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.
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