teeth, how often am I supposed to be feeding her? I have never had a kitten this tiny. Her mother was killed about 2 weeks ago, so she has been bottle fed. She seems to love people so far.

[nolabear]

1. Carly I answered you in the Lounge and am too lazy to post again!

Hope you don't mind looking there!

[carlyhippy]

2. I saw it, thank you so much for your advice!

it's so amazing how small this kitten is, my dh said that she was the runt of the kittens he saw. I had her checked out by the vet, I wanted to make sure she was healthy.

[david13]

3. I think the identify with people as much as with other cats,

so I think you have no problem. Keep them separate as much as possible until they are all compatible.
They will have problems with the young one at various stages of development anyway. Teen years and all that. But usually they adjust and become accepting of each other.
dc

[Warpy]

4. Right now, since neither of the other cats is a nursing mother

who would be willing to foster her, you're her family. It doesn't much matter what the other kitties do, they'll sort things out among them as the little one grows up. Do keep a squirt bottle handy just in case things escalate, although that's very unlikely. Adult cats are generally tolerant of kittens who are walking and mostly weaned.

Hissing and growling are posturing, just letting the little one know she's not top cat yet.

I don't think you can give the little one too much contact at all at this point. She's going to eat up every single touch and pet she gets.

[badgerpup]

5. They may swat at her too...

...but they'll probably 'pull' their punches and keep claws sheathed. Once she's assimilated, they'll probably let her get away with all kinds of stuff because she's 'the baby'.

At least, this is what I've observed at chez badgerpup...the youngest cat has special priveleges (f'rinstance, the other cats will let him horn in on the feeding station even if they were already there and eating)...and gracefully (OK, maybe not gracefully) surrenders these priveleges to the next 'baby' who joins the clowder.

Don't worry if it seems you have a kitten surgically grafted to you, needing to be held and with you ALL THE TIME.
Just hold her and love her (made a kind of 'snuggly' with a shawl to hold MacFeegle while he was going through this phase).
They grow out of it almost overnight...and then you'll have a loving, trusting kitty who feels secure and happy...even though she's all grown up and independent now. ;)

[carlyhippy]

6. LOL I went thru the surgically grafted kitten phase last week

now she is in the toddler stage where she won't stay in my lap, wants down ha. But just like a human baby, she acts a little tired, i put her down on the blanket and she is out in seconds.

The other cats seem to be a little more relaxed this week. They are sniffing her, swishing their tails up and down so the kitten attacks it ha. the neutered male, believe it or not, is more motherly than my female.

[yellerpup]

7. She will always love people.

I've bottle-raised several litters and they make the best companions, IMO. Congratulations!