Lotti and Kensey- Naughty Kitties.

Who, us? (photo B.A)

Look at the pair of them. Butter wouldn't melt eh? Well guess what kitties, I've been watching video evidence of your antics on youtube and I'm not fooled!

Thank you for the update, and for the videos which crack me up every time. If you haven't seen them, they are well worth a look. My current favourites include Lotti getting her 5 a day, and being caught red pawed stealing... she's such a character!

New updates!

Hurrah!

Today I have had kitten updates from not only Lisl's family, but also Kensey and Lotti's. Hurrah!

I'll share the news really soon, I promise :)

Sleepy Lotti

S and K, Kensey and Lotti's new family, have taken some lovely videos of the kittens. I did just want to share this one with you though. This is SO like something Indigo would do...

Enjoy, and thanks S for sharing it with me!

Edit- hmph... it's not showing it all- offcentre and cutting out the top and the side. Click on it to watch it properly in youtube, and if any bloggers know how to fix it, I'd love to know!

Kitten Updates

Photo C.F

Jacob and Jonah (Wendell and Monty) have been charming their extended family. They've been full of the joys, climbing, racing and generally enjoying themselves hugely. What a handsome pair they make don't they?

Photo E M

Lisl (Hope) is slowly setting down with big brother Boo. There's been a bit of hostility, but also some grooming and affection as well... so that's all very positive I feel. Apparently Lisl has pinched Boo's favourite behind the sofa warm spot, the minx!

Photo S A

Kensey and Lotti (Kensey and AnnElise) left a while after the others, but have settled down nicely. Their new home is quite large, so they are restricted to quarters at the moment. Lotti is quite happy about this arrangement, but apparently Kensey is most indignant, and makes his feelings quite clear when someone goes through a door and he isn't allowed to! Patience, Kensey, it's just for the moment!

Photo S P

This must be one of my favourite kitten pictures ever! Stunning.

Reminds me that I need to do a blog post on cats and plants though. Tulips (above) might give a kitty a tummy ache if ingested, but some flowers, like lilies are highly toxic to cats. Basically, if you suspect your mog has munched on a lily (any part of), get him to a vet immediately. Don't wait to see if he shows any symptoms of being unwell, because by then it may be too late. Lilies are my favourite flower, but I simply do not have them in the house these days... not worth it.

Hmph- that was depressing! Wasn't I supposed to be updating on the kittens???

Alfie (Kenneth) settled in well, but in the past week there's been a couple of incidents of inappropriate urination. No big deal, he's a baby and it happens, but his family and I are trying to work out how to fix whatever it is that's bothering him. Otherwise he's a happy chappie though, and most adorable :)

Just Like His Daddy

Pictures of Kensey, taken last week. And click here to see a picture of Daddy, Gr Ch Fecheldee Harry

Resemblance, or what?! Or is it just me?  

Kensey was always the pick of the bunch for type (in my miniscule experience, anyway) and Daddy's a Grand Champion, so I suppose that makes sense. None of my other kittens looked quite so Harry-ish as (I think, personally) Kensey does. Jacob (Wendell), on the other hand, looks just like his Mama.

Kensey (now known as... Kensey!) and his sister, Lotti, (AnnElise) are doing very well, well on the way to making friends with the family dog, and they are having an outside run built for them, the lucky things!

An Unexpected Pleasure

Well, this weekend we will be saying goodbye to Kensey and AnnElise. Regular readers will know they were due home last week, but because of unexpected (but harmless) vaccine reactions they had to stick around for a bit.

But it's been absolutely lovely having them here. Having an entire litter- that was hard work. But just having the two? It's taken me right back to the days when Ava and Sofia were small. Happy memories. All the pleasure of kittens, without the sheer hard work of having a herd of them. It's been almost as if they were mine...

But of course they aren't mine, and these past few days I've been trying to distance myself from the kittens a little bit. They've still had their share of cuddles, and I haven't neglected them in any way of course, but mentally I've been detatching more. It's easy to see why, when breeders don't place a kitten when young,  the kitten often ends up becoming a permanenet resident... one gets attached very very easily.

The teenager is definitely ready for them to move on, however! He was rather fond of Wendell, and I had to remind him several times he wasn't staying. This week though, he wasn't best pleased when the kittens literally ate his homework. Oops!

Just Saying...

Alfie's lump.... GONE!
AnnElise's lump... GONE!
Kensey's lump... well ok, that hasn't gone yet, much as I'd like to complete the set lol. But it is smaller, a lot smaller, and it can only be a matter of time.

NEXT litter, I will absolutely NOT freak when half my litter develop lumpiness following a vaccination. Absolutely not. And there goes that flying pig...

Goodbye, Princess!

Snoozing on the dvd player... nice and warm!

with the litter- from last week

False alarm on the lump front... Jonah's lump is just his microchip! *grin* Poor C, I worried her all unnecessarily! The microchip should feel like a grain of rice in the back of the neck or just below, for anyone wondering... and you may or not be able to feel it when the cats are adult too. I can feel Indigo's, but not any of my other cats, their fur is thicker than Indigo's (and short furred Sofia is just generally portly anyway lmao)

Anyway the main news of the day is that Hope went home to her new family yesterday :)

Dear little Hope. Such a dainty, prim little miss, head cocked on one side, regarding all and sundry with her big eyes! She was all purrs yesterday afternoon, showing her tummy and snuggling. I know her people will be absolutely charmed by her, and big brother kitty Boo as well.

Hope hasn't got a new name yet... her family are ging to get to know her first and then see what name she settles into. We'll miss you sweetie!

Hope was meant to be the last kitten, but of course Kensey and AnnElise are still with us. But not for long! They were both given the go ahead to come home yesterday at the vet appointment. They are still lumpy, but neither lump has grown in size, indeed Kensey's is a little smaller. They are also still happy, healthy and contented, so there's no reason to keep them with me any more... so off they can go! This weekend I think :)

So all is well again... ahhhh!

Updates

Jacob and Jonah (Wendell and Monty) settling in. Photo by C F

Forgot to update on Alfie (Kenneth) yesterday. He's eating fine, and he's fine the other end too, settling down nicely into his new home.

I had another update from Jacob (Wendell) and Jonah's (Monty's) new home as well- they have cast off any shyness and are right at home. Love the photo above, doesn't it look as though Jonah has a big smirk on his face? LOL

So it sounds as though all three boyus have fitted seamlessly into their new lives... brilliant!

Hope's new family are hoping to collect her Monday afternoon, depending on what time their plane gets in. Of course I have no idea what the planes are goig to be like in the next little while, with all the disasters happening in Japan and the Pacific Rim at the moment. If their plane is delayed, they will have to pick up another day because....

... later on Monday, I will be taking Kensey back to the vet to have his lump looked at again. And I will be taking his sister with him because she's only gone and developed a reaction as well. *rolls eyes*

Today Kensey's lump is no bigger, but it doesn't look smaller either. Which is pretty consistent with a vaccine reaction lump. It should go away over time. AnnElise's came up yesterday- her new family noticed it, so I can pinpoint the time it came up almost to the hour... I checked her over that morning (and Hope, who is fine) and no lump, mid afternoon when her family visited we were feeling her back and thinking is it? Or is that just the microchip? and by evening it definitely was a lump. Same as Kensey's, no pain, no 'heat' etc etc.

I've been looking up about vaccine site reactions though... Apparently, this kind of lump is quite common, will typically occur up to 12 days after a vaccine is given -mine were vaccinated  for the last time 11 days ago- and they tend to go away without treatment, without any lasting effect. In fact, much of the available information suggests that whisking Kensey to the vet the same day might have been somewhat of an overreaction (me? surely not!) and that veterinary attention is only really needed if the lump hasn't disappeared several months later. Whoops! What can I say, I like to err on the side of caution where my kittens are concerned!!!

Oh well, you live and learn. I'll look into it more of course, as it doesn't hurt to be informed, and this is a new one on me... I'd heard they might get wobbly tums after the jabs, but not come across lumpy necks! Even though I've been googling, though, I'm pleased to report I have managed NOT to scare myself silly with what-if's and extremely rare and unlikely conditions this time. I'm learning! By the time we have our next litter, I will be as chilled as anything. Yeah, and pigs might indeed fly...

Last Weigh In

Pretty AnnElise

Last weigh-in and last vaccination, yesterday. All these 'last' things... time seems to be going past awfully fast!

All went swimmingly, all are healthy, and even Hope had a good weight gain in the past 10 or so days- her last gain wasn't brilliant but this week's more than makes up for it. Yay Hope!

So there we are... the kittens are vaccinated, wormed, flead, chipped and just killing time now before coming home. I have the pedigree slips back from the GCCF, I have the free insurance slips ready to go, the microchip numbers are off with Petlog and will be with the new families shortly. I just have to assemble the kitten packs/ documentation now.

*sniff*

So anyway. Weights. I have two big kittens, three average ones and one titch... so all in all a pretty even litter!

Wendell

Birth 103g

1 week 217g

2 weeks 294g

3 weeks 362g

4 weeks 463g

5 weeks 593g

6 weeks 763g

7 weeks 907g

8 weeks 1045g

9 weeks 1240g

10.5 weeks 1390g

12 weeks 1630g

Kensey

Birth 91g

1 week  196g

2 weeks 255g

3 weeks 346g

4 weeks 437g

5 weeks 604g

6 weeks 777g

7 weeks 975g

8 weeks 1149g

9 weeks 1310g

10.5 weeks 1470g

12 weeks 1720g

Kenneth

Birth 94g

1 week 192g

2 weeks 274g

3 weeks 382g

4 weeks 480g

5 weeks 589g

6 weeks 757g

7 weeks 902g

8 weeks 1045g

9 weeks 1230g

10.5 weeks 1340g

12 weeks 1640g

Monty

Birth 90g

1 week  198g

2 weeks 290g

3 weeks 390g

4 weeks 524g

5 weeks 600g

6 weeks 792g

7 weeks 1012g

8 weeks 1157g

9 weeks 1340g

10.5 weeks 1530g

12 weeks 1830g

AnnElise

Birth 92g

1 week 188g

2 weeks 262g

3 weeks 338g

4 weeks 437g

5 weeks 539g

6 weeks 716g

7 weeks 897g

8 weeks 1017g

9 weeks 1240g

10.5 weeks 1350g

12 weeks 1600g

Hope

Birth 83g

1 week 182g

2 weeks 257g

3 weeks 340g

4 weeks 458g

5 weeks 562g

6 weeks 712g

7 weeks 832g

8 weeks 962g

9 weeks  1070g

10.5 weeks 1130g

12 weeks 1360g :)

Just One More Week

... and I bet the kittens' new families are counting down the days!

In just over a week, all my kittens will be safely home with their new people and going on to the next stage in their development- blossoming under the love and guidance of their families and growing into sociable, affectionate adult cats.
They will soon be showing their lovely natures off in person (or should that be 'in kitten'??) but I thought I'd just give you a teaser. So here's the REM litter's end of term report *grin*

Wendell

Funny-face Wendell is the comedian of the group. He reminds me of his mama the most in looks and is the most playful kitten of the litter. He's a bit bonkers, he never seems to stop leaping and running and pouncing. I've say 'I'm not sure when he sleeps' before, but he's taken to napping on my lap of late, so I can confirm he does, indeed, sleep. Occasionally!

Wendell was the first born, and I'm grateful to him for waking me up by squeaking incredibly loudly, so that I could assist with his next two siblings who were born in rapid succession. Poor Indigo was totally overwhelmed on her own. Thanks, Wendell- you saved the day! :)

Kensey

Kensey is sweet, playful, loving, all the things a kitten should be, but the most striking thing about him is his good looks. He is one HANDSOME boy! He's one of the biggest kittens,  lithe and muscular, and is a pleasure to look at. What is more, he's perfected the art of the pose as well. I can turn the camera on Kensey and know, despite my rather feeble photographic skills, that I'll take a good picture of him. Which is very gratifying, especially when I've been trying to photograph Wendell...

He's a curious cat and REALLY wants to know what's in my bedroom. He's gotten in there a few times as well, much to the disgust of Ava and Sofia!

Kenneth

Kenneth is a quiet little puss. Where his siblings will demand cuddles, Kenneth will sidle up to you confidentially, without fuss, and suddenly you will find a kitten purring contentedly into your lap. He's sweet, a little shy, and just lovely! He's a bit of an explorer at heart I think, despite his quiet nature. I don't think it will take him long before he's king of his new castle.

Kenneth, I feel, has been rather swamped by his litter of five siblings at times. He's so easygoing that he's just gone along with the pack for the most part, he hasn't had the chance to be 'the leader'. It's really going to be interesting and exciting for his family to see him blossom when it's just him (and a buddy, eventually) I wish I could be a fly on the wall to see it happening.
Monty

This boy likes to cuddle! I could just say that, and you'd know pretty much all you needed to about Monty!

... ah ok, I'll say a little more *grin* Monty has inherited from his Mama the trick of upending himself into your arms for cuddles. He will allow himself to be cradled like a baby or sat on your shoulder, on your lap or curled into a foot, but what he likes the best is to snuggle into your neck. And he purrs and he purrs and he purrs... bliss! He's chatty as well and will 'talk' to you. What he is usually saying is 'I need a snuggle!' so a chatting session is usually followed with a neck snuggling session.

AnnElise

I don't often see AnnElise alone... she's always snuggled with a sibling, washing someone's ears, biting someone's tail. She thrives on the company of other cats, so I'm especially pleased she's coming home with a brother.

Like Kenneth, AnnElise is a subtle snuggler. Her favourite trick is to wait till I'm at the computer, then snuggle into the small of my back. This basically immobilises me as I'm afraid of squashing her, so I'll tap away on my keyboard and try not to move whilst she purrs away! She's also quick to offer her tummy for rubs, and has charmed her new people with this very trick. Nice one AnnElise!

Hope

Tiny, but feisty!  The best things come in small packages, they say! At 12 weeks, she's by far the smallest kitten, but nobody seems to have told Hope this...  she was the first to hit all the kitten milestones, despite her diminuitive stature. She's an independent, confident and friendly kitty with a lovely purr and I know she's going to make a great companion.
Hope will remain in my memory for the way she befriended Theo... she really does adore him!  As it has worked out, Hope is going to a home where she'll have another 'big brother' kitty... so it couldn't be better, really.

Camera

Well, I'm finding it impossible to upload any pictures at the moment... Blogger keeps telling me I can only use pictures that I have a license for. Well, the pictures are MY cats taken in MY house with MY camera by... uh... ME, so  I'm not sure what the issue is, but I'll try again later anyway!

The kittens had their flea and worm treatments Thursday afternoon. You have to make sure they won't lick each other's necks for a few hours after the flea treatment is given, which is more difficult than it seems! So I gave them their treatment just as they were settling down for their longish afternoon nap, and then watched them like a hawk for a bit. They were fine though. The worm tablets were a bit more tricky... I had to wrap ALL of the boys to get it down... AnnElise was the only one who didn't struggle at all... such a sweetie she is!

Otherwise I'm just lapping up all the cuddles and playtimes that I can... as I'm very aware the time is now flying by and there's less than two weeks before they come home.

Edited to add- it let me in, after a few goes! This is a sleepy Kenneth and buddies, with their newly flea-treated back of necks (the damp bits!)

They All Love Theo

Kenneth does...

Monty does...

And so does AnnElise! It's not just Hope, although she loves him the most!

Yay!

(Photo by S.A)

As I said in my blog yesterday, I was expecting some visitors Sunday afternoon. I didn't want to say anything more yesterday... we seem to have had our fair share of bad luck of late, no sense in tempting fate to send any more!

S and I have been emailing for a week or so, and I had a really good feeling about her. I told her all about Indigo's skin complaint and she was sympathetic, still keen to visit, but content to wait until Indigo was feeling better... well like I said, I just 'knew' she was a good cat-loving person that I'd be happy to send one of my kittens to.

When they arrived, the kittens were snoozing in a pile on the sofa. Before too long, Kensey was up and bouncing and jumping and showing off his lovely playful nature. AnnElise decided to take a more chilled out approach, rolling on her back for tummy rubs (see picture, above!) and generally being very charming. Pretty much their personalities in a nutshell, really!

Now I hope S won't mind me sharing, but she recently lost a dearly loved cat, Z, to kidney failure, and had decided the time had come to look for another cat. Not to replace Z, of course, no cat could ever do that, but there was a kitten- shaped space there, needing to be filled. The time was right to get another cat. Or two... as S and her partner decided they would like to make BOTH AnnElise and Kensey their cats!

It's all worked out in just the best way, hasn't it? S had to make a longish journey here, and so could only come to visit on weekends... well, I've had a LOT of interest in the kittens this week and could have had visits most nights if it hadn't been for Indigo's allergy. The kittens might not have still been available under normal circumstances, or might have gone seperately... I can't help but feel it was somehow meant to be.

I am thrilled, of course. Not only for AnnElise and Kensey going off to a new life together, but because that means ALL of my kittens now have good, loving homes lined up for them for when they are old enough in a few weeks time. Which is all a breeder could ask for really, isn't it? I feel satisfied... very satisfied indeed :)

9 Weeks Yesterday

And the nine week check and first vaccination. I'm pleased to say that all the kittens are very healthy, good weights etc. The check they had was basically the same as they had at six weeks... heart, lungs, eyes, ears and mouth, a gentle feel to see that nothing is enlarged or out of place internally, a check they are anatomically correct on the outside, and temperature. In short a brief but thorough examination. Then the vaccines, which all the kittens took without murmur.

As for the pirates, I didn't wipe their eyes after midday yesterday, so as to have an accurate measurement of what their eyes were producing at the vet. Kenneths eyes were looking slightly irritated but no goop, (hurrah for home remedies!) Wendell's was still looking slightly goopy and so was Kensey's, so I have an ointment to use, which should sort them out. The other three aren't showing any sign of irritation so they don't need any but I will continue gently bathing their eyes anyway. One dose of ointment and they all were looking pretty clear this morning anyway.

They attracted a good deal of attention at the vets, by staff and customers alike :) lots of people having a look at them. I found myself saying 'Actually, they are Tonkinese' quite a lot! They were all pretty sleepy last night  after all the excitement, and at one point I had all five of the minks napping on my lap/ in my arms. Wendell was wide awake though, and biting my foot. There's always one...

I had their weights checked at the vet, so I didn't weigh them yesterday morning and then post, as I usually would have. So here they are, a day later than usual. I'm very pleased they are all well over the 1kg mark now, some of them well over, hurrah!

Wendell

Birth 103g

1 week 217g

2 weeks 294g

3 weeks 362g

4 weeks 463g

5 weeks 593g

6 weeks 763g

7 weeks 907g

8 weeks 1045g

9 weeks 1240g

Kensey

Birth 91g

1 week  196g

2 weeks 255g

3 weeks 346g

4 weeks 437g

5 weeks 604g

6 weeks 777g

7 weeks 975g

8 weeks 1149g

9 weeks 1310g

Kenneth

Birth 94g

1 week 192g

2 weeks 274g

3 weeks 382g

4 weeks 480g

5 weeks 589g

6 weeks 757g

7 weeks 902g

8 weeks 1045g

9 weeks 1230g

Monty

Birth 90g

1 week  198g

2 weeks 290g

3 weeks 390g

4 weeks 524g

5 weeks 600g

6 weeks 792g

7 weeks 1012g

8 weeks 1157g

9 weeks 1340g

AnnElise

Birth 92g

1 week 188g

2 weeks 262g

3 weeks 338g

4 weeks 437g

5 weeks 539g

6 weeks 716g

7 weeks 897g

8 weeks 1017g

9 weeks 1240g

Hope

Birth 83g

1 week 182g

2 weeks 257g

3 weeks 340g

4 weeks 458g

5 weeks 562g

6 weeks 712g

7 weeks 832g

8 weeks 962g

9 weeks  1070g

Baby Fluff

Or lack of it! The kittens are growing up, and starting to lose that 'fluffy' look, becoming more sleek and streamlined. Well as sleek as they can be with a round kitten-belly anyway...

Ai YAM a fluffy kitteh. What  you talking about?

See my fluffy leg an feets?

If these kittens were not pedigree, they would be deemed old enough to go home now. In fact I brought Ava and Sofia home at 71/2 weeks old. But I can honestly say now I think that is too young. It's based on the fact that puppies come home at that age, so this seems to have become the norm for kittens too, but kittens are NOT puppies, and it's too young. These guys are still such babies... and Tonkinese kittens are more 'forward' in their development than other breeds as a general rule.

I'm really glad that the GCCF specifies 13 weeks as a more appropriate time for baby cats to move away from their mama and siblings. It makes for a more balanced cat, at the end of it, although I do understand the wait for the new families is excruciating!

Weights for this week coming up.  The boys are heavier than the girls (which very often is the case even as kittens) It's funny seeing how the weights change. Monty, for example, was the second lightest kitten at birth, and now he's the heaviest of the litter. Wendell, heaviest at birth and for several weeks is a middle weight kitten now and Kensey, who I had so much trouble with gaining weight at the 2-3 week mark is now only a few grams behind Monty! Hope is always going to be petite, I suspect, she was the smallest at birth and she's the smallest now, although I hasten to add ALL of them are well within the 'acceptable' range for Tonk kittens.

Wendell

Birth 103g

1 week 217g

2 weeks 294g

3 weeks 362g

4 weeks 463g

5 weeks 593g

6 weeks 763g

7 weeks 907g

8 weeks 1045g

Kensey

Birth 91g

1 week  196g

2 weeks 255g

3 weeks 346g

4 weeks 437g

5 weeks 604g

6 weeks 777g

7 weeks 975g

8 weeks 1149g

Kenneth

Birth 94g

1 week 192g

2 weeks 274g

3 weeks 382g

4 weeks 480g

5 weeks 589g

6 weeks 757g

7 weeks 902g

8 weeks 1045g

Monty

Birth 90g

1 week  198g

2 weeks 290g

3 weeks 390g

4 weeks 524g

5 weeks 600g

6 weeks 792g

7 weeks 1012g

8 weeks 1157g

AnnElise

Birth 92g

1 week 188g

2 weeks 262g

3 weeks 338g

4 weeks 437g

5 weeks 539g

6 weeks 716g

7 weeks 897g

8 weeks 1017g

Hope

Birth 83g

1 week 182g

2 weeks 257g

3 weeks 340g

4 weeks 458g

5 weeks 562g

6 weeks 712g

7 weeks 832g

8 weeks 962g

Profile Dip

So, I was sitting on the sofa the other day, spending quality time with the teenager (ok, playing Monopoly on the Wii!) with Kenneth taking a nap in my lap, and I suddenly thought to take a look at Kenneth's profile. As I've written about before, Indigo's main 'fault' in terms of the Tonkinese breed standard is she doesn't have a very definite profile dip- the bit that goes down, between the forehead and the nose. It's a bit too straight. Harry on the other hand, the stud Indie was mated to, has a very nice profile- well he would, wouldn't he, being a Grand Champion. Anyway, it suddenly struck me that I haven't had a good, objective look at the kittens' profiles to see how they have fared.

Kenneth's (above) is fine, incidentally, allowing for a bit of kitten fluffiness. You can see the plane of his forehead and the plane of his nose are roughly parallel, with the bit inbetween following a slightly different angle.

So anyway, yesterday I annoyed the kittens no end, trying to get a good look at (and pictures of!)  their faces sideways on. I managed three pictures, so better than nothing.

Wendell's (above) is the most like his Mama's... a bit straightish. His face in general really reminds me of Indigo's at the same age/ bit older... especially round the ears... a bit bat-like. Indigo's Mama's pedigree name was 'Jablook Batfink' so clearly the resemblance runs in the family hehe

AnnElise (below) has a very nice dip and she has a nicely defined whisker pinch as well. Or rather, I THINK she has... in fact, if I don't manage to find a new home for her, I may put her in for a show or two, to see if I'm right lol. The others are all OK as well.

Of course, this only matters in terms of the show standard... it makes no difference to the kittens' potential as family pets, their loving natures, their playfulness and so on, and I don't think any of the three homes we've currently found intends to show anyway. It's just, y'know, interesting. And useful to me, as a new breeder hoping to be rather less clueless at the end of having this litter!

Can't Believe They're 7 Weeks

Much excitement for me yesterday... my blog has a follower! Hurrah! Yes, yes... it doesn't take much to please me as I am very sad and have no life *grin*

Weights for this week! As ever, take the accuracy of them with a little bit of a pinch of salt... I do try to catch then when they are sleepy, but it doesn't always come off!

Wendell

Birth 103g

1 week 217g

2 weeks 294g

3 weeks 362g

4 weeks 463g

5 weeks 593g

6 weeks 763g

7 weeks 907g

Kensey

Birth 91g

1 week  196g

2 weeks 255g

3 weeks 346g

4 weeks 437g

5 weeks 604g

6 weeks 777g

7 weeks 975g

Kenneth

Birth 94g

1 week 192g

2 weeks 274g

3 weeks 382g

4 weeks 480g

5 weeks 589g

6 weeks 757g

7 weeks 902g

Monty

Birth 90g

1 week  198g

2 weeks 290g

3 weeks 390g

4 weeks 524g

5 weeks 600g

6 weeks 792g

7 weeks 1012g

AnnElise

Birth 92g

1 week 188g

2 weeks 262g

3 weeks 338g

4 weeks 437g

5 weeks 539g

6 weeks 716g

7 weeks 897g

Hope

Birth 83g

1 week 182g

2 weeks 257g

3 weeks 340g

4 weeks 458g

5 weeks 562g

6 weeks 712g

7 weeks 832g

Watching

Hi mama!

For the past few weeks, Indigo has been sitting on the top of the mini cat tree. It's been high enough for the kittens not to constantly hassle her for milk, yet still give her a good view of where they are and what they are up to.

So she was not at all pleased when AnnElise decided she'd join her. She 'huffed' impatiently a few times, as AnnElise tromped all over her, made a few displeased noises and eventually got up and walked away.

Today she'd taken up ra watching position on the middle sized cat tree instead. I'm not convinced that'll work for her though...  Kensey got all the way up there yesterday.

Caramel

One of the reasons I wanted to mate Indigo to Harry (Fecheldee) was that Harry carries the dilute modifier, also known as the caramelising gene. Once the kittens are off my hands I'll start writing about genetics again, and we'll cover this. Basically though the dilute modifier works on dilute colours only (blue, lilac, fawn, which isn't recognised in the Tonkinese, and cream) warming ad brightening the base colours to caramel or apricot.

Some years ago, I read a piece by a Tonk breeder, making the case NOT to introduce Caramel into the Tonkinese breed. Caramel is often difficult to distinguish from other colours, which 'muddies' the genetic waters somewhat... for example, lilac based caramel and blue based caramel are only very very subtly different- indeed, they share the same registration code, but have different implications for what colour kittens they can themselves produce. How does one distinguish between the two? However, things have moved on, and I then saw that the same breeder now breeds caramels with no issue. Good for her, I think, both for questioning the necessity for certain colours but then also to be able to change her mind as the breed progressed. Similar arguments have been made for not introducing cinnamon and fawn into the gene pool, and cinnamon and fawn are currently NOT accepted as Tonk colours. And really what a nightmare that would be, sorting out fawn based caramel, lilac based caramel and blue based caramel... all looking pretty much the same. Blimey!

Now often, the difference is so subtle that cats are registered as blues, lilacs and so on, and the fact they are caramel is only picked up at cat shows when they are much older. That might be the case in multi- coloured litters- if you have one blue in the litter then I guess you just assume it's blue!- but I am lucky enough to have a whole litter of blues, plus a blue point birman for colour comparison. So that gives me an ideal opportunity to study the effect of caramel from an early stage. Of course, the idea was to have a lot of lilacs and caramels to compare, but blues do the job just as well!

So in the past few days I've been studying my kittens whenever they've been still enough to do so, and trying to see if I can differentiate the kittens that MIGHT be caramel. And... I think I can! Very exciting.

Do you see in this picture, the kitten in the middle is a different colour to the ones either side? That's the three boys, and the one in the middle is Kensey. Kensey seems- to my inexperienced eye- rather lighter and 'warmer' than his two brothers. In fact, several visitors have noticed this, and I always know when I'm talking to Kensey, and can easily pick Kensey out from a pile of sleeping kittens (without checking the colour in his armpit!) whereas I quite often muddle up Kenneth and Monty.

Now, I don't think this is natural variation. Kenneth and Monty are not exactly the same colour- one is slightly darker (but I forget which... I think it's Kenneth) but both are still a cool blue, you can tell that they are, basically, the same colour. (At the moment!) Whereas with Kensey, it's not that he's just a bit lighter

Look at this one too. This is Monty and Kensey- Kensey in front. Again, Kensey's nose leather colour seems more mushroomy than steely, and compared to Monty's you can see the difference there. And the colour on the face too, Kensey's has a more browny-pinky quality.

And here... the ears. The 'seam' of the ears- the very tip- are a good indication of the kittens' final point colour. This is Kenneth and Kensey. Kensey's ear is the lower one, and again, there's a clear difference between Kensey's warmer shade and Kenneth's cooler one.

So anyway... as far as I can tell at this early stage, both Kenneth and Monty are blues, but Kensey is a caramel. And I think I might have a blue and a caramel girl too, although it's harder to tell with them and I haven't been able to get any decent pictures to compare. Wendell, I'm pretty sure, is a blue.

Of course I might be totally wrong. We'll see!