Goodbye my sweet Wonky

Poor little Wonky, my valiant little girl who was gaining weight and improving so much, has sadly died tonight.

I came up to the nursery to do her last lot of eye drops and another set of leg exercises and thought that she was curled up asleep. Since her bigger sister was mid-feed I thought I would get on and do Wonky's eyes and exercises first lifted her out, only to find her unresponsive & gone. There was absolutely nothing I could do, it was too late. I believe her mum may have accidentally smothered her.

She has in her short life received a lot of love, from her mum, from me, and from the wider world of the online Sphynx community, breeders and owners alike all over the world. She touched many more hearts than just mine and taught me a lot.

I learned first about her determination to survive an emergency cesarean birth when the odds were not stacked in her favour and I learned about the occurrence of Twisted Leg Syndrome and how little is known or told by vets when kittens are born like this. I learned how to begin to treat it and how much support was there for us in doing so.

I genuinely believed that in a few weeks time she would be walking and running around normally, getting up to kitten mischief....so perfect that if one did not know of her start in life, then they would never ever suspect it. Fate has dealt us a rotten hand tonight taking her away before we could ever get to witness it.

I love you little Wonky. Bye sweet girl 💔🐾🐾💔

Day 5 in the Nest

3 hungry ladies

What a pair super cuties these new girls are! Mind you, while they look like butter wouldn't melt, they are being very demanding of their mum. Despite being so small, one of them is somehow is able to emit the loudest screams which she does with frequency as she gets frustrated at being unable to find a teat fast enough. I have decided therefore her temporary name will be Diva.

On Friday we visited the vet for Noodle to have a wound check. She continues on a short course of antibiotic cover but is healing nicely despite her daughters feeling that they can try to feed from the wound. The evidence is clear of that as they have muzzled that have become blackened with dried blood! 

While at the surgery the nurses came in one by one eager to see how mum and babies were doing Those that hadn't been on duty on Wednesday when they were born also came in to see our new little family.

Since both kittens had fully open eyes within 36 hours of their birth, Diva's were half open at birth and fully open within 24 hours and Wonky's were open by Thursday evening I have been given an ophthalmic lubricant to use on each of them applied 3-4 times daily to ensure that their eyes do not become dry or get damaged.

Noodle is doing a great job of supplying them with plenty of nutritious milk and both grow a little each day with small weight gains just as you would expect. I am always bowled over at the strength and stamina of these tiny beings as their instincts drive them constantly to survive.

Yesterday afternoon ( Sunday ) I noted that Noodle felt able and allowed herself to leave them in the nest snuggled up together sleeping while she enjoyed  a little "me time".  I am sure that did her some good as she ambled on her exercise wheel, thankfully not running at full pelt yet after her surgery. She also enjoyed a little re-bonding with Prune.

Wonky's physio sessions continue with much improvement noted. I feel very hopeful, having spoken to many people who have had kittens born with TLS, that she will completely get over this.

A video to melt your heart...

Here are our new babies, both female tandem feeding at 1am this morning after being born by cesarean section. The anaesthetic is wearing off and food is beginning sought by these hungry eager to feed mouths. 

Noodle has another battle wound that she is trying to keep clear of those Freddie Cruger claws that these kittens are born with, while those noses will guide them to any fleshy bump which is frequently one that is to be found in her row of stitching.

The kitten who, due to her Twisted Legs, has gained the name Wonky is managing well, and, despite her lesser size, is not at all shy when dealing with food. Those limbs are weight bearing all of her 86 gram body weight, and we have already begun the first physio sessions by flexing and stretching her contracted limbs. 

Her larger sister was born with her already eyes half open and so far seems seams less eager to feed or move around but weighed in at 118g this morning's weigh in at 10am after I had finally a better night of rest.

Quite a day....

Noodle is now home, in some pain as you would expect having had her abdomen opened and a spay but is purring and as attention seeking as ever, wanting full congratulations for her starring role as a new mum!

She did indeed have three kittens, however sadly, one, a male was born asleep. He had not been gone many days, but the chord had failed and there had been no blood coming from the placenta.

The two remaining kittens are both females.. one is bigger than the other with the smaller one described to me by my vet as having deformities and yet the one most eager to breath and feed despite the effects of an anaesthetic at their birth.

I worried what I would see or even if she would have given up but eventually a called and told me I could come along to pick up mum and two kittens. In came my vet, with what she then described as the wonky kitten, a word that has stuck in my mind and the moniker the kitten has been saddled with! The deformity is it seems not a deformity at all but something called Twisted Legs, caused by contracted tendons preventing a normal posture.

This is caused by not having enough room in the womb and can affect one, two or all four limbs and to different extents. The Legs/arms confined cannot flex and stretch during development causing this deformed appearance. The good news is it is possible with intensive massage and physio several times a day for weeks to come this kitten with her Twisted back Legs could become absolutely normal with full function and posture. Kittens who don't get early therapy can have surgery, in fact surgery may be an option even for those who do receive therapy. The positive message here is that this condition can be dealt with!

This is not Wonky's only issue... again, not as awful as I had expected.... I was told that her heart could be seen beating inside her chest because the bones of her sternum don't meet. It's true there is a small gap, and I don't know how this will look as she grows, but perhaps as with her legs, this is also something that will resolve or improve in some way? If not, for a cat kept indoors always, and with a normal appearance, as long as she is otherwise strong and healthy, she deserves a chance, and this is what I have decided she deserves having fought so hard to come through today.

So dear little Wonky is feeding well and totally unaided, and delightedly so to is her bigger, lazier sister. Oddly she is born with her eyes already half open, which is something that gave me momentary pause when when bending down to see her earlier on. I wonder what moniker she will gain to be known by for a few weeks?

I'm in for some hard work and long nights for a while, but this is the life I chose when deciding to breed. Of course, now spayed Noodle's breeding days are now prematurely finished, but, she has fulfilled her role and what she is on this earth to do, to procreate. For her, not so much will change.... she will no longer be ravaged by hormones causing her to seek a mate, and will continue to live the pampurred, much loved and admired life she always has since becoming my naked baby.

Maybe one of these delightful newly born girls will become a new member of your family in a few weeks? If you have questions or want an update please do contact me by email Using the link below or if you prefer, by using our contact form in the menu on the right.

Email is at : NakedSphynxCatHants@icloud.com

C-Section & Spay

Noodle is at the vet having a Cesarean and spay. I just couldn't risk waiting any longer for her to begin contractions after her waters went on Monday. The vet telephoned me today and said she was concerned for infection of that kitten and the risk to its placenta now.

I so very much wanted to give Noodle every chance to have a natural birth this time, but she and her kittens are what is most important right now. Waiting risks them becoming too big to be born, or some other dreadful outcome.

The spay is regrettable, ending any dreams I had of her producing any future babies, but her failure to go into contracting labour twice now could mean she is not reacting to the hormonal signals properly. I can't risk that a third time, and the vet advised this too.

Now I'm anxious for my phone to go so I know she and kittens are OK.

Updates will appear her or on our Facebook page as soon as I can. Thank you so much for all your kind wishes and thoughts.

Is Noodle Too Posh To Push???

Hey everyone,

Well, today is day 68.

On Friday afternoon day 64, Noodle had a show as her mucus plug came away. I thought, wow, she is off and birth would follow in the next few hours. As arranged, I called my vets to let them know, just in case I needed any help for her.

And I have spoken to the vet and my other breeder friends too, every day since. All this is normal

Last night (Monday) at around 6.30pm her waters broke... This must surely must be it now!
But as yet, despite small quantities of liquid tinged with small amount of blood, she is still showing absolutely no sign of having contractions.

I called the vet again at 9am. We decided to wait 2 more hours. Then at 10:45 I took her for an examination where met a new vet Finn. He had read all her health records and importantly info about her last pregnancy/birth history.

While purring away, Noodle was checked all over "she's big isn't she" Finn declares! He listens with his stethoscope but says that with her loud purring he could not possibly pick out Kitten heart beats.

He asked me about her behaviours and I explain that she is eating, drinking and even running on her   wheel at which he commended upon her dedication to fitness.

Next came taking her rectal temperature. I've been taking her temperature at home here with an IR 'gun' rather than doing it rectally. I do have the right thermometer to do it but cannot hold it in place as well as hold her still on my own. Anyway, all was declared fine there too.

We discussed her being on day 68/69 now which is a concern. But then considered the fact that my count from the first mating could be cause for a miscounted due date since cats can hold sperm alive inside for several days before conception occurs. Even so, the fact that she had her show on Friday and her waters went yesterday means that kittens are ready.

A shot of Oxytocin he explained cannot be given without there being contractions so there was nothing at all he could do to induce or bring on the contractions. But he did offer an ultrasound to at least see Kitten heart beats and gauge their health to help me make a decision. So Noodle was taken through for this which took about 5 minutes.

She was very vocal during but I learned that the three kittens were all of a good size, that he saw two good heartbeats but that the third Kitten was laying in a position where he could not get a good scan.

Finally we discussed the big questions.. what to do now?  And do we intervene?

I'm very reluctant to do this. She had an emergency c-section last year. At that time the decision was easy since she was very distressed, while her labour having started the night before with waters breaking also didn't progress. But her behaviours were that of a cat wanting to give birth. Hours of digging and a lot of fluid loss. This failure was put down to her having only one kitten since is thought that the second Kitten's pressure coming from behind is what helps birth to get going.

This is so very different to what I am seeing in her now. There is no distress and as there are multiple kittens this failure should not be a consideration.

If a c-section was required again, I would definitely ask for a spay at the same time. I just could not put her through a third pregnancy if this was the outcome now. Finn said even if I didn't spay,  second C-section scarring would likely render her unable to conceive anyway so a spay would be their advice too.

So do I elect and end her breeding days or not? If I elect there is less risk to her and her babies, though there is some risk as with all anaesthetics. Whereas if I wait and an emergency occurs then the risks all around are much greater.

There is a lot to weigh up. Her health and wellbeing is vital;  she is my beloved pet.

I would love to give her every opportunity to have a healthy natural birth with healthy babies at the end of that to nurture. I would love her to retain the possibility to have future litters too. But not at cost of her or her babies now.

So, I came away having chosen to give her a little longer and I hope very, very much to provide joyous news soon.

Thanks to all my friends for their love and support over these anxious days helping me not to panic! Thank you to all those waiting eagerly for news. I promise to update the page as soon as I have more news.

It's The Final Countdown

Well, Noodle has just had her last weekend of peace for a while and as I write there are just 2-4 days left until her litter is due to arrive.

This video was taken on Saturday 1st September 2018 as she slept soundly which allows the best chance to see her kittens inside. See too how her breasts are filled with the milk her kittens will need to sustain them.

I have noticed as she gets ever wider that when compared to last week's video the kitten's kicks are less prominent. I think there's much less room now for them to move about.

Noodle seems restless, definitely, she is uncomfortable. When she can she is sleeping but meantime, when awake she is packing away calories eating loads and then spending time going back and forth checking out the quiet space I have made for her away from our peppy & provocative Prune.

Closed off from Prune, the room surfaces and floor have been anti-bac'd. There is a litter tray, food food and clean water and a roomy cardboard box lined with a towel and vet bedding over the top of her beloved electric heat mat placed at one end (she must have room to get off the mat to regulate her temperature). The whole box is sheltered & is dimmed by having a blanket over the top cocooning her safely within.

Because it is a Prune Free Zone I am keeping the door closed, but Noodle's natural instinct to keep revisiting it, means that I too have to go back and forth to allow her access in and out!

I have been continuing on with the homoeopathic remedies for cat pregnancy too. As I mentioned last week, of those that are listed as useful during feline pregnancy and labour, I chose to just the two that I felt would be most beneficial to Noodle deciding that, while the others have their benefits, if she was at a stage where those might be useful I would prefer to be visiting my vet for help.

Anyway, it was time today not only to give Noodle the last of her pre-labour doses of caullophyllum which she has been having this twice per week over the last fortnight but also to add in a drop of Arnica too. This she will have daily until the third day after giving birth and is to assist her in healing from the trauma and bruising caused by the birthing process.

For more information about the homoeopathic remedies I have used during this pregnancy & labour, please visit www.animalhomeopathy.co.uk

Naked Sphynx Cat Hampshire will be back with an update when our kittens have arrived so watch this space!

Seeing & feeling babies moving in her tummy

What an amazing privilege it is to be able to feel and see kittens moving about inside of this gorgeous cat as she sleeps. We are delighted that we are able to share with you this very intimate moment in a video taken over the bank holiday weekend.

Typical of sod's law it that just as I stopped filming, a table tennis ball sized bump appeared pushing upwards for a moment - this can only have been a little head!

As of today, Noodle has just 8 days of her pregnancy left, or thereabouts, depending on when her labour begins. Usually, feline pregnancy is 63-65 days (counted from the date of first mating) but it can be up to 70 days.

What amazes me further is that she is still spending a little time each day running like the clappers on her exercise wheel. She is eating significantly more each day and is sleeping a lot, all of which is to be expected given that her body is doing such a magnificent job of incubating her growing kittens during this final stage of their development before birth.

I have a quiet room prepared for her should she wish to be on her own (ie away from Prune) when labour begins and so allow her time in there each day, with the door shut, so she can get some peace. She lets me know if she wants to go in or out, all cues coming from her.

As to Noodle's relationship with Pru during this pregnancy. I still don't think Prune has cottoned on at all that Noodle is changed in any way - well,  maybe excepting that her size has slowed her down some which has made her a slightly easier target in a game of chase. They still will seek one another out, with both just as always, taking it in turns to instigate games.  Having said that, Prune will get vociferously rebuffed when her exuberance is mistimed and disturbs a snuggly sleep!

Noodle at 6 weeks + 5 days & Starting with Homoeopathy

Just 2 weeks + 2 days until Noodle's D-Day.  S ishe often to be found wandering about the house asking for some sort of attention (any sort of attention) & then, as often as not, she is not really wanting anything after all. Here's a small clip of her. She had been jogging on her wheel meowing but as I went out to see her she heard me coming and got off - still asking for that attention!

Even though she is heavily pregnant she is still using her running wheel, though admittedly not as much as she was doing. Still, it's amazing that despite her growing abdomen, she can still get up quite a speed on there & will even still jump & run up its inside in order to get it going quickly from the get-go. I very much hope that her dedicated keep fit regimen over the last few months will make for a speedy & strong labour for her!

Little Prune meanwhile has progressed to getting on it now and again, but she just plods along for a few steps before getting right back off again! I firmly thought that being the baby of the house and always running about like a whirling dervish, that she would be the one who took to and used it most How wrong I was!

Update on Noodle's Pregnancy

Tomorrow morning I will begin to giving the first of two Homoeopathic Remedies I have brought to use as part of her natural birth plan. 

There are several homoeopathic remedies indicated for  labour & birth in cats with different remedies for different sets of circumstances. Having read carefully what remedy is intended to be used for what and having consulted a animal practitioner I have purchased 2 remedies to aid Noodle in her labour and birthing, plus  1 other for "emergency" use (should I need it) after each kitten arrives and a fourth & final one to have as a general use all standby.

For before during & recovery from labour specifically  I have chosen:

• Caulophyllum 30c 
• Arnica 200c  

Before I tell you more about those below is a list of other homoeopathic remedies for a labouring/birthing Queen:

• Aconite 200c for Fear or Pain in labour. 

• Pulsatilla 30c for Erratic Contractions & False Labour

• Sabina 12c for retained placenta (with profuse haemorrhaging)

• Secale 12c for retained placenta (with brown smelly discharge )

• Sepia 12c for treating Prolapse (though this complaint does come with a note that the attention of a vet is required)

When it comes to homoeopathic remedies I am very much a novice with no prior knowledge or experience. Because of this, I am extremely mindful of just how easy it might be to inadvertently cause harm while trying so hard to do the exact opposite. To ensure I get it right, I've asked lots of questions of a qualified animal homoeopathic practitioner &, having done so, am still being cautious & reserved in making purchases aimed at assisting Noodle to have the natural birth that she missed out on with her first litter as well as to aid her body to heal afterwards.

With regard to the uses stated for the other remedies in the list above; as stated I am a complete novice. I feel that should any of those circumstances or symptoms arise in Noodle during/after kittening I would be far more comfortable in seeking an urgent consultation with my vet that to attempt to treat with a homoeopathic remedy. This does not mean that I would turn away from using one should my vet subsequently approve of it.

The remedies I purchased are liquids rather than tablets and are supplied in amber glass dropper bottles. The dark amber colour of the glass protects the contents from UV light so that, when stored correctly they should remain effective for at least 5 years. Doses are given using the pipette top, dropping the remedy into the side of the mouth where is will be absorbed sublingually. If getting the drop into the mouth is difficult, another way to dose is to pop the drop of liquid onto the animals' nose as its natural reaction is to lick it off - job done! Absorption takes a little time,  so the cat should not be given food or drink after being dosed until about 10 - 15 minutes has passed. 

The remedy Noodle will start with tomorrow is Caulophyllum 30c. This same dose will be repeated twice a week during these last 2 weeks of her pregnancy. It is intended during this time to work as aid in the slackening of her pelvic ligaments, thereby facilitating & easing the approaching birth. It is worth noting here that while we discussing here the remedies as they are used in cats, they are used in dogs and other animals too including humans! We will use Caulophyllum 30c during labour too but before discussing how and why, we will be introducing another remedy during these last days of pregnancy.

When there are just 3 days to go before she has reached her due date, Noodle will start to be given the very well-known remedgy Arnica 200c.  She will have 1 dose of this per day for 3 days before and 3 days after having her kittens. Arnica is being used here to reduce the symptoms of trauma to her body caused by the physicallity of labour. It will work to reduce bleeding, bruising and swelling thus aiding her in having a speedy recovery while also at the same time it will also helping to prevent infection.

In Active labour

When her labour has started I will begin to administer to her single doses of the Caulophyllum 30c  as its properties now make it an invaluable help during her entire labour. Having helped to relax her pelvic ligaments over the previous fortnight, in 1st stage lavbour Caulophyllum will ease the dilation of her cervix, and, in 2nd stage will empower the uterine contractions. At the same time Caulophyllum will also be easing labour pain and at each kittening be helping with the expulsion of each kitten's placenta. What a little marvel that herb is.

Kittens

When researching (and subsequently shopping for) homeopathic remedies that would assist Noodle I also purchased two further remedies. One, Laurocerasus 200c to assist with kittens who might be in difficulty during those first minutes, and the other, Reviver Rescue Remedy, which while it is not strictly a homoeopathic remedy, I have purchased it nonetheless simply to have about us to use as a general standby and pick me up.

As before, just as when choosing remedies for labour and birth, there are a number remedies indicated as beneficial each for the treatment of certain specific conditions.  In my choices, once again, I exercised extreme caution. Primum non-nocere - First, do no harm!

With each kittening

Immediately after a kitten is born, should it require any assistance other than mum's ministrations, such as with its breathing and is seen to be gasping, then a dose of  Laurocerasus 200c is to be administered & this dose can be repeated 'as required' until a response is seen. I hope very much never to need to use this.  Let's call it a precaution.

The Reviver Rescue Remedy has been purchased as mentioned,  simply to have as a useful all-rounder rather than being labour, birth or kitten treatment specific. It is given as a single dose to a sick kitten or cat and repeated as often as is needed.

DOES YOUR CAT NEED URGENT VETERINARY HELP?

If your cat appears to be in difficulty in her labour & it is not progressing, please speak to your vet as a matter of urgency.

When your queen starts her labour & to give birth it is likely that she will want to you to nearby as this will reassure her. however, be as unobtrusive as you can and do not be tempted to interfere or offer her unnecessary help as, in the vast majority of cases, cats will produce their kittens without experiencing any problems whatsoever.

If you do feel that there is cause for concern you should call your vet for advice. Don't wait until morning, & don't worry about the time of night you are calling as in their line of work they are quite used to receiving calls at all times during the night!

Obvious problems are:

• if she has been having strong contractions for more than 2 hours without the appearance of a kitten 
• a kitten is visibly stuck,
• her contractions are becoming weak
• the placenta does not follow after the birth of each kitten. 

HOMOEOPATHY

If you are considering using a homoeopathic remedy for your cat you should always consult a qualified practitioner.  

If your cat is sick or ill, don't delay. Call your veterinarian urgently for advice.

For more information about Homeopathy for your cat during her pregnancy & labour you can visit:  http://www.animalhomeopathy.co.uk/homeopathy/remedies-pregnancy-labour/

For remedies to help if there are problems after the kittens are birthed, visit: http://www.animalhomeopathy.co.uk/kittens-pups-problems-labour/

Week 6 update

Fresh from her pamper session,
bath, ear clean & mani-pedi

With just 3 weeks now left until her due date Noodle is feeling the weight of her expanding tummy. Hormones are playing a role causing her to wonder about meowing but not really knowing why she is doing so.

We are enjoying periods where there are lots of purrs & plenty of attention seeking, but whereas in her first pregnancy she was relaxed and open to touch on her tummy, this time she is not quite so chilled. I can see her teets are enlarged & so well be ready for feeding those hungry babies.

She is eating plenty & having lots of power naps & doing rather well.

Time to snooze

I have now gone ahead and have set up a quiet room for Noodle to have her babies in, so she can be away from Prune who simply doesn't have a clue that soon she won't be the baby of the household anymore! Earlier this week, having been out for a couple of hours I came home to find a wound on Noodle's neck, a sign that with her growing tummy she is slowing down and can't get away so fast from her overzealous 'sister'.

When Noodle allows it though, they will still share space and sleep peacefully together, but in the main Noodle is choosing solitude away from Prune & her pranks.

Week 5 Update

Does my bum look big in this? Prune is having a close-up check!

As you can see, from the accompanying photos which were taken at different times of the day on 9th August, with exactly 4 weeks to go until her confinement date of September 6th,  Noodle is getting very wide around her tummy as her kittens grow. 

Now fully formed miniature Sphynx cats they will each be around 3-5cm long at this stage.

We are preparing for their arrival, and over the next couple of weeks would expect to begin to observe Noodle looking for her nesting site, though her favourite place is always her heated mat.

She is not running on her exercise wheel nearly as much as she was though sometimes will get on and run on it simply to stop Prune from chasing her around since Prune does not use the wheel in the way Noodle does. 

Prune meanwhile now 10 months old continues to behave as a boisterous kitten with her favourite game still to frequently ambush Noodle jumping onto her. SHe reminds me of a professional footballer because as she walks by, thinking the referee won't notice, she will deliberately stick the boot in eliciting a hiss and wallop response from the mum to be.

Look at her expression in the photo below. She looks utterly worn out doesn't she? Bless her, its defo time for bed. Night Night!

It's 11pm and I want to go to bed NOW!

We took a trip to see the vet yesterday. On examination, our vet Emily has confirmed that she felt  3 "Blobs".

There may be more, and of course, I am very aware that 'blobs' can fail to develop, however, we are quietly tickled pink & very excited!

I've noted things as her pregnancy develops. She sometimes wonders around the house meowing - but she doesn't seem to know what for. She has moments when she is extra purry & she is definitely extra sleepy too.

Go Noodle. My wishes for you are that you will have a super easy pregnancy followed by a normal birth at home with healthy kittens at the end.

A new pregnancy (& kittens) ahead!!!

It has felt like a very long wait but finally, Noodle's body went into full-blown heat on Sunday 1st July when she began calling loudly & incessantly for a mate.

At the earliest opportunity, on Tuesday,  we set off on our journey to take her to her stud male, Charlie, with whom she will stay for a few days giving plenty of time for them to have several successful matings.

When we arrived and went indoors she quite naturally showed her cross & grumpy self, faced as she was with excitable & interested cats & dogs who are strangers to her. She hissed and cussed a bit, but her still in her carrier, we went to a quiet room where she soon settled down.

After about an hour Charlie was brought in. At first, she hissed at him too, but Charlie is a "cool customer", he simply sat within eyesight of her ever the patient gentleman, just looking on.


After a while, it was time for me to set off coming back home to Prune who, bless her, had been left at home alone for the very first time. I wondered just how she would feel being without Noodle & at having me all to herself, even if it's only for a short time!

Gentle Charlie mating with Noodle

Noodle was soon settled into a room with her heat mat from home plugged in. It seems crazy, especially considering how hot it has been in recent weeks, that she spends so much time on it but she loves it & it is always THE favourite place to be for both of my girls.

Last year when Noodle went to stud with Charlie once she had accepted him, she was very happy to share space on her mat. My hope was that they would rekindle their previous acquaintance & do the same. Indeed, it didn't take long at all before they had done just that!

By Wednesday the first matings had occurred &, so over the coming days, there will be several more until such time as Charlie has lost interest & wishes to go back to his resident harem signalling I should return & collect her.

Once she is home we will begin our agonising 2-3 week wait watching her closely for those first signs of a pregnancy when there will be a change in her nipple colour from her normal light flesh tone to a brighter blushing pink.

Watch this space!

HCM Scanned Healthy Hearted Cats

2018 HCM Scanning

Having founded Hairless Hearts UK in January and working hard online to get the right people on board who can drive this project, the first Hairless Hearts UK HCM scanning clinic was held at Lumbry Park in Alton Hampshire on June 7th 2018. It was quite an adventure and I was privileged indeed to be given a tour of the facilities there. I was so very very impressed, and admit that my own heart was fluttery when I was shown the surgical suite. It is scary to think that you may have a pet needing the care that is provided at a place like Lumbry Park but at the same time, also very reassuring.

One of the 4 cats scanned at this clinic was Noodle. I didn't take Prune yet as she is under 12 months old and won't be breeding until next year.

Noodle was under par on the day we visited and so was quite antsy with the cardiologist Dr Luca Ferasin and his able veterinary nurse Jo Farminer. She did some hissing and swearing, however, Dr Luca declared her scan pictures to be "textbook". He could read them clearly and give a very accurate diagnosis during our consultation.

I'm delighted to know that Noodle is free from any sign of having HCM nor does she have any kind of heart defect at all. This scan result gives me the green light to breed from her again this year, hopefully with a better birthing experience that her first time.

The only male scanned that day was Charlie,  the Sire that used with Noodle last year and whom I plan/hope to be able to use again. He is also father to Prune and so his result was very important. He scanned clear of HCM (or of any other heart defect) thus giving him the green light to continue as the quality stud he is.

Another of the cats in clinic was Jasmine. She & Charlie are parents to Prune so its reassuring for me to know that Jasmine also scanned clear of HCM (or any other heart issue) meaning both of her parents are both heart-healthy.

This is Noodle's 2018 HCM Scan with my address & personal identifying details obliterated for personal security.

The Prominent False Tendon noted in "other findings" is absolutely normal and is seen in many cats. It is not a defect, nor does it cause or indicate any problem whatsoever. 

DIY Raw Food

Having moved to exclusively raw feeding my girls, I had found my food bills increasing dramatically.

With breeding queens, it has to be accepted that food need (and therefore cost) will fluctuate; A pregnant cat will be hungried and need more calories to nourish her body and the growing kittens inside. Having birthed her litter she will then require more calories in order to nourish herself and to produce milk to meet the demands of her litter of kittens who will grow rapidly demanding more and more. When they wean at around 5-6 weeks of age, they will need growing quantities of raw food themselves until they go to their new homes which should never be before 12 weeks of age. The queen freed of feeding duties at full weaning (around 8 weeks) will still need extra food to regain condition she has lost.

During all of these times the queen should be allowed to eat as much as she requires/requests.

And so too must a kitten. Feeding 6+ times a day to gain nutrition so support growth and development. Then, by the time it grows into sub adulthood (5/6 months) and on into full adulthood (at around a year)  its tummy will be able to accomodate larger sized meals, and demand will drop to 3 - 4 meals, then to 2 - 3 meals per day.

General guidance is that an adult cat recieve 2-3% of their body weight in food per day.
This would be adjusted according to lifestage & need. In a pregnant or lactating queen this percentage rises to 4 - 8% and once the demand of pregancy and kitten rearing is done, she should be fed 3.5% to help her regain her condition and back to her normal, prepregnancy weight.

Weaning kittens at 4 - 8 weeks of age should have approx 4.5 - 8% of their body weight in food and it is important that each kitten in the litter is aweighed regularly - daily or every other day to ensure that they are gaining weigh normally. From 8 weeks to adulthood (at 1 year) the food need per day would be 4%.

In the case of an overweight cat, unlikely but not impossible in the Sphynx breed, less should be offered so that they can lose some of that unhealthy excess weight. A daily allowance of 1.5 - 2% per would allow a slow, meaused loss of weight returning to 2-3% once normal weight was achieved.

Prune is at 5 months and is feeding as much food as she wants which she asks for three or more times a day. Noodle has now regained her pre-pregnancy condition and weight and will ask to eat just twice per day, though I do offer more when I feed Prune. Basically it is there for the asking!

You must bear in mind that the Sphynx cat has higher metabolic rate and are a more active feline breed than most others and so correspondingly, their calorific/food needs will be greater too.  An adult female will be around 3 - 4kg and a male between 4 - 5kg. If your Sphynx cat is overwieght examine carefully the foods that are being offered. Look to reduce the amount of food starting with cutting out treats and any titbits. 

I personally do not weigh out the food as I dish it out but know roughly what quantity will be eaten and so provide Noodle & Prune according to their appetites. I have also noted that when they have a food they like a lot they ask for it more often and when it is one they dont like, even though they might tell me "I'm hungry" they would rather go hungry than to eat it.

So, my food bill for food from Natural Instinct when compared to what I was spending when Noodle was on Kibble are notably higher. I dont mind in as much as I do feel that despite the difficulties and changes we've had to overcome and accept in getting to where we are on the BARF diet, and I feel happy that  it is the most natural and so the most appropraite way to feed but I do live on a low income and so must address this in the best way I can.

This has come in the form of research on whether I can make the food myself and more and more I felt that making my own gave me control over what they ate and so by consequence I could ensure that their diet was the best it can possibly be. Of course the frozen NI food is balanced and contains the nutrients they need, but I needed to find out -

1. can I do it myself?
2. can I do it better? 
3. can I do it cheaper?

Oh, the wonders of the internet! Luckily there are people who do raw feed recipes they have made themselves and, not only that but had taken the time and trouble to look into what nutrients those ingredients provided. At my fingertips I found support, knowledge and even step by step guides about how to prepare DIY raw food.

Home preparing BARF is not for the feint of heart. Handling the raw meat, bone and organ is most assuredly not for everyone. The reward of making the food are that it will cost less than prepared food and that you know EXACTLY what is in it. And you have the comfort or having done the best for your cat that you can do to provide it a diet as much like the one it was evolved to eat as it is possible to do. You will have earned those purrs!

TOOLS

If you dont have the tools already in your kitchen you need you will need to acquire them. You will need:

• a heavy meat cleaver
• a knife sharpener
• a strong, washable/scrubable board that is up to the job on which you will chop the meat.
• poultry Shears may also be useful
• a grinder/mincer capable of handling bone
• a very very large bowl for mixing the entire batch
• a large jug
• a whizzer is useful
• containers for freezing into

The most expensive outlay by far (if you choose to get one) is a meat grinder. This is not an essential item if you are going to be able to feed chunks and whole bone. You may need to start with fine chopping and work up to chunks if your cat is used to mince or canned meat.

Scroll down to see : More about my decision to buy a Grinder/Mincer

You need to know so much, like which bone of which animal can be fed safely, how best to prepare a specific cut of meat, what proportions of meat, bone and organ are required for the best balance in the complete diet.

Luckily all these things are discussed in forums and groups and it is very easy to ask anything that you feel unsure of to be pointed in the right direction. There are people who are passionate about BARF food and who will go out of their way to help you out.

I found a lot of different information about which makes of grinder are considered most suitable and which are not. Luckily for me, though some are machines are not readily available in the UK,  you can get someting suitable without having to fork out for an industrial machine! Mine came courtesy of a well known online store and a prime membership deal via a friend who has Prime!

One of the best resources by far in my learning, and in aquiring the support I needed to gain confidence to do this has been through membership to a Facebook group: CRAP (Completely Raw & Proud). This group has provided members with a fabulous resource section with files that include information about raw feeding and other choices, links to online suppliers, a basic 1kg batch reciple and photo tutorials on making a batch.  There are two fabulous spreadsheets, one of which will allow you to enter each of your ingredients and their weight and then will calculate for you where your your batch might be falling short  (e.g not enough bone, meat or organ content so you'll know exactly where an adjustment is required) . It will even tell you based on data you add about each of your cats weight how long your batch of food will last. The other is a tool for calculating your costs per batch/portion which is helpful for comparisons and planning economically. There are YouTube tutorals showing you how to use the spreadsheet program, how to use a meat cleaver to prepare a whole oven ready chichen without losing a finger in the process!

Tooled up, I set about ordering my ingredients from my usual grocery store so that everything could be delivered with my usual shopping - YES, all  the ingredients I needed in my chosen recipe are readily available from the supermarket (not necessarily things I would choose to eat myself). Regarding sourcing your own ingredients:  a friendly local butcher would be able to offer a much wider variety of ingredients, particularly in terms of organs. Additionally the bigger the freezer space you have available to you then the better the deals you might get for bulk buying.

My ingredients were all delivered to me refridgerated fresh but there are certain things that are easier to prepare if they are partially frozen - such as liver just as one example. When partally frozen the meat is more solid and so easier to cut,  there is less blood too and so less slippery and messy. Plus an additional bonus is that it keeps the smell down.

I cut up beef heart first easily making it into large chunks which I popped into the feed shoot of my grinder which I had set up with the largest mince disk in place for a coarse grind product. It tore through the meat quickly and in no time at all I had a bowl full of minced up heart. I did find that some sinew jamed things up necessitating some dismantling mid way. Next time I will make sure not to put those parts in. I live and learn!

Next I moved on to the prep and grind of my 3 oven ready chickens. Cleaver and grinder combined having learned what I needed to know from a YouTube tutorial allowed me to use every part except for the main thigh/leg bone which I removed. An experienced cat, can be given these to chew and they would strip all of the meat off of it. Mine were very eager as the smell in the kitchen by now was driving them nuts but they didn't seem to know what to do with this morsel. I left them down for the rest of the time I was creating and then removed and threw them away. If you are a cook you could always stock pot these bones!

I then had 3 bowls of chicken mince and my bowl of beef heart. Unfortunately the chicken liver I had ordered was not in stock and so my batch was not going to end up quite in balance. A tad annoying, however, I can correct this later - so no real panic.

Now I opened 3 tins of pilchards in tomato sauce and into this I cracked  4 raw organic eggs (no antibiotics used in laying hens) and this I whizzed into a slurry into which I added water. Using my cleaned out/thoroughly washed washing up bowl (the largest bowl I have) I stirred my entire mix up together, then, portioned it out into the awaiting clip lock boxes. I weighed each box as I went and each has  near as damn-it 400g of my home made food in it. At the end I had 13 x 400(ish) g and a 14th box with a little that was  left over. These were put into the freezer where they will remain for 2 weeks before being used.

Clean up of all tools and bowls as well as the area I was working in was pretty labour intensive and I will take care to work out a way to minimize cleanup operation in furure but as this was my first effort I feel very proud and good about it.

Dealing with a missing ingredient on batch day

Now I needed to deal with the fact that my planned for liver was missing. Liver cannot be overlooked as an inredient in the batch so I turned to the CRAP group to ask for advice. The best solution offered is the one I am going to do.  I will buy some liver and prepare it by chopping, then freeze it in to "bought for the purpose", lidded ice cube trays. All I will need to do is  pop out one  liver cube at a time to add to my batched/portioned thawed home prepared raw food.

Safe High Quality Food & Safe Handling

Making your own food gives you the reassurance that you know exactly what your cats are eating. And that it is fresh and of high quality. In this case, all ingredients were bought  from the supermarket and each ingredient used was intended for human consumption.

We know there are strict guides in place for ensuring human grade food is safely sourced and prepared for the supermarket. However we also know then that the ingredients were also destined to have been cooked where the heat would kill anything (naturally or otherwise ) in or on the meat that might have been there at butchering, preparation and packaging to be on the supermartket shelf.

Since we are not cooking any part od this meat we need to ensure that it is safe enough for your cats too. This is where the importance of the freezing comes into its own (other solutions are also worth consideration but are not discussed or used here)

FREEZE

Rapidly freezing the portioned batch to -18 degrees celcius ensures that microbes, bacteria, yeasts and moulds all of which are naturaly present in food are inactivated and, the 14 day minumum that the food is at this sub zero temperature ensures that any parasites are totally destroyed.

Portioning & Containers

Portioning sizes for freezing down depends on how many cats you have and also on how large a freezer space you have available. 

I used Clip Lock boxes  that I had bought specifically for the job. Into each I put put 400g - 403g in each. I may have managed to pack in a little more that this but I wanted to get an idea for whether appetite was increaded or decreased with the homemade compared to the NI. I wanted to leave expansion space, plus I didnt want to have too much thawed out at any one time. I very much like the fact that they are dishwasher proof and reusable many many times over, are neatly stackable, easy and clean to portion into. Just a wipe with a cloth on the edge got rid of any spillage and the lid locked on.

Empty takeaway food cartons are ideal too and I have some saved up. Also some empty NI containers. Some containers also are dishwashable, but some are not (NI are not). Takeaway or other containuers that have previously container other foods are  great 'free' source of portion sized containers. Plus it is great to avoid waste.

Freezer bags are very space saving. Those hat can be zip-locked closed can have the portions within them carefully pushed flat before freezing then stacked on on top of the other so that more can fit into a smaller space.  Bag filling is/can be messy and since it is not so nice to wash and resuse them and indeed some may not be possible to reuse they may be the most space saving they are the solution that creates most waste.

If you dont have zip loc bags, another solution would be a heat sealer device, or even a sous vie device. The heat sealers will close the bag completely for freezing, the sous vie device will not only heat seal the bag but can also vaccuum out air from it before doing so. The down size is once again the plastic that is being discarded each time.

Other ideas are to freeze into moulds. You can use ones just like the silicon icecube trays  I mentioned above  that I have ordered to use for my liver. portions. If using moulds you can pop your frozen nuggets out and store them all together.... Defrosing in nuggest sized portions means that you need only need to thaw what is needed precisely for the next meal  - however to freeze a large batch of food in this way you would need a lot of moulds and the space to freeze them all rapidly.

Bear in mind that meat contains a lot of fats and anything you use to store/freeze into may become discoloured. These items are recommended to be use solely for the purpose of storing your home made cat food and nothing else.

THAW

Thaw your frozen food overnight placed on the bottom shelf odf the fridge. Place on a plate to catch and water that has formed while in the freezer.

Once thawed the food must be handled as fresh meat and be used within 3 days -  if you have your portion sizes right this will not be a problem!

SERVING (& STEALTHILY INCREASING WATER INTAKE)

Feeding home prepared raw food can be a good way of getting your cat to take on more water without them noticing. This helps to safeguard their kidneys and urinery tract from damaging stones and infections and while we all already have water bowls, fountains and even the occasional running tap, the house cat is notorious for being a finicky drinker.

We already added water into the slurry part fo the mix but adding more now at serving time has three purposes.

1.  It sneaks more water into your cat(s) increaasing their daily intake without them even realising!
2. It makes a delicions gravy. Since I'm in the kitchen I heat water for making myself a cuppa and so l add some of this just boiled water mixing it into the chilled food in the dish making them a yummy gravy sauce. While making them a bonus gravy it also....
3. warms the food to "mouse" temperature making it even more species appropriate!

With regard to uneaten food... if you offer a meal that is uneaten or unfinished you can avoid waste by picking it up within 20 minutes of putting it down, cover it up and place it back in the fridge. This can be offered again at the next meal. Once it has been offered and left down twice it must be discarded and disposed of. Keep an eye on your portion size and if regularly being left, adjust them so that you are only offering what your cat needs and wants.

Cats fed with a a BARF diet need less mass of food.  The portion size you once gave as a canned commercial food may be too large.

Other Waste

Additional to the cat eating less in volume on a BARF diet, it is important to note that it is digested in a different way using different enzmes and at a different rate.

This smaller volume coupled with the different enzymes and digestion rate means that there is less waste matter output and that which there is is much less smelly.

More about my decision to buy a Grinder/Mincer

My cats are not used to eating chunks - though I will move them toward it since eating chunks and bones that are whole are much better for keeping teeth and jaws in good health. So mincing at least to begin with seems the best way to get them to change at a pace that works for them and for me.

I also want to add be able to add into their diets more in the way of speciest appropriate food since in the wild a cat would not be bringing down a cow to eat its heart, liver, meat. Nor in fact a sheep or even a deer... they might occasionnally get some as carrion but not often. A cat would however be able to catch a small rabbit, or small birds like the wood pidgeon and quail, or chicks and ducklings. And of course rodents. Those kinds of meat wont be available at the grocery store but there are online suppliers due to growing demand for species appropriate foods and who already suply zoos and so on, that can supply us domestically with these foods.

And finally, since I will have future litters of kittens in time - though nature would see it that the kitten would learn from mum and therefore begin naturally with what she would be easting (chunks) I will want to create for them a weaning mix - but this will be in the fullness of time.

For now I will enjoy my accomplishment of having made my first batch...

13 & a little bit x 400g-ish liverless batch
home made cat food for my princesses

Freezer Ready Clip Lock Boxes

Snow Fall

Well, all that snow we had at the end of February into March was rather a novelty and while the kids played happily outside, inside, for there two pampurred girls the icy weather called for warm fleeces to be pulled out and for the heating turned up a notch or two.

Thankfully Noodle still fitted into her fleecy tops but Prune not having one of her own had to borrow one.  Owing to it being slightly large this meant that as she walked forwards her back legs would step onto the hem of the Tshirt causing her to trip and fall.  A nappy pin soon sorted that holding the shirt closer to her tummy. It wasn't long before the Naked Sphynx girls toasty. Once dressed they didn't move far away from their beloved heat mat or snuggle bags.

Prune is being selfish and hogging all of the heat pad.
Only enough room for Noodle to have her bottom warmed!

That's better. Now they are sharing the space!

Spring is in the air

Sunny days mean warm spots appear & as ever Noodle & Prune make the most of them. They look so happy in these brightly lit spots, stretched out & relaxed as the warm rays generate extra heat on their skin.

Prune is growing fast & has a robust appetite, always the first to show up when I am in the kitchen at meal times. Hearing the familiar sounds of her bowls, she appears standing with her tail raised expectantly. Noodle arrives more stealthlike -appearing like a ghost I find her in my peripheral vision sitting at the end of the worktop - unless she is really hungry in which case she is nose into the food tub before I have had the chance to even dish it out!

Prune is a purr box, demanding of my attention, she will alternate play with an insistence that I stop typing immediately & cuddle - just as she is doing now. She has absolutely no respect for a keyboard & will walk all over it typing such gobbledegook. She is larger, more heavily boned than Noodle is & will grow to be bigger than Noodle is by the end of her first year.

Noodle is having a hard time still. She has been unwell on & off for some weeks despite my love & care. My bank balance has taken a real bashing with vets bills for her welfare. She was in a poor condition, of course, having & her pregnancy & raising her kitten but went downhill rapidly in the new year which was perhaps caused by the shock of my bringing in Prune so soon after she had weathered the inning and outing of people over Christmas and them all wanting to see her baby.  Yes, it's true that it only took 4 days for her to go from vicious sounding asp to mothering Prune by allowing her to suckle on her teats & to cuddle up with her & her kitten but it must have been a real period of upheaval for her.

Bring in Pru when I did was intended to help her to accept the loss of her kitten who I had sold & who would soon be gone. It worked in that she accepted Pru as being her kitten too & not yearning for her kitten when she had gone, but at what cost to her health?

She got an infection that took 2 weeks to sort out, with anti-inflammatory medicines, antibiotic injections and tablets. Having got better from that & back to more normal, she then began to be sick after eating. Another new period of vets visits with medicine this time to calm her tummy.

Happily, her weight is almost back to where it was pre-pregnancy so she is regaining her condition and now she is back to eating well.

Raw feeding is also going well & so I have purchased a meat and bone grinder so that I can make up my own foods in batches & freeze them down. This is going to be my next project - once I have sourced good fresh meat & the supplements that will be needed! I will let you know soon how that goes!

Just a patch of sunlight!

The girls have been settling in together - Prune has been here for 26 days now. They look so cute here in matching T-shirts.

Poor Noodle, having sold her kitten, I then brought in another, and so her teats were still in demand. Not that there is any milk, but as a comfort aid. And, though she has been patient, she doesn't like it! Putting a T-shirt on was a way to provide her with some peace and once her teats are left alone, they will not be subjected to sharp teeth during overzealous stealth comfort suckling.

Poor Noodle - she has had a rough time. She got a problem just before giving birth which resulted in some nasty skin issues, then she had to have a cesarean, followed by learning to be a mother and bringing up a kitten. She was worn out and got run down. Then we had Christmas and she was so patient as lots of people wanted to see and hold her baby, then doing her a favour, I brought Prune in to the house a few days before her own kitten was due to leave hoping that, since she had a kitten, she would maybe accept Prune as hers too, and that also having Prune here would ease her grief when hr own kitten left. She was very very angry at first and mistrustful of this new kitten but within 4 days, Prune was suckling her and cuddling up with them both.

On top of this, I also changed her feed regimen from a dry commercial kibble free fed diet to a frozen minced BARF diet.

One day, just around the time her kitten was to go, she came into heat for the 4th time since giving birth. She meowed frantically. And then her meow broke. I thought it was that she had meowed herself hoarse, but it didn't resolve despite the vet listening and checking, and administering a long-acting antibiotic injection and prescribing a course of anti-inflammatory meds. Noodle's throat remained sore and with a lively kitten wanting attention from her she got more and more depressed.

Role on another week, and following a general anaesthetic, x rays, swabs sent to a lab and more antibiotics, this time as twice a day tablets, more anti-inflammatories and I have almost got my old cat back. Her meow is not quite what it was before.. but it is being used, she trills with pleasure as she and Prune run around and play and she asks for food and is even now strong enough to complain about taking tablets.

I am poorer financially by a long long way but my much adored cat is better. She is going to be given a nice long holiday now without being mated (no matter how often she asks) and time and food to regain all her weight, vitality and strength.

Naked Sphynx Cat Family

It's amazing & remarkable how in just a few days these 3 cats have become a family. It litterally melts my heart.

Seeing Harley (Pot) play with Prune just as if they had been litter mates is so sweet. There is plenty of rough and tumble as they practice the skills of being predators & hunters. As you look at them thy are always weighing each other up...

I see them also taking turns..... where during one play session one will be the hunter & the other is prey. They play hard and so very soon become exhausted. All three cats wonder off settling down for a snooze always close together snuggled up in a bundle warm & cosy. The next time they wake the other kitten takes the lead & the zooming around begins again!

My downstairs has a natural flow, which is like a race track, they go around and around chasing one another with glee. Soon though one kitten will tire & tuck herself into a corner & wait...... until the other comes by & then she pounces & the chasing begins again. What fun!

Noodle meanwhile, is torn... I can see her desperate sometimes to play... the games we played together almost to the end of her pregnancy excite her, but she hold back, allowing the kittens to play & learn. Just occasionally, very, very occaionally, her inner kitten will emerge and she can't contain herself any longer & she will join in momentarily before backing off again & watching on.

If one of the kittens has woken & slipped away from the bundle, when she wakes she does a head count & with one missing she sets off immediately to find her... calling for her. It is touching to see her concern is not jus for her own daughter but for Prune too.

She is a mother now, & what I have witnessed since introducing Pru to the fold is that the nature of the cat is amazing. Though at first she was angry, & her instinct was to protect her own daughter, she has seen that Pru is just a kitten & was no threat, then she took her on as her own allowing her to suckle at her breast just as if she were her own. That is a beautiful thing to have seen.

Noodle is somewhat surprised when Prune sneaks in to suckle her.

A protective arm thrown over her adopted daugher

A bundle of cats (Pru is in the bag at the back)

Pru decides it is time to get up

Mum throws out a leg to say 'No, stay"

When this is ignored, Mum wakes & lets Pru know  that it is time fir her to rest!

Prune settles in & Pot gets her new forever name!

What an amazing few days!

Bringing home a new kitten is always wonderful and exciting especially one who fulfils dreams but we must not forget also that already at home is our own cat and her gorgeous kitten.

Noodle has been the most wonderful and attentive mother. It has been a delight and honour to be able to take part and watch on so closely as she rears her first baby. But as "Pot" has grown older and bolder and more boisterous, I have also seen the first signs of her saying "Look, I've had enough".

Christmas brought in people into her realm and she has been on high alert. All her instincts attuned to any danger that might befall her precious daughter.  She has been watchful, and benevolent as people have wanted to cuddle her sweet child.

So when all went back to normal after boxing day, she had breathed a sigh of relief, only to have me wreck the equilibrium on New Years Day by bringing in a new kitten. 

As I showed her the bag in which Prune was safe from harm the mother instinct in Noodle came to the fore like lightning. She was immediately on tenterhooks, her back arched, hissing and snarling warnings at this infiltrator. Pot ran over to see what the fuss was about - which made Noodle panic more as she tried to let this stranger in the midst know that she was unwelcome here.

After a while, as interest in the bag and its content settled more into curiosity than anger and so I opened the bag and watched carefully ready to swoop in if anyone looked to be in trouble. As Prune came out of the bag the hissing and snarling came again, but what was odd was that Noodle and Pot went straight into the bag now it was empty!

Pot was not scared or cross, she just wanted to play... but Prune was also overwhelmed in this new situation. She had been taken away from all that was familiar to her ad arrived into an environment that was hostile. She began then to hiss at Pot and try to avoid Noodle as she began anxiously to look at her new environment.

Noodle too was overwhelmed, flooded with anxiety, swearing and hissing at Prune AND in confusion also at her daughter who in her eyes was getting wrecklessly close.

Later that evening as I lay on my bed though all three cats were with me. Noodle and Pot were in their usual spot on the heat mat and Prune was tucked in close under my arm. But only the occasional hiss was made as a warning as if to say "I'm watching you". I gave cat treats to all and there was no swering or fights of any kind over these precious food items.

Day 2 was hissy as well... but by day 3 this had almost petered out. Noodle was still watchful and on high alert for danger but there were definite signs that she was beginning to accept this stranger.

Day 3 saw her taking a much more serious interest in Prune. Overnight she had begun to get close and to sniff and to lick Prune but also she would hiss quietly if Prune turned around and noticed her doing so.

Noodle was up in the cat tree den. And Pot ran and climbed up and entering the den she launched into full-on purring which could only mean one thing - she was taking a chance at suckling. Then, before Noodle could push her way as she had begun doing recently in her efforts to halt lactating, Prune had also dived in trying to suckle too. Noodle was so shocked by this and got up quickly taking herself elsewhere! Who did this stranger think she was to try to latch on like that. How rude!

Later that evening, I came into the bedroom fresh from the shower and there on my bed in the snuggle sack were Pot and Prune snuggled up and sleeping side by side.

Play times were and are very energetic. The two kittens are totally in their element. The absolute epitome of kittens at play - followed of course by periods of sleep. They play all of the games Noodle had enjoyed with me...and I could see her wanting desperately to play too but instead, her mother role keeps her just watching on.

January 4th was a miracle day. Now it was Prune and Noodle snuggling up in the sleeping bag together, Noodle's arm thrown over Prune as they spooned in their sleep.  Pot nowhere to be seen?

A couple of hours later, while Noodle has been pushing Pot away from her teets she was now allowing Prune to suckle her! That is surely acceptance? They are a family.

Super Mum Noodle

My hope that by getting Prune before Pot goes, so that Noodle would accept Prune as her own, and therefore grieve less when Pot leaves us may well have worked.

______________________

Speaking of which... On New Years day, Pot's new mummy, Kirsty texted in order to make arrangements to take her home. 

The date was agreed as Saturday 13th January. As we spoke I also asked had she and her family come to any decision about the name they were going to give to Pot.

They have! Her name is Harley. The name Harley is from Harley Quinn, a fictional supervillain originally appearing in the Batman animated movie. It is a great name for a kitten with bags of character and chutzpah as this one has.

Since the kitten knows her name as Pot-Pots when I call her I've now begun calling her "Harley-Pot" so that she gets used to hearing Harley as part of her name. This will seamlessly morph into her accepting and responding to being called Harley.

I will miss Harley so much when she leaves but I am also so excited about her new life and to hearing how she affects the world of her new family with Kirsty as her mummy! 

Harley - I can't wait for her life story to unfold.

Sleepy Head