Update on coconut oil bath results

Noodle has become very dirty very quickly since having her coconut oil massage pre-bath this week. We won't be using it again.

Coconut Oil Massage & Bath PLUS Moving Day

What a landmark day!

My human (MH) decided to give this coconut oil massage malarky a go today and so she shut herself with me in the warm bathroom and opened a jar of 100% organic coconut oil.

Digging her fingers in it melted almost upon touch and the smell was divine... well she thought so anyway. I am reserving comment.

The massage was really quite nice but I knew a bath was coming so I was finding it hard to relax into it. It didn't feel heavy on my skin as I waited for the bath to begin.

Next, MH pulled on her exfoliating gloves. We don't use them for every bath but I'm guessing this one was to be special somehow.

Gloved and raring to go, now I was rubbed down with Johnson's baby shampoo into a smooth lather and finally, I was dunked back legs first into the water and rubbed all over to make sure every part of me was soapy and cleaned. I must confess, I don't make this easy for MH and am usually trying to find a way to leap out.

I was then lifted out and showered off with warm water and wrapped in my bath towel ready for ear and claw cleaning and lastly clipping any that had become too long.

MH was satisfied... my skin feels fine, much the same was a bath without the oil.

Meanwhile, the birth nest box we've been using has been moved out and in its place, a caged area set up allowing more room for my kitten to wonder about freely and to exercise her legs and grow stronger. The doors are open so we can wander in and out as we please so now Pot won't be confined to the box which she was unable to get out of. It's wonderful as there is space in there too for a few toys as well as my beloved heat mat, and of course a bowl of dry food for snacks. Lastly, for a bit later in her development there's space as well for a small litter tray when weaning begins.

Teeth & Testing Them

'Pot' the kitten is now just past 4 weeks old and is becoming very aware that there is life of some sort going on outside of the nest.

Her eyes capture me as I go by stalling me in my track. I reach in to smooth the flank of her mother who as always is purring and wanting my eyes on her. As my hand goes by, a soft paw, spread as wide as it can be, like a tiny baseball catchers mitt, reaches out. Oh, so you want to play, do you?

I offer my other hand to pet her and she seems to want more, she takes my finger between her two front paws and opens her mouth to explore what it is. She has teeth! They are tiny spikes, but she has not yet learned (or perhaps doesn't have the strength) to bite and hurt me.

Later, I tickle her soft warm belly, and she really engages in kittenish play..I wonder at the kind of life she would have in her nest now had there been siblings in her litter. Her play touch is gentle and sweet, all four limbs, over which she has not quite full control, overextend with the hands and feet open as wide was can be so I can see each little web of skin between each finger and toe.  They try to wrap around the fingers of my hand, their tiny talons touching my skin but there is no power in her at all yet. I become aware of my face stretched into a smile and of my heart filling with love.

Soon, she rolls over and heads off towards one of the toys I've placed in the nest, she mouths it for a few seconds, but loses interest when there is no reaction... then she turns and comes back towards mum for a feed.