Say Cheese

The blood tests have gone off, but I do have some good news. Despite not having eaten anything for 12 hours (for the blood test), Ava is still showing a weight gain on last time and is now nearly 6.9 lbs... almost at the bottom of the 'normal' range for a cat her size. Whoop! Really pleased, all that sneaking her extra cheese and cat treats is paying off. Yes I KNOW that isn't exactly healthy for a cat, but frankly I don't care- I don't think obesity is a big concern for her right at the moment!

Anyway two lots of blood are packaged nicely up and by tonight will be winging their way to two seperate labs, one locally to look at her white blood calls, and one in Glasgow, I believe (!) to rule out the big cat 'nasties'- FeLV, FIV and coronavirus.(FIP) Results back in a week, I hope.

Bony Cat

Is still looking bony. Vets next week, and I can't wait to get this next test done and maybe get some answers...

She's looking like an abject little scrap isn't she? But you have to believe me when I say she is still her sweet, cuddly self. She doesn't seem ill. She obviously is though, must be, she looks like a skeleton  :'( It's apparent she isn't eating much now, her poops are small and she doesn't get excited and rush to the food bowls at wet food time. She'll eat out of my hand though (yes, I am a sucker) and I've been trying to slot high cal treats into her when the others aren't looking

I wonder if she'll eat kitten food? She never has before... She's never been one for the boiled chicken either but perhaps she will now? If I sprinkle it with cheese she might, she loves cheese and yes, I KNOW that's people food and not cat food, but look at her!!!!

She won't eat alone either. Sigh. I can see all my other cats are going to get super obese...

Ava was back at the vet today, and, surprisingly, she had made a small gain. Hurrah! She also had a full bowel, so it's difficult to tell whether that was the cause!

The fullness of her bowel was a good thing, it shows there's not a lot wrong with her digestion, she's eating and it is clearly being processed as it should. So much to the good. It also meant that the vet couldn't feel her kidneys, and what with that and the fact that she's really feeling very bony now, I agreed to a full blood array of the kind Indigo had when she had her collapsing fit last year. And a urine test. I'm waiting on the results now, but I'm not really expecting any kind of anomaly... Ava's only symptom is skinniness, she's not appearing to be ill in any other way.

Fingers crossed.

By The Way, Kittens...

It's nearly time for your 'special visit' to the vet!

I know Mr Sulley has already lost a couple of ounces (hee!)

Needle

Freddie and Louisa rumble in a basket...

Vaccinations yesterday! Of course it didn't pass without incident. When I got the carriers out, Mama went to hide, uttering agonised howls that I felt sure would set the kittens off too. They seem to be made of rather sterner stuff than their mother, however, and when I came into the room again I found four of them already curled up in the baskets and the rest all thinking about leaping in. Thanks kittens! Of course as soon as I shut the tops they realised what was afoot and howled at me... sorry babies, too late!

Then there was a very loud and bouncy dog in the waiting room, which set Gretl off, hissing and growling. She is a little bit hissy, this one. I didn't dare get her out to calm her as the dog was massive and the owner... shall we say rather less in control of it than I was comfortable with? and I feared my kitten might make a tasty little morsel for it! So they all had to stay in the plastic carriers.

Brigitta was a little freaked as well. She was silent up until she got on to the vet table, coped with being examined and weighed and all the rest, (I'll post weights tomorrow) but once that needle went in, oh my she wriggled like a good 'un. There was vaccine all over the table and all down her back. I looked at the vet and the vet looked at me, and I said 'I don't think that much actually went in'. So we discussed it and Brigitta had to have a half dose of vaccine all over again, to be sure. Poor Brigitta!

They were very sleepy yesterday, as usually happens after a vaccine, but today are back to their usual rambunctious selves. So, for our new families, its counting down the days now I guess! The vaccinations are done, pedigrees are back, kitten packs ready to be assembled. And as of next Wednesday, the 29th, they will be free to come home. Just let me know which day you want to come and when. :)

10.5 weeks

My Von Trapps seem to be catching up with their predecessors on the weight front... very interesting... perhaps they are just late developers? Or did they all just have extra large breakfasts to confuse matters?

Six out of seven kittens are now in varying stages of vaccine site reaction- nearly every man jack of them (except- well, Jack! Freddie as he is at the moment) which must be a record. Some of them, like Brigitta's, are practically gone now and some, like Liesl's are still quite large although I hasten to add not harmful, very common and they will go down in time. Probably in time for the next vaccination LOL- whereupon they will promptly get another one I have no doubt! They feel like a squishy lump between the shoulderblades and unless you were looking for it, you'd be forgiven for not noticing it at all.

They've all been microchipped today and the chips registered directly to their new family- paperwork should be arriving through the door at some point. Poor Louisa bled a little bit- the needle for the chip is really quite big- but she was OK after a bit of TLC. The microchips can be felt as a grain of rice sized hard lump in the top of the neck, the neck muscles holding them in place (although they can 'slip' slightly and be a little off centre with time)

Inds was also given a clean bill of health. Hurrah!


Liesl

Birth 96g
1 week 172g
2 weeks 226g
3 weeks 250g
4 weeks 325g
5 weeks 420g
6 weeks 586g
8 weeks 880g
9 weeks 1050g
10.5 weeks 1310g (can this be accurate? its a bigger leap than I would expect...)

Friedrich
Birth 101g
1 week 187g
2 weeks 239g
3 weeks 271g
4 weeks 349g
5 weeks 449g
6 weeks 630g
8 weeks 950g
9 weeks 1180g
10.5 weeks 1380g

Kurt
Birth 102g
1 week 205g
2 weeks 280g
3 weeks 341g
4 weeks 448g
5 weeks 570g
6 weeks 740g
8 weeks 1020g
9 weeks 1220g
10.5 weeks 1460g

Louisa
Birth 82g
1 week 157g
2 weeks 219g
3 weeks 260g
4 weeks 334g
5 weeks 394g
6 weeks 530g
8 weeks 820g
9 weeks 960g
10.5 weeks 1160g

Brigitta
Birth 83g
1 week 179g
2 weeks 248g
3 weeks 301g
4 weeks 374g
5 weeks 497g
6 weeks 641g
8 weeks 890g
9 weeks 1070g
10.5 weeks 1300g

Marta
Birth 91g
1 week 178g
2 weeks 249g
3 weeks 311g
4 weeks 389g
5 weeks 468g
6 weeks 603g
8 weeks 840g
9 weeks 970g
10.5 weeks 1130g

Gretl
Birth 81g
1 week 150g
2 weeks 220g
3 weeks 269g
4 weeks 342g
5 weeks 402g
6 weeks 516g
8 weeks 780g
9 weeks 950g
10.5 weeks 1140g


Comparison:

Birth

REM litter 83g-103g. Average 92g

Von Trapp litter 81g-102g. Average 91g

1 week

REM litter 182g-217g Average 195g

Von Trapp litter 150g- 205g. Average 175g

2 weeks


REM litter 257g-294g, Average 272g
Von Trapp litter 220g- 280g, Average 240g

3 weeks


REM litter  338g-390g. Average 359g.
Von Trapp litter 250g- 341g. Average 286g.

4 weeks


REM litter 437g-524g. Average 466g
Von Trapp litter 325g-448g. Average 365g

5 weeks


REM litter 539g-604g. Average 581g
Von Trapp litter 394g-570g. Average 457g.

6 weeks


REM litter 712g- 792g, Average 752g
Von Trapp litter  516g-740g, Average 606g

9 weeks

REM litter 1070-1340g. Average 1238g

Von Trapp litter 950-1220g. Average 1057g

10.5 weeks

REM litter 1130-1530g. Average 1368g

Von Trapp litter 1130g-1460g. Average 1268g if Liesl's weight is correct.

And The Vet Said...

That they couldn't find a thing wrong. Not a darn thing. Nothing in the urine, bladder feels normal, she wasn't sick again and she had a normal bowel motion overnight. She was subdued at the vets but not worryingly so, and her paws feel like normal paws again and not clammy and cold as they were before.

So she's had another painkilling injection and come home, we're all back tomorrow anyway for microchips so she'll probably have another injection then and until then I'm keeping a detailed record of her eating, toilet habits and general demeanour to see if that offers up any clues. But she's used the litter tray since I got her home with no apparent pain and what looked like a decent amount as well, not the once every ten minute and then only a drop visits of the other day.

I am utterly stumped. I'm delighted she's apparently fine, but sheesh, I'm sure the vet thinks I make these things up you know... or have Munchausens by proxy or something!!!!!!!!

Guess who was ultra needy and missed Mama the most? Louisa. I left my bedroom door open, so any lonely kittens could visit, and I think they all did at one point or another, but Louisa spent the whole night snuggled. Of course since Mama came back, she hasn't bothered with me at all :) LOL. She's going to make one affectionate kitty though, I hope her girls like cuddles!

Ah well, onwards... Brigitta (CoCo) has a visit from her R later on, so that will be nice.

Snuggling With Mama

The kittens sure do love their Mama! They'll have to do without her today though because- sigh- Indigo has been given painkillers and admitted for 24 hours at the vets for observation and tests :( She didn't get any worse last night, but this morning she started crying whilst trying to 'go' and was obviously in a lot of pain. So she needed to stay in so they can work out what is up. Last week's sickness may be connected- she had antibiotics and they made her feel instantly better but they may not have been enough to have killed off whatever she (possibly) had brewing.

You may be sure I will give the kittens plenty of cuddles myself to make up for any they might be missing today. Thankfully they are old enough to fend for themselves, Mama still feeds them but they don't NEED her milk any more, for example. And sher still washes them, but they are more than capable of doing it herself.

Last night was very interesting actually. (setting aside the worry about Inds) I slept on the couch in the living room so as to keep an eye on Indigo. Well, I can't say I slept much, what with kittens jumping all over me and Gretl landing on my face at one point which was a bit of a shock, but they all reacted to my being in with them at night in their own individual way. Liesl curled up daintily next to my pillow, head on one side, and regarded me thoughtfully. Marta and Louisa spent the night snuggled into my neck and hair. Gretl leaped around excitedly rubbing her head affectionately all over my hands and face, Freddie insisted on licking my nose and chin a lot. Kurt got under the covers where it was nice and warm and Brigitta snuggled into the crook of my knees and purrred and purred. It was nice but I was basically immobilised by all these bodies and kept waking up with cramps from where I'd stayed still so long!

(I loved it really!)

Anyway, if you could all cross fingers for Indigo's speedy recovery, I'd be much obliged. The vet says every third cat appointment at the moment is for a UTI- apparently the combo of central heating plus very cold weather isn't a brilliant one for cats' urinary health. I shall do some more reading around that... perhaps there's something I can add to the cats food in the winter time that will help protect them? Does anyone know?

Queens Of The Castle

A very regal pair!

Indigo is poorly again... this evening she's been sick and has had diarrhoea. Moreover she's showing classic signs (IMO, not that I'm a vet...) of some kind of UTI brewing- visiting the litter box more often to pee, seeming to put a little more 'effort' into going when she does go... so it'll be the vet for us first thing tomorrow. She's also been hanging out round the litter tray, licking herself more than she usually does (which is a fair amount even so!) and she's been weeing on my washing although to be fair this last one is probably more down to the fact she's getting hormonal again- she's had a mini heat, so in 2 weeks or so ought to be in full howl again. The joys!

In fact if it wasn't for the fact she seems quite normal in her demeanour, I'd take her to the emergency vets and hang the expense. But it's a long drive, (not the usual vets, the out of hours service is a couple towns away) it's now midnight and it would distress her and... well I hope that's the right decision I really do. God I hate it when my cats are poorly.

I don't think any of my cats have ever had a urinary tract infection before- I know Indigo has been tested for one before as I think has Theo, but both were negative. Indigo, the minx, managed to hold onto her urine for over 24 hours rather than wee at the vet's and they ended up having to extract some with a needle- then when I collected her she weed all over me and the cat carrier. I feel for her though- I (sorry, TMI) had cystitis myself several times after the lad was born and it makes you feel really grim.

Tomorrow can't come soon enough though. And I'll be sleeping, (or should that be 'sleeping') in with the kittens tonight...

9 weeks old

...yesterday, but it was vaccination, vet check and weighing day today. There's so many of them, the vet has to block in a big chunk of appointments in order to get everything done!

Of course it's the coldest day of the winter so far isn't it? LOL we bundled up, or rather, I bundled up, and the kittens got a heating pad in each of their carriers and a blanket over the top to keep the heat in, and off we all went.They were all very good, despite being scared, and of course the needle wasn't very nice. But they all coped admirably.

Louisa still looks like a girl (lol)

Everybody's hearts all sound nice and healthy, lungs are all good, eyes are gunk free, teeth are lovely and so on and so forth, a lovely healthy bunch, in fact.

Freddie's leg, says the vet, 'gets straighter every time I see him'- bodies really are wonderful things aren't they? According to the vet, he's still actively healing as he grows, as when he was smaller the leg was much more at an angle than it is now. I'll have to try and get a photo and show you. It's all wonderful news and I'm so proud of him.

I'm expecting sleepy kittens for much of today, the jab really takes it out of them I've found, and they will have a nice bland chicken dinner later so as not to over tax their stomachs, not that I've known that to happen, but you never know. They will be back to normal tomorrow. Just as well, as Brigitta's, and Marta and Liesl's families are hoping to visit, snow permitting of course! We don't have any here yet...

Liesl
Birth 96g
1 week 172g
2 weeks 226g
3 weeks 250g
4 weeks 325g
5 weeks 420g
6 weeks 586g
8 weeks 880g
9 weeks 1050g

Friedrich


Birth 101g
1 week 187g
2 weeks 239g
3 weeks 271g
4 weeks 349g
5 weeks 449g
6 weeks 630g
8 weeks 950g
9 weeks 1180g

Kurt

Birth 102g
1 week 205g
2 weeks 280g
3 weeks 341g
4 weeks 448g
5 weeks 570g
6 weeks 740g
8 weeks 1020g
9 weeks 1220g

Louisa

Birth 82g
1 week 157g
2 weeks 219g
3 weeks 260g
4 weeks 334g
5 weeks 394g
6 weeks 530g
8 weeks 820g
9 weeks 960g

Brigitta

Birth 83g
1 week 179g
2 weeks 248g
3 weeks 301g
4 weeks 374g
5 weeks 497g
6 weeks 641g
8 weeks 890g
9 weeks 1070g

Marta

Birth 91g
1 week 178g
2 weeks 249g
3 weeks 311g
4 weeks 389g
5 weeks 468g
6 weeks 603g
8 weeks 840g
9 weeks 970g

Gretl

Birth 81g
1 week 150g
2 weeks 220g
3 weeks 269g
4 weeks 342g
5 weeks 402g
6 weeks 516g
8 weeks 780g
9 weeks 950g


Comparison:

Birth

 

REM litter 83g-103g. Average 92g

Von Trapp litter 81g-102g. Average 91g

1 week

 

REM litter 182g-217g Average 195g

Von Trapp litter 150g- 205g. Average 175g

2 weeks

REM litter 257g-294g, Average 272g
Von Trapp litter 220g- 280g, Average 240g

3 weeks

REM litter  338g-390g. Average 359g.
Von Trapp litter 250g- 341g. Average 286g.

4 weeks

REM litter 437g-524g. Average 466g
Von Trapp litter 325g-448g. Average 365g

5 weeks

REM litter 539g-604g. Average 581g
Von Trapp litter 394g-570g. Average 457g.

6 weeks

REM litter 712g- 792g, Average 752g
Von Trapp litter  516g-740g, Average 606g

9 weeks

 

REM litter 1070-1340g. Average 1238g

Von Trapp litter 950-1220g. Average 1057g

Trousers Are Tasty

slurp!

Is that so Liesl! You know, some of your siblings are enjoying their solids very well indeed... chicken/ turkey in the evening and genty heated kitten food in the morning, with two other meals (that the kittens aren't interested in so far) and biscuits on tap too... you don't have to eat my trousers!

We went to the vet last night as Indigo's ear infection hasn't fully cleared, so some more (nursing safe) medicine for her. A different kind this time, so hopefully it won't knock her digestion off kilter this time. She's well enough, just has an itchy ear, and in scratching it is making it sore. I may collar her just to stop her scratching it for a bit. Anyway, as I made the appointment, I made a second one too, and took Friedrich along. I was going to take him next week anyway, so yesterday did just as well.

Well, Freddie is doing very well indeed! He's starting to bear weight on his leg, by dint of holding it at a funny angle, and he's managing to get around very nicely. Not as fast as the others, and yes he looks a bit odd, but he walks, he tries to run, he climbs... very very positive news indeed. And the vet had a good prod again and whilst he squeaked indignantly, (well, wouldn't you?) once again the vet was sure he wasn't in any pain. It wasn't that kind of squeak, and Indigo didn't leap to his side like she would if he had been in pain.

I took Louisa along too, and not being busy there, she was taken round to all the vets and nurses to determine her sex. Well, they now think she's 'looking more like a boy', her bits now looking like the beginnings of a prepuce- the furry oval bit boys have that contains the penis. But no testicles as yet, and her sex still isn't clear enough to say 100% one way or the other! 'Bring her back in 2 weeks with Freddie and we'll look at.. er... her... again!' was the advice. So I guess she'll have to stay 'Louisa' for the time being *grin*

What an 'interesting' litter I seem to have, this time around!

So of course I've been doing some reading up. If Louisa is a Louis, and her testicles do not descend, he can still be neutered at the correct time, and he'll be otherwise quite normal. It would be unwise to retain him for breeding purposes, however, many cats with one or both testicles undescended are sterile anyway, if they arent sterile they can themselves sire cats with similar testicles, and not removing them at the proper time could have health implications further along the lines. He couldn't be shown, except of course as a neuter. And while undescended testicles happen from time to time, if Indigo was to regularly produce such kittens I'd have to reconsider her use as a breeding cat of course. One kitten is nothing- you don't know if the responsible genes are from Mum, or Dad, or that the two together make a less than ideal combination, or it's Just One Of Those Things and neither will have another kitten like it ever again.

What's the betting she's a girl now? LOL

Unwell

We had a dramatic morning here yesterday.

Indigo sleeps in the living room, and usually starts up her Very Loud Meowing routine to come out as soon as she hears waking up noises from the rest of the house. Today she didn't... and I was worried. I eventually found her, huddled in a cat cubby looking miserable.

A few minutes later she was sick, and as I was turning away to get cleaning stuff  I saw her stumble then pick herself up again. 'Odd', thought I, and kept a close eye on her. Inds can be a bit clumsy, and I didn't really see what happened. But then half an hour later she was sick again, but this time collapsed face first into it, flailing her limbs about and retching whilst uttering dreadful noises :( well you can be sure I rang the vet and got her in immediately.

She's had a full blood test done (£160!) and it was (naturally!) inconclusive- everything is within the normal ranges- iron, electrolytes, blood cells you name it, it was a thorough test!  She's had some neurological tests done and they have all been normal. The only explanation the vet can come up with is that she's having a particularly bad bout of morning sickness- apparently some cats do make dreadful howly noises when they feel/ are about to be sick, and perhaps the act of retching/ vomiting made her feel so wobbly she just keeled over?

Neither time she actually brought anything up, just foam/ fluid you know, so the vet is inclined to think its hormonal. Anyway she's home now, with a bland diet (which Theo is enjoying very much, thanks!), a pregnancy safe antibiotic and instructions to keep an eye on her and report any further vomiting etc to the vet- fortunately since tht second time she hasn't been sick or collapsed. She's not right though- she's not eaten or drunk again yet and she spent large parts of yesterday under the sofa and the rest in my arms. This morning she seems much more perky though, and has had several sniffs at her food and water bowls.

I hate it when my cats are poorly :(

Heh- I was about to press publish and she just ate a chunk of meat. Hurrah!

Indie's Eyes...

Ever get that feeling of deja vu?

Early pregnancy (touch wood) does not seem to be a good time for Indigo. She feels sick and tired, much like in a human pregnancy. Last year she had an ongoing and at the time unresolved allergy issue. You may be sure I have been anxiously feeling her head many times a day for any lumps, bumps or anything unusual, but so far (again, touch wood) nothing.

However, I was cuddling her the other day, she was purring at me and looking at me through partially slitted eyes and... well one didn't look quite right to me. I wasn't sure, so I pounced on her later and had a proper look and sure enough, her inner eyelids weren't retracted fully. Later on it was fine, later still not retracting again and so on. Also her eye looked watery. I rang the vet, but being Sunday I wasn't able to get an appointment till today. Not too worrying, as she's fine in herself, alert and playful.

Cats have a second, inner, eyelid to help protect their eyes- it swooshes over them to remove dirt a bit like a windscreen wiper. It helps to keep the eyes moist. It's normal enough to catch a glimpse of this lid when a cat is sleepy, but it should fully retract when a cat is alert and awake. When it doesn't, it can be a sign of illness.

Anyway, Indigo's diagnosis is, paraphrased, 'Possibly A Bit Under The Weather, Not Otherwise Specified'!!!! In other words, she just has sore eyes, the vet doesn't know why and I'm left thinking 'we've been here before...'

Actually I'm being overly dramatic. Inds has sore eyes, but it isn't like last year at all, I'm just rolling my eyes at a cat of mine having another mystery illness. They never go in for anything clear cut, my mogs! She has drops to use, as a precaution, so she will hate me for a few days I am sure, but there's no pus, no crustiness or sign of anything infectious, just a little soreness.

No photos, because I don't want to irritate her eyes further by flashing cameras about the place, I don't know if it would bother them, but why take the chance? Otherwise she's alert and happy, not seeming unwell- although see my next paragraph- and the vet isn't worried. It should go on its own within a couple of weeks, and I don't need to go back unless it develops into something else. Which she doesn't think it will. As an aside- I love my vets!  *I* know I worry overmuch about my pets, *THEY* know it too but never make comments or make me feel silly for doing things like- well bringing in a cat with a mildly sore eye. Heh!

No sign of pregnancy yet, but I didn't expect it. The vet had a feel, but all she could feel was a large and well formed poop! However, Indigo has lost a small amount of weight, and been a little nauseated and tired, which is exactly the same as last time. She's also been extra cuddly, which again is like she was before. So I'm willing to state that I think she IS expecting. Hurrah!

A Grand Day Out

I had a mail the other day that made me giggle. It was titled as this blog entry is, a title I have unceremoniously pinched,  and it read as follows...

'Hope you're well. Just to let you know the boys had their 'special' vet visit today. I've just been to pick them up, and they're doing great. If it wasn't for the little shaved areas I wouldn't know anything was different- Jonah just wants his cuddles and Jacob is looking for food!!'

ROFL! I am SO calling it a 'special vet visit' from now on!

Anyway, here are the boys, looking stunning as ever.

Photo- and title- CF.

Long Time, No Post

Well, not that long. But long enough to get an email or two asking if things are ok! Yup, they are fine... some of you know that my other hobby, besides all things cat, is my allotment, and it's that manic time of year when everything needs to go in the ground RIGHT NOW NOT A MOMENT TO LOSE and so I've been spending my free time planting. Ho hum.

Your excuses bore me, lady...

It's also been a busy time of year as all four cats need yearly vaccinations, and Theo looked as though he was going to have another one of his unwell episodes. For a couple of days he'd been quite subdued, sleepy and generally 'not quite right'. I got to the vet, and he decided he was perfectly alright again, stalking round the office, tail swishing, rubbing his head on everything in sight etc. As a precaution, the vet took his temperature, and it was actually quite high, so he had antibiotics anyway, and he's been all right since, so heaven knows what the matter was. Anyway with that and the vaccinations we've visited the vet a lot of late too. But that's not exactly unusual round here!

Anyway, so that's been us. Hopefully it won't be so long before the next post :)

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 :)

Insurance

Unrelated picture of mama feeding- she'll still let them, occasionally!

Ok, so I'm going to waffle on about insurance today, and this is a post specifically for my new kitten families. The kittens come with four weeks free insurance with PetPlan. I'll activate this on the Monday or Tuesday before they come home, so that the paperwork should be with you (or at least on the way) by the time you bring home your kitten. This gives you a couple of weeks in which to sort out your own insurance.
My kittens will come home at thirteen weeks, to the best of my knowledge, fit and healthy. They will also have been vet checked five times (six for Wendell and Kenneth!) and had the usual kitten course of vaccinations, flea treatments and worm treatments. It's hard to imagine anything going wrong and yet it happens, cats get sick just like people do and there's no pet NHS to cover the cost.

I'm a big fan of cat insurance, and I would advise you to both to insure your cat and get the best one you can afford, rather than the cheapest going. One must be pragmatic about this... some are pricey- I would love to be able to afford Petplan, for example, but it's a little beyond my means. The one I have isn't as comprehensive, admittedly, and the very cheapest ones are, naturally, quite limited, but my thoughts are that some insurance is better than none at all.

It isn't nice to think about, but some insurances will cover the cost of the cat, if it dies- which leaves you with a sum of money ready to buy another kitten, when you are ready. Some insurances will pay out if your cat goes missing too, with a certain amount for costs incurred whilst looking for the cat. So I can't really recommend a specific insurance as it will vary according to your needs. I have Tesco's 'Extra' cover.

One last thing... I have heard that you can't claim for the first week or so of a new insurance, so don't wait till right at the end of the four free weeks to start the new one or you will have a gap. So unless you are continuing with Petplan, have an overlap of insurances for at least a few days to make sure that you are covered at all times.

Monty The Bookworm!

Well, I can think of more comfortable places to snuggle, but apparently right on top of a basket of books is the place for Monty...

(how I stop kissing that little face, I don't know... or any of them really!)

Just got back from the vet after taking Indigo in (yes, again) this time because of the acne that appears to be taking over her chin! And of course for a checkup re her head. No medication, but the vet suggested loosening the 'crust' on her chin with a flea comb before cleaning her chin with the Hibiscrub, rather than trying to clean the crust with the scrub, so the Hibi gets to the underlying inflammation rather than just being smeared on the top. Makes sense, so I'm going to try that. I'll have to wrap her, as she'll never submit to that willingly, poor Indigo!

But the change to her head is incredible... the vet was very, very happy with how well that's clearing up. Hurrah!

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

Thoughtful

Sweet Kenneth, half asleep. I love his serious little face!

I'm feeling fairly thoughtful myself. I took Indigo to the vet last night. The lady I saw today was much more clued up about allergies and the like, and she agrees with me that it looks like a food allergy. (finally! A diagnosis!) To what she couldn't say, but she agreed that eliminating dyes and artificial preservatives would be a good start. She also recommended buying food with just one source of protein, rather than multiple sources like most cat foods.

So Indigo needs new food. Because it's come on so badly, she also recommended I change it now, rather than wait till the kittens have moved on, so contrary to what I said before, we've changed food after all. There wasn't an awful lot of choice in the food despite the vet being in a large pet store, but I eventually found a complete kitten wet food and a complete kitten kibble, both chicken, for them to have temporarily. This will give me time to decide on what food i want them to go on with, and make an order from an online specialist. Zooplus, probably!

Which means, incidentally, that I have a whole, unopened, 4kg bag of Royal Canin Babycat (rrp about £30!) and half a big packet of Royal Canin kitten, probably about the same amount. I can't use them but I'm not throwing them out, as it's good stuff so I'm off to the Cats' Protection sometime in the next few days to see if they can use it... bet they can!

As for where this allergy came from? Well, it seems to have been precipitated by her pregnancy... so be warned, any random reader, if you are thinking of breeding your cat... just... don't! Seriously, just don't, unless you are VERY serious about it. Don't do it 'just once', for fun, please. I know my kittens' families won't, so I'm not talking to them now but I mean anyone else who has happened on this blog and is reading... don't put your girl through it and risk her health. Bottom line is, if I hadn't mated Indie, she may not have developed this allergy, and I feel very guilty about that. On the other hand, if it was dormant then it might have started any time, if she was ill, for example.But she'll need special food from now on for life.

I did ask if allergies were hereditary, and the vet said not. Cue a huge sigh of relief all round I think! I also googled last night to make sure (yeah, I know!) and to be honest there's not a lot of info on it... but from reading it seems that whilst there may be a small hereditary component for some airborne allergies- pollen, etc- food allergies are not known to be heritable. It's just MY cat who is dramatic, it seems!

So, a few changes for us here. I've switched the dry food, I've got a few sachets of wet food I will feed the kittens over the next couple of days (keeping Indigo away!) and then I'll switch that over too. I'm to carry on with the aloe inside and out, and the vet was most impressed with the comfycollar! Indigo's also got a course of nursing-safe antibiotic, so hopefully with all those things together, we should see an improvement before too long.

I did comment to someone yesterday that I thought it had improved a little already, unfortunately Indigo slipped out of her collar and scratched herself raw again... silly girl!

On a more positive front, she's got a rather round belly now, a far cry from the appetite issues and general skinnyness of Christmastime, and other than the allergy issue, seems to be blooming. She's going to get a shock when the kittens are gone, and she no longer gets three plated meals a day plus biscuits... my cats are mostly kibble fed with just the one wet food meal per day as a treat. Guess she'd better enjoy it while she can!