The boys have been testing out their skills! One task they seem keen on it trying to climb up the fabric padding insulating their nest. In this video they were doing the climbing as I began to film but they lost interest. I soon noticed “Pud” the little black lad had one of his sharp claws caught. Note to self  to clip the sharp points off tomorrow (they do get caught in the towel I place them on to feed as well so it’s over due having not been done since 1 day after their birth!)

Their little teeth are being tested - on each other and the teats as I feed them. They’re changing how they suckle so a dish is going to need to be introduced very soon now. That’s progress, but I’ll miss my little one on one feedings. They’ll still get milk from me for some weeks yet and will continue to suckle mum as long as she will allow them to. I haven’t seen her push them off or yell as they nip her as yet and she still visits regularly to offer them nursing. It’s always a little comical and ungainly when she decides to get up when they’re suckling and they tumble over, but when she next comes back they’ll soon go to nuzzle in to feed again and she’ll settle down needing to be in some weird positions to accommodate them. 

Still waiting for the extra cot bumpers to arrive for the pen. The first ones were a completely different design than I’d expected so I’ve had to re-buy more! Oops! 

Brothers Romp

 I was sitting knitting & watching TV when I noticed the kittens making a noise that was not the yelling they do when calling me to deliver food. I saw them at play so reached for my camera to record it. I zoomed 2.5 so that I could record without distracting them in any way… this is day 24 & they’re learning how to be hunter/predators - they’re so cute its adorable! 

Midnight snack & weigh in!

Dad - Oswald 

 Another busy busy day here at Sphynx Cat Central. All the adult girls got bathed. Prune was well over due as I let her be last time as she had only a couple of days earlier given birth and I’d not wanted to bath her late on in her pregnancy given her size. She sure needed it & the ear cleanse & manicure too! Those talons!!! 

Sadly, none of my girls love water, despite my efforts to entice play so baths are a necessary evil. Noodle, who used to put up with it begrudgingly now fights to get away and comes out in hives (we use Pet Remedy room spray before & during bathtime as well as their shampoo all in efforts to de-stress this as much as possible. The results as ever are worthwhile. Noodle looks positively glowing being the lightest in colour she looks grubby quickest. Thanks to overzealous Floozy play she has some bite grazes around her neck area, bless her. She is often the instigator of catch me if you can, so she must enjoy the game. I am often run over or used as a springboard as they rampage through the bedroom or lounge.

Anyway, it’s nearly 12:45a.m & I’ve just given a late feed. I’ve noticed that in the last few days their appetites have gone nuts. It could be that Prune is producing less milk….they still suckle her a lot & she visits frequently to allow them to nurse, plus their tummies are never empty, so it’s more likely a huge growth spurt and milk becoming less satisfying.

I’ve also not seen any avoidance behaviour on Prune’s part as yet, but it won’t be long I don’t think as their first teeth are coming in. They’ll be over zealous, and nip her so she will soon begin to stop laying for them so much. She’ll start to grumble at them & push them away rather than leave them to drop off to sleep while suckling because they’ll get over zealous with their new pearly whites! 

I’m now feeding around 40- 50ml between them at each feed I provide (4 times a day). The good feeding they get from us both certainly shows in their weights which tonight are Black (Pudding) 446g, and the Blue lads are 424g, 407g & 356g. That 356g weight surprised me a bit, he’s not looking like a 51g lighter kitten. 

This is the last week that I will syringe/teat (Miracle Nipple™ ) feed them as next week they are going to be taking the next big steps. Lesson 1 is learning to drink from a dish. From there we will move on to weaning. And with that must come litter training since mum & her willing helpers will immediately stop performing toileting duty. Well, maybe Floozy won’t at first & she too will get a life lesson! Oh boy!

My beautiful daughter in law is almost at the end of her pregnancy. I’m on call for when the action starts - whence I  will drop everything to take care of my (feral) toddler grandson, Holden while his little sister is being born. Holden arrived almost a fortnight early so with only 1 week until the official due date left (as of today Sunday August 1st) it is quite literally an any time now situation. My plan is (hopefully) to start to wean & litter train after my new granddaughter has safely arrived. This will allow me to give it my full attention, however, if baby decides she’s too comfy where she is, with the appetites of these little darlings, I may well have to begin beforehand. We will see! 

Good night all 🐾🐾❤️🐾🐾