Anxiously waiting

 Yikes. If Pru got down to mating on the day I dropped her off (& if that the first mating had succeeded) today is day 65. If the first mating was the next day (this was reportedly heard) then day 65 is Monday 23rd. 

There have been clear signs that labour is ready to go… or begun…. but Prune has yet to begin any kind of physical effort. There was some digging behaviour today and lots of cleaning of her lady bits, some small mews (she’s usually silent, not given to speaking a great deal) which tells me she is feeling something. She’s laid for a while allowing me to softly rub her tummy which is unusual too.  

I’ve been on an absolute knife edge since Friday and am exhausted with it but can’t sleep for fear that she will need me & I won’t know. The trouble is that there was no visual on her matings. She is right to dates and so I’m holding my nerve that everything is ok… but I won’t lie, I’m very tense & uneasy. I love my beautiful girl so very much and want everything to go smoothly. There’s no reason for it not to. Her previous 2 labours/Kittenings were textbook… but I can’t help but be afraid for her and her babies especially after what Noodle experienced with her 2 pregnancies (resulting in loss of kittens and a decision to spay) I feel so haunted by the trauma. 

Breeding is such hard graft. It’s hellishly expensive. Heart and health testing, stud fees, breeder insurance, cattery & kitten registration, etc. etc, but it’s emotionally testing too because it is placing your cat  at risk she would otherwise not be experiencing. While birthing is of course a natural thing - I also know that it’s very easy to lose neonatal kittens and it can happen that you could even lose a cat too. I haven’t lost a cat in these circumstances but know other breeders who have. These thoughts haunt me so much in the days where Labour is due. Please let kittens appear safely tonight Prune . 

From Labour 2 Snoozing

 

How cute are these two? 

Prune was showing all signs of being in early labour first thing this morning however after me taking her out of my curtains (again!) and opening them to shed light on things she decided NO and halted all progress. 

 

She has stuck close by me all day though (see below) so I believe she’s might just waiting for the silence of the dead of night - when instinct tells her that predators are less likely to discover her & her progeny (evolution built in) to begin the process again - I hope I’m right 😊

For now Noodle & she are curled up together

 (above image just taken) 

zzzzZZZZZZ

WATCH THIS SPACE 

A look toward the future

 

With just days Togo before I will get to welcome Prunella Prudence’s newest litter into our lives, I thought it just awesome to receive this image today. It’s  Basil, a rather dashing almost adult boy, born to her last July (2021) using the same male. Isn’t he a gorgeous boy? He has his dads solid blue colouring & green eyes, but has his mums lighter frame & more pointed face shape. He is currently no longer the baby in his home as a “sibling” dog named Meg where he lives has recently birthed her first (& only!) litter of 6 pups. Basil is keen to engage with them though as you can see here

: 

Prune is eating like there’s no tomorrow: she is usually a delicate little eater but with babies imminent who are piling on the last few grams ready to make their appearance & Pru’s milk reserves getting ready to be called upon she is hoovering up much much more than usual, about 4 x more than she would usually get through! 

Here’s a sweet picture I got last night taken in extreme close up with her perched upon my chest as she craftily stops me from knitting!  I’m very happy to set it aside a while to give her the comfort she is plainly after. 

There’s movement being felt from both sides when my hands cup her belly while she rests. Clearly there’s lots of stretching of limbs going on. Her breast tissue has become more pronounced and the markedly dark black pigmentation I’ve seen arrive again around her genitals snd anus in the latter stages of pregnancy is now also very evident on the backs of her legs. Obviously it’s a hormonally driven occurrence as it’s occurred in each pregnancy she has had, however I don’t really know if historically this darkened skin would serve and kind of evolutionary purpose ??? While I’ve mentioned it here several times I’m not going to bother her to try to get her to “pose” for photographs so unless I get any during Labour & birth that show it it’s unlikely I can show this. 

Hopefully the best time I update the website will be news of kittens, so do check back for news, and, as always, if you are considering adding a Sphynx kitten to your life now or in the future lease do get in touch. We are always very happy to chat & answer any questions you might have about caring for & living with the breed. See you soon x