We took a trip to see the vet yesterday. On examination, our vet Emily has confirmed that she felt  3 "Blobs".

There may be more, and of course, I am very aware that 'blobs' can fail to develop, however, we are quietly tickled pink & very excited!

I've noted things as her pregnancy develops. She sometimes wonders around the house meowing - but she doesn't seem to know what for. She has moments when she is extra purry & she is definitely extra sleepy too.

Go Noodle. My wishes for you are that you will have a super easy pregnancy followed by a normal birth at home with healthy kittens at the end.

A new pregnancy (& kittens) ahead!!!

It has felt like a very long wait but finally, Noodle's body went into full-blown heat on Sunday 1st July when she began calling loudly & incessantly for a mate.

At the earliest opportunity, on Tuesday,  we set off on our journey to take her to her stud male, Charlie, with whom she will stay for a few days giving plenty of time for them to have several successful matings.

When we arrived and went indoors she quite naturally showed her cross & grumpy self, faced as she was with excitable & interested cats & dogs who are strangers to her. She hissed and cussed a bit, but her still in her carrier, we went to a quiet room where she soon settled down.

After about an hour Charlie was brought in. At first, she hissed at him too, but Charlie is a "cool customer", he simply sat within eyesight of her ever the patient gentleman, just looking on.


After a while, it was time for me to set off coming back home to Prune who, bless her, had been left at home alone for the very first time. I wondered just how she would feel being without Noodle & at having me all to herself, even if it's only for a short time!

Gentle Charlie mating with Noodle

Noodle was soon settled into a room with her heat mat from home plugged in. It seems crazy, especially considering how hot it has been in recent weeks, that she spends so much time on it but she loves it & it is always THE favourite place to be for both of my girls.

Last year when Noodle went to stud with Charlie once she had accepted him, she was very happy to share space on her mat. My hope was that they would rekindle their previous acquaintance & do the same. Indeed, it didn't take long at all before they had done just that!

By Wednesday the first matings had occurred &, so over the coming days, there will be several more until such time as Charlie has lost interest & wishes to go back to his resident harem signalling I should return & collect her.

Once she is home we will begin our agonising 2-3 week wait watching her closely for those first signs of a pregnancy when there will be a change in her nipple colour from her normal light flesh tone to a brighter blushing pink.

Watch this space!

HCM Scanned Healthy Hearted Cats

2018 HCM Scanning

Having founded Hairless Hearts UK in January and working hard online to get the right people on board who can drive this project, the first Hairless Hearts UK HCM scanning clinic was held at Lumbry Park in Alton Hampshire on June 7th 2018. It was quite an adventure and I was privileged indeed to be given a tour of the facilities there. I was so very very impressed, and admit that my own heart was fluttery when I was shown the surgical suite. It is scary to think that you may have a pet needing the care that is provided at a place like Lumbry Park but at the same time, also very reassuring.

One of the 4 cats scanned at this clinic was Noodle. I didn't take Prune yet as she is under 12 months old and won't be breeding until next year.

Noodle was under par on the day we visited and so was quite antsy with the cardiologist Dr Luca Ferasin and his able veterinary nurse Jo Farminer. She did some hissing and swearing, however, Dr Luca declared her scan pictures to be "textbook". He could read them clearly and give a very accurate diagnosis during our consultation.

I'm delighted to know that Noodle is free from any sign of having HCM nor does she have any kind of heart defect at all. This scan result gives me the green light to breed from her again this year, hopefully with a better birthing experience that her first time.

The only male scanned that day was Charlie,  the Sire that used with Noodle last year and whom I plan/hope to be able to use again. He is also father to Prune and so his result was very important. He scanned clear of HCM (or of any other heart defect) thus giving him the green light to continue as the quality stud he is.

Another of the cats in clinic was Jasmine. She & Charlie are parents to Prune so its reassuring for me to know that Jasmine also scanned clear of HCM (or any other heart issue) meaning both of her parents are both heart-healthy.

This is Noodle's 2018 HCM Scan with my address & personal identifying details obliterated for personal security.

The Prominent False Tendon noted in "other findings" is absolutely normal and is seen in many cats. It is not a defect, nor does it cause or indicate any problem whatsoever.