Well, my prefix has now been approved, and I am officially Indikon :)
I have been keeping a private blog for a few months now, documenting my Tonkinese cat Indigo's pregnancy and motherhood. Her kittens are currently four weeks old, and very lovely they are too! Over the next few weeks and months I will transfer the posts over to this public blog, and eventually, when I've caught up, update directly to here.
If you're reading for the first time, hello! My name is Beth, and I'm a new breeder of Tonkinese cats. This blog is meant to be a diary of breeding and cat ownership, a totally honest, warts and all account of all our antics and concerns here. So if Indigo widdles on my bath towel (the highlight of one post) I'll tell you all about it. You lucky things.
It's also intended to be a tool for our kittens' new families to keep up to date with their babies before they are old enough to come home. And of course I will be spending some time talking about my other cats too- I have four, and only one is a Tonk.
If you are a breeder yourself I might say things that you disagree with, I might do things you think are unnecessary or could be done differently, and you are welcome to post in the comments section and tell me so. In fact, I'm almost sure to so something unorthodox at some point! That's ok, I'm sure we all do things differently and I'm always open to a bit of advice- after all, this is new to me. Trolls and spammers beware though... comments will be moderated, so anything rude or hateful will be removed... it's not that kind of blog, and I don't have any use for Viagra, thanks!
I hope you enjoy reading.
Thursday, 6 January 2011
4 Weeks Old
Kensey (I think!)
The kittens have all made good weight gain this week, and I'm not concerned about their gains any more. they are all putting on weight at a steady rate. Some of them are increasing more slowly (AnnElise) than others (Monty) but it's regular, reliable weight gain, which is what we want!
I need to get some more pictures of AnnElise. The thing is, she's quite a shy, retiring girl, and doesn't come forward for games and cuddles like some of her more confident siblings. Kensey is similar, as you can see from the photos, watching his siblings from the security of under the sofa!
Kenneth is perplexing me. He still has a rattle on his chest, although it isn't there ALL the time, it comes and goes. But he doesn't look like a poorly kitten... he's as playful and cuddly as the rest of them are, and he's making good daily weight gains as well, he's the second heaviest kitten. I don't get it... surely he should be a bit puny if he's ill? Of course, I don't WANT him to be ill...
Wendell
Birth 103g
1 week 217g
2 weeks 294g
3 weeks 362g
4 weeks 463g
Kensey
Birth 91g
1 week 196g
2 weeks 255g
3 weeks 346g
4 weeks 437g
Kenneth
Birth 94g
1 week 192g
2 weeks 274g
3 weeks 382g
4 weeks 480g
Monty
Birth 90g
1 week 198g
2 weeks 290g
3 weeks 390g
4 weeks 524g
AnnElise
Birth 92g
1 week 188g
2 weeks 262g
3 weeks 338g
4 weeks 437g
Hope
Birth 83g
1 week 182g
2 weeks 257g
3 weeks 340g
4 weeks 458g
Wednesday, 5 January 2011
All Change
The kittens can all get out of their nest now, so I've taken the plastic tub away. Mainly because they would get out by hauling themselves over the side and landing in a heap on the other side, usually headfirst (yes, there was padding but even so!) and then of course they couldn't get back in unless Mama hauled them in. Which she doesn't do with much elegance or decorum, I might add! I've kept the box though, I'd rather they sleep in there -where I can get at them- than under the sofa, which I might add is no longer stuffed with old sheets and fluffy toys. They got removed the other day, as I was afraid a kitten might crawl in and get stuck.
I've kept the box out though. Since Wendell tucked in so well yesterday, I've been putting Indigo's food on plates, forgetting that the reason Indigo ALWAYS eats from a bowl is that she's a very untidy eater! So I put that in the box instead, plus kittens, so they can have a good sniff at it, which is all most of them are up to at the moment. They are strictly speaking very young, but giving the food a good sniff won't hurt, will it? And then I just have to wipe the box.
Ah yes. And the litter trays. I thought it was about time to start there. Now mama cat usually teaches the kittens by example, but Indigo will only ever use one litter tray, the high sided high backed one on my desk, so I doubt she'll be of much assistance. And also Indigo, bless her, is rather... sensitive about her toileting habits, which is a nice way of saying she's a bit of a pest about toileting elsewhere if her toilet is dirty (or she thinks it is!) or she doesn't have a specific litter, or she's upset about something. Anyway, I'd rather have rather more robust kittens in the toilet department, so I'm interfering!
Anyway, after weighing this morning, each kitten was stood in the tray and its bottom repeatedly wiped with a wet, warm cotton ball- which is what you can see in the tray. Which was the nearest I was going to get to mimicking Mama's tongue! Some of them weed, and the cotton ball was left in the tray so it smells 'right' to the kittens. And I intend to do the same every morning after weighing until they get the idea. Hopefully they will, without too much trauma.
And one more thing. ARGHHH! Indigo has a spot on her ear. Don't know if it's her allergy rearing its head again or it's just a random spot... I suppose if she develops more I'll know, but really, SO frustrating.
Tuesday, 4 January 2011
Clever Kittens
Originally posted on my private blog- posted to http://indikon-tonkinese.blogspot.com/ on 06/01/11
I vacuumed yesterday. Yes, I know, scintillating, and what has that to do with cats? Well Indigo HATES the vacuum cleaner, and having laminate flooring, I don't often have to use it in 'her' room, I sweep and sometimes (ok, occasionally!) mop, but don't usually vacuum. But the sofa was very hairy and needed a good clean, so out came the dyson and away I went.
Because the kittens are fully capable of getting out of the nest, I put them in the cat carrier and in the hall. These two combined stressed Indigo out no end, so when I was done, I popped them all back in the nest and put in a plate of chicken for Indigo to calm her down.
Well, I think Wendell ate more than Indigo did!
The kittens have all had a good sniff at Indigo's food before but have not tried to eat any before today, but my goodness, Wendell managed a good meal! Kenneth tucked in too, although he tried to bite the plate a lot at first, which was pretty funny. The others all seemed uninterested, which is fair enough.
As for Hope, she wasn't even IN the nest. No, Miss Hope discovered how to get out the other day, and since than has spent more time under the sofa than in the nest. But she's not hiding, under there. She's playing. With Theo! She's such a funny little thing.
Because the kittens are fully capable of getting out of the nest, I put them in the cat carrier and in the hall. These two combined stressed Indigo out no end, so when I was done, I popped them all back in the nest and put in a plate of chicken for Indigo to calm her down.
Well, I think Wendell ate more than Indigo did!
The kittens have all had a good sniff at Indigo's food before but have not tried to eat any before today, but my goodness, Wendell managed a good meal! Kenneth tucked in too, although he tried to bite the plate a lot at first, which was pretty funny. The others all seemed uninterested, which is fair enough.
As for Hope, she wasn't even IN the nest. No, Miss Hope discovered how to get out the other day, and since than has spent more time under the sofa than in the nest. But she's not hiding, under there. She's playing. With Theo! She's such a funny little thing.
Monday, 3 January 2011
Advertising
Originally posted on my private blog- posted to http://indikon-tonkinese.blogspot.com/ on 06/01/11
I've been rather half hearted about advertising this litter so far, being somewhat reluctant to think about the kittens moving on, and so predictably have had little interest. A friend who enquired about the price of a kitten and nearly had kittens herself at the answer, bless her, and one lady who I didn't think was serious and which fizzled out. And one who sounds lovely, and may indeed be interested in the litter but is in Europe till the middle of the month. But she was very nice about the 'grilling' I subjected her to... only the best for my babies, you know *grin*... and seemed to have done plenty of research about the Tonkinese breed
And that's it. Not a nibble otherwise.
Of course, the recession and all that. And admittedly, they are still too young for actual visits, and there's plenty of time yet, they're not four weeks yet. But it's time to step up my game, advertise in as many places as I can, and update those ads regularly. Kenneth, of course, is not for sale until his chest issues have resolved themselves
As for the grilling... well I'm not that bad, really. But I do want to know that my babies are going to be happy in their new homes, and that the new owners are going to get what they expect. A kitten is a big investment emotionally, and a pedigree kitten is a big financial step as well. I'd rather spend multiple email and phone conversations helping someone get the right cat for them, even if it isn't one of mine, than home a kitten that then needs to be rehomed or who is unhappy or lonely. Perhaps some of the people who contact me will be better suited with a sedate Persian, or a lone adult Tonkinese from the rescue, or perhaps a pair of moggy littermates... and that's fine, I'm happy to help with that if I can. I'm NOT trying to put people off... honestly!
So anyway... advertising. Regularly. Must remember! I don't have room for six more cats, long term...!
I don't believe I like the sound of that...
And that's it. Not a nibble otherwise.
Of course, the recession and all that. And admittedly, they are still too young for actual visits, and there's plenty of time yet, they're not four weeks yet. But it's time to step up my game, advertise in as many places as I can, and update those ads regularly. Kenneth, of course, is not for sale until his chest issues have resolved themselves
As for the grilling... well I'm not that bad, really. But I do want to know that my babies are going to be happy in their new homes, and that the new owners are going to get what they expect. A kitten is a big investment emotionally, and a pedigree kitten is a big financial step as well. I'd rather spend multiple email and phone conversations helping someone get the right cat for them, even if it isn't one of mine, than home a kitten that then needs to be rehomed or who is unhappy or lonely. Perhaps some of the people who contact me will be better suited with a sedate Persian, or a lone adult Tonkinese from the rescue, or perhaps a pair of moggy littermates... and that's fine, I'm happy to help with that if I can. I'm NOT trying to put people off... honestly!
So anyway... advertising. Regularly. Must remember! I don't have room for six more cats, long term...!
Sunday, 2 January 2011
The Blues
Originally posted on my private blog- posted to http://indikon-tonkinese.blogspot.com/ on 06/01/11
My litter has been puzzling me no end, especially young Wendell. I've noted before that he doesn't really look like a lilac, he's too dark, in fact he looks distinctly blue. Then I thought he was lightening off and would look more lilac-y in turn. Then I thought perhaps this was caramel, then? He looks very little like his Mama anyway, who is a solid lilac, and I couldn't work out why that was. The other kittens, too, they look rather darker than I would have expected for a lilac, especially Monty and Kenneth. But they couldn't possibly be lilac could they, because of their parentage it wouldn't be possible, genetically.
But yesterday the penny dropped! Dad cat is apricot, which means he has the orange making gene masking his true colour. I've only considered this orange colour when thinking about what he could pass on to his children, but of course this isn't the case... he will also be passing on his masked colour too. Bingo! I don't know why, but this had completely passed me by... I'd only ever considered the red colouring.
So I don't have a litter of lilacs after all... I have a litter of blues! And possibly blue- based caramels. There could be lilacs and lilac caramels in the mix as well, but they all look more or less the same to me so I think they are the same colour. We'll see, I'm sure Dad cat has lilac offspring, so lilac ought to be possible but I don't think we have any.
That's OK though. I like blues... I have two of my own! And suddenly the colour of my litter makes sense.
I do feel a wally though! Ah well, I'd been rather too smug about having sexed the kittens correctly (at the vet the other day it was confirmed that we do indeed have four boys and two girls) so it's no more than I deserve really, pride goeth before a fall and all that! I'm also feeling a little daunted, I must admit, at the prospect of deciding between more possible colourways... I suspect I would have been wiser to have chosen a different stud and left both red and caramel until I'd got a little more experience! But no matter, I'll get there in the end, I'm sure :)
My litter has been puzzling me no end, especially young Wendell. I've noted before that he doesn't really look like a lilac, he's too dark, in fact he looks distinctly blue. Then I thought he was lightening off and would look more lilac-y in turn. Then I thought perhaps this was caramel, then? He looks very little like his Mama anyway, who is a solid lilac, and I couldn't work out why that was. The other kittens, too, they look rather darker than I would have expected for a lilac, especially Monty and Kenneth. But they couldn't possibly be lilac could they, because of their parentage it wouldn't be possible, genetically.
But yesterday the penny dropped! Dad cat is apricot, which means he has the orange making gene masking his true colour. I've only considered this orange colour when thinking about what he could pass on to his children, but of course this isn't the case... he will also be passing on his masked colour too. Bingo! I don't know why, but this had completely passed me by... I'd only ever considered the red colouring.
So I don't have a litter of lilacs after all... I have a litter of blues! And possibly blue- based caramels. There could be lilacs and lilac caramels in the mix as well, but they all look more or less the same to me so I think they are the same colour. We'll see, I'm sure Dad cat has lilac offspring, so lilac ought to be possible but I don't think we have any.
That's OK though. I like blues... I have two of my own! And suddenly the colour of my litter makes sense.
I do feel a wally though! Ah well, I'd been rather too smug about having sexed the kittens correctly (at the vet the other day it was confirmed that we do indeed have four boys and two girls) so it's no more than I deserve really, pride goeth before a fall and all that! I'm also feeling a little daunted, I must admit, at the prospect of deciding between more possible colourways... I suspect I would have been wiser to have chosen a different stud and left both red and caramel until I'd got a little more experience! But no matter, I'll get there in the end, I'm sure :)
Saturday, 1 January 2011
All About Hope
Today's post is about Miss Hope, because she's adorable. And not only is she adorable, she's got bucketloads of charm too. Some of the other kittens are naturally a bit shyer, and slower to show me their personalities (and in all fairness they are only just over 3 weeks old!) but Hope has personality coming out of her ears. And very lovely those ears are, too.
Hope is always amongst the first to greet me when I poke my head near to the nest, and will mew at me until I pick her up for a cuddle. She seems very curious about people and the big wide world in general. She's not the smallest kitten any more, her sister and one of her brothers are slightly lighter than she is.
May I draw your attention to that dear little cream stripe down her nose? The mottled cream blush on her whisker pads? The cream back foot next to the darker lilac one?
If she grows up to be half as beautiful as her lovely Mama, her family will be very lucky indeed!
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