Pick me! Pick me!

Today at the cattery we were the recipients of some very special VIP guests as we had our first in person viewings. 

Covid has created huge changes for example, last year breeders physically saw no one and relied wholly upon video calls & doorstep hand overs. This year, though we still have threats to consider I hoped this year we could have restricted viewings which meant allowing only one person to come inside. Luckily today the weather was beautiful so my little patio space was able to be used meaning Dad & the children could also take part, remaining outdoors but connected through the screen that keeps cats in safely while mum, duly masked, came inside to get hands on. 

I am happy to confess that, although the viewings & reservations mark the beginning of our eventual farewells to the kittens, I very much love the happiness these cats & their kittens generate in others. While smiles are hidden behind masks, the eyes dance and the voice tells its own story of the pleasure they bring. How joyful it is to finally meet those new people, the person I’ve been emailing & messaging as we get to know one another for several weeks by exchanging photos snd updates, these amazing folk who will, by adopting a kitten we’ve raised become part of our family too. Yes today was a wonderful day!

With three blue boys, almost identical (a little size here and there, a matter of grams!) differentiates visually only by the wearing (or not) of a coloured collar. Now we see for the very first time how the dynamics happen and, today rather than the new parent picking the kitten, it was a case of the kitten making himself known, as if you say pick me! And so, it is that “No Collar Kitty” was today reserved by a beautiful little family who happen to live only about 10 miles away! He does have a name… well it’s a choice between two options so, I shall keep schtum until it has been decided! 

In other news, so much for kittens being possibly subdued after having their vaccinations! Pah! No such thing. There has been much mayhem here today with cavorting kittens running, climbing, chasing, pouncing, wrestling (complete with yells!). I’ve been a platform, a and a climbing frame and at one point while I was slouching on my bed,  even had a kitten leap from the pillows behind me onto my head. The acupuncture is a bit ouchy!!

Here’s a short video of  those “subdued” kittens having a quiet day… with sound of you want to hear those battle cries! 

Little warriors!

These 4 little soldiers visited the vet today, along with mum. We were stopped going there and leaving several times as folk spotted and wanted to admire them with photo calls made by the vets receptionists. Best Hollywood smiles by the lads! 

In with the vet, mum had her go first, glands, heart, lungs, tummy, limbs, feet, ears, eyes & teeth all passed muster and she then was weighed before receiving her vaccination. This actually was slightly overdue as her anniversary fell while she was pregnant and therefore she couldn’t have had it then.

Settling her back in her carrier, now our attention turned to her sons. Humphrey went first and was examined all over. He & his tackle were thoroughly examined, and pronounced perfect. He weighed in at 995g so almost at a kilo! Go Humpty! Now was the bit where he needed to be brave and he was given his vaccine (minus leukaemia) , followed by the larger puncture wound created by the microchip implant. He didn’t make much fuss and was given a kiss and a hug and returned to the carrier.

Next up, kitten 2 (as the vet records show) was checked over. He has a slight conjunctivitis in one eye which we will bathe with salt solution to get rid of that. He weighed  990g. Next he received his vaccine, then microchip, snuggled for being brave (small yell only) and returned to the box. 

Kitten 3 was also perfect, weighed 805g, but was not so brave about his jab or chip. He bled for a minute of two so had longer hugs while I pressed the wound with a gauze pad. 

Last but not least kitten 4 as perfect as his brothers weighed in at exactly 900g and made the most fuss about the vaccine and chip. Again some bleeding which soon was stopped while we snuggled and the. we were free to pay & go. 

I’d not fed them before we left so they were very ready indeed to eat when we got back. Then, having filled those bellies, they bypassed the toys and all retired to sleep off their adventure. 

They may be a little subdued for a day or so having had their vaccines, and just like when we have a jab, the injection & implant site will be a little tender but they will perk right up and be right as rain in a day or so. 

As I’ve been writing, the lads have had another feed & are currently playing with their favourite box, and a selection of balls! 

Regarding my choosing to withhold the leukaemia element of the vaccine: As a breeder, because there have been reports of kittens having severe reactions to this vaccine which can sometimes lead to death I choose not to take the risk with my kittens. However, having the vaccine is a matter of choice. When they leave us to go on to their new family, they will be indoor animals, so it’s very unlikely that they will encounter the virus. However, should their new family wish for their kitten to receive this part of the vaccine as early as possible, it is important to know that it can be administered independently by their own vet at any time. 

The vaccine is re-given every three years, so, if new families decide to wait until their annual booster is due when the kitten has reached 12 months of age the vet can administer it then. 

I’ve been hunting high & low at home while the boys slept for my microchip scanner. I seem to have lost it. I did see it when Prune was pregnant and I remember thinking then that I’ll need to charge it up soon, but now I don’t know where it is. Do you ever go round and round relooking in places that you’ve already looked in two or three times already? Well, that’s been me today. I’ve also been looking in places it’s very unlikely to be, but, 3 hours of looking while I tidied and cleaned, it is unfound. I feel frustrated and annoyed that I cannot think where I’ve stashed it. 

Exciting news!

 Well, here we are on busy Wednesday, so far I’ve got the kittens are now all bathed. Their bath waters were all much less grimy than it was when they had their first bath at 6 weeks. Next, baby wipes out and their claws were cleaned , but I decided that they didn’t quite need them clipping just yet - they won a small reprieve there. Next ear cleaning and again, they were much cleaner than they were on the first occasion. Humphrey was bathed first, he was very calm and sedate. Next came the collarless blue who was a little less still. Next was the kitten who had had the green collar on, he wiggled as did the kitten who had had the lilac band. They each have a clean, different coloured adjustable collar on . I will see how they go today with these. I’m very conscious that they’re designed for use with fur babies and so if their skin looks like it’s in danger of being abraded I will remove them and use the snag free hair bands again which are very soft. I have plenty more of those! 

No sweet 🌹 Rose, I shall not reveal which colour collar I’ve replaced with which! That’s my little secret (for now!) . 

The collars are important for the vet tomorrow as he must keep a separate medical record for each kitten. At the moment, when I booked the appointments in I just called them kittens 1- 4. Tomorrow each record will have data added, such as the health data and weights, the individual batch number of their vaccinations and the microchip that’s implanted. So having kittens identifiable as they work is vital, particularly as since Covid owners cannot do into the consultation rooms with their pets. So kitten 1 tomorrow may be noted as colour solid black and bear his name, Humphrey while another example might be kitten 2 will be solid blue no collar, kitten 3 solid blue red collar, kitten 4 solid blue purple collar . Even if they have different collars by the time they go back again (they will I’m certain!), and each will be then have been given his name I’m sure, their records having notes such as this will help keep their health records correct for their new families.

So, exciting news I promised you, and ….🥁 …🥁 …🥁 … I’m ready to deliver! Although no reservation fee has as yet been paid, Im thrilled so reveal that each little lad now has the offer on the table of a fabulous & perfect new home to go to! 

Humphrey (black) is set to be a future breeding cat doing his bit to ensure that future generations of Sphynx cats will carry the healthy genetics this cattery insists upon forward helping to assure the breed’s strong future without genetic heart defects. As I do not keep any male myself, he is going to be in the cattery where his mum Prune came from. What’s fabulous is that that cattery which has two males, one who is Prunes Dad, the other is her “husband” so the new generations that Humphrey will sure carry a bit of both the those fine gents forward. 

The blue brothers are each going to their respective new families over the next three days and will (with the permissions given) be able to have their names revealed. 

I believe that the right families have come forward for these beautiful kittens and that each will have fabulous lives and change those of the families that are being adopted into. I’m delighted. Thank you all for choosing Naked Sphynx Cat Hampshire Cattery . 

For now, here’s a rather attractive snap of a snack being grabbed at while mum was busy minding her own business having a groom! 🤣 She is so patient, she carried on anyway!