Lennox the Safeway kitten

Kevin saw a little skinny kitten at the Safeway dumpsters Tuesday. It would let him get close, but he couldn't catch it. I went with him after school. We almost got the kitten, but he ran into this big cage/fan/compressor thing, and we couldn't get him out. Wednesday, no kitten. We saw him Thursday, got permission to set a trap, and went back to check the trap at dusk. He was not in the trap. He and his FOUR SIBLINGS were dumpster diving. We fed the kittens, and tried to catch the thin one, but no go.

Today he was curled up on the pavement near the dumpsters when we went to check on things. He let me get fairly close, and I made a little trail of canned cat food from him into a cat carrier. Lo and behold, he actually walked into the carrier! We brought him home, transferred him into a larger carrier (love the welding gloves) with his own food, water, litterbox, and fleece blankie. He has goopy eyes, a URI, and is very thin, but he's eating and drinking ok. He has a vet appointment on Monday morning. We will probably name him Lennox--not the actual brand of the unit where he was taking shelter, but it at least sounds like a real name.

His siblings are bigger than he is, and are not thin at all. We think that he is the runt, and that he's been the last one at any food they find. One of the sibs showed up Thursday when we put out food. The littler kitten ran up to him with kisses and head butts, but the bigger kitten sort of blew him off. They obviously wouldn't let him hang with them, as we found him by himself most times.

I'm looking for a place for the other kittens. I have a volunteer who will take at least 2 of them, so we'll keep putting food out and be setting traps next week to get these other kittens out of there. Right now I'm just happy I got the weakest one.

Incidentally, it's raining like crazy tonight. Someone is lucky to be warm and dry.

So glad you got little Lennox. Another tiny one to care for. Maybe Benny can tell him all the tricks to getting bigger and stronger.

I hope the others figure out the benefits to a good home. Living in an AC unit sounds a bit damp and terrible. With the winters you get, I think they'd prefer a nice home instead.

I am soooo happy you caught Lennox when you did! I am sure he will recover and tame down quite nicely under your loving guidance and care. Plus, Benny can clue him in on how great it is to be around nice humans inside. I have no doubt Lennox will catch on fast and master the art of charming you into doing almost anything he wants in no time.
I always have a big soft spot for the runt of the litter, and that's the one I usually take home with me to stay for good.
Any pics yet? (and I hear you there on the welding gloves.....my vet used them every time he took Miss Kitty temp...she hated that thermometer and made no bones about it)

After I took this picture, Lennox allowed me to pick him up, wrap him in a towel, and clean his face with a wash cloth.

Well, that's a heartbreaker, isn't it? I'll say it again, gbste, I don't know how you do it. Bless you for persevering with Lennox!

Aww! Even with his dirty face, he's a cutie. He looks a bit like the little white kitty who came to us for a very short time. (Tippy)

I got him into some warm, soapy water (prescription oatmeal shampoo) and washed of the first few layers of crud. He looks much better. He is fine with being handled, and allowed the bath with almost no protest. (He was probably too shocked to do much complaining.) He looks much better, and seems to be much more comfortable. He sees the vet tomorrow to see if there's something we can do about his URI. If she gives the go ahead, I'll vaccinate him and then in a day or so, deworm him as well. Except for the snotty nose, he's actually in a little bit better shape than Benny was when he first got here.

I've been following this on FB and when I first saw him I was stunned and it takes a lot
to do that anymore. My second response when G described him was EWWWWW!! he must have
been pretty ripe. Anyway glad he is settling in and eating well.

And very glad that he probably isn't so ripe any more. I bet he is more comfortable now that he's cleaned up. Poor little one. He sure did find the right place!

Does he have those orange points on his ears too or just the tail?

His ears are orange, and it looks like his paws may be as well. In spite of the bath, his feet are still pretty grungy, so it's hard to tell for sure.

It will all work out soon enough. He already looks 100 times better just for the good care he's getting. Is he continuing to feel better? Still a glove kitty?

Lennox has decided to be a pet kitty; no gloves are needed any more. He purrs when we pick him up, and likes to be petted and brushed. We will be letting him out of his carrier a little at a time, but he'll have to stay in the bathroom for awhile yet. He was very good at the vet's. He was curious, walked around on the exam table, and tried to jump into a drawer to see what was in there. The vet says he has no temperature and nothing in his lungs. He has some antibiotics to take for a week, then he can be vaccinated. Until then, he'll have to keep his distance from the other kittens, for his protection, and for theirs.

So much progress in so short a time.......and a great vet report too. I do believe Lennox has discovered the good life! No more welding gloves, YAAA!

Lennox is feeling better. We're giving him time out of his crate to walk around in the bathroom several times a day. He is very affectionate, and likes laps and lots of pets.

He's looking great! So glad to hear he's a love bug. He looks like he'd be fun to snuggle with.

He is cute!

He's lovely! My cat Mya (Weezer's predecessor) was mostly white with wonderful orange ears and tail (and a few spots). She was a thoughtful kitty who'd experienced some abandonment, but she never judged. Though friendly, she merely accepted my companionship at first; I think she missed her first owners, my neighbors who asked me to take her when they moved. But as she got older, we got very close. Lennox sounds like a sweetheart!

Lennox is improving by leaps and bounds! I had a feeling he'd turn out to be a huge cuddlebug, and I am so glad that feeling was right!

Lennox hanging out on the couch today.

Good grief, I can't believe the difference between the snaps of today and what was it three
days ago.

Sue Short wrote:

Good grief, I can't believe the difference between the snaps of today and what was it three
days ago.

I agree! He really is coming along and healing beautifully. What does he think of this new life?

He's happy with his situation in the bathroom, and curious about the little kittens. He's a little bit scared of the big kitties right now, but he can't really spend any time with them yet anyway, as he hasn't been vaccinated yet. I've been closing the bathroom door and opening his carrier, but most of the time he won't come out unless I really coax him. I do want him to get a good stretch once in awhile, though, so we take him out a few times each day to see the world a little bit.