I shot this video this morning...
Kevin and I decided a long time ago that we didn't want anymore inside pets, but we'd love to make sure he's got a comfortable, safe place to eat and sleep on our back porch.
I'm calling him "Fleamarket" because he is just that! He's covered in the things. :-( I hope I can get most of them off of him today. I hate to see him suffering.
Speaking of pesky bugs, I mowed the yard after I shot that video this morning and I must have been standing on a fire ant nest for a bit too long. All of a sudden I felt stinging sensations and looked down to find that my feet and ankles were under attack!
The rest of my day will be spent sitting in my office doing consultations. No biting insects in here. Whew! :-)
Hope you're having a wonderful "bite-free" weekend!
What a cute name!
ReplyDeleteSharon
Well how fun. :) Just checking in to see how last night went. How sweet of you to update us. Now all of your readers feel like we've got a new pet!
ReplyDeleteXO
Shelly
What an angel! When our kitties were tiny, we had to feed them wet food for a short time because they had trouble eating the dry food, even after we wet it down. That only lasted a short time though. What a sweet little kitten who is so lucky to have found a new home.
ReplyDeleteawwwww....oo cute!!!!
ReplyDeleteSo cute! We've never been successful with cats {we have birds and allergy issues} but I hope "fleamarket" makes a great backporch kitty!
ReplyDeleteWhat a cutie and very loving to boot. We too had to give our kitten wet food to start and then swiched to dry. I don't think they have a strong enough digestive system yet. What a cute name too. He was lucky to find you.
ReplyDeletehugs,
Donna
Good for you for taking in the little one. You can use just PLAIN ole Dawn dishwashing liquid (not the ULTRA) and it will kill the fleas without hurting him...just let it sit on him for a few minutes before you wash it off. Of course, he will get them again everytime he goes outside...if you don't kill them in his environment, reinfestation will continue to occur. Also, no more milk for him...it is too rich and causes diarrhea. Just wet food and water. Hope you change your mind about leaving him outside...NOTHING GOOD ever happens to a cat left outside.
ReplyDeleteLove the name! So glad to see he is ok.
ReplyDeletefleamarket must have known he would be loved by you ... he sure is a sweetie pie!
ReplyDeletehave fun ~
prairiegirl
What a cute name! I, too, give off a cat attracting scent and cats seem to gravitate to my door. One time, when the show Hart to Hart was popular, we had a kitten show up whom we named 'Freeway' after the dog in the show. Once a coworker threatened to shoot his cat, shocker she was after the birds, if someone didn't take her -so I found a cat in my office after I came back from lunch!
ReplyDeletePaula ~ Mise en scène
I'd like to say I enjoy your blog & wish you continued success!
ReplyDeleteIn regards to the kitten I agree with Vicki. Kittens are very defenseless so I also hope you reconsider & allow him to be indoors. Have a vet check him out asap since he has fleas & has been on out on his own, he probably has worms. There's a pill out there called Capstar that you can administer & it kills fleas within 30 mins & last 24hrs. I give those to my dogs before dog park trips.
Here in the south fleas, ticks & disease are an ongoing problem so vaccinations & flea treatment are a must.
He's a lucky little guy that he found someone who cared enough to keep an eye out on him.
Oh & love what you did with your kitchen!!
What an adorable little sweetie! Great name too! I hope you and he have a wonderful, long and happy life together! Luv~Betty G~
ReplyDeleteI'm glad he's at least on his way to being flea-less. I just can't get over what a cutie he is. And omg, those eyes!
ReplyDeleteHi Layla,
ReplyDeleteFleamarket is adorable! Good for you for taking care of him. I do agree with the commenter that an outside cat will have a tough life, but I also understand not wanting to bring him inside (I have a dog and four cats - it's way too many!) At least with you he'll have a "home base" and someone to love him and look after his well being.
Even though he's little, you should be able to use Frontline (the best flea protection, in my experience) on him to combat the fleas. My vet approved it for one of mine when I got her at 6 wks old. It's hard to tell how old Fleamarket is, so you may want to bring him to your vet for a checkup. Also, please, please get him nuetered when he's old enough! It breaks my heart to see so many strays suffering and that's really the only way to stop the cycle.
Also, be careful that he didn't leave any fleas in your house last night (or that you don't track any in when you visit him outside) I had a flea infestation in my home last year and it was a NIGHTMARE. They are super hard to get rid of. There are lots of natural flea fighting remedies listed online if you don't want to use chemicals (salt and borax are two that come to mind).
Good luck with your new baby!
Fleamarket - great name!
ReplyDeleteWe recently adopted a puppy who had fleas badly, and you are not supposed to use flea chemicals until they are a little older, but we learned that a bath in Dawn dishwashing liquid will take care of them really well. The other thing you need to watch for with flea infested animals is tapeworms. Yuck, but they need to be checked. I don't know if a cat is the same as dogs, but you should probably look into it.
ReplyDeleteSuzanne
What a cutie pie ~ loving that little face.
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU for taking that little guy in!! I attract strays like, well, cat nip! I have even raised a litter from 1 day old...bottle feeding and all. My guy, Dutch, had to be bottled fed too, poor guy almost got to go live with a Hollywood type in Malibu, but ended up with me in the OC... He is way too young to be on his own...if you could buy some kitten (milk)formula he would probably lap that up well or even wet food thinned to soup with warm water. I'm not trying to be a know-it-all, but I have done this a million times. He's just precious and you can already see from his little personality that he is going to be one big love bunny!!
ReplyDeleteHe's so lucky you were willing to love him!
Bless your big lettered heart!
m ^..^
My kitty-lovin daughters suggests Justin for his name. The first thing we noticed about him were his blue eyes, and who else was known for his blue eyes?? Frank Sinatra. So how about Frank/Frankie, if you decide to change his name.
ReplyDeleteWell, we are proud of you for taking him in. We would do the same thing. He's just adorable!
Flea is sooooo cute!
ReplyDeleteKeep us posted! I love this sweet story. :)
Well I can't see the video on my computer, I hate I can't see your new Flea, hehehe!! You can get a pill from your local vet (Capstar)that will kill any fleas on your pet in 24 hours, they are about $7 a pill or you can get a box, They are a lifesaver!! Tootles, Janna
ReplyDeleteLooks like he's a "keeper"!!
ReplyDeleteMy daughter recently "adopted" a kitten that she found on her patio. She took him to the vet and he put some stuff on him to kill fleas that was ok for kittens. You might call your vet and ask about it. Good luck with your new baby. He's a cutie.
ReplyDeleteCathy
His little system can't handle dry food just yet. You will need to give him canned food for awhile. Also, I agree with most of the commenters, a vet visit is probably a good idea. They can give him a flea drop on back of his neck and that should keep him safe for awhile (you might be able to get that at PetSmart too).
ReplyDeleteFleamarket is adorable! If you're going to have it outside you need to spray for fleas wherever you keep him. That's what we do with our dog, Dixie. She's an indoors dog, but she does like to spend a lot of time in our patio. After we found fleas on her we bought stuff to keep the fleas away in the patio.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I never had good luck keeping a cat indoors. But two of my cousins have indoors cats who actually like to stay inside. But if you set up a nice, warm bed and some toys in your back porch, and some water, he's probably love it.
Your new addition is just too cute!!! Last summer while at our cabin in PA someone left a young kitten out in the woods near our place. She too cried all night out of fear, it certainly wasn't cold yet, and of course I felt the need to rescue her from becoming 'bear food' as we always have several of those in the area. She has become a wonderful additon to our family and is just the sweetest thing. You are doing such a wonderful thing by taking care of this poor little kitten who was probably abandoned himself. If he'll be outside I hope you will have him neutered otherwise there will just be more little orphans out there in the future. Best of luck with little Fleamarket!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm in Texas, so we have fire ants aplenty! I feel for ya! I've been lucky with the flea creatures, even though I have two cats and two dogs.
ReplyDeleteBrenda
kittens are so cute!
ReplyDeleteGREAT name and so cute, I am glad you took him in,kittens are so easy to fall in love with and also easy to care for. As always, wonderful post, THANK YOU for sharing. I will look forward to the updates on Fleamarket...
ReplyDeleteWhat an adorable little sweetie, Layla!! Precious name, too.
ReplyDeleteI'm with the others on keeping him inside. Indoor cats live about twice as long as their outdoor counterparts. Many hazards are out there! I'm sure you'll get him fixed when its time. Being a responsible pet owner, you owe it to your new kitty to keep more kittens from ending up in his same situation.
Congrats!!
Love his name, Layla. If you go to the vet, you can get a one-a-month pill that will eradicate fleas entirely. I have 7 animals and nary a flea. Are you keeping him? If you are and you take him to the vet to have him fixed, innoculated and such, I will reimburse you for a portion of your bill. Let me know.
ReplyDeleteI've read --and heard -- that male cats that are neutered too early can have urological problems. Of course, a good vet is going to know the best time. Good luck on finding a vet. Ours has cats herself and is so good with them.
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