Emergency Surgery

 The last post I wrote declared kittens were on the way and indeed, all appeared as if they were however, days after this post Prune became quite unwell and we sped off to see the vet. He did a scan and immediately told me ‘something was going on in there but no embryos could be seen on the scan. He told me that he needed to operate there and then which is very very frightening for any pet owner. I was given two scenarios… if it was a cancer, he would not wish to wake her up again, and anything else found would be addressed once he had opened her up. 

I got home and set up a pen on my bedroom so that she could come home (if she was well enough to) and be able to be kept immobile and safe. And waited for what seemed like so long. A couple of hours pass and I’m told she is alive, no cancer but the biggest intact pyometra he had ever seen in any cat. Usually they leak pus and give themselves away but how this was intact was a surprise given its size. It was attached to the bladder and the womb and ovaries had to be removed along with it. A photo of the pyo in a large kidney dish with a 30cm ruler showed that if straightened out it would be about 40-45cm long. A scalpel opened it afterwards and it was filled with poisonous pus. I was informed jad I not brought her it would have burst within hours and she would not have survived it. 

She returned home with pain meds, a week of antibiotics and a belly sewn down the middle. Bless her heart. A week into recovery things were better in some ways but then she started being bladder incontinent despite weeing in the tray regularly. Everywhere she settled was wet all of the time. Back at the vet she was lightly sedated and her bladder emptied. A scan revealed the internal wound stump looked inflamed. A blood test showed her kidneys had taken a battering with numbers on op day good, a week later she had grade 2 kidney failure. We returned home more comfortable, with more antibiotics for a further week. Within 48 hours the leaking has d stopped. And a week later on review I reported a much brighter cat. We were going to repeat the blood test that day but Mark my vet said let’s wait a couple of weeks as he would have asked for a 4tj test then anyway. So we made another date and went home to continue healing. By the time we went back again my formerly very sick cat was once more engaging in play, cuddles, had regained weight lost and was bright eyed enough to even having been wheel running too. Bloods taken again revealed improvement on her kidneys with a warning that any future general anaesthetic may not be dvissble and we would have to be careful what meds she might have later on in her life. Great news, except now they reveal liver issues and so a supplement was devised which we are now in receipt of and will start in the morning. 

I’m so so disappointed that there were no kittens after all. A final litter from Prune would have been a delight. She has been a remarkable mum over these last recent years. But I’m also very very VERY grateful to still have her to care for and love. 

Losing her after the trauma of losing Noodle last June (Father’s Day) would have been unbearable. She will have the best retirement that I can give her and hope this new supplement prescription will help her live a long and spoilt life.

Meanwhile there’s the small matter of her daughter Plum who just turned two and has been seeking a suitable mate. A stud boy we had waited for, didn’t do well on his heart score unfortunately so the search began all over again! Thanks to some kind breeders in the community we have now found another lad for her who has all of his tests and papers in place. 

She has just come down from her latest heat cycle so it will be on the next one in 3 weeks of so that she will get to meet him. 

There will be kittens, just not as soon as I’d hoped to have them! Plum was born here and so when she has kittens of her own they will be the first second generation ones born in my cattery! 

Quite the wound. 

Prune (left) & daughter Plum just after the incontinence saga (puppy pads on every surface!)

And here is my beautiful Prune now ♥️

Kittens incoming!!!!

My wonderful and remarkable Prune (Prunella Prudence) is pregnant. We are on DAY 20 & she has shown me all the signs needed to diagnose a successful pregnancy.

Since returning from her honeymoon holiday with her handsome beau Pru had been off her food, disliking her normal dish. With such short gestation it’s likely that this was caused by morning sickness. Yes really! 

By day 21 even if no other signs are apparent we expect to witness ‘Pinking’ which is the main physical sign.  If I had any doubt at all by now then the colour change in her teats would clearly announce that she is pregnant. I can confirm that they are sporting a nice rosy. 

Other changes in Pru are that her usually slim tummy is both more firm and gently rounded meaning the foetus’s are in place and rapidly developing. I wonder how many there are? What sexes and what colour each will be!!!  

Additionally,  as is totally normal for Pru, she gets very EXTRA in terms of being needy and this has also been going on. Unfortunately for me she mostly exhibits this extreme behaviour at night, suffice to say there’s going to be lots of broken sleep but with wonderful purrs and immense cuddles ahead. 

Look how lush she looks today. Im biased I know but she is a very pretty girl with such a striking look! I hope you’ll keep popping back to see the changes happening to her over the coming few weeks. 

 

With feline pregnancy lasting just 63-65 days, with us already at 20 days, this means these kittens will arrive at the very end of May or very early June! 

Kitten colours

Prune is solid black with vivid bright yellow-green eyes. Her beau is solid blue with a paler watery jade green eyes.

All their kittens will therefore be either solid black or solid blue. Previous litters between these two have all had the pale green eyes of their dad. 

Kitten Viewings

Video call

By arrangement once feeding is well established for the litter. 

In person visits

Offered by appointment only from week 8 (*only once 24 hours has passed after receiving first vaccinations and microchip implants).

Repeat Visits

If you choose to reserve a kitten, you may return weekly until collection day. Some new families like to practice bathing and grooming under guidance. 

Kitten Collection

Kittens will leave with their full kitten packs no earlier than 12 weeks and only after their second vaccinations and health clearance has been given from our vet. * please note that I reserve the right to withhold any kitten - even if she or he has been fully paid for, should either my vet or I feel that they could do with a little extra time at the cattery with their mother. This would always be with the well-being of the kitten at its core. 

Prune is set for retirement.

This will be Pru’s very last litter. She is to be neutered after this litter are fully weaned. She very much deserves to enjoy her senior years in peace & so will continue to be the much revered and loved matriarch of my household. 

Youth

Pru’s daughter Plum Pipsqueak is now of age and is letting me know that she is more than ready to meet the Tomcat of her dreams. I hope this will happen in mid to late May (subject to his heart screening)

Are YOU thinking of buying a Pedigree Sphynx Kitten to be part of your family? 

If you are looking for a top quality Sphynx kitten who comes from heart & FULLY health screened screened parents from a breeder who is pet centred, caring & ethical please don’t hesitate to get in touch. I am happy to answer your questions & be your guide if this is required. I look forward to hearing from you soon,

Mating Day!

After weeks of waiting for her after her weird call over Christmas, Prune finally went into heat on Wednesday/Thursday and so today, Good Friday I drove her to meet up with her beau. He wasted no time on pleasantries and was on her right away. We left them to it and soon, as we sipped a cuppa the first coitus yell was heard. 

Post mating day 1. Prune rolls and writhes to coat the releases egg with sperm

According to calculations I will know by April 19th (day 21) if she is successfully pregnant and kittens will arrive from day 63 May 31st. I think it will be June 1st or 2nd judging from her previous deliveries. This is definitely her last one and she will be happily retired after this her final litter of kittens are weaned.

I am SO proud of Prune. She has birthed some absolutely smashing kittens all of whom have been such characters and who fill their families lives with joy (and mayhem!) 

Plum has been calling regularly too desperate to procreate but we have not yet got a suitable suitor for her.

Can We Please Talk About Good breeding

It’s so so important that the stud and female cat are both properly health checked… this is not just a vet visit and up to date vaccinations and regular worming but includes very specialise necessary testing too. 

• First they must be free from FIV and FELV - this is tested by a blood draw done  by the vet.
• AND they must have also have an annual heart screening with an accredited VCS cardiologist .
• Additionally it’s ideal now if they have also been DNA tested by Ann accredited lab as we now know one gene that is proven to be linked to the genetic feline HCM so prevalent in this (& other) breeds. There are more genes to identify but it’s a beginning and we must use all the tools available to us

There are far too many people advertising studs for hire & kittens for sale without the cat or parent cats having had all of this screening - which does admittedly require financial investment by the owner/breeder before any kitten embryo is ever begin  . They then sell cheaply to unsuspecting buyers who have not been told about the breed or HCM and what is also sad is that most of these people do not even know about the need to screen for the diseases let alone to educate their buyers! 

As a person who openly adores this breed I take its future very seriously and fully recognise my duty if I am to breed from my pets to ensure it is a more robust breed in the years to come.

I take equally seriously the health and well-being of my dear cats, their mates, of their kittens and of the families to which those kittens will go.  I’m always happy to discuss HCM, and open a conversation about it with all potential kitten purchasers. I will explain how & why we monitor and try to safeguard against it. And I will explain the protocols to which we must adhere wherever it is discovered. 

My plea to you: 

Please please take time to research the Sphynx cat. It’s a wonderful, characterful breed & everyone who has one says (a) one is not enough &  (b) that they will always have them from now on. They are absolutely life changing pets. But please, you must also research your breeder and the way he or she takes care of their pets & kittens. 

Cheap kittens are not a ln easy or short cut way to become a Sphynx cat owner. Wht it is sadly & all too frequently is a shortcut to unhappiness & the devastation of loss. Buying cheaply encourages poor keepers to continue breeding poor quality kittens from poor quality cats. Pay for quality & buy from a registered breeder who shows you their documentation and is eager to talk to you about the breed and its health. 

Thank you