January 2021 - A pregnancy confirmation & update!

How Exciting!!! 

In the week leading up to Christmas Prunella Prudence (Prune) shown in the photos, was finally able to be mated with her handsome beau, Oz a gorgeous solid blue.

Prune returned home on December 23rd while we were still in Tier 2, & thankfully this time, she returned none the worst for wear (more on that below). It’s been an interesting 3 weeks what with Christmas, Tier 4, New Year and a lockdown while waiting for the clear visual signs of mating success. 

Slow at first to allow Oz to get close, they got their act together finally on the 4th day of her visit and so, I believe that she has “pinked” on time over the last 24 hours. (Pinking is expected 21 days after becoming pregnant)

I had high hopes.....She was sick over Christmas - just once (yes cats sometimes do have morning sickness!) and I’ve noted that since her return she has been unsettled and needy of attention, plus her nipples has also enlarged/changed shape. So, I was pretty convinced of her new health status but still watching for pinking. 

Her first pregnancy you see was mostly spent with her kept immobile, splinted & closed in a cage. This all necessary due to a freak mating injury which caused a her a painful toe dislocation which then had to be relocated by our wonderful vet under while she was under anaesthesia. Luckily her pregnancy survived this, but But because of the caged time she had I had not really witnessed and this early hours of the morning mostly very needy & generally increasingly unsettled behaviour the last time. And if I had, maybe I’d have put it down to her being in pain and closed in. All in all, it’s been evident she is aware something is going on and she is eating a lot more too! 

Anticipated Diary Dates: 

If this is definitely true pinking I estimate that her kittening will occur on or around 23-25th February 2021. 

This being the case kittens would be ready to go in mid May 2021.

Expected kittens;

As Oz is solid blue and Prune solid black her kittens will be solid black or solid blue and will have her yellow/amber or his green eyes. Blue/Aqua eyes do not occur in this coat/skin colouration. 

Her previous litter was made up of 3 blue (2 boys, 1 girl) & 2 black, (2 girls). Sadly we lost one of the boys in the first days but with a bit of tube, then bottle feeding the remaining boy, Louis, who was struggling at first too made it and all 4 kittens grew into strong, healthy, robust kittens (now cats) with lovely personalities who each have gone as pets into the most fabulous new families - with 2 of the girls Lux & Karma even going together. 

Meanwhile, an extraordinary thing, one of the black girl kittens Elvira, who went off to live in Plymouth in 2019, was unexpectedly joined during the summer of 2020 when Noodle’s girls, Gamora & Nebula, from her 2 singleton litters born by C-Section in 2017 & 2018 found themselves being displaced (by a dog!!!) & needing a new loving home. 

It could have been a terribly worrying time since I was then, as now, shielding from COVID plus I had not long previously, rather unceremoniously broken all 3 ankle bones of my left foot needing extensive surgical repair and a 10 week plaster! So much for saving the NHS 🌈 ! Good job Dee!

Proving beyond doubt that Naked Sphynx Cat Hampshire kitten parents truly do become extended family I was & am forever humbled & grateful when Ley & sons Zebb & Kallum, immediately offered them a fabulous loving forever home alongside Elvira, and her older boys Ash and furry Shady. 

Due to COVID (and my broken bones), the girls were collected and delivered by a courier - A big shout out here to Molly my committed and trusted courier who has since then also done another job for me when collecting NSCH new girl Floozy from Birmingham in September. Even  even in a pandemic we find ways to caringly, carefully & safely collect & deliver kittens!!!!

Upon reaching their new home it was obvious that Noodle’s darling little girls had become traumatised. Their previously cat-only home had been expanded to include a puppy who they had obviously become terrified by, thus they needed a new home. Thankfully 6 months on Ley’s enormous capacity for love & kind patience has worked some real strong cat-lady magic and they’re becoming well adjusted torture ladies again.  

🐾🐾❤️🐾🐾❤️🐾🐾❤️🐾🐾

So, with Prune confirmed pregnant, I will begin to blog updates here & on our Facebook page and later add vlogs on our popular YouTube channel as she expands from her usual svelte lithe self into a big round blooming flower. 

I’ll hopefully be able to capture the birthings & will then add birthing and kitten updates over the first action packed  days and over the 12 weeks they are with me before they get to go off into the world.... 

I really hope you’ll come along to share this ride with us. You can like/follow me or subscribe so you don’t miss a single thing!  

If you have interest in being owned by a gorgeous pure bred Sphynx kitten who has been lovingly home reared in an environment where all cats are more than equal  please do get in touch with us at NDCH. 

Just some key info; 

Application

Kitten Applicants as always will be asked to complete a questionnaire (sent via email) & then shortly afterwards to accept time on a telephone consultation with me. This is standard and always occurs prior to an invitation to participate in a viewing. 

It’s important to me to foster trusting & open relationships with my prospective kitten parents to ensure that you receive all the support you need and that my kittens can have every opportunity to find brilliant families to become part of.

Viewings

Please note: In light of COVID 19 and my clinically vulnerable status, I’m very sorry that no physical viewings will take place. We will instead hold video call viewings where you can observe kittens & their interactions, plus ask any questions you may have. Maybe you’ll choose one then too! 

Reservations

If you  do choose to reserve a Naked Sphynx Cat Hampshire kitten, after paying the non-refundable reservation fee, you may then enjoy further video viewings of your kitten each week if you wish. In person viewings used to be open only from week 8 due to my home remaining closed to all unrelated visitors in order to safeguard vulnerable unvaccinated kittens from pathogens. Vaccinations will still be carried our at week 7-8 with the microchip inserted at the same time, plus the follow up vaccination at week 11-12. No kitten ever leaves without all 3 having been carried out. Plus, if at 12 weeks I feel any kitten needs a few extra time with mum I reserve the right to delay collection.  

Collection

Again due to COVID, all kitten collections in mid May must be doorstep only & by appointment. I am medically immune suppressed & cannot invite anyone into my home. I will take your carrier inside to secure your kitten before passing him/her out with their kitten pack. It’s not ideal but it is the only way we have to make this work. 

I welcome all questions at any time & encourage continued contact where new families and love when they choose to share photos and stories of their new family member through their life. Please note that in any event I will make contact with you at least every 6 months just to ensure all is well. 

So, having lost last year, Prune’s journey begins for this long awaited second litter...

Not the right time or unsuccessful this time: 

It might be that the right kitten for you was not available this time, or we were inundated with more applications than kittens; don’t despair!

Thorough having had 2 c-sections I made the decision to have Noodle spayed we do now have Floozy who was born in June 2020. Floozy is solid blue & I plan, eventually, to breed her to Oz too leading to an all solid blue litter. Her first litter will at the very earliest not be in very late 2021 or better yet, she will hold fire for 2022. 

Sires 

Naked Sphynx Cat Hampshire does not keep a resident active male. I want to make sure that my girls are not overbred/continuously pregnant. Often the female is receptive again within just weeks of giving birth, while still feeding her current litter. Additionally, I do not not feel any degree of comfort with needing to live in a home whereby I must shut a pet away on their own to avoid matings. That animal would immediately cease to be a family member and lead a lonely life. It is not for me or my animals. 

My girls are family members. While I do carefully breed for a short period, they are not kitten producing machines. Their continued good health & longevity is my top priority. Breeding life for each lady is short and during this time it is controlled, plus, a bonus is that I can choose to use the services of carefully vetted stud males thus a wide gene pool protecting the breed from the dangers of inbreeding and I can make informed breeding choices. 

I’m sure they’ll be loads more information to come, for now, Happy New Year! 

Dee, Noodle, Prune & Floozy

❤️🐾🐾❤️🐾🐾❤️🐾🐾❤️

Naked Sphynx Cat Hampshire 

Birthdays in lockdown

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Prunella’s beautiful babies from her first litter whom were born last year during the early hours of July 3rd 2019 have celebrated their first birthday’s in style.

We were delighted that when wishing sisters Elvira, Lux & Karma plus brother Louis that all four babies had become stunning adult cats who continue to delight their families.

All 4 siblings are neutered pets. Lux & Karma who share their home with human parents Charlotte & Louis  have left litter trays in the past having been patiently & gradually trained to go while perched on the toilet though as far as I know, neither has learned to flush!

Elvira has a dynamic household having gone to share a home with furry Shady ( yes, the real slim!) and fellow but senior Sphynx cat Ash. The family swelled again when they were joined in June by 2 new adult Sphynx sisters who required a new loving home thus swelling their household numbers considerably since they have not only their human mummy Ley but also their 2 adult human brothers Zebb & Kallum. Sadly for the family dear gent Ash more recently has died. 

Finally dear Louis who was the smallest of the bunch and who lives with his human family of 4 Celebrated his birthday with a very special birthday cake presented by his human dad Maurice.  

A Devonshire re-homing

Well, this year isn’t quite going to plan for any one of us is it? I’d planned an early spring mating so that we would have had a brood of lovely babies from Prune again, & knowing she would have quality kittens had ‘husband’ Oz booked in for her romantic getaway....

But Covid 19 came along which was for me followed swiftly by a triple broken ankle. This double whammy has forced my hand in halting any breeding (or other) plans. Being immune suppressed I’m shielding very much confined to barracks, as well as being immobile having been operated on & then in a cast 10 slow weeks! Imagine if Prune had been away with Oz before my accident.... how would I have coped with kittens rearing - oh my!

So while we remain kitten free (for now) we have still seen some action in that I was contacted in a text message in May by the lady who had taken both of Noodle’s kittens born a year apart, the first, Gamora, in 2017, the second, Nebula, in September of 2018. She was informing me that unfortunately she could not keep them & asking for my help in rehoming.I would have loved to have taken them in myself, they are Naked Sphynx Cat Hampshire babies after all, the only babies my beloved Noodle managed to rear over her two very difficult births, but sadly, in my situation that is an impossibility. I felt desperate panic at first, feeling helpless as I battled my injury pain, but I resolved that I would move heaven & earth to find them a wonderful new home together. I have some good friends & I know that someone would have helped me, even if it was only an emergency temporary arrangement. 

I take great when selecting to open viewings to a kitten by any applicant. I ask lots of searching questions in efforts to ensure they are going only to homes that are worthy of them, that have the experience or at least the willingness to learn & to provide the care this breed needs. However, there are no guarantees; as a breeder & a human being, I recognise that life doesn’t always go according to plan so I make it part of the sales contract that, in the event a rehoming is necessary, that the owner knows to come back to me rather than to rehome the cat(s)themselves. And this is what was happening.

Gamora 2017

Nebula with mummy Noodle 2018

Opening my phone I sent a short message initially to just 3 contacts. These were people whom I knew loved Noodle’s colouring & who might have had room to give love & a forever home to two very pretty ‘inactive‘ tortie girls or in the case of the 3rd contract who might know someone reliable who might be looking

Incredibly & unbelievably, within just 10 minutes my dear & totally wonderful friend Ley whom I had met only last summer when advertising Prunella’s gorgeous kittens, came forward immediately but saying that she would love to have them but that financially she could not afford them. When I said no money exchange was involved I proceeded to fall forever into her debt when her response was ‘they are Noodle’s babies, it helps you and it helps her, there is no question - the answer is YES!”

I thanked her, then I asked her to sleep on it, to talk to her sons, to think about it again from every angle.... she said she didn’t need to but I like to think she went away & did.

A few mad days followed as we tried to fathom out the logistics of the move. With both Ley & I shielding & the cats residing near Brighton, while Ley is in Plymouth plus the country in lockdown this was not likely to be straightforward.

The journey from Brighton to Plymouth was considered too long..... Ley’s medical conditions would certainly could not have allowed her to have done this and as I was on the subs bench in plaster, we discuss the possibility to a drop of & pick up from me in Chandlers Ford. I’d love to see the cats as well as both ladies, but as Ley would need a decent break before heading back & us both shielding there were sound reasons this was not going to be doable. It was suggested we delay, but what is Covid got worse again & a harder lockdown was then imposed?  We had to work out a safe way to move them quickly to ease the situation Gamora & Nebula were in, to move them while doing everything possible to avoid stressing them while protecting everyone from

A pet courier was the next suggestion & so I set about finding a sensibly priced & trustworthy courier service.  Tendering the job online I received several quotations. Having asked some questions  I felt confident enough to book two wonderful ladies who on the day did exactly just as they said they would....

Gamora & Nebula 2018 settled in sisters.

Arriving on the dot on the agreed day, the cats were duly collected & with painful goodbyes said, the girls were soon underway, with one lady making sure the precious cargo were OK while the other took care of the driving.

Nebula 2020

With lockdown still widely observed the roads leading to the Devon coast were much quieter than they would normally be at this time of year. Along the way I received the promised text updates - both cats promptly slept - & the final text to tell me they had arrived at their destination & that a socially distanced handover of cats & documentation was taking place.

Gamora 2020

And so with that, a new chapter for Gamora & Nebula had begun.                                                    

Ley now began the intense job of settling in two new girls. Gently, over a few days Noodle’s daughters met Sphynx gent Ash, Moggy (the real slim) Shady & Sphynx adolescent Elvira (mistress of darkness) one of our superb kittens from Prune born in 2019.

Gamora had headed to high ground, to what Let calls the ‘bat cave’ a cat bed on top of a wardrobe, while Nebula went low & dark tucking into a secluded cat bed underneath a bedside cabinet. There they stayed, while their new siblings were kept out of the room. As night fell laid back Ash was allowed back in to take up his customary position on the bed beside Ley while Shady & Elvi stayed downstairs.

There was much low-level grumbling from both new girls who simply wanted to let any one know of their displeasure, a warning of sorts that they were not happy.

During the night, Gamora came down drank some water, ate a couple of mouthfuls of food, used the litter tray and returned to the wardrobe top.  Nebula stayed put. Next day grouching continued & concerned that they might become dehydrated & hungry Ley put food in each cats chosen position. Toward the end of the day, the cats met Zebb & Kallum Ley’s adult sons. And this seemed to signal a turning point particularly with Gamora.

Within 2 days all cats had met, & although some grumbling was continuing, slowly each individual was getting the measure of the other, with Zebb voted hot favourite when at some point after checking out other parts of the house, the new girls decided to take up residence in Zebb’s room.

I was overjoyed a few days later when I received a short video on What’s App... Ley panned around her room where I counted 1, 2, 3, 4, FIVE cats all in her bedroom. They might not all be on the bed together, but a promising start.

In the next blog we will be celebrating the 1st birthdays of Louis, Lux, Karma & Elvira who turned 1 on July 3rd with some fabulous new photos, there’s an update on Gamora & Nebula’s settling in and I can reveal the rather exciting new skills learned by sisters Karma & Lux !