Bits and Bobs

Sorry about the lack of post yesterday. I've had a couple of mad days where I feel like I have been chasing my tail all day... I haven't, I've had lots of time for everything I've needed to do but you know when you just feel rushed? Well, that.


So what's been happening this week?


Theo was back at the vet today, one week on from his first b12 (cobalamin) injection. Amazingly, it seems to have turned the corner for him. No more vomiting, much more alert and comfortable and he has PUT ON WEIGHT... yes, 150g or so up on last week. Needless to say I am absolutely thrilled. He'll carry on having the b12 jabs for the foreseeable future, he had another today and we have two more appointments booked, and we'll see how it goes.


b12 deficiency can occur over time with cats who have chronic bowel issues. Inflammation interferes with absorption, so the cat runs short which compounds the issues. Blood tests showed Theo's b12 levels were fine, but apparently this can be deceptive, blood b12 can register as good but the cat can actually be severely short at a cellular level.


Indigo is still calling. My goodness that cat is LOUD!!! I have a video clip to share with you but it will have to wait for another day as uploading it will take a while. She still has a bad cough, and Caspian gave me a sinking feeling the other day when he started to cough too... but he hasn't done it today at all, and it was just the one episode the day before so I am thinking it must have been because I changed out the litter yesterday. I don't mean just scoop, I mean completely emptied the tray and deep cleaned it and put in all new litter and it was pretty dusty. They do like to make me worry, these babies!


Lucy has been having some socialising time with the other kitties daily, and it's all going quite well. Well, mostly. The other day they were all on the bed, when there was a tussle between Sofia and Theo that sent poor Lucy scuttling under the bed, but mostly it's been pretty harmonious. Theo will groom her and play with her, the girls are still in the sniff and hiss phase but they'll get over themselves eventually.


The kittens have had their worm treatments, will have their flea treatments tomorrow, and on Monday are going to have their microchips. New families can expect the documents to arrive before their kittens come home (unless we've discussed otherwise) as I register the chips direct rather than to me. They ask for £25 fee to change details and that's as much as the chip costs!


GCCF registration is also going through, and that IS registered to me, but the change of details fee is a good deal less than the microchip people though! They come in two parts, a white slip and a pink slip. The new family gets the pink slip and that's the part to send off once the kitten is properly yours. I must admit it took me forever to fill in the registration form. You can't do it electronically, and if you make a single mistake you have to go back and fill in an entire new form as no crossings out are allowed. The form consists of lots of cats' registration codes, so you can imagine... it took me FOUR attempts to get right! And this year they have a new set of breed codes as well, so it was all new... took a while to get my head round it but once I did I saw it's actually a much more straightforward system now. Should be easier next time! I do wish electronic submissions were possible though.


We're in the print queue for next Thursday, so I guess next weekend or the early half of the following week they should arrive! Feels like everything is slotting into place now, ready for them to come home. Ohhhhhhh.... and Aravis has her new name! She is to be called SOPHIE! It really suits her, don't you think? Awwww!


Photos tomorrow when I get my act together :)

Erm, Digory...?

Judging by Mama's expression, and that wildly swooshing tail, I'd say she isn't too happy about you climbing on her like that... in fact I suspect you are seconds away from a bit of Mama discipline!

(he was!)

Aravis, Shouty Mama and Stats

First, the obligatory kitten pic... Aravis having a nap in my arms

 Oh, she is the sweetest thing...

Kittens are all fine. Hungry... they've had a growth spurt this week and I find I am now having to put down a whole can of Grau, about a third of a cooked chicken or at least three sachets of Whiskas kitten out at every meal. The rate they are getting through kibble, too, has to be seen to be believed. Incidentally the brand we use, James Wellbeloved turkey kitten kibble, is on three for two at Petsathome if you have one nearby.


Inds has shouted less today. She has also coughed less today. It could, of course, be a total coincidence, after all she does have antibiotics now. On the other hand...!


Digory

Birth: 84g

1 week:186g

2 weeks:264g
3 weeks: 333g
4 weeks: 419g
5 weeks: 560g
6 weeks: 703g

7 weeks: 905g
8 weeks 1060g
9 weeks:1280g

 

Caspian

Birth:72g

1 week:151g

2 weeks: 227g
3 weeks: 286g
4 weeks: 353g
5 weeks: 525g
6 weeks: 665g

7 weeks: 837g
8 weeks 975g
9 weeks:1165g

 

Jadis

Birth:89g

1 week:185g

2 weeks:272g
3 weeks: 337g
4 weeks: 400g
5 weeks 550g
6 weeks: 681g

7 weeks: 875g
8 weeks 1010g
9 weeks: 1160g

 

Lucy

Birth:83g

1 week:171g

2 weeks: 263g
3 weeks: 327g
4 weeks: 420g
5 weeks: 531g
6 weeks: 653g

7 weeks: 875g
8 weeks 1000g
9 weeks: 1215g

 

Aravis

Birth: 84g

1 week:177g

2 weeks:248g
3 weeks: 322g
4 weeks: 404g
5 weeks: 504g
6 weeks: 620g

7 weeks: 756g
8 weeks: 875g
9 weeks:1045g

 

Susan

Birth: 90g

1 week:184g

2 weeks: 279g
3 weeks: 366g
4 weeks: 444g
5 weeks 533g
6 weeks: 653g

7 weeks: 816g
8 weeks 955g
9 weeks: 1090g

 

Jewel

Birth: 80g

1 week: 163g

2 weeks: 237g
3 weeks: 293g
4 weeks: 340g
5 weeks: 486g
6 weeks: 595g

7 weeks 728g
8 weeks: 860g
9 weeks: 1030g


Weight order heaviest to lightest:
Birth: Susan, Jadis, Digory and Aravis, Lucy, (Polly), Jewel, Caspian
1 week: Digory, Jadis, Susan, Aravis, Lucy, Jewel, Caspian
2 weeks: Susan, Jadis, Digory, Lucy, Aravis, Jewel, Caspian
3 weeks: Susan, Jadis, Digory, Lucy, Aravis, Jewel, Caspian
4 weeks: Susan, Lucy, Digory, Aravis, Jadis, Caspian, Jewel
5 weeks: Digory, Jadis, Susan, Lucy, Caspian, Aravis, Jewel
6 weeks: Digory, Jadis, Caspian, Lucy and Susan, Aravis, Jewel

7 weeks: Digory, Lucy and Jadis, Caspian, Susan, Aravis, Jewel
8 weeks: Digory, Jadis, Lucy, Caspian, Susan, Aravis, Jewel
9 weeks: Digory, Lucy, Caspian, Jadis, Susan, Aravis, Jewel

 

Comparison by litter:

 

Birth
REM litter 83g-103g. Average 92g

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

Narnian litter 72-90g. Average 83g
 

1 week
REM litter 182g-217g Average 195g

Von Trapp litter 150g- 205g. Average 175g
Narnian litter:151-186g. Average 174g

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

Narnian litter 227g-279g. Average 256g

3 weeks

REM litter  338g-390g. Average 359g.
Von Trapp litter 250g- 341g. Average 286g.
Narnian litter 286g-366g. Average 323g

4 weeks
REM litter 437g-524g. Average 466g
Von Trapp litter 325g-448g. Average 365g
Narnian litter: 340-444g. Average 397g

5 weeks
REM litter 539g-604g. Average 581g
Von Trapp litter 394g-570g. Average 457g.
Narnian litter 486g- 560g. Average 527g

6 weeks
REM litter 712g- 792g, Average 752g
Von Trapp litter  516g-740g, Average 606g
Narnian litter 595g-703g, Average 653g

7 weeks
REM litter 832-1012g. Average 921g
Von Trapp litter- No data available for this week
Narnian litter 728g-905g, Average 827g

8 weeks
REM litter  962g-1157g. Average 1063g
Von Trapp litter 780g-1020g. Average 883g
Narnian litter 860g-1060g. Average 962g

9 weeks

REM litter 1070-1340g. Average 1238g

Von Trapp litter 950-1220g. Average 1057g
Narnian litter 1030g- 1280g. Average 1141g

Eyes

Mysterious girl

The kittens' eyes are starting to change.


Eventually, of course, Susan's and Lucy's eyes will be a blue-green- they have the Tonkinese colour restriction (mink). The others will have green-yellow eyes like their Mama as they are Burmese colour restriction (solid) cats. For now though, they are all different colours. Digory's have hardly changed at all yet, but Jadis's, as you can see above, are a pretty green-grey colour. Caspian's are really very green now.


Siamese colour restriction (pointed) cats will retain their blue eyes- my Theo has Siamese colourpointing and has beautiful baby blues. Indigo can't have pointed kittens, whoever fathers her kittens, but Lucy will be able to, given the right stud. No blue eyed boys or girls in Narnia, though.


Indigo has been on heat, and as visitors will attest, she can be Very Loud Indeed. In fact, she shouts so much she becomes hoarse. So it wasn't until yesterday when I realised she actually had a cough too. It's a barking cough, slightly productive but apparently her chest is pretty clear and it's her trachea that seems inflamed. Probably from the shouting! She's been put on a course of antibiotics to calm the throat down, and hopefully she'll be out of heat soon but for now she is STILL shouting to the boys! Utterly utterly shameless, my Indigo.

Susan Sunday

Please excuse the Poirot in the background. Nothing nicer than watching a bit of TV with several baby kittens purring in your lap!


Susan is like Digory, in that she really REALLY loves toys. She loves the feather teaser, loves balls, loves soft things she can carry about in her mouth. She really likes this spinny toy and spends a lot of time playing with it. It's pretty cute.


Just a short update today, as it's back to school tomorrow, and there's lots to do, nothing like leaving the prep till the last minute eh?

Growing Up

Jewel would like to show off her smart new collar! The bands were starting to look a bit small- you don't want them to be too well fitting, of course, as they might start to rub on the hair round the neck and a bald patch would never do! I managed to find some coloured elastic, soft and stretchy, so have sewed collars for Jewel, Jadis, Susan and Digory. Lucy and Aravis, I decided, don't need them, and Caspian doesn't, of course.


You might also notice from the photo above how long and lanky they are looking now! Even the smallest kittens (Jewel and Aravis) are rapidly approaching the 1kg mark, and are all now sporting the distinctive Tonkinese 'chest seam' that Tonk owners seem to feel is part of their charm. I agree, some Tonks have a belly seam and a back seam too and I love the way it looks as though they are zippered into a little furry sleepsuit!


The babies are all back to normal now, by the way. Yesterday they were sleepy and a little low, and whilst I didn't notice a drop in their appetites (never less then very hearty!) there were a few 'unsettled' litter box deposits overnight. All of which is entirely normal. Everyone is as bright and bouncy as ever today though.


No-one so far has developed a vaccine site reaction ( a harmless swelling at the injection site, nothing to worry about and goes pretty soon) but there's plenty of time, ALL the Von Trapps developed a swelling after the first vaccination which was awfully... considerate of them, I must say! So there's bound to be a few lumps in the next few days.  How I panicked at these with my REM litter!!! *chuckle*


Aww... babies are growing up.... but they are still babies really, they'll be kittenish for months and months after the come home, and Indigo still has her moments now, at the grand old age of very nearly five. I just remember them when they were teeny tiny- a tenth, or less, of what they weigh now. So they seem HUGE to me!

Trip To The Vet

The kittens went in to have their first jabs today :)

Sleeping off the excitement

It's a few days too early, strictly speaking, they aren't nine weeks till Monday night, but being Monday babies they will probably be just UNDER 13 weeks when they come home, and in order for them to have the full week here after the second jab we needed to get the first one done today. So, all things being well, the kittens will be free to come home any time from Saturday 22nd March onwards. *sniff*

They did very well given it was their first trip out. They generated a good deal of attention at the vets with everyone there wanting to peek at them and asking if they were Siamese lol. Susan (of course, it would be!) let us know her opinion a few times, but then Susan is never backwards when it comes to letting her thoughts be known. I think it roughly translated as 'Do Not Like', poor Susan! She was fine though, as were the others.

There's really nothing interesting to report about their checkup. The vet did all the usual things, checked the genders (all correct!) checked heart, lungs, ears, eyes, mouth etc, weighed them and all the usual. Everyone is bright, happy and super-healthy and doing really well. S and P, I asked the vet to take a special look at Caspian's tail and her response was a fairly unequivocal 'Oh, that's nothing, don't worry about it'... which is what I was expecting but nice to have it confirmed.

I'm expecting them to be quiet and sleepy for a day or two now, the jabs do seem to take it out of them a little bit, but they ought to be back to normal before too long.  Flea and worm treatments next week, then microchip the week after, then second jabs, then HOME!

I brought Theo in as well. he hasn't been responding as homed to his new dietary/ meds regime, has lost more weight, had more sickness and has taken to eating socks (pica) which can apparently be caused by a b12 deficiency. his blood levels are fine but we are trying injections of b12 in case he has a deficiency at a cellular level. Worth a try, anyway! Back next week for a checkup.

The Naming of Cats

Family portrait... the best I could manage, lazy beasts lol!!

The Naming of Cats is a difficult matter,

 It isn't just one of your holiday games;

 You may think at first I'm as mad as a hatter

 When I tell you, a cat must have THREE DIFFERENT NAMES.

From The Naming Of Cats, TS Eliot

Of course, here at Indikon we think that three names is not nearly enough :D.... here are some of the daft things we call the kittens:

Digory- Digs, Diggidy, Digory-Do, Digorydoodah, Big D

Caspian- Sillytail, Kinkytail, Little Scrap, Scraplet, Fishface (I don't know why, he has a lovely face!!!)

Jadis- Jah, Jay, Jadie, Zsa Zsa Gabor

Lucy- Lulu, Lucy-Lu, Lucifer, Monkeyface

Aravis- Arry, Ariadne, Darling

Susan- Suki, Susie, Madam, Missy, Princess Poutyface

Jewel- Miss J, Jujube, Cheeky, Peanut, Monkeynut

Aren't we silly?

Of course anything I call them is temporary. Their Narnia names will be their pedigree name, and their everyday name- or names, if they are as daft as me- will be up to their new families. And two of them have already been chosen! Digory and Jadis's new people have gone for a Disney theme, and their new names will be...... FIGARO and TIGERLILY! And (this is cute) Figgy and Tiggy for short! Perfect.

Happiness

Jewel and Susan have found their home... TOGETHER!!!!

Susan gets her daily dose of vitamin C (ardboard)

*happy sigh*


When A and her friend came to visit today, I thought she had come to see Susan... little did I know she was thinking two! A quick call home convinced her husband two would be a much better idea (thank you R!) and that was that.


I'm sure A won't mind me sharing that a much loved kitty passed away last year and her eldest child has felt the loss keenly. I suspect Jewel and Susan are going to make a little girl very happy indeed! And the kittens will also have a big sister cat to glare at them and keep them in line. Could things be any better?


It's funny how it worked out. I've been warning A that Susan is sometimes a little reserved, she may not be interested in a visitor, etc, but this week she's really come out of her shell and in fact was the only one who woke up and played a game. Perhaps she was just waiting for the right person to come by? Jewel too... Jewel was ALMOST chosen by both of our other families this year... I've said all along I feel Jewel would thrive in a busy family with kids and that's exactly where she's going. It's amazing how it has all worked out.


Jewel napped in A's lap quite contentedly while Susan was playing and the other layabouts snoozed in a heap. It was a testament to how bomb-proof they are all now, as none were disturbed by Mama who is in heat and shouting her head off at present! My goodness she was loud, but they all slept through!They all woke up later though, amazing what shaking a bag of treats will do...

And that's all my babies settled! All with lovely people, all in pairs, (bar our Lucy) which is very very pleasing indeed. I feel like I can relax and just enjoy them now they are settled. One month to go... I'd best start getting those cuddles in!

Sleepytime...

Awww, sleepy kittens. Just so innocent...

Butter wouldn't melt...

If you believe that...

Yesterday, I walked into the kitten room to find water EVERYWHERE. Clearly someone had fallen in the water dish, which has a lot of water in it given it's for eight thirsty beings, and the kittens had splashed and tracked water all over. Teatowels were all in the wash so I grabbed a loo roll and set to mopping. That done, I got distracted by something else in the other room, and yes, you know where this is going, don't you? I left the rest of the toilet roll in the kitten room.


I have to tell you now, the Andrex Puppy has NOTHING on these little hooligans! That toilet roll had been unravelled, shredded, dragged about and utterly pulverised by seven excited little furballs, plus, I have no doubt, one Mama. Best. Toy. Ever. You'd think it had been snowing the drifts of white that lay on the ground in heaps!


When I returned to the kitten room and saw the carnage, I must admit I didn't, as I ought to have done, reach straight for the broom. Instead I went and made a cup of tea, sat back and let them have their fun! Most reprehensible of me I am sure, but it would have been a bit like locking the stable door after the horse had bolted... and they WERE enjoying it.


I do advise new families to keep the tissues and toilet roll out of reach though. It was great fun, but I wouldn't be too happy clearing that up every day!

8 weeks

Having a cuddle with MY new baby... isn't she lovely? *proud mama*

Ok, so weights are one day early this week, but y'know. That's just the way it happened! It's the first time I've used the baby scales, and oh my word... SO much easier than the kitchen scales! No good for tiny kittens, as they 'only' weigh to the nearest 5g, but for big kittens, brilliant!


Time for the nerdery...


Digory

Birth: 84g

1 week:186g

2 weeks:264g
3 weeks: 333g
4 weeks: 419g
5 weeks: 560g
6 weeks: 703g

7 weeks: 905g
8 weeks 1060g

 

Caspian

Birth:72g

1 week:151g

2 weeks: 227g
3 weeks: 286g
4 weeks: 353g
5 weeks: 525g
6 weeks: 665g

7 weeks: 837g
8 weeks 975g

 

Jadis

Birth:89g

1 week:185g

2 weeks:272g
3 weeks: 337g
4 weeks: 400g
5 weeks 550g
6 weeks: 681g

7 weeks: 875g
8 weeks 1010g

 

Lucy

Birth:83g

1 week:171g

2 weeks: 263g
3 weeks: 327g
4 weeks: 420g
5 weeks: 531g
6 weeks: 653g

7 weeks: 875g
8 weeks 1000g

 

Aravis

Birth: 84g

1 week:177g

2 weeks:248g
3 weeks: 322g
4 weeks: 404g
5 weeks: 504g
6 weeks: 620g

7 weeks: 756g
8 weeks: 875g

 

Susan

Birth: 90g

1 week:184g

2 weeks: 279g
3 weeks: 366g
4 weeks: 444g
5 weeks 533g
6 weeks: 653g

7 weeks: 816g
8 weeks 955g

 

Jewel

Birth: 80g

1 week: 163g

2 weeks: 237g
3 weeks: 293g
4 weeks: 340g
5 weeks: 486g
6 weeks: 595g

7 weeks 728g
8 weeks: 860g


Weight order heaviest to lightest:
Birth: Susan, Jadis, Digory and Aravis, Lucy, (Polly), Jewel, Caspian
1 week: Digory, Jadis, Susan, Aravis, Lucy, Jewel, Caspian
2 weeks: Susan, Jadis, Digory, Lucy, Aravis, Jewel, Caspian
3 weeks: Susan, Jadis, Digory, Lucy, Aravis, Jewel, Caspian
4 weeks: Susan, Lucy, Digory, Aravis, Jadis, Caspian, Jewel
5 weeks: Digory, Jadis, Susan, Lucy, Caspian, Aravis, Jewel
6 weeks: Digory, Jadis, Caspian, Lucy and Susan, Aravis, Jewel

7 weeks: Digory, Lucy and Jadis, Caspian, Susan, Aravis, Jewel
8 weeks: Digory, Jadis, Lucy, Caspian, Susan, Aravis, Jewel

 

Comparison by litter:

 

Birth
REM litter 83g-103g. Average 92g

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

Narnian litter 72-90g. Average 83g
 

1 week
REM litter 182g-217g Average 195g

Von Trapp litter 150g- 205g. Average 175g
Narnian litter:151-186g. Average 174g

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

Narnian litter 227g-279g. Average 256g
3 weeks

REM litter  338g-390g. Average 359g.
Von Trapp litter 250g- 341g. Average 286g.
Narnian litter 286g-366g. Average 323g

4 weeks
REM litter 437g-524g. Average 466g
Von Trapp litter 325g-448g. Average 365g
Narnian litter: 340-444g. Average 397g

5 weeks
REM litter 539g-604g. Average 581g
Von Trapp litter 394g-570g. Average 457g.
Narnian litter 486g- 560g. Average 527g

6 weeks
REM litter 712g- 792g, Average 752g
Von Trapp litter  516g-740g, Average 606g
Narnian litter 595g-703g, Average 653g
7 weeks
REM litter 832-1012g. Average 921g
Von Trapp litter- No data available for this week
Narnian litter 728g-905g, Average 827g

8 weeks
REM litter  962g-1157g. Average 1063g
Von Trapp litter 780g-1020g. Average 883g
Narnian litter 860g-1060g. Average 962g

What????

WHAT DO YOU MEAN, MY NEW SISTER LUCY????

Ah, yes. There was something I was meaning to tell you, Ava...


This week I've started what will undoubtedly be a long and slow introduction to the older girls. Just ten minutes here and there, but every day. I'm cautious you see, because it went so badly with Indigo at first. Mainly that was Indigo though, I have to say! Most introductions are easier, introducing Theo was a piece of cake! Anyway, Lucy hasn't shown any sign of aggression, preferring to freeze when hissed at, rather than growling or hissing back. She's pretty easy going is our Lucy. I'm really pleased with how it's going.


Both the girls are a funny mixture of interested and appalled. Lucy bounces up to them playfully and gets in their face, which they don't like, (Sofia growls, Ava runs away) but when she's occupied with a toy they will creep up and sniff her, and they will watch her playing. I don't have Indigo in the room during these times, as she would get protective and her relationship with the girls isn't as good as it could be. I'm hoping Lucy can build her own relationship with the other girls, somewhat more constructively than Indigo's!


Once I'm able to 'relax' a bit,  I'll get the camera going! At the moment I'm concentrating all my attention on the cats themselves. But it's going pretty well- some bottom sniffing and nose touching has been going on. Snuggling is the ultimate aim, so we'll see!

Quick Theo Update.

Theo and his shaved belly. You may be sure I find it necessary to stroke and kiss that baldy bit many times a day!!! Mmmm all soft and warm...

His belly was shaved for the ultrasound. Incidentally, you can see, in the pic above, especially, just how skinny he has become. And how deceptive the floof is! Poor old Theo.

So, Theo's biopsies came back, and they didn't find any evidence of tumours, but some evidence of inflammation. His blood was normal, and he's responded positively to a change of diet. The diagnosis is IBD- inflammatory bowel disease. He's on steroids for at least a couple of months, a big whack of them to be gradually tapered off or at least down, and he's on a strictly controlled diet. Very bland, hydrolysed  kibble, nasty smelling plasticky stuff from a can if I choose (I don't think I'll bother, it really does look like plastic...), no meat and no treats. poor Theo!

This means he can't have free run in the kitten room any more, and has to wait until I have taken away the kitten's kibble before he can come in. I don't think it is the kibble he reacts to, in all honesty and it may be possible to reintroduce certain foods later on, I don't know. But for the moment it's strictly controlled, and Ava and Sofia have to follow it too. Ava, fortunately, seems to be OK with the new food we have, but I don't think Sofia is too impressed.

He is a very bad boy though, and can sniff out a missed bit of kibble at thirty paces. And does. The other day I caught him with both paws under the sofa trying to hook out a stray piece of kibble that had been knocked under there. I mean, goodness knows how long it had been there!

My cats are insured with Tesco, and thank goodness again, I received a cheque from them for £500 yesterday, covering the first lot of Theo's treatment! Just in time, as I needed to buy a set of baby scales- vet has recommended regular weighings for the boy until he puts a bit on, and says baby scales are more accurate at his size than adult scales. So we now have a new gadget, and most comforting it is too. Theo hasn't put anything on yet, but his weight does seem to have stabilised. Given that what he is eating is so utterly uninspiring, I see that as a good result!


Speaking of the vets, the babies are now booked in for their first jabs. Can they really be that old???

Jewel-lery

Jewel is a neck snuggler.

See what I mean? Lets have a close up of that smug little face...

You'll have to use your imagination, but she's purring up a storm, there!

How that kitten hasn't been snapped up I will never know!


I was going to do a Theo update today but this pic was too good not to share! I was getting my cuddles in advance last night and this morning because later on today is Nail Clipping Time.. and they won't like it. But it's time. One of them took a running jump at my arm the other day and it hurt!


I've got smaller clippers designed for the littlest of claws, and I'm hoping to get the wrigglier ones (Susan, Digory) while they are napping. You do have to be so careful when they are this tiny because the clippable part, and the quick (the nail bed) are so close together, it really is just a tiny point you should nip off. The adults should probably be done too, which is 198 claws in total!!!


Best get started then...


Hope the weather isn't troubling you too much... stay dry, stay safe!

Jadis says 'You go 'way!'

Oh dear. I'm not terribly popular at the moment, am I?

You go away lady. I is snuggling with my mama.

She is MY mama! I means it! I'll...

Oh, wait... food!

The kittens have discovered a new trick. By balancing on the central strut of the dining table in their room, they have realised they can get onto a dining chair and  from there onto the table itself. And they are mightily pleased with their bad selves, too! I don't think anyone will be surprised that Digory and Jewel were at the forefront of this particular expedition.

This is part of a trend this week. The babies have all discovered the... vertical properties of their living space and are trying to get ever higher, as cats do. TV unit, drawers, cupboards, my head... they want to be on the top looking down. Some cats don't climb much, and are happy to loaf around on the ground all day. Tonkinese are NOT in that category and I do recommend new owners to consider buying a cat tree to satisfy this natural instinct to climb. It may just prevent them from using the curtains! On the other hand...!!!

Aravis says 'You go 'way!'

You go 'way lady. We is snuggling.

Ok, if you're sure you're comfy, Aravis. Everyone? Susan???

Mmmffff! Halp!

Kittens at 7 weeks

All this growing is exhausting!

When G was over yesterday, she commented on how much bigger Digory and Jadis seemed, even in just a week. Seeing them every day, it isn't so apparent to me, but seeing Jadis in G's lap I had to agree. I did wonder if there would be big gains this week. Well, G was spot on... approximately 200g for each of her two!


In fact they have all done brilliantly on the weight gain front, but the winner this week has to be Lucy, who has put on over 220g and left poor Caspian in the dust again. Even my more petite girls have made very pleasing gains indeed. What is it about babies putting on weight that is so very satisfying?


Mind you, I am not surprised. Last week the kittens, aided and abetted by Mama Indigo, got through two whole chickens (almost- I think the teenager had the legs of one), four 400g tins of Grau kitten food and 1 1/2 boxes of Whiskas kitten sachets. That's not including the James Wellbeloved kibble they have down 24/7 for snacking. It's not surprising they are growing really, is it, getting through all that!




Digory

Birth: 84g

1 week:186g

2 weeks:264g
3 weeks: 333g
4 weeks: 419g
5 weeks: 560g
6 weeks: 703g

7 weeks: 905g

 

Caspian

Birth:72g

1 week:151g

2 weeks: 227g
3 weeks: 286g
4 weeks: 353g
5 weeks: 525g
6 weeks: 665g

7 weeks: 837g

 

Jadis

Birth:89g

1 week:185g

2 weeks:272g
3 weeks: 337g
4 weeks: 400g
5 weeks 550g
6 weeks: 681g

7 weeks: 875g

 

Lucy

Birth:83g

1 week:171g

2 weeks: 263g
3 weeks: 327g
4 weeks: 420g
5 weeks: 531g
6 weeks: 653g

7 weeks: 875g

 

Aravis

Birth: 84g

1 week:177g

2 weeks:248g
3 weeks: 322g
4 weeks: 404g
5 weeks: 504g
6 weeks: 620g

7 weeks: 756g

 

Susan

Birth: 90g

1 week:184g

2 weeks: 279g
3 weeks: 366g
4 weeks: 444g
5 weeks 533g
6 weeks: 653g

7 weeks: 816g

 

Jewel

Birth: 80g

1 week: 163g

2 weeks: 237g
3 weeks: 293g
4 weeks: 340g
5 weeks: 486g
6 weeks: 595g

7 weeks 728g

Weight order heaviest to lightest:
Birth: Susan, Jadis, Digory and Aravis, Lucy, (Polly), Jewel, Caspian
1 week: Digory, Jadis, Susan, Aravis, Lucy, Jewel, Caspian
2 weeks: Susan, Jadis, Digory, Lucy, Aravis, Jewel, Caspian
3 weeks: Susan, Jadis, Digory, Lucy, Aravis, Jewel, Caspian
4 weeks: Susan, Lucy, Digory, Aravis, Jadis, Caspian, Jewel
5 weeks: Digory, Jadis, Susan, Lucy, Caspian, Aravis, Jewel
6 weeks: Digory, Jadis, Caspian, Lucy and Susan, Aravis, Jewel

7 weeks: Digory, Lucy, Jadis, Caspian, Susan, Aravis, Jewel

 

Comparison by litter:

 

Birth
REM litter 83g-103g. Average 92g

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

Narnian litter 72-90g. Average 83g
 

1 week
REM litter 182g-217g Average 195g

Von Trapp litter 150g- 205g. Average 175g
Narnian litter:151-186g. Average 174g

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

Narnian litter 227g-279g. Average 256g

3 weeks

REM litter  338g-390g. Average 359g.
Von Trapp litter 250g- 341g. Average 286g.
Narnian litter 286g-366g. Average 323g

4 weeks

REM litter 437g-524g. Average 466g
Von Trapp litter 325g-448g. Average 365g
Narnian litter: 340-444g. Average 397g

5 weeks

REM litter 539g-604g. Average 581g
Von Trapp litter 394g-570g. Average 457g.
Narnian litter 486g- 560g. Average 527g

6 weeks

REM litter 712g- 792g, Average 752g
Von Trapp litter  516g-740g, Average 606g
Narnian litter 595g-703g, Average 653g


7 weeks


REM litter 832-1012g. Average 921g
Von Trapp litter- No data available for this week
Narnian litter 728g-905g, Average 827g

Monday murmurings

Darkest kitten/ lightest kitten!

Had a bit of a shock today. I came in the kitten room to find Aravis's collar wrapped round her MOUTH! The back was still round the back of her neck but the front had hooked over her jaw- heaven knows how- into her mouth, like a horse's bit. Dang. She was fine, I hasten to add, it was uncomfortable, I am sure, but not painful, the bands are soft. Still, not nice for poor little Aravis, and it gave me a nasty jolt as she obviously hadn't been able to get it off.

I'm on the lookout for a substitute method of identification. I think I could, with effort, tell the difference between them now, but sometimes you need to be able to do so quickly, like at the vet's- two kittens without a microchip and one with three isn't a lot of use to anyone! In the picture above, it's easy to tell which is Caspian and which is Lucy, but when you get the three darker girls together it's definitely more of a problem! Perhaps I could sew up some bands with soft elastic? I'll have a think.

Digory and Jadis's new mama came over for a play today which was lovely. Jadis cuddled on G's lap while Digory had a great time with the feather teaser again. He adores that teaser. I said to G I'd have to put it in his kitten pack... if it lasts that long, that is, he isn't exactly gentle with it!

Catching Up

So yesterday afternoon was entirely spent loving on Theo. That and giving the kittens some quality time, and I may have slotted a nap in there as well! Today will be mainly spent catching up on the skipped and scantily done chores of the last four or five days. The kitten room needs a good scrub, having just had brief sweeps and tidies since Thursday, I have just put today's fourth load of washing in and the kitchen needs attention. At some point this week I need to write the proposal for my EMA (like a dissertation) not to mention actually thinking about writing the thing itself, so yeah, not too busy at the moment...!!!!


Also, at some point, I need to make a bit more of an effort to advertise these pretties... can you blame me for dragging my heels a bit though??? They are both such darlings!

I needs a lovely home!

I does too! Pick me, pick me!

Theo is home!

*happy!*


He has a shaved belly and his back end is a bit of a mess from the pre procedure enema he had, but he's home. Much cuddling has been had today :)

Digory's Day

Yesterday was a bit heavy, so I thought we'd have some fun today. Can you help me out, Digory?

Fun? I'm up for some fun!


Football is fun


Drowning a mouse in the water dish is fun. Heehee Mama is cross!


Kicking the cloth the toy lady dried the mousie in is fun


This toy WAS fun...erm...


Playing with the feather teaser is LOTS of fun... and I never lets go!


After all that fun, I needs a nap. Zzzzzzz

Thanks Digory. I knew I could rely on you!

A Not-So-Grand Day Out

Theo and I have been on a jaunt, so the kittens haven't had a lot of attention today! I will be making up tomorrow, and snap a load then, I promise :)


So I had an appointment to take Theo to a specialist internal medicine unit at an animal hospital, to try and work out what is going on in his insides. It's quite a long way from our house, and I needed to do the school run on the way, so Theo had already been cooped up for several hours by the time we arrived. The vet was lovely, fastened the door and let him roam around the room freely, to work off some of that energy. It was much appreciated.


Soon it was time for the examination. Theo wasn't impressed, and let the vet know it, hitting out and trying to bite my hand. poor old Theo, such a gentle boy usually, but goaded to absolute fury with the prodding and poking he's had lately. I held one end whilst the vet poked the other. Grrrrrrrrrr, said Theo.


Then the vet said 'There's a mass there that's obviously painful...' and frankly I didn't take in very much right after that.  A mass. We all know what that means. Oh. My. God. It was the equivalent of being doused in a bucket of ice cubes. I do remember he went on to say it could have been some faeces in the intestine... believe me I've never wished for poo quite so hard! It wasn't a good day after that. Theo was booked in for an ultrasound, full bloodwork and urinalysis later on. And I came home, trying not to weep.


Anyway... to cut a long story short, he had his ultrasound and he does NOT have a mass. He has an area of fluid that could indicate inflammation, in fact it likely does, as there is clearly something going on, but they did not find any tumours. Thank goodness.


They didn't take the blood and urine until he was sedated, apparently Theo told them exactly what he thought of  that idea and they decided to wait till he was sleepy before attempting it! Oops, poor Theo, not like him to be so grumpy! So they aren't back from the lab yet, I'll be calling up to discuss them tomorrow. Then he'll go off to endoscopy under a general anaesthetic- cameras going in both ends to have a look at his digestive tract and see what is going on. They will probably take a biopsy at the same time. Then I pick him up Saturday.


He also took part in some research, which made my nerdy soul very happy. It was for the drug alfaxalone, injected direct to muscle. It is licensed for use this way in Australia, and the UK is currently dong it's own trials. It is approved for injection to the vein already, but it is thought muscular injections are more effective. I figured if it was known to be safe in Australia, it was likely safe here, and it meant he had a whole team of people supervising him before and after the ultrasound just to observe, much more attention than he would have had usually. It was a win-win. Everything was, as expected, fine, and hopefully the drug will be approved for use this way once they have concluded their studies as it is thought to be safer- the uptake of the drug is more gradual than injecting straight to the vein which is obviously one big hit. Anyway, so that was interesting.


Planning a very quiet day tomorrow- lots of kitten cuddling and taking it easy. Today was a stressful one.

Surprise!

Sometimes people come looking for a certain kind of kitten. Maybe they definitely want a boy, or have their heart set on a pointed pattern, or want a livewire or a lovebug.


Quite often, the kittens have other ideas!


S and P, Aravis's family, came back today. They'd thought long and hard and decided they'd like her to grow up with a sister beside her. No argument from me, I LOVE my kittens going home in pairs, it's so good for them and why I discount for two together.


They were umming and ah-ing between Susan and Jewel. Jewel seemed to be winning the day when they just thought they'd have a quick look at...

Yup. Caspian.


Now something I may not have mentioned about Caspian, is that he is a cuddly boy. He really is. He likes nothing better than a good old snooze in someone's lap. Or their arms, or chest or between the knees... he's really not fussy. Anyway that's just what he did. He went to sleep on P's lap.


Who can resist a snoozing kitten? Aravis, it seems, will be growing up with a BROTHER!

6 weeks old

Digory- I keel you, rattly toy!

The kittens had a quiet day yesterday, after the excitement of the weekend. They've all had a weigh. The results, these days, are probably not entirely accurate, as they don't actually stay still and in the scales for long enough to get a dead- on result, but they will do for our purposes, after all what I want to see is that they are all making reasonable gains, which they are.


It's interesting (to me, because I am a nerd and quite like things like that) to see the trends in the litters. None of my kittens in this litter are heavier than my big boy from the last lot, Kurt (Bailey, as he is now) but there is a much smaller range of weights and as a result the average is significantly higher. The REM's were just kitten giants, I suspect hehe, I won't even try to compare to them!


I will, however, draw your attention to the fact that Caspian is now the third HEAVIEST in the litter, having overtaking ANOTHER two sisters in the past week. Sorry about that Lucy and Susan. Not bad going for the runt of the litter is it? But then Indigo was the runt, and she's a lovely big cat now, so birth weight isn't necessarily a huge determining factor. It seems strange to remember, when I see the lovely robust kitten he is now, that he was once only slightly heavier than a Mars Bar.


Today I am very much ignoring the fact they are 6 weeks old, and their time with me is almost half over- *sniff* So here are their stats :)


Digory

Birth: 84g

1 week:186g

2 weeks:264g
3 weeks: 333g
4 weeks: 419g
5 weeks: 560g
6 weeks: 703g

 

Caspian

Birth:72g

1 week:151g

2 weeks: 227g
3 weeks: 286g
4 weeks: 353g
5 weeks: 525g
6 weeks: 665g

 

Jadis

Birth:89g

1 week:185g

2 weeks:272g
3 weeks: 337g
4 weeks: 400g
5 weeks 550g
6 weeks: 681g

 

Lucy

Birth:83g

1 week:171g

2 weeks: 263g
3 weeks: 327g
4 weeks: 420g
5 weeks: 531g
6 weeks: 653g

 

Aravis

Birth: 84g

1 week:177g

2 weeks:248g
3 weeks: 322g
4 weeks: 404g
5 weeks: 504g
6 weeks: 620g

 

Susan

Birth: 90g

1 week:184g

2 weeks: 279g
3 weeks: 366g
4 weeks: 444g
5 weeks 533g
6 weeks: 653g

 

Jewel

Birth: 80g

1 week: 163g

2 weeks: 237g
3 weeks: 293g
4 weeks: 340g
5 weeks: 486g
6 weeks: 595g





Weight order heaviest to lightest:
Birth: Susan, Jadis, Digory and Aravis, Lucy, (Polly), Jewel, Caspian
1 week: Digory, Jadis, Susan, Aravis, Lucy, Jewel, Caspian
2 weeks: Susan, Jadis, Digory, Lucy, Aravis, Jewel, Caspian
3 weeks: Susan, Jadis, Digory, Lucy, Aravis, Jewel, Caspian
4 weeks: Susan, Lucy, Digory, Aravis, Jadis, Caspian, Jewel
5 weeks: Digory, Jadis, Susan, Lucy, Caspian, Aravis, Jewel
6 weeks: Digory, Jadis, Caspian, Lucy and Susan, Aravis, Jewel

 

Comparison by litter:

 

Birth
REM litter 83g-103g. Average 92g

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

Narnian litter 72-90g. Average 83g
 

1 week
REM litter 182g-217g Average 195g

Von Trapp litter 150g- 205g. Average 175g
Narnian litter:151-186g. Average 174g

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

Narnian litter 227g-279g. Average 256g

3 weeks

REM litter  338g-390g. Average 359g.
Von Trapp litter 250g- 341g. Average 286g.
Narnian litter 286g-366g. Average 323g

4 weeks

REM litter 437g-524g. Average 466g
Von Trapp litter 325g-448g. Average 365g
Narnian litter: 340-444g. Average 397g

5 weeks

REM litter 539g-604g. Average 581g
Von Trapp litter 394g-570g. Average 457g.
Narnian litter 486g- 560g. Average 527g

6 weeks

REM litter 712g- 792g, Average 752g
Von Trapp litter  516g-740g, Average 606g
Narnian litter 595g-703g, Average 653g

Kitten Fight Club

Lest anyone be fooled into thinking these kittens are JUST lovey dovey purry furry things, let me show you one of their favourite activities. Welcome to the Kitten Fight Club

kick, bite, squeal

chomp, gouge, tear...

Well yes, quite. Sometimes it looks brutal, but actually they are learning about boundaries and safe play, as well as physical and self defence skills. They rarely get hurt, just one scratched ear, to date. And fortunately kittens are forgiving. Usually after a tussle they can be found in a big pile, napping together.


I will note here though that somehow, Digory always seems to be involved *chuckle*

What a weekend!

well I had a good weekend...

Oh, boy. Saturday... Saturday did NOT get off to a good start. I came in the kitten room to give everyone breakfast and.... I couldn't find two of the kittens. Panic! In the end they were discovered down the back of the couch, having wriggled through an impossibly small space between couch and wall. Cue me and the teenager packing all the cracks with towels and duvets!


While I was done with that, Theo threw up, and then shortly after did it again. I have an appointment for him Monday, but on the proviso that if anything happened, I would bring him back sooner. Given how quickly he's deteriorated with similar attacks in the past, I didn't feel like waiting so I rushed him to the vet, where he did his usual I'm just fine thanks Doc. He had an antiemetic, and we've started him on a course of steroids. He's ben quiet since, but OK and hasn't been vomiting.


Back at home, I got things ready for a couple of visits. The kittens weren't quite right for the first group, and in all fairness they did decide to sleep through the entire visit so totally missed the chance to show off! The second were enchanted. G came to view the kittens, along with her three adult children, all home from university and the kittens ramped up the charm all they knew.


I'm sure they won't mind me saying that they agonised over the decision! I don't think I've ever had a group that has found it so difficult to choose! They decided that Jadis and Digory will be their kittens, and then wondered if they had chosen the right kittens (Jewel, especially, had been most charming) so back they all came today! It HAD been the right choice, but I'm glad they asked to come back because they would have worried, and to me, proved what a great family they will be.


Also over the weekend, the teenager and I made a decision of our own, and our new cat will be... Lucy. We love Susan, and she's a very good example of the breed in terms of body, face etc, very very attractive, but I'm just not sure she has the right temperament for breeding. Lucy is less pretty, in fact we call her monkeyface although she doesn't have any major 'faults' in terms of the breed standard and is a better colour than Susan, but more importantly she's very robust, calm and generally bomb proof and the teenager and I just adore her. My sister in law gave me the push I needed to keep her and now it's decided. Lucy is now our cat.


In between all those comings and goings we had all the usual weekend chores, the shopping, clubs... and I'm going down with a cold. So I feel like I need a weekend now to recover from the one we just had! Best go give Theo his steroid before I fall asleep!