I've never dealt with this before, and have no idea where else to go to
ask, so I'm asking here!

A baby squirrel seems to be doing it's best to adopt my 18 year old as
it's mommie. It came out last night and climbed onto the laptop (she'd
taken it outside to watch a DVD in relative coolness) then stayed with
her and her friend, eating a tangerine they fed it (off our tree) and
eventually falling asleep on the blanket they were sitting on. She
covered it with a corner of the blanket before she came in for the
night, and this morning it was still there. It likes to be petted, and
climbs onto her lap and snuggles in -- more friendly than my older
daughter's cat! I have no idea how old it is, except it is obviously
not yet fully grown -- this year's litter, in any event.

Other than being VERY VERY clear that squirrels are not house pets, is
there anything in particular I ought to be careful about? I don't think
I can assume that this one will go away; we have had lots of squirrels
in our back yard, so wherever its home is I'm sure it's close. Is
there any reason to discourage this friendship? (Other than that if her
big sister's cat gets out, I'm reasonably certain he will do his best to
make the squirrel's name "lunch"....)

Bemused by this . . . living in a big city, this is one I never expected
to deal with!
--
Children won't care how much you know until they know how much you care