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Week 7 Day 46 – Tuesday 24th November
The Teas were playing like little lunatics when I got home from work today. I just have to smile when they are running around – they are such happy little children. Well, the reds are just happy and pleased with everything, and seem to have a little tune playing in their heads all day. (Probably Here Comes The Sun). Lotus definitely has the naughty tortie streak, but is a very sweet child too – she is the most ‘girly’, and has a really distinctive voice which she uses to issue her demands to the world. And boy, does that little girl climb! Oolong is quite a person oriented kitten, and is usually one of the first to come and plonk himself in my lap for a cuddle. He has quite a mischievous streak, and I often spot him dashing off on some secret mission. China is turning into a typical Oriental black. I think he knows he is rather handsome, sometimes takes himself rather seriously, and will not be told what to do. He is such a shiny, gorgeous little thing though; I just can’t resist scooping him up whenever he walks by.
Today was The Teas’ first meal of raw day old chicks. (See the raw feeding section for further information) I appreciate that the photos may be a little gruesome for some people, but the instincts of the babies when faced with ‘prey’ is just amazing. They immediately knew what to do, and a couple of the babies decided they are too grown up for chopped up chicks, and found themselves whole ones to get stuck into. I know that not all of the new parents are going to want to feed this way, which is fine – The Teas will be weaned onto a variety of foods when it gets nearer the time for them to leave home. I do believe though, that by giving the babies a natural balanced diet I am giving them the best possible start I can.
Day 44 – Monday 23rd November
I demand a re-count of this litter. Today it seems like there are seventy two Teas all doing different things at the same time. I was gently convalescing in an elegant manner on the sofa, and having fixed my laptop, was actually able to get online to answer some emails, and access my website editor to publish some entries.
All of which is surprisingly tough with someone swinging from the top of the laptop monitor, someone else choreographing a particularly complex tap routine on the keyboard, three people peeing on me, fifteen people asleep on me and goodness knows how many others alternating between running up and down stairs with clogs on and scattering random objects around the living room.
Although I did stop for lunch, at which point someone else peed on me so I had to get up, allowing various people to fall/dive into my soup, and Phoenix to pinch my slice of bread.
No further comment for today J
Day 43 – Sunday 22nd November
A very short entry today, as I’m still not feeling great and have actually been sleeping rather a lot, so would have no idea what has happened today J
Most importantly, huge congratulations are due to Kat on the safe arrival of Toussaint’s litter – The Bronte Sisters. Their diary is already online here -
Secondly, and almost as importantly (put that heavy object down Kat, I don’t mean it), we have had kitten poohs in the litter trays! Admittedly this was down to me happening to notice the ‘bum down’ position being adopted, and doing some swift and strategic repositioning of Baby to Litter Tray. Still, a large triumph in my book, and Kat, yes they were beautifully formed healthy little raw fed poohs which didn’t smell. Happily, I stopped short of taking a photo to prove it!
Day 42 – Saturday 21st November
Today is another ‘Visit’ day for The Teas. Now Kirsty and Dan were the first people to tell me they definitely wanted their baby reserved, so this was a visit we had all been looking forward to for just over a month now. Thankfully the weather didn’t manage to affect our plans, and it was lovely to meet Lotus’ new parents. They were both just lovely, and even brought a kitten toy for Lotus to share with her brothers and sisters while she is still here.
I truly appreciate prospective families coming to visit. I know sometimes it’s a long journey. Even though it’s possible to exchange plenty of phone calls, emails and photos, I still believe the visit is important for a couple of reasons. Firstly, anyone considering buying a new kitten should want to see the environment it has been born and brought up in. Mum will be there to meet, and on some occasions dad will too. As should the breeder’s other cats, and retired neuters enjoying relaxing. Although not a definitive guide, this does give a snapshot of the health and temperament of the other cats in the household. I have heard so many heart-breaking horror stories of cats dying young this year, and it is so hard, as someone looking for a pet or cat to show not as part of a breeding programme, to investigate health behind the lines in a pedigree. At least finding out as much as you can is a good start.
From my point of view, I like to think I have a good idea of what people are like from the contact we have already had, but it’s only by meeting face to face that you really get to know what you feel about people. I have to say in this respect I count myself incredibly lucky, as are The Teas, with their new families.
Then there is the fact that the families get to meet their new baby before making a final decision. Although some people have a very clear idea of which kitten they want, things can change, and some people do want to meet them before deciding.
Also, what an excellent excuse for a chance to sit down with all the kittens and talk about cats for a while!
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