Lily’s Third Litter – Kitten Diary

Birth – 17th August 2013

We expected Lily to give birth from 16th August so I moved into the kitten room a few days earlier. She was huge and very uncomfortable so I was fairly surprised she lasted until 8am on Saturday 17th August. I was woken up by Lily crying at Pippa. She sounded strange and when I started talking to her I noticed her tummy contracting. I woke Andy up and got everything ready. The first kitten took quite a while as he was coming out tail and feet first. Lily seemed to be happier once the first one was out and settled into a nice routine of 1 every 20-30 minutes. Pippa helped clean the babies off and keep them warm. 6 beautiful babies took around 2 hours to come out. They were all about the same size, a hefty 100grams! Lily quickly settled into being a fantastic mommy cat.

Week 1 – 24th August 2013

All babies were great weights and it appears that there are 5 boys and 1 girl. Two of the babies are definitely brown solid boys but the other colours are not so clear at the moment. I currently think there are two chocolate and two blue but I frequently change my mind.

Pippa has been helping Lily mother the kittens but got very confused the first few days. I think she thought the babies were hers and she kept hiding them from Lily and us. We ended up having to shut all doors except the kitten room. She seemed to like Orange the most as that was the one she kept taking. Cosequently Orange lost weight over the first 24 hours so I started to supplement him. This did the trick and his 2nd night was spent screaming at me for milk as it was quicker than trying to fight for a nipple! This resulted in hourly to 2-hourly feeds and a very tired Lorraine!!! Fortunately for me Orange realised what mom’s nipples were for the next day and hasn’t look back since.

They are all gaining weight nicely; 4 are double their birthweight at 7 days old. Three have eyes fully open and the other three are partly open. Turquoise and Red were the first to open. Red is very sweet and doesn’t mind being held but Turquoise screams for his mommies. Green and Yellow seem to be quite quiet at the moment but their eyes have not fully open yet so maybe they will get more confident when they do. Purple is also a screamer and, up until today, was the biggest kitten. Purple has been overtaken slightly by Yellow! Orange is a bit quieter than the others as he is used to being held a little more.

It is really interesting to see how different their personalities are already. Can’t wait for them to get bigger and see how they develop.

Week 2 – 31st August 2013

This week has gone so quickly. The babies have done so well and gained lots of weight. All eyes are open and they are toddling around the pen looking around as if they are trying to focus. They are still quite uncoordinated though so look like they are a bit drunk!

I am no longer sure that Orange is a boy so we may have 2 girls and 4 boys. He/she is quite a laid back baby that doesn’t object too much to being handled, unlike Purple who is the real squawker of the group. He is a real cutie though and looks so inquisitive. Red girl is definitely quite laid back at the moment, she is also one of the biggest behind Yellow. He is a bit louder than his brown brother Green, who is the smallest of the bunch. Turquoise is also quite vocal when he wants to be.

I can sit and watch them for hours listening to them purr away as they feed. Such time wasters!!

They have all become Aunties and Uncles today as Pippa had 7 little babies. They have their own kitten diary.

Week 3 – 7th September 2013

It’s very interesting to have two litters at the same time. These babies look so much bigger and more advanced than Pippa’s youngsters. What a difference two weeks makes in their development!

I moved the kittens into another room this week because it is bigger for them as they grow. I am still sleeping in their room with them though so can keep an eye on them overnight.

They are starting to play a little and toddle around the room a bit. They all have tiny teeth which they enjoy testing out on my fingers. I seem to have a different friend every day as they get more confident. Yellow and Red are quite friendly to me. Red especially climbed onto my lap for a cuddle. Purple and Turquoise are quite vocal whilst Orange and Green are more laid back. Purple is the biggest one again this week but the others aren’t too far behind. Their colours are starting to become more apparent, I think we have 2 brown, 1 blue, 2 chocolate and 1 lilac, although I may be wrong.

Week 4 – 16th September 2013

I am a bit late updating due to being away for a wedding. My dad stayed and watched the babies for us who all behaved themselves apparently!

They seem to have come along incredibly in the last 9 days. They are constantly playing and wanting to climb up my legs. They cry for attention and love nothing more than a human to sit on the floor with them so they can climb all over you!

Purple is the loudest by far! He will demand attention and even managed to climb out of the penned area so I had to block off the door and open up the room for them. Red is a sweetheart and loves to climb on my lap and curl up for a cuddle, she is my best friend! Orange is often playing by herself and found a new love today in the form of cod! She was the only one who was interested and seemed quite vocal about her find! Green, Yellow and Turquoise love wrestling or climbing up my back when I’m sat down! They are such characters.

Week 5 – 23rd September 2013

They have turned into little hooligans! They run around with bushy tails crab hopping. The scratching posts are so much fun apparently. They are all eating now. Orange was the first to try real food with Red joining her quite soon. Purple was the last to try food but is now the first to the plate when I go in! He is also the biggest, I wonder why? They are all using the litter tray though some gentle reminders are required every now and then. Yellow and Green were the first ones I saw using the litter tray by themselves. Turquoise has become a cuddly boy, loving to sit on my lap.

They are growing so quickly!

Week 7 – 5th October 2013

Well, I missed last week’s update as I was quite busy!

They have had visitors this week. Purple and Turquoise were very popular with the ladies! They could both have been reserved 3 times over. Purple is going to a house with a dog and a Bengal kitten to play with. Whereas Turquoise is going to a lovely home with a human Evie and he’ll be able to take his little nephew from Pippa’s litter as Blue is also going there.

Red lost out on a home because she was too busy playing to notice a lovely little girl had come to see her. Unfortunately for Red she didn’t have the big blue eyes. However, with her personality I am sure she will be snapped up very soon!

Orange helped ease the pain for a couple who have lost one of their beloved tonks. They so wanted a blue mink and she fitted the bill nicely. They have also chosen the charming Yellow to join her. They will have a chocolate point tonk at their new home to snuggle up to.

That just leaves Green. It was a hard decision between Yellow and Green so I’m sure it won’t be long before he charms someone else.

Week 8 – 12th October 2013

Another week has gone so quickly. They are growing up so nicely. We had some more visitors for the kittens this week but it was the youngsters who stole the show this time. I am sure someone will not be able to resist the charms of Green and Red for much longer. Besides, I am growing very attached to them!

I got a bit of a surprise this week. Orange was having a wash when I realised that he was a she after all! I emailed his new owner to tell them the news in case they really wanted a girl but they chose Orange for his personality and colour. He now has his pet name, Pelayo. He will have his brother, Yellow, to keep him company in his new home. His name is now Luther, I think it suits him!

Purple has found many admirers. He is such a love bug I wish I could keep him. He will be a very friendly boy when he’s bigger.

Turquoise can often be found chasing around after his nephew Blue which is nice as they are going to be living together!

Week 10 – 26th October 2013

We have had a busy two weeks. Unfortunately I was taken poorly last week and ended up having surgery. Hence the delay in writing the diary!

I also had to delay the 9 week old vaccinations due to being in hospital. They are planned for this Monday and will not affect the timings of going to their new homes as there was an extra week between vaccination and neutering.

They are all so much fun to be around at the moment. They are lively, bouncy things that love to run around the house! There are no more door barriers as they were easily scaled! So poor Toby and Max have nowhere to hide now!

We had some lovely, special visitors last week. Elaine and David, who have Harry from last year, came to see the kittens. Elaine had thought Green would make a nice companion for Harry. Elaine absolutely adored Green but Red wormed her way into David’s heart! So they decided to take both of them! I am so pleased! They also love their pedigree names so Green will be known as Rocky and Red is Cherry!

Purple has been breaking hearts all over the world with his good looks and charm. He has the most amazing eyes! I could cuddle him all day! I wish I could keep him, but he is promised to another. (Plus I am banned from keeping any kittens this year!)

Luther and Pelayo are a playful pair! Luther has also won a few hearts and loves nothing better than to charm his way into people’s hearts with his cheekiness! Whereas Pelayo is either snuggled up asleep next to/on me or is charging round the house after his brothers!

Turquoise might be called Gilbert or Sullivan – I’m not sure which he’ll be yet. His new owners wanted to come and see him again but I was poorly! So he got to miss out, I’m hopeful that he’ll forgive me! His eye colour is developing nicely, I think he will have gorgeous aqua eyes!

The time is going so quickly. I have a month left with these babies and I will miss them all so much when they go. I just hope they continue to be happy, healthy Tonks in their new homes!

Week 11 – 2nd November 2013

We were away at the weekend at a wedding in Devon so my Dad stayed here to watch the kittens and look after them all for us. I think they behaved themselves!

They are all such characters and so full of energy. They seem to love to run around the house like a herd of elephants! Such noise from tiny feet…

Purple has discovered the top of the kitchen cupboards… we are having an extension built and currently have a mattress in the kitchen behind a dresser acting as a big draft excluder between the kitchen and the new extension. It seems it is perfect to climb! Trouble is, he has shown the others what to do and, although the bigger ones can get down, Luna from Pippa’s litter sits and cries for you to help her down!

Gilbert has discovered that, if he shows me sad eyes, he might get some of whatever I am eating. It worked once so he’ll try it on at every meal time now, just in case!

Cherry, Rocky, Pelayo and Luther all hunt me out for cuddles at some point in the afternoon. They cry until I answer and then come running for a cuddle… purring all the way! Such lovable kittens!

Week 12 – 9th November 2013

My cheeky babies are getting so big now. It won’t be long before they are leaving me… I have to cherish these last two weeks!

Pelayo is a cuddly boy this week, so snuggly. So they are all real cuddly kittens now. Luther, Cherry, Purple and Pelayo being the most cuddly for no reason. Whilst Rocky has a cheeky side to him when he comes for cuddles and ends up chewing my hair and Gilbert hunts me out for a cuddle when I’m eating, in case he gets a present!

They have so much fun all the time. Especially running under your feet up the stairs, I’m sure it’s a game to trip me up.

Big week ahead as they are being neutered on Monday. Stressful day for me but I’m sure they will be fine!

Week 15 – 30th November 2013

Well, I’ve been rather busy lately which is why there has been no updated diary. Sorry!

Neutering went well. They returned as if they had been starved for days and confined to a small crate! So after devouring a plate of chicken they set about running around the house for hours! Keep them quiet, the vet said! Yeah right! It wasn’t long before they were back at the vets for their final vaccination and health check. All good and a quick stop at the car garage so they could check something on the car. All the kittens loved the reception staff, many cuddles were to be had! Rocky especially was enjoying the limelight!

So their new owners came to collect them. First Purple (now Mr Henry) left to be a happy tonk with a Bengal sister to play with. He has settled in lovely. Next Rocky and Cherry left too. They upset Harry a little but he is slowly getting used to them, especially Rocky who doesn’t seem to know when to stop bugging the older cats. Lastly Pelayo and Luther left. They are having so much fun in their new home that they don’t miss me at all! So we only have Gilbert left as he is going to live with one of Pippa’s kittens.

Gilbert was very lonely this week after all of the other kittens had either left or gone to the vets to be neutered. So he became a cuddly purry boy. He still hunts me out for cuddles which is lovely.

Only a week left with them now. It will be very quiet here!