New Digs & New Arrival

Hot on the heals of Prune giving birth, in the early hours of this morning our family was blessed with a new addition. Adelaine Belle Westwood was born at 4:40am weighing 7lb 12oz and has an impressive shock of dark hair. She is my second granddaughter, my 3rd grandchild and I believe completes the set. I have Tia who will be 16 later this month, Holden aged 3 and now Adelaine.

 

Meanwhile, it’s a busy week for the lads who had their first effort at taking their milk from a dish yesterday.  One blue kitten picked it up reasonably well right away raising my hopes while the others were decidedly unimpressed. It’s a juggle fending off the adult cats who would like to show them how to drink it while at the same time holding the dish aloft at kitten height while also tilting it to make it easier for them and with the fourth hand, guiding the kitten gently toward it. Because last night became the one in which I was called away I needed to revert back to the syringe & teat to be sure that they had had their milk quota and in good time as I dashed away overnight leaving mum in charge. I did check in a couple of times with my web cam. 

Having dashed back this morning to feed them and scoop the poop (adults) I got back to the dish this afternoon. No one was interested with a “no ta, I don’t think much of that” it was an exodus leaving me to clean up the milky puddles. 

This evening, the chaps have had a house move upgrading into their new apartment complex in which they have a shallow dish of water (to watch & learn as I’m sure the adults will decide the kittens water is far superior to than their own). Hopefully they’ll want to investigate the dish and practice lapping so the transition from suckling can happen organically. I’ve also placed inside a shallow litter tray and light gravelling of litter. Aunty Noo has already shown them how to dig in it but given its small/shallow  and I’ve only put a small amount of litter I’m hoping that for now there’ll be no practical demos in there. 

The move went comically actually as I had gone round as far as I could with the cot bumpers I now have (one outstanding still to arrive), but there was a long gap due to them having also one cot bumper which was still in the “nest” crate. I quickly put the boys into the pen along with blankets they’ve been using (so that it smelled familiar). I’d hoped the new and unfamiliar place, which my dear grandson had filled with toys this morning. The adult cats alerted to change were keen to be part of the process jumping in and out of the pen so I’d hoped they’d stay put while I dashed back into my bedroom to untie and grab the cot bumper however, by the time I’d returned, 2 naughty kittens (pretending to be looking for lost mittens?) were out in the room! Now they’re secure - or as much as they can be given that one seems keen to climb and scale the bumper as it’s it’s an assault course climbing wall assembled specifically for their physical development! They’ve yet to discover too they can burrow under. That can be our secret for now though right? 

 

 

The crate is now collapsed down, (ready for next year?) & I can open my wardrobe again so after 4 weeks I can get a different outfit or two! They have a new cosy nest…(I’ve used the top layer of a 4 apartment cat condo) but what, or who is inside? 

Changes!

Hi there everyone. It’s 4 weeks ago today these little lads arrived in the world and they’re continuing to thrive. 

For the last few days Mum has been calling to her offspring while sitting watching down from the corner of my bed. She will also stand and call from the roof of the nest. This beautiful sing-song voice warbling gentle encouragement.   

Answering g her, two of the brothers will now leave the nest all by themselves happy to go explore a bit. So far they’ve remained in my bedroom no interest shown yet in setting foot over the threshold of the planet of carpet to the land of cold hard laminate. They have investigated the dark spaces under the pine chests of drawers - much to the aggravation of Floozy who really would like to follow but is too big. She patiently (enviously) sits & watches, making a big fuss of welcome when they emerge! (This enthusiastic welcome is “do you need the toilet?”  👅 😂) 

I so love seeing these miniature cats running along with their tails raised in joy as they trot across the floor to discover their world. 

On the other hand there is Puds (the affectionate moniker I’ve given to the little black kitten) and his other little blue brother, who have so far not wanted to set off on their own adventures. I’m very happy as always to let them all set their own pace. Mum will continue to sing her encouragement songs 🎵 

Oh but they’re all so cute. I’m getting lots of purrs of excitement & welcome when I sit with them to provide milk or even when I’m just there for cuddles! 

I’ve just been watching this delightful little scene unfold & wanted to share it with you. Apologies for the picture quality. I’d zoomed in a lot so it’s looking a bit grainy. Do watch as mums eyes shine as she opens and closes them as she tries to steal a nap! I became aware as I filmed that one of the blue lads had come from behind her, and was laying over the top of her in an attempt to grab a quickly feed from his unusual vantage position… watch what happens…

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!